Opening Bids

• 1, 1, 1, 1 is 12+ points.  1 or 1 shows 5.  1 shows diamonds equal to or longer than clubs unless 33. With 55 open the higher-ranking suit.
• 1N is 15-17.
• 2 is 22+ balanced or some unbalanced hand that wants to play game.
• 2, 2, 1 are weak twos:   6-10 pts, 6-card suit with two of the top three honors.
• 2N is 20-21 balanced.
• 3, 3, 3, 3 are 7-card suits (maybe 6 for clubs), two of the top three honors, little outside strength.
• 4, 4, 4, 4 are 7 or 8-card suits (strong suits and shape if 7-card suit).
• 5, 5 very shapely (usually strong 8-card suit)

After 1 or 1

• 1 suit is 4 cards, 6+ pts.
  • With diamonds and a major, bid 1 on invitational or stronger hands, the major on weak hands. 
  • Responder bids 4-4 up the line, but 5-5 down the line.
• 1N is 6-10 balanced, no 4-card major.
  • Rebids are normal.  2N over 1N is around 18.
• Single raise (2 minor) is 6-10, usually 4-card support.  (Some hands are awkward, like 1336 or 3136 after 1.)
• 2 over 1 is 4+ clubs, 10+ points.  If invitational with a 4-card major, bid the major, not 2.
  • Rebids of 2 or 2 or 3 show extras.  With 5+ diamonds and a 4-card major and a minimum, bid 2.  With a 12-14 notrump, bid 2N.  With a 4441 (stiff club), bid 2 or maybe 2N with a stiff honor.
  • See 2/1 Auctions below.
• Single jumps into new suits strong.  One of two hand types:
  • A solid suit (AKQJxx, AKQxxxx) with side values.  This hand will rebid its suit, which is trump; all further bids cue-bids.
  • A good suit with good support for opener's suit.  This hand will rebid opener's suit, which is trump; all further bids cue-bids.
• 2N is 12-15 balanced, no 4-card major.
• Double raise (3 minor) is 12+, 4-card support, game forcing.
  • If opener bids a new suit below 3N, responder should assume it is a stopper, not a cue bid.  If either player then takes the bidding past 3N he shows that he was cuebidding:

    1 - 3 (forcing)
    3 - 3N (responder assumes 3 was a stopper)
    4  (shows that 3 was a cue bid.  4 is of course also a cue bid)
    

• 3N is 16-17 balanced, no 4-card major, notrump hand (i.e. NOT Axx Axxx xx AKxx).

After 1 or 1

• 1 a normal 1/1 showing 4 spades, 6+ points.
• 1N is 6-10, any shape that had no other bid.
• 2 suit (non-jump) is 4+ suit, 10+ points.  2 over 1 should show 5 hearts.
  • See 2/1 auctions below.
• Single raise is 6-10 points, 3+ card support.
  • New suits by opener are game tries, showing interest in game and some values in the suit bid.
    Responder can accept the game try by bidding game, go back to 3 of the major with a bad hand,
    or bid a new suit below 3 of the major to show some values and not sure whether to bid game.
• 2N is 12-15 balanced, denies 4-card support (and 4 spades over 1).
• Double raise is 12+ points, 4+ card support, game forcing.
• 3N is 16-17 balanced, no 4 spades if over 1, notrump hand.
• Triple raise is 5 trumps, weak hand with a singleton (no more than one ace or king).

After 1N

• 2 is Stayman showing one of many hand types:
  • One or two 4-card majors, invitational+
    With an invitational hand, raise opener's major to 3 or bid 2N (if he did not bid a major you have).
    With a game forcing hand, raise opener's major to 4 or bid 3N.
    You can also raise to 5S or 4N to invite a small slam, or just bid a slam.
  • 5-4 majors, invitational+
    Invitational: If partner bids 2, bid your long major at the 2 level.
    Forcing: Bid your long major at the 3 level.
  • 6-4 majors, invitational+
    Invitational: If partner bids 2, bid your long major at the 2 level.
    Forcing:  Bid 4 of your long major.  If slam-interest, bid 3 then 4 of your major.
  • 5-card major, invitational
    If partner does not hit your major, make the minimum bid in your major.
  • Club signoff
    Rebid 3.

