This system has been designed to provide an opportunity to practise using a Forcing Pass style system, when the system regulations do not permit the real thing.

All bids from 1 up are the same as in Forcing Pass. The bids up to 1 have been shuffled around to meet "red" system regulations.

The system can be plugged in to your favourite Symmetric Relay structure, or you can use natural style Honeymoon relays. Both these options will be discussed in more detail in a future bulletin.

All opening bids are four points stronger in 3rd/4th seat. A passed hand cannot relay, the relay bid just shows a maximum pass. After a 3rd seat 1 opening, the 1 response system is off. Responder uses simple Moscito-style relay responses.

After the 1NT response, play 2 as relay. Use 2 as extended stayman, with 2 response showing both majors.

All continuations are forcing and unlimited, except for flat hands. These must be droppable to avoid getting too high.

If responder fails to relay again after 1 , this shows 0-6 points. The exception is that after a 1NT rebid, 2NT is invitational (11 points).

If responder shows 0-6, opener may still have game interest. In this case, opener can bid 2NT enquiry. A response of 3 is 0-3 any, other bids are 4-6 natural.

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

Over the 1 relay:

• 1 shows any flat hand, or 3-suited short spades.
• 1NT shows 2- or 3-suited with spades.
• Other bids are normal relay responses.

1 responses follow the same pattern as the responses to 1 .

Over the 1 relay:

• 1NT shows any flat hand, or 3-suit short .
• Other bids are symmetric relay responses.

Further details regarding the relay responses will be covered in a future bulletin.

Note: if the opponents double these weak artificial openings, you can keep the full response structure. Play redouble as 0-10 rescue, and pass as 0-10 with tolerance. The rest of the responses can remain the same.

You could also choose to keep the full response structure after a one-step overcall. Just substitute double for the relay bid.

Otherwise, just play your preferred version of negative doubles.

Over the 2 relay, use normal relay responses. Over 1NT multi, opener will show their better minor, then responder will clarify their hand.

Over the 2 relay, there are only six hand shapes, so responses are as follows.

Over the 2 invitational relay, 2 shows any minimum. With a maximum, respond as per the 2 relay, as shown above.

Normal relay structure.

After the 2NT rebid (20-22), you have the added bonus that partner cannot be 7-10. The following set of responses work well:

After 3 rebid (23+ balanced), responder immediately shows controls (AKQ, base 2).

• All subsequent bidding is natural, up the line. Don’t bid a bad 4 card suit.
• Jump shows extra length, as does bidding a suit partner has bypassed.
• Responder should not bid a 4 card suit unless very cheap.
• 4NT is waiting. 5NT is GSF (0-1-2-3) for last bid suit.

The simplest way to play Red Grover is to use Honeymoon relays. This means that all relay responses are basically natural. You will notice that the basic Red Grover response structure involves bidding when you have spades, and when you have hearts - if you choose Honeymoon relays then you should abandon this and always respond in the suit you have.

Note - the opening bids are still artificial as described.

There are a few exceptions to the rule of natural bidding, which are necessary to make it easier to bid all your suits in a limited space. Some of the 2-level responses will be artificial.

The same structure will be used by 1 opener in response to 1 from partner. Obviously the point range here will be 13+, not 7-10, but the shapes are still the same.

As your partner shows their shape, you will continually bid the cheapest step (relay) to allow them to continue. All responses to relays are natural, with the exceptions mentioned above.

Any non-step bid by relayer is to play, with the exception of the control asks described below.

3NT is never a relay, it is always natural. If your first step is 3NT, then use 4 as the relay instead.

Any relay of 3 or higher, no longer asks for shape. At this point, you are asking for controls (AKQ points). Score yourself 3 points for an ace, 2 for a king, and 1 for a queen.

A first step response will show the minimum number of control points for your opening bid. Second step response will show minimum plus one, and so on.

The minimum number of AKQ points is:

• eight points for a 1 opening,
• six points for a 1NT opening, and
• four points for any other opening.

If you are not interested in queens, you could instead choose to ask for AK points (2 for an ace, 1 for a king). This is done by bidding one step higher than an AKQ relay. For example, if a 3 bid would be relay asking for AKQ points, then 3 would ask instead for AK points.

The minimum number of points (base level) for an AK response is half of the minimum points for an AKQ response:

The minimum number of AK points is:

• four points for a 1 opening,
• three points for a 1NT opening, and
• two points for any other opening.

You may wish to make a control ask, but do not wish to continue relaying until you get above 3 . Instead, once you have made at least one relay, you can jump to 3 or 3 at any time to make a control ask.

The exception is immediately after a 2D single suited bid (ie. 1C-2D or 1C-1D-2D). A 3D bid in these sequences is natural. To control ask, you must relay again first.

