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THE "NOTTINGHAM CLUB" SYSTEM AS DEVELOPED AT THE
DEVA BRIDGE CLUB, CHESTER. |
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The Nottingham Club bidding
system, developed at the Nottingham Bridge Club, was first published by |
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Marjorie Burns in 1954. It was probably the first British strong 1♣ system and was adopted in a
fairly big |
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way
by members of the Deva Bridge Club in the late 1950's. At one stage nearly
50% of the club members, |
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including most of the "better" players, were playing
"Nottingham". However, in
practice, although its basic |
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principle of the strong opening 1♣ with a negative response of
1♦ was found to
be a very effective base on |
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which to build an auction, the second and third rebids and responses were
not very well systemised and left |
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much room for improvement. |
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To make the system more
playable, it has been modified over the years by various Deva club players |
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notably Eric Figgis, David and Barbara Figgis, Dorothy Grunert, Wilf
Fearn, Eric and Dorothy Dutton,Frank Dean, |
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and more recently by Jim Stambridge and myself. The earlier modifications
were generally added piecemeal as a |
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need was recognised. The latest modifications, some suggested by various
Deva players,some borrowed from the |
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Blue Club and some fairly novel, have been incorporated to produce what
is now an integrated system whose |
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bids relate logically to one another and often have more extensive and
closely defined meanings than hitherto. |
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Sadly, most of the players are no longer
with us, and only a small handful of players are left at the Deva who |
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play this system, which, for over 40 years they described as
"Nottingham", but which, in fact, bore little |
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resemblance
to the original "Nottingham Club". It should be seen, especially in
its latest development, as a |
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system in its own right, the "CHESTER CLUB". |
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It is well understood that, for
any new bidding system, or modifications to an existing system, there are |
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always advantages and disadvantages. The thing is to choose the version
which gives an advantage the most |
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often,
is logical, and feels comfortable to play. It is felt that the "Chester
Club" System does just that and |
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provides a very positive and essentially natural ( some sophisticated
players might say 'simplistic') bidding |
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environment. |
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Charles R. Greenwood |
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14 September 2008 |
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OUTLINE of the CHESTER CLUB BIDDING SYSTEM |
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This system, like all systems,
will very occasionally encounter a deal apparently concocted specially to |
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frustrate it. In such rare circumstances a player is always free to
depart from the system when, in his judgement, |
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the probable outcome of such an action is to be preferred. Furthermore,
the high card point counts specified are |
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not set in stone and may be influenced by special distributional features
etc. all according to a player's judgement |
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2NT
22 - 24 points. Fairly balanced. |
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1♣ All other
hands with 16 or more points. This is forcing for one round. |
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It is also used in place of the hitherto forcing to game bid of 2♦ (equivalent to an Acol |
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opening 2♣). See discussion on the strong openings. |
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1NT 13
- 15 points. (May be shaded to a
good 12). |
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1♥ & 1♠ 12 - 15 points. 5 or
more card suit. |
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2♣ 12 - 15
points. At least 5 clubs. Unattractive for 1 NT. No 4 or more
card major. |
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2♦ 12 - 15
points. At least 5 diamonds.
