Point count ranges for all openings.
1NT 11-14 all seats
1NT - P - 2 is Forcing to Game, does not promise a 4 card major.
Responses:
1NT - 2 - 2
- 2
(responder has 5 or more spades)
Responses are:
INT - 2 - 2
- 2NT (asks shape)
Responses are:
INT - 2 - 2
- 3
(responder has 5 or more clubs - slam try)
Responses are:
1NT - 2 - 2
- 3
(responder has 5 or more diamonds - slam try).
Responses are:
1NT - 2 - 2
1NT - 2 - 2
- 2NT (asks shape)
Responses are:
1NT - 2 - 2
- 3
(responder has 5 or more clubs - slam try)
Responses are:
1NT - 2 - 2
- 3
(responder has 5 or more diamonds - slam try)
Responses are:
1NT - 2 - 2NT - 3
(responder has 10 or more HCP and 5 hearts)
Responses are:
1NT - 2 - 2
1NT - 2 - 2NT - 3
asks shape Responses are:
1NT - 2 - 2NT
1NT - 2/2
to play
1NT - 2NT is a transfer to 3
1NT - 3 is a transfer to 3
. If responder bids a new suit it is a cuebid and a slam try, Opener must:
1NT - 3/3
are transfers to hearts and spades. (these are invitational bids):
1NT - 3 shows 5-5 Majors.
Responses are:
1NT - 4 Responses are:
1NT - 4/4
to play
When our 1NT gets doubled by responder's RHO:
When our 1NT gets doubled by responder's LHO:
One Level Openings
Except for 1, a 1 level opening shows the longest suit (unless opener has a bad club suit)and is made on unbalanced hands of 11 to 16 points or balanced hands of 15-16 points. With 5 or more clubs and a 4 card major the hand is opened 2
(except when the club suit is poor). With 2 four card suits, the lower suit is opened unless it is a club. With 4-5 in the red suits and a singleton spade, 1
might be opened to solve rebid problems.
1: This bid shows 17 or more HCP. It is forcing for 1 round. After responder's bid, opener will bid NT at the appropriate level with a balanced hand, or will bid his suit or suits.
a) 1 - 1
. This is a negative response. It shows 0 to a bad 7 HCP. All non-jump responses by opener are not forcing. (Opener might prefer to bid a good 4 card major at the 1 level instead of a bad 5 card minor). A jump response creates a 1 round force. A double jump sets trump and is game forcing.
b) 1 - 1
. This shows a good 7 or more HCP, but it shows less than 3 controls (ACE 2 controls KING 1 control). It creates a force to 2NT unless a fit is found, in which case it is game forcing.
c) 1 - 1
. This shows exactly 3 controls.
d) 1 - 1NT. This shows exactly 4 controls
e) 1 - 2
. This shows exactly 5 controls
f) 1 - 2
/2
/2
. These are weak bids showing a 6 or 7 card suit with less than 3 HCP. With more values, respond 1
.
g) 1 - 2NT. This shows 6 or more controls
h) 1 - 3
/3
/3
/3
. These bids show a 6 or 7 card suit that can be played for one loser opposite a void. The minimum holding is KQJ10xx. Responder can have one ace or king outside his suit. These 3 level bids are all transfers. 3
being a transfer to Clubs. After opener accepts the transfer then it is now up to responder to:
i) 1 - 3NT. This shows a 7 card suit with no loser opposite a void (minimum AKQJxxx) and no side ace. Opener can select the final contract.
Responder's bids after 1 when opener rebids 1NT.
2 is Stayman. Responses are:
2/2
are transfer bids. Opener's rebids are:
2 is Minor Suit Stayman asking opener to show a 4 card minor.
2NT/3/3
/3
are transfers showing a 6 card suit.
Dealing with interference over our 1 opener
a) 1 - DBL
b) 1 - 1
(Overcall)
c) 1 - 1
(Overcall)
d) 1 - 1
(Overcall)
e) 1 - 1NT (Overcall)
f) 1 - 2 Level overcalls
g) 1 - 2NT or higher overcalls
h) 1 and interference after responder has bid by 4th hand.
If after responder has bid showing his range and/or controls, fourth hand interferes with a suit bid up to 2 then double by opener is for takeout.
Examples:
1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
2![]() |
Dbl* |
* Double (Takeout)
1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
1NT |
Dbl* |
* Double (Penalty: interference was not in a suit. Opener is showing a very strong balanced hand)
1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
2![]() |
Dbl* |
* Double (Takeout)
So in the following auction, responder should tend to re-open with a double when short in hearts.
1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
2![]() |
Pass | Pass | ? |
If opener bids NT at the cheapest level after 4th hand interference (up to 2), he is showing a 17-20 balanced hand with the suit shown well stopped or a 19-20 balanced hand with at least one stopper. With 17-18 and only one stopper, opener passes and rebids NT at his next opportunity or bids the opponent's suit if he thinks NT will play better from partner's side. Without a stopper (and a balanced hand), opener passes and starts bidding 4 card suits up the line at his next opportunity.
Examples:
1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
2![]() |
? |
1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
2![]() |
Pass | Pass | Dbl | Pass |
3![]() |
* 3 (denies 4 spades, denies a heart stopper, only shows 4 clubs)
1 openings
This bid shows 11-16 HCP. It guarantees at least 4 diamonds (unless the hand is 3-3-3-4) or even (2-3-3-5 with bad clubs and 15-16 HCP) over this bid:
1 and 1
openings 11-16 HCP. It guarantees a 4-card suit and will tend to be opener's longest suit. Responses:
So 1 - 2
- 2NT asks responder where he would accept a game try. Other bids are game tries showing shortness. When opener uses the cheapest bid (not showing any shortness) he rates to have a strong NT. If after a response opener bids a new suit he is asking for help in that suit.
