BIDDING CONVENTIONS

When playing with Bill Mitchell Our card
Green Fairly standard conventions (often SAYC)
Yellow Advanced conventions
Orange Conventions to use with established partners

OPENING BIDS AND RESPONSES

1N opening 15-17hcp balanced (may have 5cd major), full writeup of 1N responses includes Stayman, transfers, Smolen, handling interference, Garbage Stayman. Nick's Garbarge Stayman notes
2N opening 20-21hcp balanced (may have 5cd major), full writeup of 2N responses. Use Puppet Stayman to respond.
Major openings partial writeup of 1 of major responses
Modified Jacoby 2N, Splinters
2-over-1 partial writeup , 2over1 agreement with Bill
Raising with 3-card support (article by Dave Vidaver)
Minor openings Minor opening / major response scenarios
Minor opening / non-major response scenarios
Inverted minor raise shows 4-cd support, opening hand, denies 4-cd major. [With Scott, I play it this way]
Criss-cross (jump-shift into other minor shows limit-raise)
Checkback 2N (aka Spiral) Responder inquires about strength of support in 1m-1M-2M sequence. See Minor opening / major response scenarios
XYZ Supersedes New Minor Forcing or Checkback Club Writeup at Larry Cohen's website
Writeup from Ted Muller.
XYZ is OFF if there is any interference.
Fourth suit forcing Bidding 4th suit - game-forcing, asks partner to describe hand (in priority order):
  • Raise partner's suit with 3 cards
  • Bid NT if 4th suit stopped
  • Raise 4th suit with 4 cards
  • Make most natural bid otherwise
EXCEPTION: 1 in this sequence: 1-1-1-1 is NOT forcing.
Four-way transfers Special handling with minor-suit transfers (1N-2, 1N-2N)
If opener has Hxx or better in the transferred suit, bid the "in-between" suit. Responder can bid 3N if appropriate. Otherwise, bid the transfer suit.
Wolff Relay Used after 1m - 1M - 2N sequence to show weak hand, less than game-going values.
PASS, 3N, or 4M -- are signoffs.
Any other bid except for 3 is game forcing. Possible bids:
3Relay to 3, then:
Same majorPass or correct (staying on 3 level!)
3After 1 shows weak 5-5 in majors. Opener passes or corrects to 3
3Unknown -- needs discussion!!
3N Slam interest in opener's minor
3Similar to New Minor Forcing:
3OM4 cards in other major. Responder can bid 3N or 4M accordingly
3M3-card support. Responder bids accordingly.
3N Neither of the above.
3M5+ cards, extras, slam interest
3After 1, shows 5-5 or better in majors, forcing
3After 1, Unknown -- needs discussion!!
Two-way Reverse Drury Similar to Reverse Drury, but now over 3rd/4th seat major-suit opener 2 or 2 asks if it's a full opener. 2 promises 4+ card support w/ 10+ hcp. 2 same with exactly 3-card support. Opener then responds:
2 of their suitLight opener
Anything elseFull 13+ opener
Responder continues as needed. Notes:
1. if responder holds long club suit they bid 2, then 3 over any bid by opener.
2. Drury is OFF over any interference.
Help-suit game try When opener's 1-of-major opening is raised to 2, bidding another suit is the help-suit game try. It asks partner if he can "help" in that suit. Maybe you have a half-stopper, or Axxx, or whatever. It's a mechanism like splinters, for finding games (or even slams) with less than the normal 26 (or 32) HCP.
This could be used over a limit raise, if you are slamming?
Responding to 2 opener "control showing" 2=King or less (0-1 control)
2=Ace or 2 Kings (2 controls)
2=Ace & King (3 controls)
2N=3 Kings (so lead comes to you)
3=2 Aces or Ace & 2 Kings (4 controls)
and so on
Responding to 2N by 2 opener Puppet Stayman is ON. All other NT systems are ON.
Reverse Bergen (1st/2nd seat open only) With 4-card support for a major, expands beyond Jacoby 2N:
3 10-11 HCP; limit raise
3 7-9 HCP; weak hand
3 of opener's major 0-7 HCP; pre-emptive
Bergen is OFF if responder is a passed hand. 3 becomes weak jump shift; 3 is 8-9hcp with 4-cd support. Reasoning: with 4-card support, responder should use Drury.
Impossible Spade After this sequence, 1 - 1N (forcing) - 2 or 2
2 limit raise of the minor; with either 5+ clubs or 4+ diamonds. Responder can't have a Spade suit as they would have bid that instead of 1N.
3 or 3 8-9hcp raise or minor.
2 or 2N If neither of the above bids is correct, choose the appropriate one of these
Rule of 20 / (Rule of 22) When evaluating a borderline opening hand, add the number of cards in the two longest suits to the high card points. If that is 20 or higher, go ahead and open. Note: Jerry Helms recommends that you additionally have 2 quick tricks.
Rule of 15 In 4th seat, open any hand where high card points plus the number of Spades is 15 or higher. Concept is that a weaker hand would have more Spades -- and can find a partial there.
Rule of 9 Helps to decide when to make a penalty double, or how to proceed after partner makes a takeout or re-opening double. In either case, first add up:
  • Level of the contract
  • Number of cards in opponent's suit
  • Number of honors in opponent's suit (including 10s)
NOTE: Devalue honor holdings such as KQ, KJ, KQJ, QJ, QJT by 1
Double for penalty, if count is 9 (with extras). Always double with 10 or more.
In a competitive auction, when partner has doubled, if above sum is 9 or more, PASS. Otherwise, either bid your best suit, or raise your partner with a minimum of two card in their suit.

