Chapter 02

Convention Summary

  • 2/1: major rebid promises 6, 1NT SF, 2 response promisers 5 (alert 2)
  • 1NT: Jacoby, TX, delayed TX, 2NT puppet (radu version), systems on over art X/2, Smolen, Transfer Leb, DONT runouts over penalty X, Reverse Baze, pass denies over 2-(X), doubleton superaccepts/retransfers, exclusion after TX then new suit, 3 is 55m GF (then major shows stopper)
  • Gambling 3NT: all minor responses are p/c
  • After 1M: 3M Mixed, 3 3# LR, 3 4# LR, 2M constructive, 2NT Jacoby, 2-tiered splinters, 2, non-serious 3NT, wide 2-way Drury (3-level is FJS except 3, use 2NT as FJS for clubs), game tries (SS after 1M-2M otherwise natural)
  • 1M-1NT-JS: With Radu, special responses to GF JS, JS to heart promises 5.
  • Transfers after 1M-(X), after opponent negative double of 1M
  • Minor suit structure: 1m-3m mixed, 1m-(x)-2NT weak, UMJOOMO, Walsh, Criss Cross inverted minors
  • Checkbacks: 2-way checkbacks, 4SF, 3SF, transfers after 2NT rebid, spiral, ing/leb after reverse
  • 2 opener. 54 or better in majors (either way), 5-10 (54 need to be 8-10). 2NT is asking bid. If NV, 3 min better hearts, 3 min better spades, 3 max better hearts, 3 max better spades (min min max max). If Vul, 3 8-10 54 hearts, 3 8-10 54 spades, 3 min 55, 3 max 55 (max max min max).
  • 2: Kokish with flip of 3. If they bid X is t/o and values, shortness in their suit, suit is 5+.
  • 2NT: regular stayman, smolen, 3 relay to 3NT (then 4 om, 4 shortness)
  • 2NT-3-4om: 1st rejects (next step KC anyway), 2-5 KC.
  • Weak 2s: gradient responses, poor man’s kc
  • Transfer Leb / 1NT interference:
  • cue/slow cue need stopper/semi stopper
  • after 2/D for majors: 2 pick, 2 clubs 2NT diamonds
  • 1NT-(2NT): 3 stayman, 3 transfers
  • (3) transfers, (3) flip, (3) X shows spades/3 needs stopper, (3/4) transfers, (4) natural
  • After opponent 1NT overcall
  • 1m-(1NT): multi-landy with X penalty
  • 1M-(1NT): X penalty, 2 oM w/ 2#, 2 3# LR, 2NT 4# LR
  • Multi Landy.
  • 2 for majors: 2NT is LR for both (max max min min), can bid 2 then bid on with LR in one, 3 is mixed, 3 natural escapes. Over X: XX is pick, 2 is want to play there.
  • 2 for one major: 2 generally 3+ hearts and 2+ more H than S, 2 bidder can game try from there. 2N equal in both, max max min min. 3 natural escapes, NF constructive. After X: similar to previous bullet.
  • 2: 3 is LR. 3M mixed. 2NT minor ask: min min max max.
  • X: 2 minor, 2 major, 2 my own, 3 my own, 2N m ask min min max max.
  • X for penalty (weak): 2 is scramble, 2 is natural. If they run, 1st X is t/o, then X is penalty.
  • All Lebensohls (see chart) and 1-(2):
  • Transfer Leb over 1NT interference: X negative, cue/slow cue need stopper/semi stopper, transferring skipping their suit with inv+, unusual bid is 55m GF
  • Transfer Leb after 1m-(2M): cue/slow cue need stopper/semi stopper, slow 3NT shows 4#M, unusual bids are minors GF, slow unusual is 5#C and 4#M.
  • 1-(2): 3m natural, 2NT is LR 3+ vs 1-(2) 3 is LR3+, 2NT is LR 4+
  • Better Minor Leb (no transfers) after (2)-X: 2NT ask for better minor, so (2)-X-3 is 0-10, (2)-X-3 is inv+
  • Doubles: takeout, ELCD, negative, responsive, maximal (123 and out, must bid anything else or maximal to make game try), support
  • Other competitive bids: Sandwich 1NT BPH
  • Advancing Overcalls:
  • (1x)-1M: double cue mixed, cue LR, 3M weak, 2NT bal inv (12+ - 15-), JS forcing, new suit NF
  • (1x)-2Y: then new suits are forcing
  • (1x)-1M-(2x): cue LR 3, 2NT 4, 3M mixed
  • (1x)-1M-(2y): 2NT still 12+ to 15-, lower cue 3, higher cue 4, 3M mixed
  • Michaels/Leaping (good chart in doc): (1x)-p-(1y)-2x, (1x)-p-p-2x, (1nt)-(2)-2, (1M)-(2NT)-3M
  • Except:
  • (1m)-(1NT): 2 majors, 2 bad single major (10-13), 2 good single major (14-17)
  • (1m)-(1NT)-pp: 2om is majors (other is natural), then same as above
  • (2M)-3M: use leaping for 55, play this as stopper ask for 3NT (or both minors and a good hand if you bid on).
  • (2)-3: still Michaels. So play 2-4 as clubs and either major, 4 asks which.
  • (1)-(1): 2 spades and either minor, 2NT both minors.
  • (1)-2: 3 LR for HS. 2NT for both.
  • (1)-2: 3 weak escape, 3 is invite for hearts, use 2NT to invite in spades (or both) b/c can bid on after 3.
  • Transfer Defense to Michaels (also good chart):
  • Two known unusual over unusual, One known transfers (cue or transfer cue is LR+)
  • Carding: upside-down attitude, standard count, coded 9Ts throughout, suit pref in trump suit
  • Special Defenses:
  • Flannery: X t/o for minors or 13-15 balanced. 2 more distributional t/o. 2 natural. 2NT 15-18.
  • Weak 1NT: X penalty then next X t/o, after that penalty again. 2 is scramble, 2 natural. Also (weak 1NT)-p-(2x)-X is penalty (15+ balanced)
  • Strong 1: X for Major 1NT for minors. If we bid at 1 level, 1NT is cue, 2 is natural.
  • Transfers at 1-level (e.g. 1-1 for spades): X shows suit bid, bidding their suit is t/o.
  • Slam bidding:
  • 1430, 5N void even, 6x void odd.
  • Q known: 1st step king ask, otherwise 1st step q ask 2nd step k ask
  • K asks: with one bid it, with 2 bid the one you don’t have, with 3 bid 7.
  • Redwood: 4NT never KC for m. Use 1st step above 4m (2nd step if 1st step is ambiguous).
  • Exclusion: 01122