This concept or conventional method arose originally in the bridge community, whereby the partnership could distinguish, via a particular bidding sequence, which, upon employment, would determine whether the responder has a 5-card Major suit.
Note: The designation is also known as The Montreal Relay system, but the inclusion of the word system in the designation is exaggerated since the devised concept constitutes only a conventional approach.
The concept is that only when the opening is 1 and the first response is
1
, then the responder does not hold a 5-card Major suit. The first
response of 1
then becomes an artificial bid.
Conversely, if the opening bid is 1, and the first response is
a Major suit, then the responder is promising at least a 5-card Major suit. All
continuations in the bidding auction are then generally or even solely based on
partnership agreement.
This concept is based on the fact that the opener must bid 1 when
holding no 5-card Major suit. This means, as a consequence, that the opener may
open a holding with 1
even if the distribution is theoretically 4-4-4-1
or even 4-4-5-0.
After the concept found some popularity, Mr. Eric Kokish developed and devised a continuation of bidding, which is based on this concept. Mr. Eric Kokish published an article in the publication The Bridge World, August, 1974, Volume 45, No. 11, called The Montreal Relay.
The definition of this concept in this particular publication is quoted:
..... an artificial 1 response to leave room for opener to show
a four-card major at the one level, usually used in conjunction with
major-suit responses to 1
openings that imply at least five-card
length.
Whether or not Mr. Eric Kokish addressed the issue that the opener is
required to hold a minimum of at least 2 cards in the Club suit is unknown. This
requirement, however, is fundamental so that the responder may have the
opportunity to bid 1 in the case that he does not hold a 5-card Major
suit.
According to Mr. Eric Kokish this concept was developed mainly for beginning bridge players, who wished to distinguish between being able to show on the one level a 4-card Major suit and a 5-card Major suit when responding to an opening by partner. His published article with the original developed concept, however, became the foundation of several variations.
The rebids by the opener after a 1 first response following a
1
opener are shown below. It is only in this particular bidding
sequence that the Montreal Relay method can be employed.
Not all rebids by the opener appear in the published article, but are rather filled in according to the explanations provided in the published article.
Note: if any visitor has the original publication as issued by The Bridge World, we would appreciate any additional information not correctly presented on this web page.
North opens 1 which denies a 5-card Major and does not have
sufficient values or too many values to open No Trump. South responds 1
which denies a 5-card Major suit. Artificial and
alertable. The responder promises only sufficient values to
respond.
Mr. Eric Kokish subsequently suggested the possible introduction of
Splinter bids as a continuation of the bidding auction and any jump rebid by the
opener to 3, 3
, or 3
is considered to be a Splinter bid showing a singleton or void in the
named suit, but this continuation is based solely on partnership agreement.
When using this method of Montreal Relay, an opening in a Major suit always
promises at least a 5-card plus suit. If the opening suit is 1, then the
opener is always promising at least a 4-card plus Diamond suit.
North AJ98
KQ54
K54
75
With a 4-4-3-2 distribution, no 4-card Diamond suit,
North must open the auction with 1. An opening of 1
should be
announced with the words: 'could be
short'.
North AJ98
KQ54
74
875
With no 5-card Major suit and no 4-card Diamond suit, North is forced systemically to open the auction with 1.
South KQ3
1076
QJ86
J92
With no 5-card Major suit the responder is forced systemically to first respond 1.
With a 5-card Heart or Spade suit, then the responder would first bid
either 1 or 1
. If the responder has 5 cards in both Major
suits, then the responder bids first the lower-ranking Major
suit.
North AK98
KQ54
4
AK83
With no 5-card Major suit and no 4-card Diamond suit,
North is forced systemically to open the auction with 1.
South J107
1076
QJ86
J92
With no 5-card Major suit the responder is forced
systemically to first respond 1. With a 5-card Heart or Spade
suit, then the responder would first bid either 1
or 1
. If
the responder has 5 cards in both Major suits, then the responder bids
first the lower-ranking Major suit.
Now with a jump rebid of 3 the opener is able to show a singleton
or void in the Diamond suit via a Splinter bid.
This Splinter bid does not by-pass 3NT, making 3NT a possible contract. The Splinter bid informs partner that values are held for game and should show a minimum of 18 high card points or a total of 4-5 Losing Tricks. A mild slam interest.
To be employed only by previous partnership agreement.
Montreal Relay applies only if you or your partner open 1 and a 1-level response shows 6-11 HCP. To start with let's assume there is no intervention. The diamond bids are forcing.
If you do not have a 5 card suit and are not opening NT then you must open 1
Opener's response after 1 - (P) - 1
are:
After an intervention Montreal Relay is off except for a 1 intervention where the DBL means a Stolen bid, saying I wanted to bid 1
, having one or both 4-Card Majors.