StandardEnglish

ModernAcol
SystemFile
Version1:December2006
1
StandardEnglishModernAcolSystemFile
BasicSystem
Acolwitha12141NT,4cardmajors,2,2 and2 openingsareeitherplayedasweakorstrong
Contents Page
SectionA:TheUncontestedAuction
1 BalancedHands
1.1 Opening1NT 2
1.2 Balancedhandswith1519HCP 5
1.3 Opening2NT 6
1.4 Opening2 8
2 UnbalancedHands
2.1 Openingbidsofoneofasuit 9
2.2 Raisingtheopeningbid 10
2.3 Respondinginanewsuit 11
2.4 Respondinginnotrumps 11
2.5 Openerssecondbid 12
2.6 Responderssecondbid 13
2.7 Trialbids 14
2.8 Slambidding 14
2.9 Strongtwoopeningbids 15
2.10 Preemptiveopeningbids 16
SectionB:DealingwithIntervention
1 Takeoutdoublesofovercallsafterpartnerhasopened 18
2 Actionoveropponentstakeoutdoubleoftheopeningbid 19
3 Actionoverinterventionofour1NTopening 20
4 Actionoverartificialtwosuitedovercalls 20
SectionC:DefensiveBidding
1 Suitovercalls 21
2 Overcallinginnotrumpsafterasuitopening 22
3 Takeoutdoubles 22
4 Protectivebidding 23
5 Defencetoopponentsopening1NT 24
6 Defencetopreemptiveopeningbids 24
7 TheunusualnotrumpandMichaels 25
8 Otherusesofdoubles 26
9 Defendingagainsttheirsystem 26
SectionD:Defensivecardingmethods
1 Openingleads 27
2 Signals 28
3 Discards 28
SectionE:MaterialsListandConventionslist 29
2
SectionA:TheUncontestedAuction
1 Balancedhands
Abalancedhandisonethatcontainsnosingletonorvoidandnotmorethanone
doubleton.Thepossibledistributionsare4333,4432and5332,thesuitsbeing
listedinanyorder.
Tableofbidsandrebids
1214HCP Open1NT(mayincludeapoor5cardmajor)
1516HCP Openoneofasuitandrebidnotrumpsatthelowestlevel
1718HCP Openoneofasuitandjumprebidinnotrumpsonthenextround
19HCP Openoneofasuitandjumpto3NTonthenextround
2022HCP Open2NT
2324HCP Open2 andrebidnotrumpsatthelowestlevel
2527HCP Open2 andrebid3NT
2830HCP Open2 andrebid4NT
1.1 Opening1NT
Witha5cardmajorsuitina5332hand,openoneofthemajorsuit.
Exceptionally,anotherwisesuitablehandwithaweak5cardmajor(usually
nohighhonour)maybeopened1NT.
Allotherbalancedhandsinthe1214HCPrangeareopened1NT.
1.1.1 Responsesonbalancedhands
010HCP Pass
1112HCP Withnointerestina44majorsuitfit,bid2 (twowayBaron)to
invitegame(seeSection1.1.5). Openerrebids2NTwitha
minimum1NTopeningandthelowest4cardorlongersuitwith
amaximumopening
1319HCP Raiseto3NTopenermustpass
2021HCP Bid2 (seeSection1.1.5)
2224HCP Raiseto6NTopenermustpass
25+HCP Raiseto7NT
1.1.2 Responseof2 (TheStaymanconvention)
Thisisusedonhandsworthatleastaninvitationtogamewhereresponder
wishestoinvestigatea44fitinamajorandonsomeweakerhandsseeking
toimprovethecontract.
OverStaymanopenerrebids:
2 no4cardmajor
2 4hearts,possibly4spades
2 4spades,not4hearts
3
Continuationsbyresponderweakoptions(010HCP)
Theweakoptionsare:
atleast54inthemajors
longdiamondsandsupportforbothmajors
atleastsixclubsanda4cardmajor
1NT2 2anypass Whentheobjectwastoplayinanysuitbutclubs
1NT2 2 2/2 5cardsuit,4cardsintheothermajor
1NT2 2any3 Atleast6clubs,nomajorsuitfithasbeenfound
Continuationsbyresponderinvitationaloptions(1112HCP)
1NT2 2any2NT Invitational,1112HCP,nomajorsuitfithas
beenfound
1NT2 2/ 3/ Invitesopenertobidgameintheagreedmajor
withamaximum,otherwisepass
Continuationsbyresponderstrongoptions(13+HCP)
1NT2 2any3NT Nomajorsuitfithasbeenfound
1NT2 2/ 4/ Openermustpass
1NT2 2 3/3 5cardsuit,4cardsintheothermajor. Opener
bids4/4 with3cardsupport,otherwise3NT
1NT2 2/ 4NT Quantitative,nomajorsuitfithasbeenfound
1.1.3 Responseof2 (redsuittransfer)
Thisisatransferbid,showingatleast5hearts.Openerrebids2.
Continuationsbyresponder:
Pass weaktakeoutwith5+hearts,10HCPorless
2NT 5cardheartsuitand1112HCP. Invitesopenertobid
3 withaminimumand3+cardsupport
4 withamaximumand3+cardsupport
Pass2NTwithaminimumandonly2hearts
Bid3NTwithamaximumandonly2hearts
3NT 5cardheartsuitandthevaluesforgame,say13+points. Opener
passeswithonly2heartsandcorrectsto4 with3+cardsupport
3 6+heartsandinvitesopenertobid4 withasuitablehand
4 6+heartsandthevaluesforgame. Openermustpass
2 5hearts,4spades,atleast11HCP.Forcingtoatleast2NT.
Openerchoosestoplayinhearts,spadesornotrumpsandwhetherto
bidgame
3/3 5hearts,4+cardsinthesuitbid.Forcingtogamewithslaminterest
1.1.3.1 TransferBreakscanbeusedwhenopenershandissoimprovedbythe
transferastomakegameapossibility.Inthiscaseopenercanbidabovethe
transfersuit.1NT2 3 showsa4cardfitforheartsandasksresponder
togotogamewithanearmaximum,otherwisepass.
4
1.1.4 Responseof2 (redsuittransfer)
Atransferto2,showingatleast5spades.
Continuationsasovera2 response.Anotrumprebidbyrespondershows
fivespadesinanotherwisebalancedhand,aspaderaiseshows6+cardsand
anewsuitisnaturalandgame forcing.
1.1.5 Responseof2 (twowayBaron)
Anartificialresponseshowingeither:
Araiseto2NT(1112HCP)withnointerestinthemajorsor
Abalancedhandwithatleast18HCP,usuallyno5cardsuit,onwhich
slammaybepossibleina44fit.
Openerrebids: 2NTwithaminimum1NTopening
Lowest4cardorlongersuitwithamaximumopening
Aftertherebidrespondersoptionsare:
Pass/3NT Nofurtherinterest
Newsuit Cheapest4cardsuit,gameforcing,continuingto
investigateafit
Raise 4cardsupportforopenerssuit,gameforcing,noother
featuretoshow
Jumpinnewsuit 4cardsupport,aceofthebidsuit(cuebid)
1.1.6 Responseof2NT(minorsuittransfer)
Arelayto3,showingalongminorsuitandnointerestingame.
Openerrebids3.Respondersresponsesare:
passweaknesstakeoutinclubs
3weaknesstakeoutindiamonds.
1.1.7 Responsesof3/3/3/3
Allthreelevelresponsesshowstrongsuitsinhandswithslaminterest.
1.1.8 Responsesof4/4
Natural,6cardorlongersuit.Openermustpass.
5
1.2 Balancedhandswith1519HCP
Openoneofasuitandrebidnotrumps.A5cardmajorisnobartoarebidin
notrumps.
