Strong Pass

Opening Bids

Pass 13+ any shape 1§ 8-12 4+© 1¨ 8-12 4+ª not 4+© 1© 0-7 any shape, could be bal 8 no major 1ª 8-12 unbalanced, no major 1NT 9-12 balanced, denies a good major 2§ Weak, 4+§ 4+ª 2¨ Weak, 4+¨ 4+ª 2© Weak, 4+© 4+ª 2ª 0-7 points, 5+ spades

Opening Pass

Responses 1§ 0-6 any shape 1¨ 11+ any shape 1© 7-10, 4+ª, not 4333 or 4432, not 3-suited short © 1ª 7-10, 4+©, not 4+ª, not 4333 or 4432, not 3-suited short ª 1NT 7-10, balanced 2§ 7-10, 6+¨ 1-suiter or 5+¨, 4+§ 2¨ 7-10, 6+§, no other 4-card suit 2© 7-10, 3-suiter short major 2ª 7-10, 5+§, 4¨

Continuations over 1§ response 1¨ 18+ or 8PT 1© 13-18, may only be 3 cards if 13-15 balanced, may be canape 1ª 13-18, may only be 3 cards if 13-15 balanced, may be canape 1NT 16-18 balanced 2§ 13-18, both minors or 6+§ 2¨ 13-18, both minors or 6+¨ 2© single suited, 7PT 2ª single suited, 7PT 2NT 5+/5+ minors Pass - 1§ - 1¨: 1© 0-4 1ª+ 5-6, scheme up one step. Opener's breakout is non-forcing. Pass - 1§ - 1¨ - 1©: 1ª 22+ / 9PT 1NT 19-21 balanced 2§ aspro, 8PT 2¨ aspro, 8PT 2© /2ª /3§ /3¨ natural, 8PT 2NT minors, 8PT Pass - 1§ - 1¨ - 1© - 1ª: 1NT 0-2 (non-forcing) 2§+ 3-4, scheme up 3 steps. Opener's breakout forcing. Pass - 1§ - 1¨ - 1© - 1ª - 1NT: Pass 22-24 balanced 2§ game force (2¨ waiting) 2¨+ natural 9PT.

1§   opening

Responses Pass 0-10 1¨ game try relay 1© game force relay 1ª natural not forcing, may be canape 1NT to play 2§ natural not forcing 2¨ natural not forcing 2© 6-11, ©Hxx or ©xxxx (prefer 1ª to a three card raise) 2ª 10-12, 4+©, singleton somewhere 2NT 10-12, 3©, 6+ª 3§ 10-12, 3©, 6+§ 3¨ 10-12, 3©, 6+¨ 3©+ preemptive.

The relays Over the game try relay, first step is negative and there are no further relays. All other responses show a maximum and are the same as over the game force relay. 1§ - 1¨ / ©: 1ª balanced or 3-suited shortª 1NT majors, 2- or 3-suited 2§ diamonds 2¨ single suited 2© 4 clubs 2ª+ normal 2-suiter scheme 1§ - 1© - 1ª - 1NT: 2§ 3-suiter short ª 2¨ 5©332 2© 4©4ª32 2ª 4©4¨32 2NT 3424 3§2434 3¨+ 3433 1§ - 1© - 1NT - 2§: 2¨ 3-suiter short minor 2©+ 2-suiters.

Non-relay continuations Opener's new suit canape. Responder's new suit canape after 1ª response. Opener rarely passes a 1ª response. Over a 2ª response, 2NT asks for the singleton, low shortage first.

Interference over 1§ opening If they double, redouble is rescue, asking partner to bid a 3-card diamond suit or 1©. All other bids retain their normal meaning. If they overcall 1¨, double replaces the 1¨ relay. All other bids retain their normal meaning. If they overcall 1©, double is a game try or better relay. All other bids retain their normal meaning. If they overcall 1ª, double is takeout or GF. Cue raises, NFB at 2-level.

1¨   opening

Responses Pass 0-10 1© game try relay 1ª game force relay 1NT to play 2-suit natural non-forcing 2ª 6-11, ªHxx or ªxxxx 2NT 10-12, 4+ª, singleton somewhere 3§ 10-12, 3ª, 6+§ 3¨ 10-12, 3ª, 6+¨ 3© 10-12, 3ª, 6+© 3ª+ preemptive.