Unattractive for 1 NT. No 4 or more card major. |
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1♦ 12 - 15
points. No 5 card major but
guarantees at least one 4 card major and at least |
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one other suit which may be any 4 card suit, or it may be a 5 or more |
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minor. It follows that any opening bid of 1♦
will therefore automatically |
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have at least one doubleton, singleton or void. |
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2♥ & 2♠
7 -
11 points 6 card suit. Blue Club
responses. Restrictive on opening "two" with |
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maximum values. (see notes on opening 2♥ or
2♠). |
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RESPONSES to Opening of 1♣. |
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Note: All minimun positive responses from previously unbid
hands show 8 to13 points |
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and are essentially forcing to game. |
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1♦ The negative response. Fewer than 8 good points. |
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The generally accepted principle that, with ordinary hands, a combined
count of 25 is |
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usually required for game, would suggest that the response of 1♦ should show fewer |
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than 9 points. However, the minimum for a positive at Chester has
always been 8, and |
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it seems to work most of the time. |
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The accepted minimum value for a positive response is therefor
proposed as a good 8. |
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2♣ 8 to 13 No 5 card suit
except possibly clubs, but excludes 4-3-3-3 type distribution. |
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1NT 8
to 13 4-3-3-3 type distribution. |
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2♦, 1♥
or 1♠ 8 to 13 5 or more cards suit. |
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3♣, 3♦, 2♥ or 2♠ 14 or more and
5 or more cards suit. |
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2NT 14
- 15. No 5 cards suit. |
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Discussion of the Strong Openings |
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The 2NT Opening. |
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This opening shows 22 - 24 high card points, a fairly balanced hand and
is treated as in most other bidding |
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systems. Any of the usual conventions, Stayman, Transfers,Baron etc. may
be agreed. |
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The 1♣
Opening. |
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This shows 16 or more points and is unlimited, but excludes those hands
which qualify for an opening of 2NT. |
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When an opener has 22 or more points he generally either opens 2NT, or if
he has a 5 or more card major, he |
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opens 1♣, then over
a response of 1♦, he bids 3♥ or 3♠. |
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This is the equivalent of an Acol
2♣ - 2♦ |
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2♥/2♠ - 2NT |
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3♥/3♠. |
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Thus the usual strong 2♣ or 2♦ (23+) in other systems are replaced with the bid of 1♣ |
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Don't ask"What if he has 25 points or more?" - The same as any
other popular system, he uses his judgement |
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and goes for it. |
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The Auction after an Opening of 1♣. |
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When Responder responds 1♦ (Negative Response. Fewer than a
good 8 points). |
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With 16 to a poor 19 and no 5 card suit, opener rebids 1NT. (This is treated by responder as an opening of 1NT |
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on 16 to 18. Stayman and the Transfer system etc. will apply). |
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With 16 to a poor 19 but with a 5 or more card suit he makes a minimum
bid in his long suit. |
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With a balanced hand and a good 19 - 21 he rebids 2NT (treated by responder as an opening of 2NT on 19 - 21 |
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points. Stayman, Transfers etc. will apply),
or with 5 or more cards in a suit, opener bids 3♣, 3♦,
2♥ or 2♠. |
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With a game-going hand and two 5 or more card majors he rebids 4♣. |
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With 22+ points and a 5 card major, he rebids 3♥ or 3♠. |
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Responses other than 1♦ are generally regarded as forcing to game. |
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The Principle of Fast
Arrival. - According to this principle, when a game
contract has been identified, a player |
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with no slam potential will bid the game direct without further
exploration. More protracted bidding in these |
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circumstances would suggest slam possibilities. |
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When Responder responds 1♥ or 1♠ (8 to 13 points and a minimum 5
card suit). |
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With all positive responses to 1♣, the Principle of Fast Arrival is applied. |
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With support of 3 or more cards in responder's suit and minimal values,
opener will usually jump straight to game |
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in partner's suit. A slower passage to game in such an agreed suit leaves
room for further investigation, and would |
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generally indicate a possibility of a slam, bearing in mind responder's
upper limit of 13 points. |
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Thus 1♣ - 1♥
1♣ - 1♥. |
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2♥ or 3♥ shows opener to have a stronger
holding than 4♥. |
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However, in such a situation when opener has 4 cards in the other major,
he would first rebid 1NT, then if partner |
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does not respond in his 4 card major, opener jumps to 4 in responders 5
card suit. |
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(This jumping to game with minimal values is a feature of the
system which makes some players feel |
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uncomfortable, preferring a more sedate route. In the given
circumstances, this is the contract they will almost |
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always reach in the end. On a very rare occasion it may miss a
superior pairs score in NT which might or might |
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not have been judged a good idea given more bidding). |
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When Responder responds 1NT (8 - 13 points, 4-3-3-3 type
distribution). |
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A rebid by opener of 2♣ requires responder to bid his 4 card suit.(2NT if it is Clubs). Opener may do
