When hot 1NT opening shows a balanced 13-15 HCP
- 1
- 1NT shows a balanced 16-18 HCP
- 1
- 2NT shows a balanced 19-21 HCP
- 1
- 3NT shows a balanced 24-26 HCP (2NT opener shows 22-23) When not hot 1NT opening shows a balanced 10-12 HCP
- 1
- 1NT shows a balanced 16-18 HCP
- 1
- 2NT shows a balanced 19-21 HCP
- 1
- 3NT shows a balanced 24-26 HCP (2NT opener shows 22-23) Responding to 1
(16+)
shows 0-7 HCP or the Unusual Positive response (responder has a game going hand with any 4,4,4,1)
(one exception 7 HCP consisting of an Ace and a King both in long suits or both in the same suit)
shows at least 5 hearts and 8 HCP or more
shows at least 5 spades and 8 HCP or more
shows at least 5 clubs and 8 HCP or more
shows at least 5 diamonds and 8 HCP or more
/2
shows a 6 card suit with 4-6 HCP with the HCP concentrated in the suit
2NT would ask for shortness (singletons or void)
shows any broken 7 card suit. Game forcing.
shows any solid 7 card suit. Game forcing
shows a 7 card heart suit. Pre-emptive.
shows a 7 card spade suit. Pre-emptive. The Unusual Positive Response of 1
over 1
opener. Opener bids as if responder has the 0-7 hand.
1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
Pass |
2![]() |
Pass | 4NT | Pass |
5![]() |
Pass |
is Stayman.Opener's rebid after 1
- 1
/1
/2
/2
all show 5 card suits.These bids are non-forcing. If you have an extremely strong hand, or a hand with at least 8 tricks do not make a minimum non forcing bid.
/2
shows the equivalent of a Standard bidder's 2
opener
2NT shows a balanced hand with 19-21 HCP
/3
show very strong,unbalanced hands with long minor suits
/3
shows a solid suit with an extremely powerful hand (at least 9 tricks) and requires partner to cuebid an Ace or void. This bid sets trump. Responder's second bid after they have responded 1
to 1
and opener has bid a major.
or 1
and you have 4-5 support points raise partner to the 2 level.
If you are raising with only 4 points make sure you have some distribution.
and you have
4 or more spades it is acceptable to bid 1
even with 3 card heart support.
Partner could have opened 1
with a 4,4,4,1 hand. Responder's second bid after they have responded 1
to 1
and opener has bid 1NT
Opener has shown 16-18 HCP and now responder has become captain.
Do not make any invitational bids unless you have 7 HCP or some
long suit to compensate. With 6 HCP Stayman is safe however.
Here are your bids over 1NT
is a relay to 3
, pass or correct to 3
Stayman with 6 or 7 HCP
Partner's responses are:
= 16-17 HCP with no 4 card major
= 16-17 HCP 4 hearts; possibly 4 spades
= 16-17 HCP 4 spades; denies 4 hearts
= 18 HCP, at least one 4 card major.
to ask which (opener bids hearts first) The Auction after responder has made a positive game forcing response.
or 1
; 2NT over 2
or 2
.A direct raise of partner's major suit response to 1
,
confirms a fit and is asking partner about the quality of their trump
The CAB is always used after the TAB . You can make as many CAB's as the auction permits and responder must continue to answer your requests until you bid trump.
If opener uses the CAB for the same suit after your response
Thus if you have shown 3rd round control and partner asks about that suit again,
the first step would show a doubleton the second step the guarded queen.
The same goes for a singleton. The first step would show a singleton and the second step would show the singleton King.
If the first CAB is at 5
or higher level the responses are compressed to these:
When they interfere After 1
- DBL (opening hand values)
shows 5-7 HCP After 1
- DBL (showing majors)
Same structure applies except that if you bid NT you guarantee stoppers in both majors.
When they overcall 1 of a suit
They overcall 1NT(showing the minors). A variation of Unusual v Unusual can be used over any bid by the opponents that show known two suiters
shows 5 or more hearts,game forcing.
shows 5 or more spades,game forcing.
/2
natural but not forcing They overcall at the 2 level
, you can no longer jump to 3
for the unusual
positive, so you might have the 4-4-4-1 pattern. The 3
option is still open over 2
, however,
since that would be a jump. Also, after responder doubles,a new suit by opener is a 1 round force. They overcall at the 3 level
What to do when they overcall after 1
- P - 1
- (1
/1
overcall)
After 1
- P - 1
- 1NT (showing the minors)
shows 5 or more hearts,and extra values (Unusual v Unusual)
shows 5 or more spades,and extra values
/2
natural but not forcing After 1
- P - 1
- Dbl (showing diamonds)
When the interference is higher than the one level
opener.This shows 11-15 HCP and either 6 diamonds or 5 clubs and a 4 card major
2
asks for shape.
responses are:
= 6 clubs with no 4 card major.