With1516HCPrebidnotrumpsatthelowestlevel
With1718HCPmakeajumprebidinnotrumps
With19HCPjumpto3NTeveniftheresponsewasattheonelevel
1.2.1 Responderscontinuationsafteropenerrebidsinnotrumps
Areturntotwoofopenersmajorsuitaftera1NTrebidisweak,showing3
cardsupport
Threeofopenerssuitisforcing.Ifthisisamajorsuit,responderwillhave3
cardsupportifaminoritwillbe3+cards. Example:
Thebiddinggoes111NT. Youhold
AJ743
43
Q32
K93
Bid3.
Aminimumrebidinresponderssuitisweak,usuallysixcards
Ajumptothreeofresponderssuitover1NTisinvitationalwitha6cardsuit
Anewsuitatthetwolevelisnaturalandweakunlessitisareverse
Anewsuitatthethreelevelisnaturalandforcing.Exceptionallythismaybea
3cardsuit,lookingforopenertoshow3cardsupportforrespondersfirstsuit
(usuallyamajor). Withtheabovehand,iftheauctionhasgone111NTor
112NT,rebid3.
6
1.3 Opening2NT
Open2NTonallbalancedhandsof2022HCP.A5cardmajorisacceptable.
2NTmayalsobethebestchoiceonsomeslightlyunbalancedhands(including
ahandwithasingletonaceorking).
1.3.1 Responsesto2NT
Responderwillfirstconsiderwhetherthepartnershiphasatleastthe25HCP
neededforgameinnotrumpsoramajorsuit.4HCPinrespondershandis
usuallyenough.Anyresponseisforcingtogame.
1.3.2 Responsesonbalancedhands
03HCP Pass
410HCP Raiseto3NTopenermustpass
1112HCP Investigateaslamviaaresponseof3 (Baron,seeSection
1.3.6)
1314HCP Bidaslam,eitherraisedirectlyto6NT(openermustpass)or
firstinvestigateafitvia3
1516HCP Bid3,then6NTifopenerisminimumor7NTifmaximum
17+HCP Raiseimmediatelyto7NT
1.3.3 Responseof3 (Stayman)
Showsvaluesforgameandaninterestina44majorsuitfit.Openerrebids:
3 no4cardmajor
3 4hearts,possibly4spades
3 4spades,not4hearts
Continuationsbyresponder
After2NT33 respondercontinues:
3/3 5cardsuit,implies4oftheothermajor. Openerbids4/4
with3cardsupport,otherwise3NT
3NT nofurtherinterest,impliesanunbid4cardmajor.
1.3.4 Responseof3 (redsuittransfer)
Atransferbid,showingatleastfivehearts.Openerrebids3.
Continuationsbyresponder
Newsuit Natural,forcing
3NT 5hearts,otherwisefairlybalanced,invitingopenertochoose
between3NTand4
4 Toplay,showing6+hearts
4NT Invitational,5hearts,about1112HCP
1.3.4.1 Transferbreaksmaybeusedifopenershandissoimprovedbythetransfer
astomakegamelikelyoppositesixsmallheartsandaworthlesshand.E.g.
2NT3 4.
7
1.3.5 Responseof3
Transferto3,showingatleast5spades.
Continuationsasover2NT3
1.3.6 Responseof3 (Baron)
Thisisthefirstmoveonanyfairlybalancedhandwithslaminterest(agood
10+HCP),tofindoutifopenerismaximumorminimumandifthereisa44fit.
Openerrebids:
3NTwithaminimumopening
Lowest4cardorlongersuitwithamaximum
Respondermay:
Pass3NTwithnofurtherinterestinaslam.
Bidthecheapest4cardorlongersuitopenercontinuestoshow4card
suitsbut4NTbyeitherpartnerisnaturalandmaybepassed.
Thepartnershipisalwaysforcedtoslamifopenershowsamaximumover3.
1.3.7 Responseof4/4
Natural,forcing6cardorlongersuit,slaminterest.Openerrebids:
Newsuit Cuebid,showingtheaceofthatsuitandsupportfor
responder
4NT Natural,nosupportandnoslaminterest
1.3.8 Responseof4/4
Natural,6cardorlongersuit,slaminterestbutnotforcing.Openerrebids:
Pass Noslaminterest
Newsuit Cuebid,showingtheaceofthatsuitandsupportfor
responder
4NT Blackwood,askingforaces
1.3.9 Responseof4NT
Blackwood,askingforaces.Typicallyresponderwillhavealongsuit,plentyof
tricksaslongastherearenottwoquicklosers.Afterthereply(seeSection
2.8.2),responderselectsthefinalcontract.Sinceinvitationalhandsarebidvia
theBaron3,thisbidisnotneededasanaturalinvitationalraise.
8
1.4 Opening2
ThisisthestrongestbidintheAcolsystem,showing23+HCPoragame
forcinghand.
A2 openingisforcingtogameunlessopenerrebids2NT(2324HCP).So
withanunbalancedhandyoudeveloptheauctionnaturally,confidentthat
respondercannotpass.Ajumprebidinasuitpromisesasolid,nolosersuit.
1.4.1 Responsesto2
Makeanegativeresponseof2 ifyourhandcontainsneither
8HCPormorewithatleastoneaceorking
Anaceandaking
A5cardsuitheadedbyatleastAQ
Otherwise
Withabalancedhandof8+HCP,respond2NT
Withaweak5cardsuitinanotherwisebalancedhand2NTisthebestchoice
Withagood5cardsuit,respondinthatsuit
Withasolid(noloser)6cardorlongersuit,makeajumpresponseinthatsuit
1.4.2 Openersrebidwithabalancedhand
2324HCP rebid2NT
2527HCP rebid3NT
2830HCP rebid4NT
The2 openingdoesnotnecessarilyshowabalancedhand.Withan
unbalancedhandrebidinasuit.
1.4.3 Respondersactionafter2 2 2NT
Thisistheonlyrebidthatrespondermaypassbelowgamelevel. Withjusta
coupleofpointsrespondershouldgoforgame,choosingfromthesame
optionsasovera2NTopening.Consideraslamwhenthepartnershipmay
have33HCPorcompensatingdistribution.
1.4.4 Continuationsafterapositiveresponse
Aslamishighlylikelysoopenerwillrebid2NToverapositiveresponseof2
or2 onallbalancedhands,leavingroomtoinvestigateafit. Overa2NT
rebidbyopenerallcontinuationsbyresponderarenatural.
Afterapositiveresponseof2NT,openerrebidsa5+cardsuit(gameforcing)
or3NTwithabalancedhand.Overa3NTrebidresponder,withextravalues,
cancontinuebybiddinghislowest4+cardsuittolookforaslam.
Ausefulunderstandingisthatallsequencesareforcingtoatleast4NT.
9
2 Unbalancedhands
ThisincludesallhandsnotcoveredinSection1.
2.1 Openingbidsofoneofasuit
Choiceofsuittoopen(ifnotsuitablefor1NT)
Withtwosuitsofunequallength,openthelonger.
Withtwosuitsofequallength,withexactly4heartsand4spadesopen
1,otherwiseopenthehigherrankingsuit.
With4441shapeandaredsuitsingletonopenthesuitbelowthe
singleton(i.e.singletonheartopen1,singletondiamondopen1)
With4441shapeandablacksuitsingletonopenthemiddleofthe
threesuits(i.e.singletonspadeopen1,singletonclubopen1)
Isthehandworthanopeningbid?
Anyhandwithatleast12HCPmaybeopened
With911HCP,usetheRuleof20.Addthenumberofcardsinyour
twolongestsuitstoyourHCP.Ifthetotalis20ormoreandmostof
yourhighcardsareinyourlongsuits,openthebidding.
