response, the auction is nonforcing. 
response, the
auction is usually forcing to 2NT. 
response, the
auction is forcing to game. | Home | Contents | Chapter 5 | Chapter 7 | 03-22-2006 20:01:23 |
response, the auction is nonforcing. response, the
auction is usually forcing to 2NT. response, the
auction is forcing to game. Usually opener bids suits in the standard order of longest suit first, and responder bids suits at the lowest level before bidding suits at the next level. Standard order is:
With non-touching five-card suits, opener may bid the cheapest five-card suit first.
- Longest suit first.
- Highest ranking of five-card suits.
- Four-card suits up-the-line.
Rules for the lowest-level first are:
Again, with five spades and five diamonds, responder may choose to bid 2
- Longest suit at lowest-level first.
- Highest ranking of two five-card suits.
- Four-card suits including diamonds up-the-line.
- And only then suits at the next level.
rather than 2 over 2 
.
These rules apply over a step response. After a two-level response, both players bid suits in the standard order.
1 1 1 1 2 3 4
This is lowest-level first in a 1 -1 auction. It is
reasonable to stop at 2 . Responder made a long-suit game try,
and opener accepted.
1 1 2 2 4
If responder bid 3 rather than 2 , opener will bid 3NT and
the spade game is missed. Opener would have a more difficult
problem over 3 if he lacked the count for game.
1 1 2 2 3 5 6
Up-the-line includes the minors and finds the diamond slam.
3 is a splinter in support of diamonds, and the responding hand
becomes good.
If, after 1 , opener rebids a suit, five or more cards are
expected. The exceptions are:
you may bid a four-card major in an unbalanced
hand.
or 1 .
1 1 ?
Bid 1 . If partner is short in spades and has 3-6 HCP, he
can choose between 1NT and a six-card suit. If you bid 2 over
1 partner can only bid a six-card suit (or a strong five-card suit). You will miss 4-3, 4-4, and probably 5-4 spade fits.
1 1 ?
Bid 1NT. Partner will use Stayman or Jacoby with a major.
If he doesn't, you will play notrump. Why pinpoint the diamond
lead? If the response had been 1 , then bid 1 .
1 1 ?
The simplest plan is to bid the first four card suit you come
to. Thus, bid 1 over 1 , 1 over 1 and 2 over 1 .
1 1 ?
Is it acceptable to bid 1NT over 1 with a singleton? If
you are willing for partner to use Stayman and Jacoby, the answer
is yes. On both of these hands I would rebid 1NT. Then, I would
accept a transfer to hearts with the singleton heart. If you
rebid 2 rather than 1NT you will miss 5-3 major fits.
It is acceptable to bid notrump with a five-card major or a long minor.
Recommendation:
.
.
or 1 .
I bid 1NT over 1 , 1 , or 1 . I bid notrump with any
excuse. The system allows a 2 response. One advantage of the
1NT rebid is that the opponents are more reluctant to bid over a
balanced 16 count than an unbalanced 16 count.
Not to rebid notrump over the step response is stupid. It is amazing how often the concealed suit is led.
The strength of the notrump rebid depends on the step response.
After the 1 Step
The most usual auction after 1 is:
1 1 1NT
and 1NT shows 16-19 HCP. The next stronger auction is:
1 1 2NT
Here 1NT shows 20-21 HCP, or compensating values.
Eight tricks is worth 2NT. Finally the auction
1 1 2 2 2NT (c)
is forcing to 3NT. This auction is Kokish, and all the bids to
this point are artificial. 2 is artificial and forces 2
unless responder has a reasonable six-card minor. Opener can have
either 24 HCP or 9 tricks at notrump. Nine tricks is more likely.
I might have:
The alerts:
(a) 2 forces 2 and more often is a game force
without hearts.
(b) The fourth alert. The exception to a 2
bid is a reasonable 6-card minor. My notion is K-Q-x-x-x-x.
(c)
Opener forces game. Stayman and Jacoby apply. If opener's rebid
is anything but 2NT, his bid shows hearts and whatever he bids.
Thus over 2 :
= hearts and hearts, nonforcing.
, 3 , and 3 = hearts and the named suit.
= hearts and hearts. was 1
or less.
After the 1 Step
1 1 1NT
The 1NT bid shows 16-17 HCP, and is nonforcing. Responder may use Stayman or Jacoby and then pass the response. The jump to 2NT in the auction
1 1 2NT
shows 18-up HCP or compensating playing tricks. For example:
is 18 notrump points.