this for a |
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number of reasons, the most common being to find a possible 4/4 fit in a
major when he has a hand with a short |
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suit and suitable, with such a fit,to play in 4♥ or 4♠. |
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N.B. In the previous version of "Nottingham" the
following auction has been known to occur:- |
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1♣ - 2♣, 2NT - 3♥, 4♥ on hands each with 4
hearts and matching 3-4-3-3 distributions. |
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Slam Bidding when initial response is 1NT. |
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From the response of 1NT with its totally flat distribution and an upper
limit of 13 points opener, with a very |
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strong hand, can immediately judge the possibilities of a slam and, if it
seems propitious, he can proceed as |
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follows; |
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1. If after bidding 2♣ he gets a response in a major he may , with a suitable
holding, support the major below |
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game level thus setting the suit then, if necessary, ask for Aces etc. |
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2. With a 5 card suit he can bid the suit
below game level, possibly setting the suit, then again, if desired,, |
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launch into a slam investigation. |
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3. He can make a quantitive bid of 4NT. |
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With no slam aspirations and an original response of 1NT. |
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If opener has deemed it desirable to rebid 2♣ and a 4/4 fit major is found, he bids 4 in the major or 3NT at
his |
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discretion. |
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If opener has 5 or more hearts or spades, he knows partner must have at
least 3 card support, so, unless he |
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wants to gamble for a possibly better pairs score in NTs,or has the
strength to contemplate a slam,he simply |
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bids 4♥ or 4♠. |
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When responder responds 2♣ |
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This bid is made when responder has 8 - 13 points, does not have
a 4-3-3-3 type distribution, and does not |
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have a 5 card suit, except possibly clubs. |
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If opener has 5 card suits he bids them downwards, i.e. higher ranking
first if he has two. |
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Opener with no 5 card suit, first bids 2 NTs then bids 4 card suits
upwards. |
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If opener bids a major, showing at least 5 cards, responder may raise to
4 with at least 3 card support and |
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minimal values. A raise to 3 would show a similar holding and better
values with possible slam potential* (as |
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when partner has opened on a suitable hand, usually with about
19 - 21 points). However, if responder has 4 |
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cards in the other major, he normally would first show it, (remember he
has already denied 5), because of the |
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possibility of a superior contract on a 4/4 fit in that suit. |
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Another way for responder to suggest slam possibilities, is to
show a 4 card diamond suit at a suitable stage of |
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the bidding. With no slam potential*, a four card diamond suit
is generally ignored. |
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e.g. in the following sequence: |
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Possible Slam Interest No Slam Interest |
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1♣ - 2♣ 1♣ -
2♣ |
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16+
points 8 - 13 Unbalanced |
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2NT 3♦ 2NT - 3♥ |
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No 5 card
suit 4 card suit No 5 card
suit 4 card suit |
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(ignores 4 card diamond suit) |
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3♥ 4♥
4♥ |
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4 card
suit 4 card suit 4 card suit |
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* By slam potential is meant probably about 12 - 13 points and
rich in controls (aces & kings) |
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The Auction after an Opening Bid of 1♣ (Cont'd) |
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When Opener has 4-4-4-1 Type Distribution and 16 or more
Points. |
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The bête noir of the
system. There is no really satisfactory answer to this problem especially
when the answer is |
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1♦. |
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Some players felt a rebid in the lowest ranking 4 card major the best
option, and while the opening 1NT with a |
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singleton was forbidden, this was generally adopted by
"Nottingham" players. With the repeal of this restriction, |
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some players feel that 1NT is the preferred bid. The situation does not
arise often and there is at present little |
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experience to prefer either way. The partnership must decide which
approach they wish to take. |
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Some systems go to great lengths
to cope with the 4-4-4-1 situation, generally reserving the opening of 2♦ for |
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the occasion. We feel that, for our system, the 2♦ bid is better integrated into the system otherwise, and we are |
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prepared to take a chance with these relatively rare strong 4-4-4-1 type
holdings. |
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Jump Responses to Opening of 1♣ |
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Jump responses are made in a suit with 5 or more cards and 14 or more
points, |
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Bidding then proceeds fairly naturally towards slam, - or not, depending
on fits etc. |
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A jump response of 2NT to an opening 1♣ shows no 5 card suit and 14 to a poor 16 points. In such a
case |
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responder usually needs a little more than minimum values from opener to
make a slam. Opener bids naturally |
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or, on suitable hands, may make a Baron bid of 3♣
looking for a 4/4 fit. |
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If responder has a good 16 points or more, a slam is almost assured and
responder takes charge of the bidding. |
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WHEN OPPONENTS OVERCALL AN OPENING OF 1♣ |