Withborderlinehands,takeintoaccountthequalityofthesuits,
intermediatecardsandwhetheryouhaveaconvenientrebidoverany
response.Examples:
AQ982 Q2
KJ1043 AJ64
5 J3
96 K9532
10HCP+10cards=20 11HCP+9cards=20
Open1 Pass,valuesindoubletonsare
lessuseful.
2.1.1 Upperlimit
Thenormalrangeforaonelevelsuitopeningis1219HCPbutdistributional
considerationsmaymakeahandwithmorepointsunsuitableforastronger
opening.
Example:
AK75 isunsuitablefora2NTopeningandcannotbeopenedwith
6 astrongtwobid,so1 isthebestanswer. Ifpartnercannotbid
AQ96 over1 itisunlikelyyouhavemissedgame,butforcetogame
AKJ3 overanyresponse.
10
2.2 Raisingtheopeningbid
2.2.1 Supportpartnersopeningbidinamajorsuitwheneveryouhave
4+cardsinthatsuit
Withsupportforaminorsuit,bidamajorsuitofyourownfirst.Toraisepast
3NTinaminoryoushouldhaveaverydistributionalhandotherwiseyouwill
investigateanotrumpcontract. Aminorsuitraisetothetwoorthreelevelis
usuallybasedonhighcardpoints(69or1012)sinceopenersmostlikely
continuationistobidnotrumps.
Withsupportforamajorsuittakeintoaccountshortagesinothersuitsaswell
aspointswhenraising.Withenoughtrumps,asingletonislikeanextraking
andavoidisasgoodasanextraace.Adoubletonisamarginalextraasset.
AbettermethodofevaluatingahandwithamajorsuitfitistousetheLosing
TrickCount.
LTCforraisingpartnersmajorsuitopening
Countthelosersineachsuit
Counteachsuitofthreeormorecardsasthreelosers.Deductoneloserfor
eachoftheace,kingorqueenthatyouholdinthesuit.
Withtwocardsinthesuit,counttwolosers.Deductoneloserforholdingthe
aceorking.
Withonecardcountoneloser,unlessitistheace.
Withavoidtherearenolosers.
Findyourlosertotal
Addthelosersineachsuittogethertogetatotallosercount.
With910losers raisetothetwolevel
With8losers raisetothethreelevel
With7losers raisetothefourlevel
Araisetotwoofpartnersmajormaybethebestchoicewithonlythreetrumps
andanunbalancedhand.Toraisetothethreelevelorhigheryoumusthaveat
leastfourtrumps.
2.2.2 Splinterandpuddingraises
Over1,bidsof4,4 and4 show4cardsupport,gamevalues(1115
HCP)andasingletonorvoidinthesuitbid.
Over1,thesplinterbidsare3,4 and4.
Handswortharaisetogamebecauseoftheirpointcount,say1215HCP,but
whichhavenointerestingdistributionalfeatures(shortagesorlongsuits)can
gothrough3NT.Thelossofanatural3NTresponseshouldbenoted.
2.2.3 Verygoodraises
Handswith4cardsupportand16+HCPshouldmakeajumpshiftresponse
beforesupportingopenerssuit(seeSection2.3.2). Withfewerthan16HCP
alwaysraisepartnerimmediately. Whenholdingagamegoinghand,onlybid
anewsuitfollowedbyajumptogamewith3cardsupport.
11
2.3 Respondinginanewsuit
Aresponseattheonelevelpromisesatleast6HCP,atthetwolevelatleast9
HCP.Thereisnoupperlimitineithercase.Openermustbidagain(unless,
exceptionally,responderhasalreadypassed).Simplenewsuitresponses
show4+cardsexcept1 2 whichguaranteesa5cardheartsuit.
2.3.1 Choiceofsuit
Withtwo5cardorlongersuits,bidthehigherrankingifyouintendtoshow
bothsuitsinthemosteconomicalway.Withtwo4cardsuits,bidthecheaper,
i.e.theonewhichtakesupleastbiddingspace.Ifpartnerdeclinesan
opportunitytobidyourother4cardsuit,youcansafelyignoreitandrebidin
notrumps.
Withsuitsofunequallength,bidthelongerfirstunlessthehandistooweakto
respondatthetwolevel.Showa4cardmajorattheonelevelinpreferenceto
alongerminoratthetwolevelwithfewerthan13HCP. Tobidthelonger
minorandthenthe4cardmajoriscalledaRespondersreverseandisforcing
togame.
2.3.2 Ajumpshiftresponseinanewsuit
Thisshowsatleastadecent5cardsuitand16ormoreHCP(perhapsalittle
lesswithaverygoodsuitoranexcellent fit).Ajumpshiftisusedononlythree
handtypes:
Asingle6+cardsuit,wherethesuitisgoodenoughtorebid
A5+suitwithgood3cardorlongersupportforopenerssuit
Asingle5cardsuit,wheretherebidcanbeinnotrumps.
2.4 Respondinginnotrumps
Aresponseinnotrumpsisalimitbid,describingthehandwithinadefined
rangeofHCP.Therangesare:
1NT 69HCP
2NT 1012HCP
Avoidanimmediateresponseof2NTunlessthehandiscompletelysuitable,
balancedandwithstoppersinalltheunbidsuits.
A1NTresponsemaybesomethingofadustbinbidwhenthereisnoother
appropriateresponse,e.g.weakunbalancedhandsnotsuitableforaresponse
atthetwolevel. Conventionallyovera1 opening,a1NTresponseshowsa
balancedhandwith810HCPandno4cardmajor. With67HCPbid2 or
1 dependingontheminorheld.
Alwaysprefertorespondinamajorsuitattheonelevelifyoucan.
NotethatinStandardEnglishModernAcoladirect3NTresponseisusedto
showabalancedraisetogameinpartnersmajorsuit,i.e.1215HCPand4
cardsupport(seeSection2.2.2).
12
2.5 Openerssecondbid
Openerhastwomainconsiderationsonthesecondround:
Todistinguishbetweenbalancedandunbalancedhands
Todescribethestrengthofthehand
Abalancedhandwillalwaysrebidinnotrumps(unlessyoucansupport
respondersmajorsuit).Sotobidtwosuitsguarantees5+cardsinthefirst,
exceptfortherare4441hands,whichcanusuallybediscountedbythe
actualsuitsbid. Unbalancedhandsusuallyfallintothreepointranges.
Handswith1215pointsareweak
Handswith1618pointsareofintermediatestrength
Handswith1920pointsarestrong.
2.5.1 Openersoptionswithaweakunbalancedhand(inorderof
preference)
Tosupportpartnersmajorwith4+cards(occasionallythree)
Tobidanewsuitatthelowestlevelwithoutreversing,showing4+
cards
Torebidthesuitopened.
2.5.2 Withastrongerunbalancedhandtherearefourtypesofbid
Ajumpinthesuitopened,showsastrong6cardsuitandaround1618
HCP,encouragingbutnotforcingafteraresponseattheonelevel
(forcingtogameafteratwolevelresponse)withanevenstronger
handyoucanjumptogamebutmaybeyoushouldhaveopenedthe
suitatthetwolevel.
Jumpsupportforpartner4cardsupportandtheequivalentofaround
1618HCP,takingdistributionintoaccount.Encouragingbutnot
forcingagain,youcanbidgamewithabetterhandstill
Ajumpinanewsuitthestrongestoptionatleasta4cardsuit,at
least19HCP(ortheequivalentinashapelyhand)overaonelevel
response(1619HCPoveratwolevelresponse),forcingtogame
Areversebidinanewsuit,16+HCPorcompensatingdistribution,
forcingforoneroundatleast
2.5.3 Areversebidisonethatwouldrequirerespondertogotothethreelevelto
givepreferencetoopenersfirstsuit.Analternativedefinitionistoimaginea
barrierattwoofopenersfirstsuitopenerreversesbybiddingabovethat
barrier.
