Chapter 1

Summary

1 forcing = 16 or more HCP.

Point count step responses to 1 are:

• 1 = 0-6 HCP.
• 1 = 7-8 HCP.
• 1 = 9-12 HCP.
• 1NT=13-16 HCP and balanced (no five-card suit).
• 2NT=17 or more HCP.
• 2 , 2 , 2 , and 2 = 13 or more HCP and five or more cards.  You are allowed to bid at the two-level with less, and we might bid 2 and 2 with as few as 9 HCP and a strong suit.
• Higher bids are undefined.

Over interference:

• Pass shows a weak hand.
• Double of 1 or 1 = exactly 7-8 HCP — the point count step system is on.
• Double of 1 through 2 = 7-8 HCP, or more, if no other suitable bid is available.
• Double of 2 through 4 = 9-up HCP.
• Bust doubles of 4 and higher.

After overcalls of 1 and higher, suit bids including the overcall suit are natural and game forcing.

When responder has 0-6 points, doubles by either partner are takeout.

Opener's rebids are natural except:  1 — 1 — 2 forces 2 (Kokish), and a 2NT continuation is a game force and shows 2 to be artificial.

• 2NT over 1 or 1 = 20-21 HCP.
• 2NT over 1 = 18-21 HCP.

1NT opening shows 12-15 HCP and 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2 with five clubs.  Then:

• 2 is Scrambling Stayman.  2 followed by 2NT invites game.
• Four-suit transfers.
  • 2 and 2 .  Jacoby.
  • 2 for any strength clubs, or to invite in notrump without a four-card major.  Opener rebids: 
    • 2NT with a minimum.  With the invite responder passes or corrects to 3 or 3 . 
    • With a maximum opener bids 3 .  With an invite responder continues to game. 
  • 2NT with any strength diamonds.  Without three diamonds opener bids 3 .

Over 1NT doubled, either penalty or artificial, a Brozel rescue system is used:

• Redouble = a single suit and forces 2 .
• 2 = clubs and hearts.
• 2 = diamonds and hearts.
• 2 = hearts and spades.
• 2 = spades and a minor.
• 2NT = minors or game force.
• Pass forces redouble, and then:
  • 2 = clubs and diamonds or clubs and spades.
  • 2 = diamonds and spades.

After:

1NT	Pass	Pass Dbl
Pass	Pass	?

Redouble forces 2 .  Responder has clubs or diamonds.  Other runouts indicate two-suiters.

1NT

2

?

System is on after 2 interference.

1NT

2 , etc

?

Over higher interference:  Negative doubles and minimum bids are nonforcing.

The 2 opening shows 11-15 HCP and five or more clubs.  With only five clubs you have a four-card major.  Then:

• 2 is invitational and opener clarifies count and distribution as follows:
  • 2 through 3 are natural and show minimums.
  • 3 through 3NT are maximums with 3 artificial.
• 2 through 3 are natural and nonforcing.  2NT invites 3NT.
• 3 and 3 force game and show a six-card suit.
• 3NT, 4 and 4 are natural.
• Negative doubles through 3 .

2NT=22-23 HCP.  Stayman, Jacoby, and 3 as Minor-Suit Stayman.

A suit opening has 11-15 high-card points.  With only 11 high-card points, there is a minimum of nine cards in the two longest suits.  The 1 opener has more playing strength at diamonds than a standard 1 opening. 

Five-card majors (usually) with 1NT forcing and two-over-one game force.  A 4=4=1=4 pattern is opened 1 .

Four-card diamonds.  The exceptions to five diamonds are 4=4=4=1, 4=1=4=4, 1=4=4=4, and x=x=4=5 patterns.  Then:

• Inverted diamonds - invert is off in competition.
• 2 over 1 is a game force.
• 3 over 1 = 5-10 HCP and clubs.

Negative doubles through 3 and support doubles and redoubles through three-of-responder's suit.

"Alert" is used in these notes.  With the Director and Committee Employment Act of 1996, I am no longer sure what is an alert.  Check with your local director.

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