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In club bridge you get to know
the clever guys who, when not vulnerable, will nearly always overcall 1♣ on very |
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weak
hands in an attempt to disrupt the system. Generally speaking, in most cases,
overcalls are more or less |
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disregarded and the relevant system bids are made. In the event responder
has values for a positive response |
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and a holding like K,J,x in the overcalled suit, he may bid 1NT on a hand
which he might otherwise bid 2♣. |
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Similarly, with no guard in the overcalled suit and 4-3-3-3 type
distribution, he may bid 2♣ allowing partner to play |
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in any possible NT contract. |
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When opponent doubles, a redouble replaces the usual 2♣ response and a bid of 2♣ is now natural, showing |
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positive values with a 5 or more card club suit. Otherwise bidding
proceeds as normal. |
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Following a double by right hand opponent, a pass shows 5 - 7 points and
a response of 1♦ shows fewer than 5 |
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points. |
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There is a choice on how to handle right hand opponent's suit overcall
when responder does not have the |
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requirements for a positive response. |
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1. A double may be for penalties
and in this case is almost certainly the best spot. This gives a really warm |
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feeling when you have a suitable holding, which unfortunately is not very
often but has been known. |
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Or |
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2. It may show 5 - 7 points,
indicating the balance of points and leaving it up to opener. |
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It is for the partnership to
decide which of these two options they want to adopt. |
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Discussion of the Weaker (<16 points) Openings. |
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The 1NT Opening |
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Shows the usual fairly balanced kind of holding with nominally 13 - 15
points. However, in the knowledge that |
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Acol players will open 1NT on 12 points, if our 12 points are a good well
textured 12, with a smattering of 10s etc. |
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we also open 1NT. This is particularly true when we are not vulnerable
because of the preemptive value of 1NT. |
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Otherwise with a featureless 12, we are content to pass. |
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Stayman and transfers are recommended in the normal course of events.
However it is recommended that |
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transfer bids apply only when there has been no enemy action, otherwise
all bidding reverts to natural. |
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Opening of 1♥ and 1♠ |
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These show about 12 - 15 points and a 5 or more card suit. |
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Bidding is normal as for other systems with 5 card majors, but responder
knows that an opener is limited to a |
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maximum of 15 points. Note in the sequence 1♠ - 2♥, responder
is limited to a maximum of 11 points, because |
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with a game forcing hand and 5 hearts, he would make a responder's
reverse (see note on Responders Reverse). |
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In such a sequence as 1♠ - 2♥, opener with certain holdings and a minimum hand may feel a
pass to be the best |
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option. |
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The Openings of 2♣ and 2♦. |
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These openings are made on hands which in Acol would be opened 1♣ or 1♦ and, over any level
response, |
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including 1NT, would be rebid 2♣ or 2♦. |
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Whenever it does not appear to be potentially suicidal, hands with 5
clubs or 5 diamonds are opened 1NT. |
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Generally speaking, openings of 2♣ or 2♦ will probably have 2 suits unguarded. |
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Responses to an Opening of 2♣ |
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Since openings of 2♣
and 2♦ deny a 4
card major, there is little point in responder bidding any 4 card major he |
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may hold. With one 5 or more card major and enough strength for game
(about 12+ points), he forces to game in |
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his major, or in NTs, depending on openers holding, by responding 3♥
or 3♠. |
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He forces to game in this way because the opening bid of 2♣ ( or 2♦) has crowded the space for
approach forcing. |
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With the game force thus taken care of, responding bids of 2♥ or 2♠ may now be used to define
hands with 5 or |
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more card majors and about 9 - 11 points. |
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Opener then bids according to judgement having been warned that partner's
holding is limited to a maximum of |
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11. There may well be occasions when the best rebid is a pass. |
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A response of 3♦ to
an opening 2♣ is
a general force to game or may be used to initiate a slam investigation. |
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Since game going hands with one or more 5 card major are responded 3♥ or 3♠, and an immediate response
of |
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3NT is also available, the bid of 3♦ is quite likely (though not quite necessarily) to be made on
game going hands |
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with
5/5 in the majors. Opener, with 2 suits probably unguarded, has little chioce
of rebid. He generally rebids in |
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the lowest ranking major in which he has 3 cards, or he bids according to
his judgement. |
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An initial response of 2♦ is natural and limited. It shows
little tolerance for clubs and indicates at least 5 diamonds. |
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It is not forcing. (We are open to suggestions for
an alternative use for this bid). |
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Responses to an Opening of 2♦. |
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Responses of 2♥, 2♠, 3♥ and 3♠ are similar as in response to an opening 2♣. |
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A response of 3♣ is
the general force similar to the response of 3♦ over an opening of 2♣. |
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Some players have said they are sometimes uncomfortable in