Afterareversebyopeneratthetwolevelthefollowingrebidsbyresponderare
notforcing:
Minimumpreferenceforopenersfirstsuit
Aminimumrebidinrespondersownsuit
Aminimumrebidinnotrumps
Allotherbidsareforcingtogame.Areverseatthethreelevelisalwaysforcing
togame.
13
2.6 Responderssecondbid
Respondersoptionsafteropenerrebidsathirdsuitwithoutareverseorjump
are:
Withaweakhand(69HCP)
Pass
Returntoopenersfirstsuitatthelowestlevel.3cardsupportisquite
adequateforaknown5cardsuit.Evenadoubletonisacceptablewith
noothersuitablealternative,togiveopeneranotherchance(knownas
falsepreference)
Bid1NT(ifthebiddingislowenough)
Rebidresponderssuitshowing6+cards.
Withagameinvitationalhand(1012HCP)
Jumpraiseopenersfirstsuitwith3cardsupport
Rebid2NT
Singleraiseopenerssecondsuitwith4cardsupport
Jumprebidresponderssuitshowing6+cardsandextrapoints.
Withastronggamegoinghand(13+HCP)
Bidgameineitherofopenerssuitsorresponderssuit
Rebid3NT
Bidthefourthsuit(seeSection2.6.1)
2.6.1 Biddingthefourthsuit
Whenthepartnershiphasbidthreesuitsabidofthefourthsuitisforcingand
artificial,askingpartnerformoreinformation.Theonlyexceptionistheauction
1 1 1 1 whichshowsfourspades(stillforcing).Inthisinstance2
wouldbetheartificialfourthsuitforcing(FSF).
Afterthefourthsuitisbidatthetwolevel,thefollowingrebidsbyopenerare
notforcing:
Aminimumrebidinopenersfirstsuit
Aminimumrebidofnotrumps
Simplepreferenceforresponderssuit(oftenonlydoubletonsupport)
Otherrebidsareforcingtogame.Fourthsuitatthethreelevelisforcingto
game.Theseguidelinesaresimilartobiddingafterareverse.Itfollowsthatto
usefourthsuitatthetwolevelyouneedatleast11HCPandatthethreelevel,
agood12orso.AvoidFSFifyoucanmakeanaturaldescriptivebid.
Ifresponderbidsonoveropenersminimumrebid,thepartnershipisforcedto
game.
14
2.7 Trialbids
Whenasuithasbeenagreed,atrialbidisabidofanewsuitinvitingpartnerto
bidgamewithasuitablehand.Themostcommonuseiswhenyourmajorsuit
hasbeenraisedtothetwolevel.Forexample,aftertheuncontestedauction
1 2,3 wouldbealongsuittrialbidaskingrespondertoreevaluatehis
handinthelightofhisclubholding.3 showspotentiallosersinclubs,
typically3or4cardsheadedbynotmorethanonehighhonour.Tobidgame
respondershouldhaveausefulholdinginthetrialbidsuit,eitherhonourcards
orashortage.
Afteraminorsuitissupported3NTisoftenthemostlikelygame.Atrialbid
showsastopperinthesuitbid.Forexample1 2 2 showsspade
values,lookingforgame.
2.8 Slambidding
2.8.1 Themoststraightforwardwayofbiddingaslamisbysheerweightofhigh
cards.Ifbothhandsarebalancedyouneedabout33HCPtomake6NT,37
for7NT.Whenoneplayerhasbidnotrumpsabidof4NTbytheirpartneris
invitational,askingthenotrumpbiddertobid6NTwithamaximumhandfor
theirpreviousbidding.Forexample:
1 2 3NTshows1719HCP,4NTshows1415HCP
3NT 4NT Openerwillbidontoslamwithamaximumhand
2.8.2 Inothercircumstancesabidof4NTistheBlackwoodConvention,whichasks
partnertoshowhowmanyacesheholds.Theresponsesare:
5 0or4aces 5 1ace
5 2aces 5 3aces
Ifthe4NTbidderfollowsupwith5NT,thisconfirmsthatthepartnershiphasall
fouracesandasksforkingsonthesamescale.After5NTeitherpartnermay
bidagrandslamifthereappearstobesufficienttricks.
OnlyuseBlackwoodwhenyouarecertaintheresponsewilltellyouwhatyou
wanttoknow.Inparticular,ifyouhaveasidesuitwithtwolosersandpartners
responsetoBlackwoodconfirmsthereisoneacemissing,youdonotknow
whetherpartnercancoveryoursecondloserinthesidesuit.Blackwood
hasntgivenyoutheanswer,soyoushouldnthaveuseditinthefirstplace.
2.8.3 Anotherapproachisbycuebidding.Onceasuitisagreed,abidinanewsuit
whichcommitsthepartnershiptogameshowsacontrol,inotherwordsan
ace,void,kingorsingletonaholdingthatwillpreventtheopponentsfrom
winningquicktricksinthatsuit.Forexample1 3 4 isacuebid,
showingacontrolinclubs.
15
2.8.4 Usethefollowingguidelineswhencuebidding:
Showfirstroundcontrolsacesandvoidsbeforesecondround
controls
Shortagecontrolsvoidsandsingletonsareasvaluableasacesand
kingsinpreventingtheopponentsfromwinningearlytricks,butyou
needenoughtrumpstoruffpartnerslosersandenoughtricksfrom
othersources
Inparticularitisunwiseasyourfirstcuebidtoshowashortageina
suitbidbypartner
Withachoiceofcuebidspreferthecheapestforexample1 3
4 woulddenyafirstroundcontrolinspadesorclubs
2.8.5 GrandSlamForce
Ifasuithasbeenagreedthenabidof5NT,without4NTfirst,askspartner
abouttheace,kingandqueenoftrumps.Responseare:
6 notoptrumphonour
6 onetoptrumphonour
6 twotoptrumphonours
Tobidsevenofthetrumpsuitshowsallthreetophonours.
Openingbidsof2,2 and2
Openingbidsof2,2 and2 areeitherplayedasweakorstrong.Agree
thiswithyourpartner!StrongtwoopeningsarediscussedbelowinSection
2.9. WeaktwoopeningsarediscussedinSection2.10.4.
2.9 Strongtwoopeningbids
2.9.1 Openingbidsof2,2 and2 showatleasteightplayingtricksandahand
thatwouldbeconcernedaboutmissinggameifpartnerweretopassan
openingbidattheonelevel.Theseopeningbidsareforcingforoneround
andshouldalsohaveatleasttwodefensivetricks. AusefulguideistheRule
of25.E.g.considerthesetwohands
AKQJ752 Whencalculatingplayingtricks,youareentitledto
4 assumetheoutstandingcardswilldividereasonably.
A3 Youhavesevenspades,leavingsixbetweenthe
QJ10 remainingplayers,soitisfairtoassumeyouhaveseven
tricksinspadesplusthe Aandapossibleclubtrick.
Open2 andrebid3.Notewithonly17pointsitisthe
shapewhichgivesthishanditsstrength.UsingtheRule
25ithas17+7+3=27.
AKQ752 Youhavesixspades,leavingsevenbetweenthe
A1084 remainingplayers,soitisfairtoassumeyoumayhave
32 sixtricksinspadesplusthe Aandanotherpossible
7 trickinhearts.Open1 andrebid2. UsingtheRule
of25ithas13+6+4=23.
16
2.9.2 Weakresponsestoastrongtwoopener
Sinceastrongtwobidisforcingforoneround,partnermustreply.
2NT negative,lessthan8HCP,notasmuchasanaceandaking,
notasmuchasa5cardsuitheadedbyatleastAQ(thesame
asa2 responsetoa2 opening).
Afteranegativeresponseof2NTopenermaybidanewsuitwhichisforcing
foroneround.Areturntoopenersfirstsuitisnotforcing,sorespondershould
bidgamewithanyhelpfullookingcards.