Example:
1 - 2
- 2
(where is your help) - 3
(I have club help) - 3
(How about diamond help).
If responder is a passed hand, then 2 way Reverse Drury is in effect.
1/1
- 2NT or 1
/1
- 2NT.
A jump to 2NT after a 1 over 1 response shows an unbalanced raise of responder's suit. Opener will be at least 4-4 in his and partner's suit and have a decent hand. He will have shortness in another suit. A double jump would show a void. To find opener's short suit after the 2NT jump, responder bids 3.
Showing a void:
1 - 1
- 3
. This shows a spade fit and a heart void.
1/1
- 1
/1
- 2
/2
. If opener raises responder's suit after a 1 over 1 response, he should have a minimum unbalanced hand. (One possible unlikely exception: opener has a 5-4-2-2 hand with 12-14 HCP that he elected not to open 1NT). Opener will tend to have 4 card support, but he might have only 3, In either case, he should have an unbalanced minimum.
Jump shift and reverse by opener:
Since opener is limited to 16 HCP, these bids show a powerful distributional hand. These bids are game forcing unless responder bids 2NT, which is a relay to 3. If opener wants to insist on game, he simply does not bid 3
over 2NT. (Note 1
- 1
- 2
is a strong jump shift not a splinter). The reverse only applies after a 1 over 1 response after a 2 over 1 response, a reverse by opener just shows shape not extra values.
Example:
1 - 2
- 2
. Opener rates to be 4-4-4-1 with club shortness and has not promised extra values.
Opener and responder's rebid after a 2 over 1 response.
A 2 over 1 response (as in 2 over 1
) only promises 10 HCP. If opener makes a bid at the 3 level
he creates a game force. A 2 over 1 response is forcing to at least 2NT. To avoid creating a game force,
opener can rebid his suit or another suit at the 2 level. If opener bids 2NT, this creates a game force
since he is showing a 15-16 balanced hand. Responder creates a game force if his next bid is at the
3 level unless he supports opener's suit or rebids his own (invitational).
Example:
1 - 1
- 1NT - 2
Opener 's responses are:
This bid shows opener's longest suit and a range of 11 to 16 HCP. The club suit will be a decent suit. (For example with AKQJ
A
1075
109642, we open 1
). Also with 11-14 HCP and no 4 card major it is probably better to open 1NT to avoid rebid problems when partner bids 2
to ask about your hand. Over that bid, we play negative doubles up to 4
. Responder can force with 2
, which asks opener to describe his hand. With a minimum hand (11-12), opener will have good shape (5-4-3-1 with a 4 card major) or a good club suit.
A: 2 - 2
: This is an artificial bid asking opener to bid his hand. Responses:
B: 2 - 2
- 2
/2
. After opener has shown a minimum hand with a 4 card major, responder can splinter or keycard. A new suit is forcing and shows a stopper for NT purpose. A raise to the 3 level sets trump and asks for cuebids. If after 2
/2
, responder bids 3
, then it is to play. 2NT would be invitational.
C: 2 - 2
- 2NT. Opener has shown a strong NT (15-16) without a 4 card major. A game force has been created unless responder passes 2NT:
D: 2 - 2
- 3
. Opener has shown a minimum hand. 3
now asks opener for his NT stopper outside of clubs. A 3NT response shows a diamond stopper. If responder bypasses 3
and bids a major at the 3 level it is natural (at least 5 cards) and forcing. Jumps to the 4 level are splinters (2
- 2
- 3
- 4
for example).
E: 2 - 2
- 3
. Opener has shown a decent hand without a 4 card major. He has also denied a strong NT. This bid creates a game force. Opener's hand should be unbalanced. If responder bids a major he is showing a 5 card suit. Opener can bid 3NT to deny a fit (probably opener's singleton or void) or show a fit by cue-bidding.
F: 2 - 2
- 3
/3
. Opener has shown a maximum with a 4 card major (might be 5 card major if he has 6 clubs). It has created a game force. New suits are cuebids. 4
is to play 4NT is 1430 RKC. Splinters can also be used.
G: 2 - 2
- 4
/4
. Opener has shown a weak 5-6. Responder can place the contract. 4NT would be 1430 RKC with 6 keycards (both kings count). With a better hand opener would respond at the 3 level and rebid his major.
H: 2 - 2
/2
. These bids are invitational. They show a 5 card suit with 8-11 HCP. Opener can pass, correct to 3
, or cue-bid with a good suit.
I: 2 - 2NT/3NT. These bids show balanced hands of either 9-12 HCP or 13-15 HCP. They show stoppers or length in the unbid suits. Over 2NT opener can bid 3NT or sign off in 3
. With a good club fit, responder can upgrade his hand.
J: 2 - 3
- 3
shows a club fit and 4-8 HCP. Opener should be only interested in game if he has hopes of making 5
or making many club tricks in 3NT. 3 level bids by opener are showing a stopper for NT and asks responder to bid 3NT, show a stopper, or go back to 4
when a suit is not stopped. If opener bids 4
over 3
, he is inviting 5
.
K: 2 - 3
/
/
: These bids are game forcing and show a decent 6 card suit.
L: 2 - 4
This bid is preemptive.
M: 2 - 4
/
/
. These are splinters inviting slam.