Exceptions:

  1. If count comes to 8 AND you have at least 2 unexpected tricks, you may pass -- converting the double to penalty.
  2. If opponents open in a game bid, it is often correct to pass even your count is less than 9

"8 over 8" Responding to 1N opener, holding 8hcp and 8 cards 8 or higher, invite with 2N. Otherwise, PASS.

Also applies when holding flat 14hcp. Consider opening 1N with 8 cards 8 or higher.

PREEMPTIVE BIDS AND RESPONSES

Weak 2s 6-card suit, usually a major. 5-10hcp normal range. Standard treatment - vulnerable should have 2 of top 3 honors. Experts disagree...
Rule of 17 Responding to partner's weak-2, add the number of trump cards you hold to your HCP. If the total is less than 17, there is no game. Otherwise, you can explore for game.
Ogust (over weak 2s) popular alternative to "feature ask" response -
Evaluate suit quality based on partnership agreement! Weak hand is generally lower half of weak-2 point range.
BidHandsuit
3 weakpoor
3 weakstrong
3 strongpoor
3 strongstrong
Preempt hand evaluation Opener:
  • count "playing" tricks:
    • Every card after 3rd in trump
    • Aces, supported Kings (Kx), covered Queens (AQx, KQx)
  • Then bid count +2 Vul, or +3 NotVul -- but don't go above a "game" bid in that suit
Responder: subtract 2 (Vul) or 3 (NotVul), then
  • Add quick tricks:
    • A, K, or Q of trump = 1 trick each
    • In other suits: AK=2, AQ=1.5, KQ=1, A=1, Kx=0.5
    • Singleton, with trump support = 1 trick
    • Void, with trump support = 2 trick
  • And bid or pass accordingly. Example: Vul, opener has 7 playing tricks -- opens 3; responder has 5 quick tricks -- bids 6
Rule of 2-3-4Ely Culbertson's rule on how high to make a preemptive call. Writeup at bridgehands.com
Gambling 3NLong, running minor with outside Ace. Writeup at bridgehands.com
Preemptive Gerber When partner preempts 2X or 3X, 4 is Preemptive Gerber (4 if partner bid ), and you have slam interest (Full writeup by Sara Rothmuller & Harvey Brody).
Key cards are A or K of trump, or outside Ace. Preemptor can't have all 3!
44
1st step0 key cards44
2nd step1 key card44
3rd step1 key card, plus Q of trump44N
4th step2 key cards4N5
5th step2 key cards, plus Q of trump55