• 2, 2, 2 are signoffs showing 5+ card suits.
• 2N is invitational, no 4-card major.
• 3 and 3 natural, game forcing, usually 6+ cards, probably no 4-card major.  
  These bids tend to be slam invites; opener should cue bid with a good fit and controls, but sign off in 3N with nothing special.
• 3 and 3 natural, game forcing, 5+ cards.  Opener bids:
  • 3N with two card support.
  • Raise to 4 with three card support and a normal hand.
  • Cue bid with a good fit and controls.
• 3N to play.
• 4, 4 to play.
• 4N invites a small slam.  5N invites a grand slam (and forces to a small slam).

After 2

2 any hand that does not qualify for a suit positive. Opener then describes his hand:

• 2, 2, are 5+ card majors
  • Responder's raise to 3 shows 3-card support and is unlimited.
• 2N is 22-23 balanced.  Responder can bid as over a 2N opening, or pass with a terrible hand.
• 3, 3 are 5+ card minors
  • Responder should aim at 3N.  A raise to 4 would show slam interest.
• 3 and 3 show solid suits and set trumps.  Responder is ordered to start cue-bidding.  If nothing to cue-bid, raise partner to 4 (no matter what your trumps look like).
• 3N is 24-27 balanced.  
• 4, 4 solid suits as 3 and 3 above.

2, 2, 3, 3 is 5-card suit, 2 of the top 3 honors.  This sets up a game force.  Opener can raise, bid notrumps, or bid his own strong suit.

After Weak Two

New suits are forcing; opener is allowed to bid in competition

Opener may not bid again after ANY raise.

After 2N

3 is Stayman.  If opener then bids 3, 3 or 3 shows 5+ in that major and 4 in the other major.

Higher bids as over 1N.

1/1 Auctions

Auctions that start with 1 suit - 1 higher suit have the following rules:

Opener's rebid:

• New suit at the one level shows 4 cards, 12-18 points, not forcing. (Example: 1 - 1, 1)
• 1N shows 12-14 balanced.
• 2 of a lower-ranking suit shows 5-4, 12-18 points, not forcing.  (Example: 1 - 1, 2)
• Suit rebid at the 2 level shows 6-card suit, 12-15 points. (Example: 1 - 1, 2)
• 2 of  partner's suit shows 3+ card support, 12-15 points.
• 2 of a higher-ranking suit shows 5-4, 17+ points.  See Reverses below. (Example: 1 - 1, 2)
• 2N shows 18-19 balanced.
• Jump to a new suit shows 5-4, 19+ points, game forcing.
  • Responder can bid opener's suit without 3-card support, to let opener bid out his hand.
• Suit rebid at the 3 level shows good 6-card suit, 16-18 points.  (Example: 1 - 1, 3)
  • Responder can pass this, but any other bid is game forcing.
• 3 of partner's suit shows 4 card support, 16-18 points.
• Suit rebid at the 4 level shows good six-card suit AND 4 of partner's suit.
• 4 of partner's suit shows 4 card support, 19-21 points.

Responder's rebid:

• Pass is allowed.  If opener has bid a new suit (not a reverse or jump), it shows 3 or 4 card support 
  and a bad hand.  (Example: 1 - 1, 1 - pass).  If opener has limited his hand it shows any hand 
  that does not want to try for game.
• 1N shows 6-10 points, usually balanced but may have "problem hand" that cannot take another call.
• Suit rebid at 2 level shows 6-card suit, 6-10 points.  (Example: 1 - 1, 2 - 2)
• Opener's suit at 2 level shows "preference" for that suit over second suit (may be a doubleton), 
  6-10 points.  (Example: 1 - 1, 2 - 2)
• Raising opener's second suit to the 2 level shows 4-card support, 7-9 points.  (Example: 1 - 1, 1 - 2.)
• Raising opener's rebid suit to the 3 level shows an 8-card fit and invitational values.  (Example: 1 - 1, 2 - 3)
• Jumping to the 3 level in an old suit is invitational.
• Jumping to 2N is invitational.  (Example: 1 - 1, 1 - 2N.)
• Bidding the fourth suit is invitational or better and MAY be artificial.  Opener should treat the bid as if it were natural (i.e., raise with 4-card support.)  Responder does not promise a rebid and can pass if opener rebids a suit or bids a minimum notrump.

For these examples we will use the starting auction 1 - 1, 2.

Responder's rebid:

• 2 of original suit (2) shows decent 5 or more (QJxxx or better), can be passed.
• 2N shows balanced hand, 5-8 points, and can be passed. Should have a stopper in the fourth suit, else preference to opener's first suit.
• The fourth suit (3) is game forcing; it's a catch-all for hands that don't fit other bids. Can be a game-forcing raise of one of opener's suits (raise the suit on the next round).
• Preference to opener's first suit (3) is bad hand with preference for opener's suit. Can be passed.
• Raise of second suit (3) shows four trumps, bad hand (5-8 points), can be passed.
• Jump in original suit (3) is game forcing, shows good 6-card suit (KQT9xx).
• 3N is limited, to play, 9-11 points.