After the 1 Step
The 1 step creates a game force. The strength for 1NT and
2NT are the same as over a 1 response.
1 1 1NT
1NT=16-19 points.
1 1 2NT
2NT=20-up HCP. I think 2NT over 1 denies a five-card suit.
A balanced 22-23 hand is opened 2NT. Responding creates a
game force. With 24 points, open 1 and use Kokish.
Note that these auctions do not include the 1NT or 2NT
responses to 1 , or other competitive auctions where responders
first bid is in notrump. Those auctions proceed naturally.
Opener may not get to play the hand, but he does not decrease his
chances of playing the hand by using Stayman or Jacoby.
After the notrump rebid, relatively normal Stayman-Jacoby auctions follow. These rules also apply in competitive auctions if all competition was before the notrump bid. Against a vicious preempt opener might have to rebid 3NT. The system is on. Later I talk about interference after the notrump bid.
The rules apply to both natural and artificial defenses. If the defense is artificial, the chances are that one opponent is flying blind. The rules work when the overcall is a psyche.
Stayman: Bid hearts first. In a game-forcing auction, Stayman promises a four-card major. In a game-forcing auction, opener may jump to three in a five-card major.
Scrambling Stayman: Scrambling Stayman occurs after 1 — 1 — 1NT and after a 12-15 notrump opening. Responder's rebid in
a non-game auction is an attempt to find the best part score.
Scrambling Stayman does not promise a four-card major. Opener
passes when a seven-card fit is found, or when responder rebids a
minor (or possibly 2NT in a 1 auction). Obviously, instead of
"Scrambling Stayman", I could say "Nonforcing Stayman", except
that expression has been corrupted. In "Scrambling Stayman"
nothing is forcing once a seven-card fit is found.
Stayman in the 1 — 1 — 1NT auction is forcing on opener
to 2NT. Responder can quit when he wants.
Forcing Stayman: Forcing-to-Game Stayman is used after the
1 step, after 1 — 1 — 2NT, or after a 2NT opening.
Jacoby transfers. Diamond and heart bids are transfers. In a game-forcing auction or after a 2NT opening, accepting the transfer shows three-card or four-card support. Refusing a heart transfer with a notrump call denies four spades. Opener may jump in response to a transfer.
A spade bid is Minor-Suit Stayman.
A jump in a minor shows that minor. I always use Jacoby and do not jump in the majors. If I did, the jump would be natural.
The are some differences that follow from information provided by the step response:
1 1 1NT 2 ?
you may jump to 3 .
1 1 1NT 2 ?
you bid 2 to deny three hearts and show four spades, and 2NT to
deny three hearts and four spades.
and 3 show clubs and diamonds, respectively.
The "bid beautifully" rule is off when opener rebids notrump. Once responder knows the final contract, he may jump to it.
1 Pass Step Pass 1NT Pass 2 Pass ?
We have a 1NT rebid over the three step-responses. If partner bid
1 and then transfers to spades, you jump to practically force
game. You remain calm after the other step responses.
1 Step ?
Rebid 1NT over 1 which is nonforcing and shows 16-19 HCP. Rebid
2NT over 1 to force game and show 18-21 HCP or the equivalent in
playing strength. Rebid 1NT over 1 to show 16-19 HCP.
1 1 ?
Rebid 2NT. This is an example of compensating values. I think partner's 7 or 8 HCP are enough for game.
1 1 Pass Pass ?
Rebid 1NT. This is the track at other tables. The only difference is that you know LHO has a spade threat. If partner has a yarborough, it could be wrong to bid. Partner's point count, however is more apt to be 5 or 6 rather than 0 to 4. The chances are good that the plus is your's. A possible difference is that at other tables LHO led a spade and here he may lead an off-suit.
If, in the above hand, you had four hearts instead of four diamonds, both 1NT and double are allowed. I would double.
1 Pass 1 1 ?
This is a different track. RHO has asked for a spade lead. 1NT is acceptable. Pass is best. Partner, with some count will reopen with a suit bid, a notrump bid, or a takeout double. If you pass or double, partner can bid two-of-a-minor to play. If you bid 1NT, he has to go to the three-level to play a minor.
