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1§: §s or any GF or balanced (12-14, 18-20,
23+). Forcing, cannot be passed.
1¨: ¨s, can have just 3¨s if 12-14 balanced, standard
opening values or close to it.
1©,1ª: five
or longer normally, near standard opening values to near GF values.
1NT: 15-17 balanced or a hand that evaluates
to it.
2§,2¨: natural,
four or longer in the suit, may have second suit, weak hand.
2©,2ª: natural
weak two, good five card suit or better.
2NT: 21-22 balanced.
3§,3¨: preemptive
but not a semi-solid suit (open 2§ or 2¨ then).
3©,3ª: preemptive.
3NT: Gambling, long solid suit, no stopper.
4X, 5X: preemptive.
4NT: ace asking.
|
Range |
Bid |
Notes |
|
12-14 |
1¨ |
1¨ requires 3+¨s, otherwise make natural bid. |
|
15-17 |
1NT |
|
|
18-20 |
1§ |
All
18-20s can be opened 1§.
They can also open 1¨, 1©, 1ª and rebid a forcing 2NT. |
|
21-22 |
2NT |
|
|
23+ |
1§ |
|
For balanced ranges, the
ranges including upgrading the hand for holding a good five card suit, or very
good controls or good spot cards. Thus
these can open 1NT, 15-17:
ª QT3 © K2 ¨ AQJ76 § Q92
ª K2 © K87 ¨ A987 § AT76
Likewise these can open,
as if 12-14:
ª J73 © K2 ¨ AQJ76 § T92
ª K2 © 873 ¨ A987 § AT76
From a style and system
point of view, when holding 12-14 balanced, tend to open 1¨ more and 1§ less, unlike standard. Thus: ª T76 © ¨ KQ43 ¨A42 §K87 is opened 1¨, not 1§. Opening
1¨ takes out any 1¨ overcall and forces the opponents to overcall on
the two level with clubs.
Preemptive
Single Jump Shifts always.
Doubles are
takeout always unless otherwise defined.
Fourth Suit
Forcing to game.
1§: §s or any GF or balanced (12-14, 18-20,
23+). Forcing.
Responses:
1¨: a)
0-6 any but prefer a jump shift with a long suit, not §s.
b) ¨s & 6/7+, only a four card major if game
going values.
1©, 1ª: 4+
suit, 6/7+. All higher responses deny an outside four card major.
1NT: 7-10, balanced.
2§: limit
or better, 9/10+
2¨, 2©, 2ª: Preemptive
Jump Shift
2NT: 11-12 balanced.
3§: 4+§s (often 5+), less than limit values but
constructive, about 7-9.
3NT: 13-15 balanced.
1§-1¨:
1©, 1ª, 2§, 2¨: opener
if not balanced and less than a GF rebids naturally without jumping, 1© and 1ª can be 3 card suit if 12-14
balanced since no other rebid. 2¨ shows extras, about 17-22.
1NT: 18-20. 1NT system on.
2©: Kokish,
GF in ©s or balanced. Responder bids 2ª if 0-6, then opener bids 2NT if
balanced (2NT system on) or 3X with
hearts.
2ª, 3§, 3¨: GF,
natural.
2NT: 23-24,
2NT system on.
1§-1¨-1© or 1ª:
Pass, 1ª, 2§: natural,
0-6.
1NT, 2¨: constructive,
NF, 6-10.
2OM: 2 of the other major
is fourth suit forcing (GF) with diamonds
All other bids: standard with ¨s.
e.g. 1§-1¨-1ª-2NT: GI
1§-1¨-2§:
Pass: 0-6
2¨, 3§: constructive, NF, 6-9, raise
freely with 2§s, if opener has only 5§s will have ¨ support.
2©, 2ª: value
showing, 9+, F
2NT, 3¨: GI
3©, 3ª: splinters
3NT: suggestion
1§-1¨-2¨:
Pass: 0-6
2©, 2ª: semi-natural,
forcing, 6+
2NT: Lebenshol, often to signoff in §s if 0-6 or to show minimum raise to
3¨.
3§: forcing,
§ & ¨ fit
3¨: forcing,
¨ fit.
3©, 3ª: splinters
3NT: suggestion
General
approach: After a positive reply (anything but 1¨, 2¨, 2©, or 2ª), the cheapest ¨ bid is a two way bid, either a big hand or
clubs & diamonds with extras. If
responder bid 1© or 1ª, the ¨ bid asks if responder has five or
longer in the major or extra values. If
responder instead bid 1NT or higher, denying a four card major, the ¨ bid asks for a three card major. After responder’s reply to the ¨ bid, the cheapest suit bid by opener shows the
club & diamond hand, 3NT (or pass of 3NT) shows 18-20 balanced with a five
card major. 2NT, if available,
establishes a game force and asks again.
All other bids show a hand with a GF or close to GF in own hand; suit
bids are natural and 4NT shows 23-24 balanced.
After 1§-1©/1©-2¨:
2M: exactly
four in M, maximum of 10 HCP.