(a major bid after 3
would ask opener to bid 3NT with a stopper)
/2
shows 5 clubs and a 4 card major 11-13 HCP
/3
shows 5 clubs and a 4 card major 14-15 HCP 2
- 2
/2
is invitational
2
- 3
/3
is game forcing
opener.This shows 13-15 HCP and either 5 or 6 diamonds and a 4 card major. 2NT asks for shape. Responses are:
= 6 diamonds with no 4 card major bad suit
= 6 diamonds with no 4 card major good suit
/3
shows a 4 card major. 2
- 2
/2
is invitational
2
- 3
/3
is game forcing
is Stayman. There is no drop dead Stayman because we need a way to show
the invitational hands with a 5 or 6 card major.
Over 1NT - 2
- 2
now 2
/2
shows 5 card inv hand, 3
/3
shows 6 card inv hand
over 1NT - 2
- 2
- 3
would show the inv heart hand. Pass, raise, or bid 3NT.
is game forcing Stayman
/2
to play
/3
/3
/3
6 card over 10-12 NT responder shows 10-12 hcp
/3
/3
/3
6 card over 13-15 NT responder shows 7-9 hcp 2
Forcing to Game Stayman
Forcing Stayman bidder knows that partner does not have a 5 card major and another 4 card side suit.
Opener will only get a chance to show his 5 card suit if responder asks for further clarification of
the hand. When opener has a 5 card major and the bidding goes 1NT - 2
- 2
(New Suit),
Opener now does not rebid his 5 card major but shows support (or lack thereof) for responders suit.
Responder must also keep in mind when they have a game forcing hand that partner may have a 5 major
when opening INT. It is a simple process after opener shows he has at least a 4 card major to find out
if they have 5 by bidding 2NT as a further inquiry.
1NT - P - 2
Forcing to Game, does not promise a 4 card major.
Responses:
shows 4/5 hearts, (may have 4 spades if only 4 hearts).
shows 4/5 spades (does not have 4 hearts)
denies a 4 card major but shows 5 or more clubs
denies a 4 card major but shows 5 or more diamonds 1NT - 2
- 2
- 2
(responder has 5 or more spades). Responses are:
/3
/3
honor 3rd support or better with Ace of bid suit
honor 3rd support or better, either a minimum or no cue-bid.
xxx in spades INT - 2
- 2
- 2NT - asks shape Responses are:
= 4 hearts + 4 clubs
= 4 hearts + 4 diamonds
= 5 hearts
= 4 hearts + 4 spades INT - 2
- 2
- 3
(responder has 5 or more clubs - slam try) Responses are:
promises honor 3rd or better and the Ace of diamonds
promises honor 3rd or better and the Ace of hearts - denies the Ace of diamonds
promises honor 3rd or better and the Ace of spades - denies lower Aces
RKC for clubs.1NT - 2
- 2
- 3
(responder has 5 or more diamonds - slam try). Responses are:
promises honor 3rd or better and the Ace of hearts
promises honor 3rd or better shows the Ace of spades - denies the Ace of hearts
promises honor 3rd or better with the Ace of clubs and no other Aces
RKC for diamonds. 1NT - 2
- 2
- 3
(responder has 10 or more HCP & 4 or more hearts, slam try ).
splinter 10 or more HCP, 4 or more hearts, slam try,
splinter 10 or more HCP, 4 or more hearts, slam try, 4NT is RKC for hearts
splinter 10 or more HCP, 4 or more hearts, slam try,
1NT - 2
- 2
- 2NT asks shape. Responses are:
= 4 spades + 4 clubs
= 4 spades + 4 diamonds
= 5 spades 1NT - 2
- 2
- 3
(responder has 5 or more clubs - slam try)
Responses are:
promises honor 3rd or better and the Ace of diamonds
promises honor 3rd or better and the Ace of hearts - denies the Ace of diamonds
promises honor 3rd or better and the Ace spades - denies lower Aces
is RKC for clubs. 1NT - 2
- 2
- 3
(responder has 5 or more diamonds - slam try) Responses are:
promises honor 3rd or better and the Ace of hearts
promises honor 3rd or better shows the Ace of spades
promises honor 3rd or better with the Ace of clubs
RKC for diamonds. 1NT - 2
- 2NT - 3
(responder has 10 or more HCP with 5 hearts.) Responses are:
/4
/4
honor 3rd support or better with Ace of bid suit
xxx hearts 1NT - 2
- 2
:
(responder has 4 or more spades, 10 or more HCP - slam try)
splinter 10 or more HCP, 4 or more spades, slam try, 4NT is RKC for spades
splinter 10 or more HCP, 4 or more spades, slam try, 4NT is RKC for spades
splinter 10 or more HCP, 4 or more spades, slam try, 4NT is RKC for spades 1NT - 2
- 2NT - 3
asks shape Responses are:
= 3,3,4,3
= 2,3,4,4
= 3,2,4,4 1NT - 2
- 2NT
shows 5 or more diamonds - slam try
shows 10+ HCP and 5 hearts - slam try
shows 10+ HCP and 5 spades - slam tryRun-outs over 1NT - DBL (Must run with less than 9 pts 10-12 NT, less than 6 pts 13-15 NT)
. Responder has a single suited hand.Run-outs over 1NT - P - P - DBL. Responder may:
.