Scrambling Stayman is used in auctions where responder
indicates 0 to 6 points, opener rebids 1NT, and your RHO passes,
doubles or bids 2 .
Partner RHO You LHO 1 Call Pass, 1 Call 1NT Pass, 2
Scrambling Stayman also applies after a 12-15 notrump, and a pass
or a 2 bid by RHO.
Partner RHO You 1NT Pass, 2 ?
Nonforcing-to-2NT Stayman is used in the auction where opener shows 7-8 points and RHO passes over 1NT:
Partner RHO You LHO 1 Call 1 Call 1NT Pass ?
If RHO bids over 1NT, then pass functions as double and other bids are natural. They cannot play below 2NT undoubled.
Forcing-to-Game Stayman applies when you are known to have 25 points, after Kokish, or when the opening is 2NT.
Scrambling Stayman arises most frequently in auctions that
begin with 1NT (12-15), and with 1 -1 - 1NT. In the following
examples we omit the 1 -1 start. Examples of finding a seven-card major fit using Scrambling Stayman are:
1NT 2 2 2 ?
Opener passes with three spades.
1NT 2 2 2 ?
Pass with three hearts, and bid 2 with three spades.
1NT 2 2 2 ?
Pass with three spades.
An example of a "stop" auction is:
1NT 2 2 3
Responder's second bid is an alert. An extreme application of
"Scrambling Stayman" would be to use this auction independent of
your major holding anytime you want to play 3 or 3 . We do not
do this. If you choose to do so, I feel that the minor suit bid
should be a "special alert" to the effect that it is your
partnership style. (In Stayman as originally written, 3 and 3 were "stop" bids, and responder's 2 bid did not show a major. In most current versions of Nonforcing Stayman 3 is forcing.)
When should you use Stayman and Jacoby? There is no problem in truly forcing auctions. These conventions are used almost whenever you have a four- or five-card major.
Let us examine the decision to use Stayman and Jacoby in the
nonforcing 1 -1 — 1NT auction. If opener is required to be
balanced for a 1NT bid, then it is reasonable to Stayman with 4-3
in the majors and a balanced hand. This is the case over a 1NT
opening where opener is usually 4-3-3-3 or 4-4-3-2. After a 1
opening, 1NT may be done with a long minor, or possibly a
singleton. My rules are:
1 1 1NT ?
Always transfer, and opener always accepts the transfer even with a singleton.
1 1 1NT ?
Stayman can be used with any point count. We are a hero when
partner has a four-card major and a 4-3 major fit may be better
than 1NT. The awkward case is when partner is 2-2 in the majors
and bids 2NT over our rebid of 2 .
1 1 1NT ?
It is wrong to use yarboroughs as example hands when you are
more likely to hold 5 or 6 HCP rather than 0 to 4 HCP. One of the
options of my hand dealing and bidding program, BID95 is "stats".
The program generates tables for Walsh vs Walsh and Big Club vs
Big Club for various opening bids in first to fourth seat. For
example in Big Club, you open 1 in first seat about 10% of the
time and almost 42% of the time in fourth seat. Pass and high-level preempts become unlikely in fourth seat.
Passing 1NT with this hand will tend to yield an average
result. Bidding 2 is an attempt for a better result, and the
result will be different from that of the field if opener has 16-17. It partner has 18-19, the field is on a different street, and
our action simply is an attempt for the best result.
1 1 1NT ?
I bid 2 over 1NT, then 2 over 2 , and 3 over 2 . If
partner shows four spades, I bid 3 and wish I had passed 1NT.
1 1 1NT ?
Pass, as you do not want to bid 2NT over 2 may be one trick
too high. If you do bid 2 and the auction goes
1 1 1NT 2 2 2NT
partner should visualize this hand and consider bidding a four-card minor.
1 1 1NT ?
The choices are:
and pass 2 . (Poor.)
and then 2 over 2 to show a maximum 1 response.
(Good.)
Do whatever feels right with 5-4, 4-5, 5-5, 6-4, or 4-6 is the majors. Remember that Jacoby forces a specific strain, and Scrambling Stayman may force to the three-level on a misfit.
1 1 1NT ?
Jump to 3 . Minor-suit transfers are not used after a 1
opening. Or Stayman and pass the response. Or pass 1NT. What
you do is a matter of your bridge judgment. Just because you have
more options than the field doesn't mean you have to choose a
different option.