2/1 Auctions

Auctions that start 1 suit - 2 lower suit have the following rules:

Opener's rebid:

• 2 of a lower-ranking suit shows 5-4, may be minimum.  (Example: 1 - 2, 2)
• 2 of original suit shows 5 or more, may be minimum. (1 - 2, 2)
• 2 of a higher-ranking suit shows 5-4, 15+, game forcing. (1- 2, 2)
• 2N shows 12-14 and may be passed. (1 - 2, 2N)
• Raising to 3 shows 15+ points in support, game forcing. (1 - 2, 3)
  • With a weak hand and support, rebid a suit then support partner at the 3 level. (1 - 2, 2 - 2N, 3 - Pass)
• Jump rebid of original suit shows good hand, strong suit. (1 - 2, 3)
• 3N shows 15-17 balanced. (1 - 2, 3N)
• General rules:
  • Opener should not rebid notrump with shortness in responder's suit.  Wait till next round to bid notrump.
  • If opener rebids a suit below his first suit, or rebids his suit, or bids 2N, he may have a minimum (12-14 points).  
    Of these bids, only 2N can be passed (it definitely shows 12-14).
  • Responder promises a rebid unless opener bids 2N. No other bid can be passed.
  • With a good hand and no clear direction, you can rebid your suit.

Responder's rebid:

• New suit is game forcing.  You may have to make up a suit if you don't have a natural forcing bid.
• 2N shows 10-11 balanced, non-forcing. (1 - 2, 2 - 2N)
  • But if partner reverses, you are in a game force.
• Rebidding 3 of your suit shows 10-11 with a good suit, non-forcing.
  • But if partner reverses, you are in a game force.
• Minimum bid in partner's suit shows 10-11 with 3-card support and probably values/length in your 2/1 suit.

Passed Hand Bidding

When responder is a passed hand his bids change, since his hand could not open.  Also opener can pass some bids as responder is limited.

A one-over-one can be passed.  To do this, opener should have a minimum with 3-card support.  (Pass - 1, 1 - Pass)

A two-over-one shows 8-11 with a good suit.  (Pass - 1, 2)

• Opener's rebid is not forcing unless it is a reverse or at the 3 level (this sets up a game force). (Pass - 1, 2 - 2, Pass)
• Again, opener can pass the two-over-one with a minimum and some support.

A jump to 2N shows a good 10-11 points.

A jump-shift is still strong.  It shows a passed hand that is worth an opening bid (because of the fit with partner).  The jump-shift shows the suit bid and 4+ card support for partner.  ( KJxxx AQxx xxx x: Pass - 1, 2 shows this hand.)

A jump-raise is invitational.  A jump-raise of a major can be made on three-card support.

Competition

Competition After Partner Opens 1 of a Suit

Competition After Opponent Opens 1 of a Suit

Double shows one of these hands:

• Usually, 13+ points with 3+ cards in the unbid suits.
  • Because your hand will be dummy you should count shape.  A minimum takeout double is a 4441 11-count.
• A notrump hand with 19+ points
• A suit hand too good to overcall, usually 19+ points.

One-level overcall shows 5+ cards, good suit, 7-18 points.

• A minimum:  AKxxx and out, not 5332.  Most 7 and 8 counts should not overcall.

1N shows 15-18 balanced with one or more stoppers.

• Some hands have the right shape and points to overcall 1N or double.  If you have strength in their suit (two or more stoppers), bid 1N.  If you have a holding like Ax or Kx, double.

Two-level overcall shows 6+ cards, good suit, 9-18 points

• A minimum: KQJTxx with a side K.  Most 9 and 10 counts should not overcall at the two level.  Look at your tricks, not your points.

Jump overcalls are like opening preempts.  A jump to the 2 level shows a good 6-card suit.  A jump to the 3 level shows a good 7-card suit, and so on.

Responses to the Takeout Double:

• Pass is for penalty!  (Don't pass just because you have nothing good to bid.)  Minimum QJTxx of their suit.  Partner will lead a trump!
• Non-jump in a suit shows 0-8 points.  It's your best suit.  You are allowed to go to the two level.  (1 - double - pass - 2)
• 1N shows 8-11 with one or more stoppers, balanced hand.  If you have a four-card major and a stopper, bid the major instead of notrump..
• Cue bid shows  12+ points, any shape.  Partner will bid a 4-card major if he has one. 
  1 - double - pass - 2
• Jump in a suit shows 9-11 points, may be a 4-card suit.
• 2N shows 12-13 with one or more stoppers, balanced hand.
• Jump to game shows a long suit and little outside.  Seven to the KQ would be perfect.