SLAM BIDDING

Roman KeyCard Blackwood (1430) 4N asks how many of 5 "controls" -- 4 aces & K of trump:
51 or 4
50 or 3
cheapest non-signoff 5-lvl bid is "queen ask" (iow over 5, 5 is ask)
5trumpNo Queen, unknown # of Kings
5NHave Queen, but no Kings
6suitHave Queen, and King of suit
52 or 5, no queen of trump
52 or 5, with queen of trump
5N "specific King ask" - guarantees all 5 controls
6suit (below trump)Kings of suit
6trumpNo kings below trump
6suit (above trump) Some partnerships agree that asking for Kings means a strong desire to get to 7.
Thus one can respond with a void ABOVE 6 of trump.
5Neven number with a useful void somewhere
6x (below trump)odd number with a void in this suit (iow 6 == void in clubs)
6trumpodd number with a useful void above trump suit (iow, if trump is , 6 == void in )
1430 Gerber 4 over NT opening asks for Aces 4=1 or 4; 4=0/3; 4=2.
Now, there is always room for asker to bail at 4N.
Then, 5 asks for Kings.
Minorwood (RKC1430) 4 of trump-suit after inverted minor raise, or 4-level bid after 1N transfer, asks how many of 5 "controls" -- 4 aces & K of trump. my writeup
4 asking4 asking
441 or 4
440 or 3
cheapest non-signoff bid (skipping 4N) is "queen ask" (iow over 4, 5 is ask)
5trumpNo Queen, unknown # of Kings
5NHave Queen, but no Kings
6suitHave Queen, and King of suit
4 4N2 or 5, no queen of trump
4N 52 or 5, with queen of trump
5 or is signoff
5 or is "specific King ask" - guarantees all 5 controls
5 or 6 suit (below trump)Kings of suit
6trumpNo kings below trump
6suit (above trump) Some partnerships agree that asking for Kings means a strong desire to get to 7.
Thus one can respond with a void ABOVE 6 of trump.
5, 5, 5 5, 5, 6odd number with a useful void in indicated suit
5N 5Neven number with a useful void somewhere
Kickback If "slamming" suit is Hearts, 4 is RKC1430 ask:
4N1 or 4
50 or 3
52 or 5, no queen
52 or 5, have queen
Now asker always has room to bail at 5. Further bids are same as RKCB.

NOTES:
  1. Not alertable during auction as it can "wake up" partner. Must be disclosed before opening lead.
  2. Because 4 is Kickback, 4N is a Spade cuebid.
Gerber 4 over NT opening asks for Aces 4=0 or 4; 4=1; 4=2; 4N=3.
Then, 5 asks for Kings.
Over response to 4, 4 means "bail out at 4N". See 1430 Gerber below if you want to avoid problems when the response is 4N and you can't bail.
DOPI/ROPIHandle interference over Ace-asking bids:
DOPI over suit interference: (think D0P1) DBL=0, PASS=1, then up the line otherwise
ROPI over DBL interference: (think R0P1) RDBL=0, PASS=1, then up the line otherwise
Grand Slam ForceWith a known fit, a jump bid of 5N inquires about partner's top three trump honors. With 2 or more trump controls, responder makes a Grand Slam call in the trump suit. Otherwise, the responder signs off in a Small Slam.
Exclusion Blackwood With a known fit, a jump to the 5-level in another suit is RKC1430 excluding the Ace in the suit bid.
Asking Bids With a known major-suit fit, a non-jump to the 5 level (bypassing 4N) asks for first- or second-round controls in that suit. Bid:
5 of agreed suitno controls in asked suit
6 of agreed suitsecond round control of asked suit
cuebid of asked suitfirst round control of asked suit
Note that you can only ask about suits lower than the agreed suit.