Otherresponsesarenatural,positiveandforcingtogame:
Singleraise forcing,3+cardsupport,atleastoneace(orverygoodtrumps
withthetrumpking)
Doubleraise deniesanacebutshowstrumpsupportandacoupleofuseful
features,suchasakingorasingleton.Withaweakerhand,
startwith2NTandshowthesupportlater.
2.9.3 Strongresponsestoastrongtwoopener
Ajumpbidinanewsuitshowsasolid6+suitandsuggeststhatthisshouldbe
thetrumpsuitorthatthehandisplayedinnotrumpsbypartner.
With8+points,bidadecent5cardsuit. Withabalanced811HCPrespond
3NTprovidedyouhavesomestopperinallthesuits,otherthanpartners.
Itisbettertobid2NTwithaslightlystrongerhandifnosuitablebidisavailable
thanjumpto3NTonnineorsopointswithoutstoppers.
Apositiveresponsetoatwoopenerisalwaysgameforcing.
2.10 Preemptiveopeningbids
2.10.1 Apreemptivebidisonethatskipstwoormorelevelsofbidding.Itismade
onthefirstroundofbidding,usuallywithanopeningbidatthethree,fouror
fivelevel.Itspurposeistotakeawaytheopponentsbiddingspaceandforce
themtoguessatanuncomfortablyhighlevel.
Sinceapreemptattemptstostealtheopponentscontractortomakeitharder
forthemtoreachtheirbestspot,itfollowsthatyourhandmustbemuchbetter
inplayingstrengththanindefence. Anoutsideaceisnotabartoapreempt.
Soyouneed:
Along,strongsuit,normallyatleastsevencards
Fewdefensivetrickscertainlyfewerthantwoaces
Noside4cardmajorsuit(becauseoftheriskofmissingamajorsuit
contract)
17
2.10.2 Youwanttobidashighasyoudarewithouttheriskofalargepenalty.Agood
ruleofthumbistoexpecttogodownnomorethanthreetricksinyourcontract
ifyouarenotvulnerableandnomorethantwotricksifvulnerable,witha
worthlessdummyopposite.ThisisknownastheRuleof500,meaningthatif
youweredoubledyouwouldlosenomorethan500points.
Toassesshowmanytricksyourlongsuitisworth,imaginethatpartnerhasa
singletonandtheopposingcardsdividenormally.
2.10.3 Respondingtoapreempt
Araisetogamemaybeafurtherpreemptorbidintheexpectationofmaking
game,bearinginmindthatonlytrumpsandtopcardsinsidesuitsarelikelyto
bevaluable(e.g.anacewillmakeatrick)outsidequeensandjacksare
generallyuseless.Shortageinthepreempterssuitisnobartoraisingasyou
cancountonagoodsuit. Araisebelowgame(e.g.3 4)isnotagametry.
Youshouldonlybid3NTif:
Youcanseethetricksinyourownhand,or
Youhaveafitforpartnerandcanguardalltheothersuits.
Anewsuitbyresponderisnaturalandforcingitshouldbeatleastastrong6
cardsuitsothatopenerneedslittletosupportit.
2.10.4 Weaktwosinthreesuits
2 iskeptasastrongbid.Anopeningbidof2,2 or2 showsadecent6
cardsuitandabout59points,someplay610points.Itisakindofminipre
emptmainlyobstructiveseekingtotakeawayopponentsbiddingspace. Eight
playingtrickhandsmustbeopenedwithaonebidandrarelygetpassedout
whengameismaking. Responsesare:
araisetothethreelevelispreemptive
araisetogamecouldbeeitherpreemptiveoragenuineexpectationof
makinggame
anewsuitisencouragingbutnotforcing,thoughsomeplayerspreferit
tobeforcingatthethreelevel.
With16+HCPandapartialfitrespondermakesagametrybybidding2NT.
Openerrebidsthesuitopenedwithaminimum,ahighcardfeaturewitha
maximumand3NTwithagoodsuit(atleastAQJxxxorbetter).
2.10.5 Gambling3NT
Anopeningbidof3NTisalsoapreempt.Itismadeonahandwithalong,
solidminorwithnomorethanaqueenoutside.Responderpassesif3NT
mightmake,orbids4 whichsaysPasswithclubsorbid4.
18
SectionB:DealingwithIntervention
1 Takeoutdoublesofovercallsafterpartnerhasopened
1.1 Basicprinciples
Doublesofallsuitbidsuptoandincludingthelevelof2 arefortakeout.
Whenpartneropenswithasuitbidandthenextplayerovercallsattheoneor
twolevel,adoubleisfortakeoutandimpliessupportfortheothertwounbid
suits.Inpractice,youcanbeflexibleinitsuseifyoucancontroltheauction
later.
1.2 Todoubleyouneedmuchthesamestrengthasyouwouldforanaturalcall,
dependingonthelevelatwhichopenerisgoingtohavetobid.Ifopenerstill
hasabidavailableattheonelevel,aslittleasasuitable6HCPwilldo.Ifthe
biddingislikelytoreachthetwolevelyouneedatleast8HCPandtogotothe
threelevelatleast10HCPandsoon.Thereisnoupperpointlimitfora
double.
1.3 Adoublepromises fourcardsinanyunbidmajorsuitthatiswhatyoumost
wantpartnertobid.So,forexample:
1 1 dble Promisesfourhearts
1 1 dble Promisesexactlyfourspades
1 1 1 Showsfive+spades(asadoublewouldshowfour)
1 1 dble Showsfourcardsinbothmajors
1.4 Openersrebidafterrespondersdouble
Thisisquitestraightforwardandverysimilartorespondingtoanyothertakeout
double.Justimaginethatpartnerhadmadeaminimumresponseinanunbid
suit.Forexample,ifthebiddinghasstarted1 1 doublepass,you
simplybidasifpartnerhadresponded1.Ifconsideringaraise,responder
shouldalwaysrememberthathehasineffectalreadybidthesuit.
1.5 Whenresponderisstrongintheopponentssuit
Forexample,partneropens1,righthandopponentovercalls2,andyou
haveahandthatwouldhavedoubled2 forpenalties.Asdoublewouldbefor
takeoutyoumustpassandhopethatpartnercanreopenwithatakeout
double,whichyouwillpassforpenalties.Itfollowsthatpartnershouldalways
protectyourpossiblepenaltydouble,evenwithaminimumopeningbid,unless
hehassuchlengthintheopponentssuit(atleast3cards)thatitishighly
unlikelythatyoucouldhavesuchahand.
19
2 Actionoveropponentstakeoutdoubleoftheopeningbid
2.1 Withnosupportforopenerandalimitedhand
Younolongerneedtostraintobidsomethingonamediocrehand,justtogive
partneranotherchance.Thedoublemeansthatpartnergetsanotherchance
anyway.Sowithaminimumrespondinghandyoumaypass,ratherthanbida
poorsuitor1NT.Yourchoicesare:
Pass Withupto6HCPandnogoodsuit
1NT Balancedhand,710HCP,stoppersinothersuits
Newsuit With6+HCPandareasonablesuitattheonelevel9+
HCPatthetwolevel
2.2 Withatleast10HCPandfewerthanfourcardsinopenerssuit
Theoptionsare:
Bidanewsuit,naturalandforcingjustasiftherehadbeenno
intervention
Withgooddefenceandnooutstandingplayingstrength,redouble.A
redoubletellsopenerthatthedoublermayhavemisjudgedandseeks
openerscooperationinpenalizingtheopponents.
2.2.1 Afteraredoubleallfurtherdoublesbytheredoublingsideareforpenalties.As
opener,donotbidinfrontoftheredoublerunlessyourhandisweakand
unsuitablefordefence.Withareasonableopeningbidpassfirstandtake
actionlaterifitappearsthatopponentshavefoundasaferestingplace.