Some rules I use about takeout doubles:

1. If I am considering a jump to game I ask myself, how will this play opposite a 19-count with a doubleton in my suit (i.e., the hand too good to open notrump)?
2. If I am considering a takeout double on an offshape hand I ask myself, if partner jumps to 4 of my short suit with seven to the QJ and out, will he like my dummy?

Responses to the Overcall:

• New suits show 6-12 points and a good suit of 5 cards or more.  Not forcing (on the card this is called "nonforcing constructive").
  (1 - 1 - Pass - 1)
• 1N shows 8-11 with one or more stoppers, balanced hand. (1 - 1 - Pass - 1N)
• Cue bid is a "forcing raise", 13+ support points, 3+ card support. (1 - 1 - Pass - 2)
  • If the overcaller has a minimum you can stop below game. 
    In fact if overcaller rebids his suit, this shows a minimum and partner can pass.
• Single raise is 6-9 points, 3+ card support.
• 2N shows 12-13 with one or more stoppers, balanced hand.
• Jump into new suit forcing, shows good suit and 13+ points.
• Double raise is invitational, 3+ card support.

Competition After Opponent Opens 1N

• Double is a good hand that can beat 1N.
  • After a 15-17 notrump this should be a hand with a suit (15+ points) or a very good balanced hand (18+ points).
  • After a 12-14 or weaker notrump this should be any 15+.
• 2 of a suit is natural, same hand as a two-level overcall.
• 3 of a suit is preemptive, but sound because it is easy for them to double you.

Competition After Opponent Opens a Preempt

Competition After Opponent Opens a Weak Two

• Double is takeout through 4.  Same type of hand that would double a one bid.
  • Above 4, double is any 15+.  Partner should assume it is a strong notrump (just because that is the most likely hand type). 
  • Double is also any very strong hand (note that you have more options for strong hands).

  Responses to the takeout double:

  • Pass with good trumps or if you have any five with no good bid.  Partner should not lead a trump.
  • Non-jump shows 0-11 points (but partner will assume you have 7+ points; see below).
  • Jump in a suit is game forcing, five-card suit.
  • Cuebid is game forcing, no good suit to bid.
  • 2N is invitational.
  • 3N is to play.
• Suit overcall shows 11-17 points, five-card or longer suit. (2 - 2)
  • New suits by advancer are forcing.
• 2N shows 15-18 with one or more stoppers.  With more strength, double then bid notrump.
  • 3 is Stayman here.
• Jump overcalls are strong, showing a hand that would open and jump-rebid that suit: strong six-card suit, 16-18 points. (2 - 3)
• 3N shows a hand with a strong suit, a stopper, and some outside values; you expect to make 3N with little help from partner.
  • As advancer, do not make the mistake of bidding your own long suit here.  Partner does not have a balanced hand and does not want to hear about your QJxxxx suit.

Competition After Opponent Opens a Weak Three or Higher

• Mostly the same as above.
• The higher the auction the more likely you are to pass a takeout double with a bad balanced hand.
• 3N over a three bid has a wide range (16-21 points).

Competition After an Artificial Bid

Strong Forcing Artificial Bids

For us this would be 2.  Other players open 1 or 1(!) with a strong hand.  Over any of these bids you should overcall aggressively.  We are trying to interfere with their auction, not bid a game.

In general, any time someone makes an artificial bid, double shows length and strength in that suit.  This principal can be applied to Stayman, transfers, answers to Blackwood, etc.

Limited Artificial Bids

Some players use artificial openings.  A common example is 2 to show five hearts and four spades, or 2 to show a 4441 minimum.  Again, double shows the suit bid (so 2 [5, 4] - double shows diamonds).

Competition After an Opening Bid and Response

This is called the "sandwich seat" because you are sandwiched between two bidding opponents.

In general this is like overcalling after the opening bid.  Some differences:

• A takeout double is for the unbid suits.  You should have four-card supports for both suits unless the hand is strong (17+).
• You may want to overcall RHO's major in the same suit (1 - P - 1 - 2).  This is because a major suit response can be bid on four small.  To do this you should have an opening hand and a very good suit (you know you are getting a bad break).