INTERFERING WITH OPPONENTS BIDDING

Unusual NT Jump to 2N over 1-lvl bid 4N over pre-empt. Shows 5-5 in 2 lowest unbid suits; most of hcp should be in these suits.
We also play "Unusual 1N" when bid over opponents' 1-over-1 auaction. Eg. 1 - P - 1 - 1N shows 5-5 in the black suits.
Michaels cue bid Showing 5-5 distribution; most of hcp should be in these suits
Over a major, shows other major & unspecified minor. 2N asks for minor.
Over a minor, shows BOTH majors.
Normally, hand is weak or strong. With intermediate hand, make an overcall instead.

Advancer makes minimum response with weak hand, otherwise jumps or cuebids.

Meckwell
22-suited (~5-5) & major
22-suited (~5-5) & major
2 or 2Natural
2NBoth minors
DBLLong minor OR both majors (4-4 min). Bid 2 to ask which. Answer with PASS, 2, or 2.
Cappelletti (Hamilton) Common 1N interference bid:
2Long suit
2Both majors (min 4-4)
2 & a minor
2 & a minor
2NBoth minors
DBLPenalty
Responsive double Response to a takeout double or overcall, when opponents have bid & raised their suit.
1M - X - 2M - X is responsive double, scattered values, 4 cards in the other major and no long suits (because you would bid a 5-cd suit if you had it!).
When you double over partner's overcall (e.g., 1H - 1S - 2H - X), you should also be able to tolerate partner bidding their suit again (IOW, have 2+ cards in that suit.)
6-8 hcp at 2-level; 9+ hcp at 3-level
NOTE: if opponents have bid & raised a minor, the responsive double promises 4-4 in the majors.
Mathe Against Strong 1 opens (e.g., Precision):
1//Natural overcall
DBL4-4 (or better when vulnerable) in the majors
1N4-4 (or better when vulnerable) in the minors -- can be pre-emptive
2natural overcall -- alertable!
Leaping Michaels Strong 5-5 over weak 2s (and 3s!); better than opening hand; suits should be: AKxxx, AQxxx, KQJxx (one suit has to have an Ace!)
Opps. bidOur bidMeaning
2 or 34Clubs + a major
2 or 34Both majors
2 or 34Clubs + Spades
2 or 34Diamonds + Spades
2 or 34Clubs + Hearts
2 or 34Diamonds + Hearts
34Both majors
34Diamonds + a major
any 2 or 3 bid4NBoth minors
Responses to Leaping Michaels:
Both suits knownPick one!
Clubs + unknown majorBid 4 to ask for major (you can support either); 5 otherwise
Diamonds + unknown majorBid 4 to ask for major -- leaper passes or corrects; 5 otherwise
McCabe [Taken from this article by Robert Todd.]
When partner opens a 2-level preempt and RHO makes a takeout double, we know that the auction is about to become competitive. Most of the times that we want to compete in the bidding in this kind of auction are when we have a fit for partner's suit. Since this is the case, then it makes sense to assign more than one bid to promise a fit for preemptor's suit -- to allow us more than one way to show a fit for partner's suit.

Over Weak-2 - (DBL):
BidMeaning
2 (over 2)Raise to 3, with values in -- asking for lead
2 (over 2 or 2)Raise to 3 or 3, with values in -- asking for lead
2NNormal ask as if there was no competition, e.g., Ogust
3Raise to 3, with values in -- asking for lead
3Raise to 3, with values in -- asking for lead
3Raise to 3, with values in -- asking for lead
3Raise to 3, with values in -- asking for lead
RDBLLong suit, cheapest next suit asks. 3-level (or cheapest) response is the suit, and is to play.