You could optionally choose to play denial cues after partner has given a control response. These are a little more complicated and will not be covered in detail here. In short, a denial cue response (in Honeymoon) involves bidding the cheapest suit in which you do not hold an ace or king. This allows partner to place your honour cards.

Here is a suggested symmetric relay structure which you can use with Red Grover.

Hands are split into shape categories, namely balanced, one-suited, two-suited, and three-suited. Once you have specified which type of hand you have, you then give relay responses according to the scheme for that hand type.

Most one-suited hands will involve a bid of 2 at some point. Failure to bid 2 guarantees that you are not 1-suited. The exception is where a 2 bid shows single suited diamonds.

Having bid 2 to show this hand type, partner will relay with 2 .

If a 5332 shape is permissible, group both the 7321 shapes together to make room.

To show this hand type, you will make a bid of 2 or higher, having failed to bid 2 first.

Your bid of 2 (or failure to bid 2 ) will indicate which of your two suits is longer. Then your bid of 2NT (or failure to bid 2NT) will indicate which of your two short suits is shorter. Then you show your shape.

If you ever bid 2 after having shown two suits, you cannot be one-suited. Therefore you must be three-suited. Alternatively, after a 2 bid showing diamonds or 3-suiter, then a 2 rebid confirms the three-suiter.

If your third suit is not known, then your first step must be to identify it (step 1 below). Otherwise just start from step 2:

Having bid 1NT to show a balanced hand:

If a 5-card minor is not possible, leave this step out. If this means that 2 or 2 is natural, you could choose to swap these two bids.

There is a special balanced / 3-suiter scheme after the sequence 1 -1 -1 or 1 -1 -1NT:

The balanced scheme after a 1NT opening is simpler, as there are only six steps: 5 / 5 / 3244 / 2344 / 3343 / 3334.

So far, we have adopted a simple approach to interference. We ignore all doubles in all situations, and break relay after any other bid.

A more sensible practice is to keep relays on in all GF situations unless we are up more than three steps. If relay is not broken, then relayer’s pass is relay, double is penalty. Responder’s pass is first step response, double is second step. After a pass (first step response), relayer (now in passout seat) must bid step to continue relay, as double would be penalty.

If relayer chooses to make a penalty double (or redouble), and this is ripped for any reason, then there are no further relays.

If the opponents bid twice, then it is not as obvious. To break the relay, the opponent’s second bid must be one level higher than the par equivalent of our bid which precedes it.

The double (2nd step) creates a game force, and is actually the equivalent of a par 2H response. Therefore a bid of 3H would now be required to break relay. We still relay over 3D.

Optional suggestion. Whenever the opponents double a relay, we have the chance to locate a stopper, avoiding silly 3NT or 5C contracts. The responder should pass with no stopper, else give normal relay responses. After the pass, responder should keep the relay going with a redouble (a breakout would be a non-forcing attempt to bail-out). If you adopt this treatment, then it is an exception to the above rules (ie. the pass here is no longer a first step response, and the redouble is not penalty).

After a strong 1C opening, we lose a lot of ground, so a firm structure is needed.

After interference up to 2S, the following structure is recommended for responder. Remember that a new suit at the 3-level is always forcing.

2NT Lebensohl followed by a strong option (3NT or stayman), will deny a stopper. This gives the opponents a chance to raise at the three level when we have no stopper. This gives us the option of penalising instead of 3NT when we have no stopper.

The following structure is recommended for overcalls of up to 1H over our strong opening. This overrides the structure described above.

After the game force pass, opener will reopen with a double holding doubleton or better (a bad action double). Thereafter, doubles are penalty over the suit, and good action doubles under the suit.

If we bid at any time, this should be a relay response if we will be up less than three steps. Otherwise, all bids are natural.

When 4th seat opponent bids after 1C-1D:

• Opener bids with a good suit, wide ranging. Double is takeout (good shape), or a hand that can make game opposite a six count, but no suit good enough to jump to 3-suit.
• With 0-6, responder can pass, bid, double, or use 2NT lebensohl to play 3-suit.
• With 11+, double, jump or bid at 3-level.
• 2NT Lebensohl.

A frequent area of misunderstanding occurs when zooming to controls. This is structure we currently use. Note that zooming only applies if you hold the most extreme shape. If you hold a different shape, then you must simply show it.

Note also that you may never zoom past 3NT if you are limited, even with base + 4 controls.

If the shape scheme ends at 3NT, then a zoom to 4 shows base + 4 relay points, 4 shows base + 5, etc. 3NT shows up to base + 3.

If the shape scheme ends between 3 and 3NT, then there are spare steps. Again, 4 shows base + 4 relay points. 3NT shows base. Each spare step down to 3 (if available) shows an additional control, so 3 is base + 3.