Exceptwhenopenerhasshownaminimumdistributionalhand,theredoubler
promisestobidagain.
2.3 Withsupportforpartner
Themorecardsyouhaveinthepartnershipinonesuit,themorelikelyitisthat
opponentshaveafitalso.(Ifyoursidehavea9cardfit,itismathematically
certainthatopponentshaveatleastan8cardfitinanothersuit).Sobothsides
maybeabletomakeahighlevelcontractandyouwanttomakeitharderfor
theopponentstofindtheirs.Thatmeansyoushouldshadeyourraises.
Watchforthevulnerabilityandbepreparedtoraisetothethreeorfourlevelif
notvulnerable.Youcanraisetothetwolevelwith3cardsupportandabitof
shape.
Withagenuineraisetothethreelevelorhigherofopenerssuit,youbid2NT,
whichhasnomeaninginanaturalsense,sinceyouwouldredoublewitha
balanced10+points.
20
3 Actionoverinterventionofour1NTopening
3.1 Opponentsmakeanaturalovercall
Asafterasuitopening,adoubleisfortakeout.Asuitbidatthelowestlevelis
notforcing,ajumpsuitbidisforcing. AcuebidoftheovercallsuitisStayman
showingagamegoinghand.
Iftheopponentsovercallyourpartners1NTatthethreeleveladoubleisstill
fortakeout.Theovercallerwillhaveagoodsuitsoanypenaltywouldbesmall.
Youneedtocheckon44majorsuitfitsandwhetheropenerhasaguardin
theirsuit.
3.2 Opponentsmakeapenaltydoubleof1NT
Allsuitbidsbyresponderarenaturalandweak,including2.Passsuggests
thereisnobetterrestingplaceredoubleisstrong,hopingtomake1NT
redoubledortodoubleopponentsforpenaltiesiftheybidon.
3.3 Opponentsmakeaconventionalovercall
Forexample,anopponentsovercallof2 mightshowbothmajors(Landy)or
maybeheartsandanother(Aspro).Nowadoubleoftheartificialbidshows
generalstrength(about10+HCP). Allsubsequentdoublesarenowpenalty. If
theypromiseananchorsuit,asinAspro,youcanuseabidofthatsuitfor
takeout.
4 Actionoverartificialtwosuitedovercalls
4.1 Whenopponentsovercallwithatwosuitedbid(likeaMichaelsCueBid orthe
unusualnotrump)itisimportanttoshowafitforpartnerifyouhaveone.You
canstretchyourbidsalittle.Adoublewillusuallyshowinterestinpenalising
youropponent,withgooddefencetoatleastoneoftheirsuits.Anewsuitis
naturalandforcing.
4.2 Usetheirsuitstohelpyoutodescribeotherhandtypes,asfollows:
Whenboththeirsuitsareknownabidofthelowerrankingsuitshows
theunbidsuitandapartialfitforpartner
Abidofthehigherrankingsuitshowsasoundraisetothreeof
partnerssuit
Whenonlyoneoftheirsuitsisknownabidofthatsuitshowsasound
raisetothreeofpartnerssuit
21
SectionC:DefensiveBidding
1 SuitOvercalls
1.1 Whenopponentsopenwithasuitbid,anovercallinanothersuitshowsaround
818HCPandarespectable5cardsuitusuallywithatleasttwohonours.
Withfewerpointsthesuitshouldbestronger.Ifyoursuitislowerrankingthan
opponentstheovercallwouldbeatthetwolevel,thenyouneed10+HCPand
averygoodfiveorreasonable6cardsuit.
Withmorethanabout16HCPitmaybebettertostartwithadoublerather
thanovercall.
1.2 Respondingtoanovercall
1.2.1 Supportingpartnerisverystraightforward.Astheovercallershouldhavea
goodsuitthereisnoneedtostraintofindanalternativeplacetoplay.You
canraisetheovercallwheneveryouhave3cardsupport.Raisetheovercall
onthesamevaluesasyouwouldraiseanopeningbid.
Adoubleortripleraiseismainlypreemptive.
1.2.2 Withagenuineinterestingamebidtheopponentssuit,knownasan
unassumingcuebid. Thisshows3+cardsupportforpartnerandgametry
values,say10+HCP. Withaminimumovercallpartnerrepeatshissuitata
minimumlevel,withabetterhandheshowssomeotherfeature.
1.2.3 Tobidnotrumpsinresponsetoanovercallyouneedalittlemorethanin
responsetoanopeningbid,astheovercallermaybeweaker,andagood
guardintheopponentssuit.A1NTresponseshowsabout912HCPanda
2NTresponse1314HCP.
1.2.4 Tobidanewsuitoppositeanovercallyouneedagoodsuitsixcardsorfive
verygoodonesthebidisencouragingbutnotforcing,sopartnermayleave
youtoplayinyoursuit.Attheonelevelyoushouldhave8+HCPtobidanew
suit,atthetwolevel10+HCP. Achangeofsuitwithajumpisforcing.Dont
respondjustbecauseyoudontlikeovercallerssuit.
1.5 Jumpovercalls
1.5.1 Ajumptoonehigherlevelthannecessary(e.g.12)showsastrong6card
suitandaround1216HCP(anintermediatejumpovercall).Inpracticethat
usuallymeansyoucanexpecttotakeaboutsixorseventricksevenwith
nothingusefulindummy.Atthethreelevel(e.g.1 3),especiallywhen
vulnerable,thesuitshouldbeverysound(aseventhcardwouldbeanasset).
22
1.5.2 Whenrespondingtoajumpovercall,bearinmindthattheovercallershand
willbeaboutanacebetterthanaminimumopeningbidintermsofplaying
strengthandthatthesuitwillneedlittlesupport.Aresponseinanewsuitis
naturalandforcing.3NTisquitealikelychoiceoppositeajumpinaminor
suit.
1.5.3 Ifyouareevenstrongerthanajumpovercall,startwithatakeoutdoubleand
then,overpartnersresponse,bidyoursuit.Youwillhaveabouteighttricksin
yourownhand,similartoaminimumAcoltwoopeningbid(seeSection2.8.3).
1.6 Preemptiveovercalls
1.6.1 Adoublejumpinanewsuit(13 or14)showsexactlythesamesortof
handasapreemptiveopeningbid,averygood7cardorlongersuitbutlittle
else.Ifdoubled,youwouldexpecttogodownnomorethan500points,evenif
partnerhasnothing.
2 Overcallingnotrumpsafterasuitopening
2.1 A1NTovercallshowsabalancedhandof1618points,includingsome
strength(ideallytwostoppers)intheopponentssuit. With2022points
overcall2NT.Handswithagood18toapoor20HCP,doublethenbidno
trumpsatthelowestlevel.
2.2 Respondingtoanotrumpovercall
Bidexactlyasinresponsetoanopeningnotrumpbid,buttakingintoaccount
thefactthatpartnerwillhaveastrongerhand.So,useStaymanetcasbefore.
2.3 Inthefourthseat(the protectiveposition)1NTshows1114andnot
necessarilyastopperintheopponentssuit.Itisbidontheassumptionthat
secondhandwillhavesomevaluesasopenerspartnerhaspassed.Respond
astoa1NTopening.
3 Takeoutdoubles
3.1 Requirementsforanormaltakeoutdouble:
Shortageinopenerssuit.
Ahandonwhichyouwouldhaveopenedthebidding.Intheorythereis
noupperlimit.
Toleranceforanysuitpartnermaybidideally3+cards.
Occasionallyyoumaybestuckwithagoodhandwithonlyadoubletoninone
unbidsuit.Youshouldcertainlyhavesupportforanyunbidmajorsuit,
becausepartnerwilloftenrespondinamajorifatallpossible.Withsupportfor
allsuitspreferadoubletoanovercallonapoorsuit.