Over 2 - (DBL): 2 replaces 3 above.
meckstroth_advances Can't find writeup

HANDLING BIDDING INTERFERENCE

Negative Double Over 1 of minor and opponent's 1-level overcall, DBL promises:
1 - (1) - DBL 6+ hcp, and 4+ cards in BOTH majors
1m - (1) - DBL 6+ hcp, and either 1) 4 spades, or 2) weaker with 5+ spades
1m - (1) - DBL 10+ hcp, and either 1) 4 hearts, or 2) weaker with 5+ hearts
1 - (2) - DBL 8+ hcp, and 4+ cards in at least 1 major
1M - (2m) - DBL 8+ hcp, and 4+ cards in other major
1 - (2) - DBL 10+ hcp, and 4+ cards in BOTH minors
Interference over 2 Control responses are OFF; DBL == bust; PASS == have something; any other bid shows slam interest.
Unusual vs. Unusual (method 1)Mechanism for handling Michaels or Unusual NT interference (most common version I play):
Cue bid higher suit10+ hcp with a fit (iow, limit raise or better)
Cue bid lower suit, IF KNOWN10+ hcp, no fit
Raise our suitCompetitive with support
New suit (or new minor if 2nd suit not known)Invitational with 5cd suit
DoubleValues in one of opps. suit & ability to penalize opps. in one or both suits.
Pass Several possible hands:
  • Good defensive hand, but not sure if we can set them.
  • Lousy hand.
  • No other bid makes sense.
Support double / redoubleOver interference following 1x - any - 1M - any, double shows 3-cd support. Ex: 1 - P - 1 - 2 - DBL shows 3-cd spade support.
Support redouble used over takeout-double interference. Ex: 1 - P - 1 - DBL - RDBL shows 3-cd heart support.
We play no upper limit on this type of double. NOTE: many players set the limit at 2 or 2
Maximal double After 1M-2M sequence, over inteference where normal invites are not available, DBL shows game invite. Partner bids 3M or 4M depending. Can leave double in, with stack in their suit.
Examples: 1 - (2) - 2 - (3) - DBL; 1 - (2) - 2 - (3) - DBL
Also used when we are overcalling & opponents bid & raise in a lower suit:
Example: (1) - 1 - (3) - DBL (3 would be merely competitive);
Four-suit transfers
(used when opponents
double 1N for penalties)		 RDBL is transfer to 2, 2=2, 2=2, 2=2
Lebensohl Used in 3 different scenarios:
  1. handling 1NT interference,
  2. response to takeout double over weak-2 opening by opponents, and
  3. response to opener's reverse

    1) Over 1NT interference:

    Initiated by responder after partner has opened 1NT and right hand opponent (RHO) has overcalled with two in a suit.
    Off over 2 interference, except if artificial showing specific suits (e.g., Landy showing majors).

    Opener Overcaller Responder
    Response Meaning and Subsequent Bidding
    1NT 2, 2, or 2 2 in a higher ranking suit natural and non-forcing
    2NT a puppet bid forcing the opener to bid 3; after that:
    • 3 in suit of lower rank than overcalled: natural, to play
    • 3 in suit of higher rank than overcalled: natural, invitational
    • 3 in the overcalled suit: Stayman, asking partner to bid a 4-card major suit and showing a stopper in the overcalled suit
    • 3NT: to play, showing a stopper
    3 in any suit except that overcalled natural, forcing to game
    3 in the overcalled suit Stayman, asking the partner to bid a 4-card major suit and denying a stopper in the overcalled suit
    3NT to play, denying a stopper
    Over artificial interference (e.g., Cappelletti, DONT):
    1. Both suits known: cheaper cuebid is invitational, higher is forcing. All Lebensohl rules are on.
    2. One suit known: known suit is cuebid.
    3. No known suit: you can't use cuebid.
    4. Cuebid is Stayman-like unless overcall shows both majors (e.g., Cappelletti 2)
    5. Delayed cuebids deny stopper
    6. 4-level jumps retain original meaning
    7. Delayed DBL (after PASS) is penalty.
    8. Delayed suit bid is competitive.
    9. Vs. artificial doubles (e.g., DONT): IGNORE IT! 2 is Stayman, etc.
    10. Vs. penalty doubles, use four-suit transfers (RDBL is , 2 is , etc.)