1 Pass 1 Pass 1NT Dbl ?
Now you have one more choice. Redouble forces 2 and you
correct to 2 .
1NT Pass ?
After a 12-15 notrump, do not jump to 3 . Scrambling
Stayman and four-suit transfers are used over a 1NT opening.
Chapter 10 discusses responding to a 12-15 point notrump.
1 1 1NT ?
Bid 2NT to invite game. Logically, this shows a six-card minor and 6 points.
Forcing Stayman and nonforcing Jacoby are used in the auction
1 -1 — 2NT. Thus, the 5 and 6 point hands use Stayman and
Jacoby, and weaker hands pass or use Jacoby.
1 1 2NT 3 3 ?
3NT is correct. Forcing Stayman guarantees a four-card major.
1 1 2NT ?
Stayman and then show your five-card major over 3 . With
reversed major holdings, either Stayman or Jacoby work. (We are not into Smolen. If that is your thing, do it.)
1 1 2NT ?
Whoops! Another yarborough! Bid 3 and pass the "forcing"
Stayman response.
Forcing on opener to 2NT start 1 -1 — 1NT, or 1 — OVERCALL — DOUBLE. Responder can have enough distributional strength to
insist on game.
1 1 1NT 3NT
With 9 notrump points, I bid 3NT. One could bid 2NT with this hand, but that is slicing the baloney thin.
1 1 1NT ?
Pass. Stayman is allowed, and you may then pass partner's
response of 2 .
1 1 1NT ?
Stayman is more appropriate to 4-4-3-2 hands. Pass a 2
response. If partner bids 2 over 2 , pass or 2NT are
acceptable.
1 1 1NT 2 2 2
With nine or more cards in the majors, both Stayman and
Jacoby are allowed. Because responder may have a game-going hand
like this one, 2 is forcing. An alternative is 2 and then 2
over 2 .
1 1 1NT 3 Pass
This example shows that you may play three-of-a-minor after a
7-8 point response. Whether or not you ever want to bid this way
is questionable. In a team game, 3 is a reasonable scientific
bid. Opener may pass or bid 3NT. Pass, 2NT, and 3NT are
alternatives to 3 .
1 1 1NT 2 2 ?
Continuations of 3 or more clubs, 2 , and 3NT are all
reasonable. It is difficult to create a hand that insisting on a
minor will always be correct. (A jump to 4 is not a splinter in support of hearts because 3 is nonforcing.)
Game-Forcing Stayman and Jacoby auctions are relatively standard. The one additional feature is the trump support rule in Jacoby auctions. This rule allows responder to confidently go past 3NT with either a suit bid or a splinter bid.
1 1 1NT 2 2 3 3 4
2 shows three- or four-card spade support. Therefore, it is an
alert. 3 is descriptive. 3 shows values in diamonds and 4
is a splinter. Partner should be able to evaluate his hand for a
spade slam.
1 1 1NT 2 2 4
The reason for showing support is that responder can go past
3NT with his rebid. Here, the most descriptive rebid is the
splinter to 4 .
1 1 1NT 2 2 4
Opener denies three hearts and shows four spades. Responder shows support with his splinter.
1 1 2 2 2NT (c) 3 3 4
(a) Forces 2 .
(b) Forced.
(c) Forcing to 3NT.
(d) Transfer.
(e) Showing heart support.
(f) Splinter.
Showing that promising three-card support can occur after a
1 response. Also showing that I am evil.
Knowing that a game force exists allows some judgment in the choice of contracts.
My inclination is to bid 3NT over 1NT. An alternative is:
1 1 1NT 2 2 3 3NT
Here, the 4-4 fit is found and then rejected. The bid
beautifully rule is off. Responder may jump to 4 over 2 .
step (or a double showing 7-8 (possibly more) HCP), the opponents cannot play undoubled below 2NT.
step, the opponents cannot play undoubled. After a 0-6 auction:
1 Call 0-6 Call ?
.
— 0-6 start, and
their bid is less than 4 , then double is takeout. Double shows
no specific distribution and no additional high cards. Double
does suggest four-card support for the unbid major.
If opener rebids 1NT, the observations are:
1 Call 0-6 Call Bid Call Pass Call Dbl
Hopefully your understand my notation. Opener and the opponents have been bidding away and responder has done nothing. (I assume that pass as his second bid was not a business pass of a takeout double.) Opener's third bid is a takeout double. The "double is takeout" principle could be extended to later rounds of bidding.