3.2 Doubleonmosthandsofupwardsof17HCP.Forexample,with17+HCP
andadecentsuit,doublefirstandthenbidyoursuitoverpartnersresponse.
Balancedhandswithagood18toapoor20HCPalsostartwithadoublethen
rebidinnotrumps.
23
3.3 Responsestotakeoutdoubles
Youmustrespondtoatakeoutdoubleunlessyouareexceptionallystrongin
theopponentssuit.Partnerwillusuallyleadatrump,topreventdeclarer
makingruffswithsmalltrumps,soyourtrumpsmustbereallygood.
Withupto8HCPbidyourbestsuitattheminimumlevel.Withabout912
HCPjumpinyoursuit.Agoodguidelineistoimaginepartnerhadopenedthe
biddinginyoursuitifyouwouldhaveconsideredgivingjumpsupportyou
shouldmakeajumpbidnow.
Withachoiceofsuits,prefertoshowamajor.
Tobidnotrumpsyouneedmuchthesamestrengthasinresponsetoan
openingbidbesuretohavegoodvaluesintheopponentssuit,theonein
whichpartnerwillbeshort.
Withthevaluestoatleastinvitegameandnoobviouschoice,bidthe
opponentssuit.Thisisforcingtosuitagreementinotherwordsneither
partnermaypassuntilafithasbeenfounded.
Tableofresponsestopartnersdoubleof1:
1,1,2 08HCP,atleasta4cardsuit
2,2,3 912HCP,atleasta4cardsuit
1NT 69HCP,stoppersindiamonds
2NT 1012HCP,stoppersindiamonds
3NT 1315HCP,stoppersindiamonds
2 11+HCP,noobviousbid
Theresponsesaresimilarafteropeninginothersuits.
4 Protectivebidding
Ifyourlefthandopponentsopeningbidhasbeenfollowedbytwopasses,you
mayovercallordoubleonweakerhandsthansittingovertheopeningbidder,
aspartnerismarkedwithsomevalues.Inresponsetoaprotectivebid,
assumepartnerhasalreadybidabout3HCPofyourhand(knownasthe
principleofthetransferredking).
Ajumpovercallstillshowsabout1216HCPwithagood6cardsuit.
Inthesequence1ofasuitfollowedbytwopasses,1NTshows1114HCPand
maynothaveastopintheopenerssuit.Bidexactlyasinresponsetoan
openingbidof1NT,souseStaymanandweaktakeoutsetcasbefore.See
alsoSection1.1.
Withastrongerhand,whereyouwouldovercall1NTinsecondseat,doubleis
usuallythebestfirstactionintheprotectiveposition.A2NTovercallwould
showaround1921HCP,atakeoutdoublefollowedbyaminimumnotrump
rebidwouldshowaround1518HCPbothwithstopsinopenerssuit.
Aroughruleinthispositionistoaddthenumberofspadestoyourpoints.If
theanswerislessthan14dontprotect.Itseemstoworkmostofthetime.
24
5 Defencetoopponentsopening1NT
5.1 Adoubleof1NTisforpenalties,showing16 HCP ormoreifthehandis
balanced,alittlelessifyouhaveaverypromisinglead.
Thedoublerspartnerwillpassmostofthetime.Onlywithaveryshapely
handisthedoubleremoved.Anewsuitatthetwolevelisveryweak,atthe
threeevelitisnotforcingbuthighlyencouraging.
Ifopenerspartnerrescuesintoasuit,anyfurtherdoublesarealsofor
penalties.SixormoreHCPandfourtrumpsheadedbyanhonourarequite
adequate.
5.2 Suitovercallsof1NT
Usethesamecriteriawhendecidingwhetherthesuitisgoodenoughto
overcallanopening1NT,asyouwouldfordecidingonatwolevelovercallof
anopeningsuitbidatleast10HCPandpreferablya6cardsuit,thougha
handwithagood5cardsuitcanbeacceptableon,say,a5431distribution.A
jumpovercallshowsasevenorverygood6cardsuitandaboutseventricksin
yourownhand.
5.3 Landy
Withatleast54inthemajorsandenoughtoovercall,bid2 (Landy
convention). Thebettertheshapethefewerthepointsneeded,say815
HCP. Withalimitedhandrespondershowshisbettermajoror,withequal
length,bids2,invitingtheovercallertochoosebetweenthemajors.Witha
goodfitrespondermayjumpto3,3,4 or4.
6 Defencetopreemptiveopeningbids
6.1 Apreempteffectivelydeprivesyoursideofspacetoinvestigateyourbest
contract.Becauseyouareforcedtobidatthethreeorfourlevel,youneedto
bealittlestrongerthanoveranopeningbidofoneofasuit.Butbecausethe
preemptorwillbeweak,andshortintheothersuits,partnerismorelikelyto
havesomeusefulcards. Assumepartnerhasabout7HCPwhenmakinga
decisionwhattodoyourpartnershouldrememberyouhavedonethis. Asa
generalguideyoumay:
Overcallona6cardsuitoraverygood5cardsuitandvaluesforan
openingbid.
Makeatakeoutdoubleonanyhandworthanopeningbidandsupportfor
theothersuitsyoumaynotalwayshavetheidealshape,butsupportfor
anunbidmajorsuitisimportant.
Bid3NTonahandyouwouldhaveovercalled1NToveranopeningbidof
one(3NTmaybethebestchoiceonstrongerhandsandonsomeother
hands,saywithalongstrongminor,whichmightmakelotsoftricks).
Itfollowsthatwithvaluestospare,sayabout8playingtricks,youshouldtake
thestrainoffpartnerandbidgameyourselfifyoucan.
25
6.2 Afterafourlevelorhigherpreemptthesameprinciplesapply.Adoubleis
stillfortakeout,butpartnerismorelikelytoleaveitinwithoutalongsuitto
bid.Adoubleof4 shouldalwayshavesomesupportforspades,as4 is
yourmostlikelygamecontract.Doublerspartnercanpassthedoublemore
oftenwithafewpointsandnothingusefultosay
7 TheunusualnotrumpandMichaelscuebids
7.1 Whenopponentsopenwithasuitbidweusea2NTovercallandacuebidin
theirsuittoshowapronouncedtwosuitedhand(atleast55)and8+HCP.
Overaminorsuitopening:
Anovercalloftwooftheirminorshowsbothmajors
Anovercallof2NTshowsthetwolowerrankingsuits
Overamajorsuitopening:
Twooftheirmajorshowstheothermajorandoneoftheminors
2NTshowstheminors
Youshouldmakesomeallowancesforvulnerability.Obviouslyasixthcardin
eitherofyoursuitswouldboosttheplayingstrengthandcompensatefora
coupleofpoints.
Mostimportantisthatbothsuitsshouldbesound,withatleasttwohonours
andreasonableintermediatecards(tens,nines,etc).
Havingmadethecuebid,overcallerpassespartnersresponsewitha
minimumhand,say812HCP.Abetterhandwith1316HCPorstronger
distribution,givesasingleraiseandareallystronghandbidsgameoreven
repeatsthecuebidasastronggametry.
7.2 Whenyourlefthandopponentsopeningbidisfollowedbytwopassesits
usualtodispensewiththeunusualnotrump,asotherwisetherangeof
balancedhandstocoverbyadoublewouldbetoogreat.2NTshowsa
balancedhandofabout1921HCP.Michaelsstillapplies.
7.3 ResponsestoUNTandMichaels
Withoutanygreatfitineithersuitresponderwillsimplyshowpreferencefor
oneorothersuitataminimumlevel(withequallengthgivingpreferenceatthe
cheaperlevelisrelevant).Rememberthatwhenpartnerhasshown5card
suits,3cardsupportisamplesometimesyouhavetosettleforonlytwo.With
goodsupportforeithersuitrespondercanbemoreaggressive.