The relays Relay auctions, non-relay auctions and competitive auctions are obvious given those over 1§. Over the game try relay, first step is negative and there are no further relays. All other responses show a maximum and are the same as over the game force relay. 1¨ - 1© / ª: 1NT balanced or 3-suited short© 2§ ª+¨ etc.

1©   opening

Responses 1ª strong relay 18+ 1NT 14-17 may be off shape 2§/¨ 12-17 aspro 2©/ª 10-17 natural 2NT minors 3§/¨ 7-17 natural. After 1© - 1ª: 1NT 0-4 2§+ 5-7, relays up three steps. After 1© - 1ª - 1NT: 2§ Aspro OR 25+ balanced OR game force 2¨ Aspro OR 22-24 balanced 2©+ natural 8PT 2NT minors 8PT Treat 2§ and 2¨ as aspro, but don't pass.

If 1© is doubled Pass guarantees 3+ hearts. 1NT is either both minors or very strong. Other bids natural. XX always SOS. Pass always 3+ of bid suit in direct seat. The right suit is more important than the right level.

1ª   opening

Responses 1NT is artificial and forcing, asking for better minor, after which responder can (a) pass to play in the minor, (b) relay (relays are up one step after a 2¨ rebid), or (c) make a natural invitational bid. 2NT is preemptive, asking for better minor. Other responses are natural non-forcing.

Interference Negative doubles to 2ª, NFB at 2-level. If they double the 1ª opening, all bids retain their normal meaning. Pass shows 5+ª, and redouble is a droppable relay (opener may choose to give relay responses, down one step, but should pass the redouble with spade tolerance). If the opponents run from 1ªXX, there are no future relays.

1NT opening

Responses 2§ Puppet to 2¨, or any invitational hand. 2¨ Game forcing Stayman. 2© To play. 2ª To play. 2NT Artificial GF, promises 5 card major and 4 card minor. 3§ Forcing 5+§. 3¨ Forcing 5+¨. 3© Forcing 6+©. 3ª Forcing 6+ª. 3NT To play.

Penalty doubles over interference. Truscott escape if 1NT opening is doubled.

2-suited openings

2NT is a general force. Opener bids 3§ with any 4-4 shape (regardless of strength), or bids a 5 card suit with a minimum. The remaining 3-level bid shows a good hand, 5-4 either way. 3NT is a decent 5-5.

Relay Structure

Basic principles In general, the first bid shows spades, then hearts, etc. Suits (4+) are always shown in this order. Shortages (0-2) are always shown up the line, clubs first. Eg, after showing 5332 shape with hearts, the next relay response shows a) 3532, b) 3523, c) 2533. After showing 4432 with majors, the next relay response shows a) 4432, b) 4423.

One suit scheme All one suited hands go via 2¨, with the exception of diamond hands which go via 2§. 2ª low shortage (3§ rebid then shows 6322/6232/7222) 2NT mid shortage 3§ 6322 exactly, with 3 in the lowest suit 3¨ + high shortage, 5332, 6331, 7321, 7231, 7330.

Two suit scheme 2© higher suit is longer 2ª 5+5+ 2NT lower suit is longer, low shortage 3§ lower suit is longer, 5422 exactly. 3¨ now asks for controls. 3¨ + high shortage, 5431, 6421, 6430, 7420 4§ lower suit is longer, 7411 exactly.

Three suit scheme a) low shortage b) 1444 c) 0544 d) 0454 e) 0445

Balanced scheme 2¨ 4 hearts, 4432 2© 4 spades, 4432, not 4 hearts 2ª both minors 4432 2NT 4333 3§ 3433 3¨ 3343 3© 3334 If the shape scheme includes a 5m332 shape (which generally only occurs after Pass-1NT), then 5m332 is the first step and all the other shapes are up one step. The 5m332 is then resolved as follows: 5¨(332), 3325, 3235, 2335. The normal suit order of spades before hearts has been reversed, to prevent the 2© bid from being natural. If the balanced structure ever results in 2© or 2ª being bid naturally (for example if the 5m332 step is included), then the heart-showing and spade-showing bids are swapped.