    2) Response to takeout double over opponent's weak 2 bid

    (eg., 2 - DBL - P - ?):
    • With weak hand (0 to bad 7 hcp), bid 2N which relays to 3. Doubler either passes or corrects.
    • With intermediate hand (good 7 to 11 hcp), bid directly at 3 level.
      • NOTE: when holding 4 or 5 cards in a major ABOVE the weak-2 suit:
      • With 4-card major, relay through 2N, then cue-bid.
      • With 5-card major, relay then bid the suit.
    • With game values, bid the game.
    If there is room at 2-level, for example over 2, 2 is weak. Relay to 3 is now intermediate with 5-card suit. Direct to 3 would be game forcing.
    NOTE: with strong hand, opener can bypass 3 relay and bid appropriately.

    3) Responding to opener's 2-level reverse

    With 2-level reverse, opener shows 16+ hcp. Using Lebensohl, responder with weak hand (5-7 hcp) can stop short of game. With better hand, responder can now make game-forcing bid.
    3a) Responding to opener's reverse to 2
    (eg., 1 - P - 1 - P - 2 - P - ?):
    • With weak hand, bid 2N. Opener relays to 3. Responder either passes or corrects. Opener should then drop.
    • Any other bid is game forcing.
    With a strong hand, opener can and will bid more than 3.
    3b) Responding to opener's reverse to 2
    (eg., 1 - P - 1 - P - 2 - P - ?):
    • With weak hand, bid 4th suit which relays to 3. Responder either passes or corrects. Opener should then drop.
    • Any other bid including 2N is game forcing.
    Again, with a strong hand, opener can and will bid more than 3.
Jordan2N following takeout double of partner's opener, shows good support with 10+ hcp.
Handle lead-directing doubles of
1N responses (e.g., transfers or Stayman)		 When opponents double a transfer (or Stayman) bid, it's usually lead-directing. Use RDBL to mean "I want to play here." Thus, the sequence 1N - P - 2 - DBL - RDBL means "I want to play 2 redoubled!"
1N Response Bid (by 1N opener) after lead-directing double
Transfer, e.g., 2 RDBL="to play"; 2="I have 3+ spades"; PASS="fewer than 3 spades, don't like hearts"
Stayman, e.g., 2 RDBL="to play"; 2="No 4-card major"; 2|2="I have 4-card major"; PASS="No 4-card major, don't like clubs"
Transferor then bids appropriately:
  • Leaves redouble in with support.
  • Bids the transfer suit (2 over 2**) -- drop bid.
  • Bids transfer again at 3 level -- please accept the transfer!
Rule of 2 1 0 When deciding to bid 5 over 5 in a competitive auction:
  • With 2 of their suit, X for penalty
  • With 1 of their suit, pass
  • With no cards in their suit, bid 5

DEFENSIVE CARDING

Lavinthal discards First discard against NT is suit you don't want led. Size of spot indicates suit preference. Preserves suit length in your good suit.
Not recommended against suit contracts as you often want to discard in a short suit to increase ruffing chances.
Leading doubleton Ace-King Against suit contract, lead King from Ace-King to show doubleton.
Ace is led, singleton on board Against suit contracts, show suit preference.
Upside-down attitude (standard count) When giving attitude only, reverse the standard convention. I.e., attitude: high card discourages, low card encourages.
For count, use the standard echo: high-low means even count.
"Obvious" shift Writeup by Dave Vidaver here.
Obvious shift is OFF is there is a singleton or void on the board.

BALANCING

Balancing Nick's conceptual flowchart

Example of responses to balancing double (1) - 1 - (2) - P - (P) - DBL - (P) - ?
PASSWant to defend
2Weak (2cd+ support)
2NPick a minor
3 or 3To play

LINKS TO ACBL INFORMATION

ACBL site: acbl.org Standard American Yellow Card, Booklet
ACBL Alert Procedure

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