Inonetypeofsequence(1 2 or1 2)youdontknowpartnerssecond
suit.Aresponseof2NTaskstheovercallertoshowtheminor.Youwoulddo
thisonahandwithnolikingforpartnersmajorandsomesupportforeither
minoror,occasionally,withthreecardsinthemajorandsomeinterestingame
ifthehandsfitwell.
Aresponseinasuitnotknowntobepartnersisnaturalandnonforcing,witha
verylongsuit.Astheovercallershandisalreadywelldefinedheisnot
expectedtodisturbthis.
26
8 Otherusesofdoubles
8.1 Thegeneralprincipleisthatdoublesofnaturalsuitbidsarefortakeoutupto
andincludingthelevelof2.
8.2 Partnermakesatakeoutdoubleandopponentsraise,forexample1dbl2
dbl.Knownasaresponsivedoublethisinvitesthedoublertochooseasuit.
8.3 Adoubleofasuitbidinacompetitiveauctionshowsatleasttwopossible
restingplaces,eitherinanunbidsuitorinpartnerssuit.
Forexample112dblshowsaspadesuitandtoleranceforhearts.
8.4 Ifpartnerhasovercalledandopenerssuithasbeenraised,adoubleshows
interestinatleastoneoftheothersuitsandahandwithusefulhighcards.For
example, 112dbl.Thisiscalledacompetitivedouble.
8.5 Adoubleofaconventionalbid,forexampleofStaymanoratransferbid,
showslengthandstrengthinthesuitbid.Abidofopponentsimpliedsuitisfor
takeout.After1NTpass2 (transferto2)
Doubleshowsaheartsuitandvaluestoovercall
2 isatakeoutdoubleofspades
8.6 Adoubleofafreelybidslam,knownasaLightnerdouble,askspartnertofind
anunusuallead.Oftenthedoubleristryingtogetaruffandyouhaveto
guessinwhichsuitpartnerhasavoid.
9 Defendingagainsttheirsystem
9.1 Strongclub
A1 openingshows16+HCPandsaysnothingaboutclubs.Overcall1NTto
showtheminorsanddoubletoshowthemajors(atleast54inthesuits
shown).Canbequiteweakinhighcards,especiallynonvulnerableorwith
longersuits.Withabetterdistributionalhandbidstraightaway.Infourthseat
bidnatrually.
9.2 Benjamintwobids
Dontbeafraidtoovercallwithalongsuit.
27
SectionD:DefensiveCardingMethods
1 Openingleads
1.1 Tableofstandardopeningleads
Thestandardrulesforleadsare
a) topofasequence
b) topofaninternalsequence
c) fourthhighest fromagoodsuit
d) lowestfromthreetoanhonour
e) topofadoubleton
f) MUD(middle,up,down)fromthreesmallcards,playthetopcardonthe
nextround
g) secondhighestfromfoursmallcards,playyouroriginalfourthhighestcard
onthenextround
h) againstanotrumpcontracttheleadofakingaskspartnertoplayany
honourcardheld(unlesstodosowouldcostatrick),otherwisetogivea
countsignal.
Typeofholding Example(s)
Leadagainstano
trumpcontract
Rule
Leadagainsta
suitcontract
Rule
Sequenceofthree
ormorehonours
KQJ4
QJ107
K
Q
a,h
a
K
Q
a
a
Twohonoursthena
gaptoathirdcard
KQ109
J10865
K
J
a,h
a
K
J
a
a
Fourormorecards
headedbytwo
honoursin
sequence
KQ763
QJ54
6
4
c
c
K
Q
a
a
Threecardsheaded
bytwohonoursin
sequence
J107 J a J a
Aninternal
sequenceoftwoor
morehonours
KJ1084 J b J b
Abrokensuitoffour
ormorecardswith
atleastonehonour
Q10752 5 c 5 c
Threecardstoan
honour
K73 3 d 3 d
Threeormoresmall
cards
975
8632
7(then9)
6(then2)
f
g
7(then9)
6(then2)
f
g
Adoubleton J6
64
J
6
e
e
J
6
e
e
Asuitheadedby
AK
AK852 5 c A a
AKdoubleton AK Avoidthislead K
Astrongsuit
headedbyAKJ
AKJ96 K h A a
1.2 Whenleadingasuitbidbypartnerchoosethenormalcard.
28
2 Signals
2.1 Whenfollowingsuitandyouhavetwoormorecardsinsequence.
Whereyouneedtoplayoneofthesequence,playthelowestcardofthe
sequence.Forexample,partnerleadsalowcard,dummyplayslowandyou
holdQJ2playthejack.IfyouholdKQJplaytheJ.
2.2 Onpartnerslead,whennotattemptingtowinatrick,playahighcardto
encourageacontinuationofthatsuitandalowcardtodiscourage.
ApplytheRuleof11whenpartnerleadslowagainstanotrumpcontract
subtractthepipsonthecardledfromeleventheresultgivesthenumberof
highercardsthantheoneledintheotherthreehands(ofwhichyoucansee
yoursanddummys).
Theplayofthequeenontheleadofanaceagainstasuitcontracttellspartner
thatyoucanwinthenexttrickwiththejackorbyruffing.
Whenreturningpartnerssuit,ifyoustartedwiththree,returnthehigherofthe
remainingtwo.Ifyoustartedwithfourormore,returnyouroriginalfourth
highest.
2.3 Ondeclarerslead,playahighcardtoshowanevennumberofcardsinthe
suitandalowcardtoshowanoddnumber. Dontsignalifyouthinkitwillhelp
declarermakethewinningplay.
2.4 Suitpreferencesignals,inobviouscircumstances,forexamplewhen
givingpartneraruff,ahighcardasksforthehigherrankingsidesuitandalow
cardasksforthelowerrankingsidesuit.
2.5 Trumpsignals,playinghighlowintrumpsshowsthatyoustartedwiththree
trumpsandarelookingforaruff.
3 Discards
3.1 Aswithsignals,adiscardofahighcardshowsinterestinthatsuit,alowcard
lackofinterest.
29
SectionE:MaterialsListandConventionslist
Book1:BeginningBridge 2005
Book2:ContinuingBridge 2006
BooksintheReallyEasyBridgeSeries
PracticeBeginningBridge 2005
PracticeContinuingBridge 2006
ReallyEasyBidding 2006
ReallyEasyMistakes 2000
ReallyEasyPlayinNoTrumps 2002
ReallyEasyPlaywithTrumps 2001
RealtyEasyDefence 2002
ReallyEasyModernAcol 2003
Conventionslist Pagereferences
Systemfile Book2 REMA
Redsuittransfers(over1NTand2NTopenings) 34,67 1578 168
TwowayBaronresponseto1NTopening 4 19
Minorsuittransferresponsetoa1NTopening 4 19
Baron3 responsetoa2NTopening 7 19
Splinterandpuddingraises 10 1535 347
Trialbids 14 389
GrandSlamForce 15 745
Weaktwosindiamonds,heartsandspades 16 159160
Gambling3NT 16 121
DefencetoLandy 19
DefencetoMichaelscuebidsandunusualnotrump 19 116
Unassumingcuebids 20 867
Landyovera1NTopening 23 115
Michaelscuebidandunusualnotrump 24 1114
Defencetostrongclub 25
DefencetoBenjamintwobids 25
Acknowledgments:
StandardEnglishAcolwasdevelopedbySandraLandywiththehelpoftheBridgeforAlldrafting
teamMikePomfrey,JeanPatefieldandSimonAinger. BridgeforAllisthenationallyapproved
methodoflearningthegameformallyrecognisedbytheOpenCollegeNetwork.
EnglishBridgeUnion2006
EnglishBridgeUnion,Broadfields,BicesterRoad,AylesburyHP198AZ
(01926317200 Emailpostmaster@ebu.co.uk