1 Pass, Bid 0-6 Pass, Bid Pass Pass, Bid Bid Pass, Bid Pass Pass, Bid Dbl
I have reversed the roles of opener and responder. The last double is takeout.
I can build long auctions from either side of the table where all doubles are takeout:
1 Pass 1 1 Dbl 2 Pass Pass Dbl 3 Pass Pass Dbl Pass 1 Pass 1 1 Pass Pass Dbl 2 Pass Pass Dbl 3 Pass Pass Dbl
Though I have not seen any auctions like these in twenty-five years, all the doubles are takeout doubles. The doubler could have interspersed a suit bid or a notrump bid between the doubles, and the doubles would still be takeout. Both LHO and RHO could be bidding - even arguing about trumps - and doubles are takeout until the bird across the street chirps.
The opponents can bid several suits. Think takeout doubles. In any of these auctions the bid of a suit previously bid by them is natural and nonforcing.
1 1 Pass Pass 2 2 ?
I gave rules in a list above, and this hand falls between the second and third rule. Think takeout doubles. Double for takeout.
After a 1 response:
1 Pass 1 Pass 1NT 2 ?
Pass 2 or 2 and opener is forced to bid. Double 2 or
2 for penalties.
1 Pass 1 Pass 1NT 2 Pass Pass 2 Pass 2 Pass Pass 3 Pass Pass Pass
Here you scrambled to a 4-3 spade fit and then allowed the
opponents to play 3 undoubled. This may not be right, but it is
systemically okay.
1 Pass 1 Pass 1 2 ?
Pass is approximately this hand. Again the pass is forcing. You should have 0 to 2 spades, 2 to 4 hearts, 2 to 4 diamonds (no diamond tricks with four diamonds), and 3 to 5 clubs. With any other distribution you would bid or double.
This is a proposal for a new set of agreements when the
interference occurs after the notrump rebid. Human nature being
what it is, interference usually occurs on the first round of
bidding. Interference on the second round happens when second
seat doesn't know what a direct 2 over 1 means, or when fourth
seats action arouses second seat's interest. Second seat is
allowed to delay his interference to the second round and we must
be prepared.
The Law of Total Tricks suggests that we should play at the two-level when there are 15 trumps, and the last side out should take the push to the three-level when there are 16 trumps. (The average number of trumps on all deals is 16.7.)
Thus, if we have to decide between double as business and double as takeout, we should choose takeout. I studied a set of 48 deals where our 12-15 notrump was overcalled. I found 13 deals where I wanted to play negative doubles and 2 deals where I wanted to play business doubles. This is consistent with the "law."
Our agreement on overcalls of our weak notrump is negative
doubles, and for consistency it is negative doubles through 3 .
If they overcall 2 we play system on. Here "double = Stayman"
and negative doubles mean the same thing. This is our agreement
even if the overcall is artificial. 2 for the majors cannot buy
the majors - one of the bidder's majors may be four-small - or he
may have forgotten his system. If the bid is artificial they may
have to pull the negative double. If responder passes opener is
not expected to reopen.
How do these arguments apply to the big club auctions? I think they apply exactly when responder has shown 0-6 points and the rebid is 1NT.
1 Pass 1 Pass 1NT Call
Rebid After 1 Overcall Rules 2 Double = Stayman and system on. 2 Negative doubles. Suit bids natural. 2NT = "Do the right thing." Cue of a natural bid is Stayman. Double System on. Redouble — > 2 A reopening double is takeout.
What about other big club cases? If responder has 7-12 points, then we have a force to 2NT or 3NT, and a pass corresponds to a negative double.
1 Pass 1 Pass 1NT, 2NT Call
After Delayed Interference in 1 Overcall Rules 2 Double = business. Pass = Stayman. Rest of system on. 2 Double = business. Pass = negative. Other bids natural. Double Redouble = let's get them. A reopening double is business.
I expect the group to discuss and do computer studies on the above.
1 Pass 1 Pass 1NT 2 ?
Your bid depends on the overcall. Over 2 you transfer to spades
and then bid hearts. Over 2 bid spades and then hearts.
1 Pass 1 Pass 1NT Pass 2 2 ?
Proceed normally when the overcall occurs during the scramble and before you have shown the majors. Pass denies a four-card major. Double is a penalty double.
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