If, for example, the last shape comes out at 3 , so 3 is not available, then 3 shows base + 2 or base + 3. Over the 3 relay, 3NT is now base + 2, and 4 + is base + 3 zooming to denial cues.

If the scheme ends below 3 , as in some balanced schemes, then it is probably better to just ignore the extra space, unless you wish to discuss it. It won’t come up often enough to justify the memory work. If you do wish to discuss it, the best approach is probably to use 3NT as base - 1, 3 as base, 3 as base + 1, etc.

There are two situations where shape comes out above 3NT. If we have a 7411 shape, then we choose to show this with 4 , reserving the 3 bid for specifically 5422. In this case, 4 would be the base + 4 zoom. Discuss whether this shows 7411 or 7420.

Also, in the 5-5 scheme, 3NT will show an unresolved 6520 shape. In this case, 4 asks for AK controls, and 4 is for shape resolution (do not zoom here).

A reminder. While the first step control ask is for AKQ, don’t forget that the second step ask is for AK (halve the base), and the third step ask is for aces (base 0). Note: this only applies up to 4 . A breakout to 4-major is to play.

Regardless of which control ask you use, denial cues are still for AK. The Q is introduced on the second round.

Michael Wilkinson has suggested a different method of denial cues, used by the SCAMP system. Currently, we stop to deny an A or K, or to show AKQ. SCAMP includes the Q in the first round, stopping to deny A, K or Q, or to show A and another.

A few quick practice hands have indicated that our current method is better, but it is worth further investigation.

Michael has also pointed out that our balanced structure is inefficient in some places. We used to play that 4432 shapes are not resolved unless there is only one individual shape still to come (4333).

Michael has pointed out that it is better to always resolve the last four individual shapes if possible. This means we should resolve the last two 4432 combinations, as long as there is no 4333 still to come. Discuss this.

As the 1 bid shows both minors, the 2 and 2 openings can only be 1-suited. Therefore the relays are down several steps. This is often forgotten. Here is the full structure after the 2 opening:

After the 2 opening, the relays are the same, up one step.

With the Gold Coast Congress coming up, I notice that Red Grover is illegal in the Pairs event. The obvious solution is... Blue Grover.

The Red Grover major openings, 1 and 1 , must be moved up one step to make them natural. Therefore we have to take out one of the steps from each bid to get back on par.

• In Red Grover, the 1 opening (hearts) can also have 4 . In Blue Grover, unbalanced hands with both majors are shown with the 2 opening. This eliminates the 1 -1 -1N sequence. The spade hands have also been removed from the heart balanced scheme.
• In Red Grover, the 1 opening (spades) can be balanced or three-suited. In Blue Grover, these hands are opened 1 . This eliminates the 1 -1 -1N sequence.

The same as for the corresponding Red Grover opening, with the following exceptions.

• The lost step after the heart opening is recovered by eliminating the spade hands.
• The lost step after the spade opening is recovered by eliminating the balanced and three suited hands.
• 2 opening now uses full symmetric relay, and is no longer down steps.
• 2 opening now uses full symmetric relay, now up one step.
• 2 opening, 2NT is relay up three steps.
• 2 opening, normal relay.

The Blue Grover 1 opening is a new bid and requires special attention.

The 1 response is a game force relay, unless opener is balanced and relayer rebids 2 . This means that 1 -1 -2 -2NT is relay.

2 asks partner to accept with a 3-suiter. Note that when opener is 4144, we only need 20 working points for game. Use the 2 raise freely with 8 HCP outside hearts. If you want to invite opposite a balanced hand, use the 1 relay and rebid 2 . A good 7-loser hand is generally worth a 1 invitation. The higher responses (2NT+) are the normal splinters and fit showing jumps.

Prefer a 1NT response rather than a 3-card spade raise. Opener will rip with a 3-suiter.

The 1 response is natural and forcing for one round, with natural responses. Opener will not bypass 1NT without three card heart support, bidding 1 with any 3-suiter.

2 / are natural non-forcing. Opener will bid on with 4-card support. The simplest approach is to raise with flat hands, bid 2NT with 4441, or bid a 5-card suit. You could play 2 as a maximum 3-card raise with a small doubleton.

If the opponents interfere directly over 1 , responder’s double is penalty. Opener will rip a heart double with a singleton.

If they interfere over 1 -1 , all relays are off. Opener can double with four trumps, pass with balanced hands, or bid NT (4144) or a 5-card suit. Double by relayer is penalty.

While Red Grover is a very carefully defined system, it has gone through a lot of changes recently, so it is worth going over some of the points which require partnership discussion.

Under construction: a summary of some of the more obscure parts of the system, which may be forgotten without an occasional reminder.