OTHER OPENING BIDS

  HCP see Note Min length CONVENTIONAL MEANING SPECIAL RESPONSES Notes
1 9+ ¨

3

Natural or 4-3-3-3 Splinters. Fit-jumps Inverted raises.

1.1

1.2

1.3

1 9+ ¨ 4  
1 9+ ¨ 4   Jacoby 2NT
1 9+ ¨ 5  
3 bids 0+ ¨ 6 3NT = solid minor    
4 bids 0+ ¨ 7      
*(Please enter your normal HCP range in the HCP column. Please tick box if you have any special agreements involving different values in particular positions (e.g. light openings in third seat) and include further details under Supplementary Details).

DEFENSIVE METHODS AFTER OPPONENTS OPEN

Opponents Open A Natural One of a Suit CONVENTIONAL MEANING SPECIAL RESPONSES Notes
Simple overcall Usually 5+ cards Fit-jumps  
Jump overcall Pre-emptive; 3 = 2 highest unbid    
Cue bid Michaels, showing both majors or major+minor   1.4
1NT Direct 15-17 As 1NT  
Protective 11-14  
2NT Direct 2 lowest unbid suits   1.4
Protective 20-22 As opening 2NT  
Opponents Open With DEFENSIVE METHODS SPECIAL RESPONSES Notes
Strong 1♣ Truscott/Panama   1.5
Short 1♣/1 Treat as natural    
Weak and Strong 1NT Modified Landy: 2 =/ 2 shows = length 1.6
Weak 2 Dbl for take-out; 2NT=16-18 bal.
Leaping Michaels
2NT Lebensohl 1.7
Weak 3 Dbl for take-out    
4 bids Dbl for take-out    
Multi 2 Dbl: 13-15 or 19+; 2NT=16-18    

SLAM CONVENTIONS

Name Meaning of Responses Action over interference
4NT Roman Key Card Blackwood [1403] 5=1/4, 5=0/3, 5/=2/5 without/with trump queen. 5NT asks for lowest king Dbl or Rdbl=1/4, Pass = 0/3 etc
DEPO where necessary
Minor-suit RKCB
Major-suit RKCB
4/ is RKCB in bid suit [including in response to opening 1/2NT]
4/ is RKCB in bid suit in response to opening 1/2NT
 
COMPETITIVE AUCTIONS

Agreements after opening of one of a suit and overcall by opponents:

Level to which negative doubles apply

No fixed upper limit

Special meaning of bids

Fit-jumps, 2NT=natural, cue-bid=Jacoby

Exceptions/other agreements

After  UNT, lower-suit cue-bid is forcing raise, higher-suit is forcing with 4th suit

Agreements after opponents double for takeout

Redouble 9+ New suit Forcing Jump in new suit Fit-jump
Jump raise Pre-emptive 2NT Good raise Other  
Other agreements concerning doubles and redoubles:
Doubles are for take-out unless: we have a fit; we have pre-empted; we are doubling a naturally-bid NT.
After penalty double of 1NT, first subsequent double by either player is take-out.
Lightner doubles.

OTHER CONVENTIONS

Fourth-suit forcing [1 is natural]
1NT rebid = 15-17 [2 is Staymanic checkback, asking about range & shape]
After 1X-2Y, 2NT is gf [3 asks], 3NT shows balanced 15/16.
Unassuming cue-bids (show good raise of partner's suit or very strong hand)
Directional asking bids
 

SUPPLEMENTARY DETAILS [1]

(Please cross-reference where appropriate to the relevant part of the card and continue on back if needed)
1.1 Splinter jump shows support for partner [min 4] with typically singleton in bid suit. A splinter bid can be an immediate response, opener's rebid, or an unnecessary [to be forcing] bid at any stage of the auction.
1.2 Raising 1/ to 3/ is pre-emptive, promising 5-card support with no 4-card major. Raising 1/ to 2/ is unlimited with no 4-card major.
Does not apply following intervention.
1.3 Jacoby 2NT promises 4+ trump support and is forcing to game. Opener rebids 4-major if minimum. 3-new-suit is a trial bid, 4-new-suit is a splinter.
1.4 Michaels  or UNT show min 5-5 in two suits, either weak or strong but not intermediate.
1.5 1-level overcall or 2 shows that suit and next higher suit. Double shows suit doubled and non-adjacent suit, 1NT shows other two non-touching suits. Jump overcall is single-suited or 3-suited.
1.6 2=both majors, 2=4-card major plus a longer minor.
1.7 If partner doubles a weak 2-bid, 2NT shows a weak hand [<8] and requests a 3 relay. 4/ is GF Leaping Michaels, showing bid suit + other major