2OM: five
or longer in M, maximum of 10 HCP.
2NT or
higher: natural, 11+ HCP.
Example
sequences:
1§-1©-2¨-2©(just 4©s, maximum of 10 HCP)-2NT(GF, asks
again)-natural bidding now.
1§-1ª-2¨-2©(5+ªs, maximum of 10 HCP)-3NT(18-20
balanced, 5©s).
1§-1©-2¨-2NT(natural, 11+ HCP)-3§: §s & ¨s
After 1§-1NT or 2§-2¨:
2©: 3©s, may
have 3ªs.
2ª: 3ªs, not 3©s.
3§, 2NT: neither
3ªs or 3©s.
Example
sequences:
1§-1NT-2¨-2©(3©s)-2NT(GF, asks again) - natural
bidding now.
1§-2§-2¨-2ª (3ªs, not 3©s)-3NT(18-20 balanced, 5©s).
1§-2§-2¨-3§(not 3 in either major)-3¨: §s & ¨s .
After 1§-2NT or 3§-3¨:
3©: 3©s, may
have 3ªs.
3ª: 3ªs, not 3©s.
3NT: neither 3ªs or 3©s.
After 1§-3NT-4¨:
4©: 3©s, may
have 3ªs.
4ª: 3ªs, not 3©s.
4NT: neither 3ªs or 3©s.
Example:
1§-2NT-3¨-3ª(3ªs)-4NT: 23-24 balanced.
·
Over a
positive response or in competition if responder makes a negative double or
bids a suit, opener shows the 18-20 balanced hand by jumping in notrump.
·
Over 1¨ response, or if responder only passes in
competition, opener shows the 18-20 balanced hand by rebidding notrump without
jumping.
·
Over a
preemptive jump shift, opener can bid 2NT to ask, or just places contract.
·
With
18-20 one can open 1¨, 1©, or 1ª instead, and rebid 2NT. However that 2NT rebid is forcing, allowing opener
to first describe the 18-20 balanced hand, then show nature of hand.
[Overview]
The single jump shift by responder after a one-level suit opening by partner is preemptive, showing a weak hand, and a long suit. It is more narrowly defined after a 1§ opening, having about 0-6 HCP, while over the other openings its upper range is higher. In competition, it shows some values, and is more like the strength of a weak two, about 3-9 HCP.
[2NT Asks]
2NT, if available, asks:
3§: 5 card suit or 6 card suit headed by no honour. 3¨ asks graded responses (3© is worst). All other new suit bids below game are forcing. So 1§-2©-2NT(asks)-3§-3© is not-forcing, since not new suit.
3X: Graded responses with six or longer in suit. 3¨ is worst, 3NT is best. Now new suits below game are forcing.
4X: a two suiter if second suit bid, or very long suit if X is suit rebid.
[Other Rebids]
After a preemptive jump shift, a new suit by opener is forcing but does not promise a rebid. A rebid of a suit is not-forcing, but a jump in a suit is forcing.
[Inverted Raises]
Inverted raises: 2m Limit forcing to 3m, 3m Weak but if 3§ enough for 18-20 bal. to bid again.
The jump raise to 3¨ requires 5 in the suit since 1¨ can be 3 if 12-14 balanced. The jump raise to 3§ can have just 4 since opener often has 4+ §s if a minimum hand.
[Notrump Responses]
1NT=6 to 10, 2NT=GI, about 10+ to 12-, 3NT=13 to 15 all no
4cM
[1¨-2§ response GF unless suit rebid over 2¨]
1¨-2§: GF unless responder 3§ rebid over 2¨, so
opener bids 2¨
if would not accept GI.
Opener’s 2¨
rebid either long ¨s
or not enough to accept a GI. All other
bids GF.
[Other Jump suit bids by responder]
Jumps to game are to play: very long suit, very weak hand.
Double jumps and higher below game are splinters, GF.
1m-1M-4m: long suit, 4+ support for M, game going values. {called No-name}
[Major Raises & Game Tries]
1m-1M-2M may be three card raise if doubleton or singleton in another suit.
1m-1M-2M-2NT F asks: opener bids three of a new suit to show shape, 3 only in M. With four in M, opener bids 3M, 3NT or above (descriptive, 4 of new suit shows values/length).
1m-1M-2M-3M sequences not in competition ask for good trump support.
With 18-20 balanced, after 1§-1M, rebid 2¨ first to ask. After 1¨-1M rebid 2NT (forcing), then 4M.
Other game tries natural/help suit including 3m (which is forcing).
[Modified Ingberman]
1m-1X-2R, (R=Reverse): 2X shows 5+ suit, F. It may be weak just showing length, but can be big too.
2NT or fourth suit forcing, whichever is cheaper, is Lebenshol, showing weakness and puppets to cheapest bid, after which responder will pass or show nature of weak hand. With GF hand opener does not bid cheapest bid.
[2NT Transfers]
Transfers over 1m-1M-2NT jump rebid by opener. Opener can break the transfer with unusual hand.
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