responding to openings of 2♣ or 2♦ when they |
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have relatively weakish hands. Look at it this way. Playing
Acol, partner will open 1♣ or 1♦. Responder will have |
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no difficulty with his response at the one level. Because of
our specification for the 2♣/2♦ openings, opener is |
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almost certain to rebid 2♣ or 2♦. Responder is thus in the same position with the same options
as before. |
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The Opening of 1♦. |
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This is now the most descriptive bid in the modified system,
and applies to fairly commonly occurring hands |
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The opening, known in the original Nottingham Club as the
"loose" diamond, was once described as not so much |
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"loose" as downright immoral. It has always seemed somewhat
lazy and indeterminate. It was one of the few |
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unmodified bids left to the Deva from the original Nottingham and it
could announce a diversity of hands. It might, |
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for example, be used to announce a hand with 5 or more diamonds, or it
might be artificial, serving to introduce a |
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12 point 1NT, or again it might be a hand with 4/4 in the minors, or yet
again it might be a hand looking for a 4/4 |
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major fit. Basically, it simply showed the values to open the bidding,
wasting an opportunity to start describing |
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the hand. It was also often unclear how it compared with an opening of
1NT. |
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The current modified opening of 1♦ has the following precise implications:- |
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The texture of the hand is judged by the opener to be better suited to an
opening of 1♦ rather than 1 NT, (see |
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notes on the logic of the 1♦ opening), and is geared to finding a 4/4 fit in a major. |
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It has no 5 card major but is guaranteed to hold at least one 4 card
major and at least one other suit which may |
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be of 4 cards, or it may be a 5 or more card minor. The logical outcome
is that an opening of 1♦
will automatically |
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have at least one doubleton, singleton or void. |
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The Logical Sequence of the Current 1♦ Opening. |
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Bearing in mind the specification of the 1♦ opening, responder will almost always respond with a 4 or more
card |
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major if he has one, however weak his hand. |
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When responder, not having passed previously, responds in a major and
opener does not support, then opener |
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does not have 4 cards in the responder's suit, but it follows he must
have 4 cards in the other major. |
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If partner responds 1♥
to your opening of 1♦ and you rebid 1NT or some other bid which denies 4 hearts,
partner |
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now knows you have 4 spades , so if he also has 4 spades, further bidding
by him is similar to that which would |
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follow a standard Acol opening by you of 1♠, generally with up to a poor 10 points he bids 2♠, with 11 points he bids |
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3♠ etc. |
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When opener rebids in a minor, he shows at least 5 cards in that minor
and 4 cards in a major ( the other one if |
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responder has responded in a major). |
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When responder responds 1♥ and opener rebids 1NT, it is logical for responder to assume
that opener's short |
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suit is probably hearts. |
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When responder responds 1♥ and opener rebids 1♠ then, since a 4 card spade suit would be indicated with any |
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other non-supporting bid, it is logical to assume that (1) he does not have 4 hearts, (2) he does not
have a 5 card |
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minor and (3) his duplicating bid of 1♠ is a warning that his
short (and probably unguarded) suit is a minor. It
is |
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then logical for responder to assume that opener probably has
3 hearts, (a useful guide when responder |
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has a weak hand and 5 hearts). |
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Thus the 1♦ opening,
the response and rebid provide the partnership with a fairly extensive
description of the hand. |
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A slightly negative aspect of this however, is that your opponents are
also absorbing the information provided. So |
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before using an opening of 1♦, it may be a good plan to assess
whether in the particular situation, the information |
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exchanged is likely to serve you more than the enemy. For example , a
problem may arise if responder responds |
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1♠ when you have
opened 1♦ on a
holding with 4 hearts, 3 spades, no 5 card minor and an unguarded shortage |
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in one of the minors. Now when you rebid 1NT, the diamond opening, the
response and your rebid may have |
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released enough information about the hands to assist the opponents in
their choice of lead and defence to a |
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contract in NoTrumps. In this particular situation therefore, it may be
considered better to open 1NT in the first |
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place. |
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It is really a matter for judgement and personal taste but, by opening
1NT in this particular situation, you avoid |
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giving helpful information to the enemy, which improves your chances of a
lucky lead etc. In any case Acol |
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players with 12 - 14 points would open 1NT, so you are probably not at a
disadvantage in this respect. Also, if |
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partner has 4 hearts and values, he may well Stayman. |
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On the other hand, if partner does happen to have 4 hearts and a weakish
hand, you may then miss the |
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opportunity to play in a more comfortable 2♥ contract. |
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The Openings of 2♥ and 2♠. |
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These bids are borrowed from the Blue Club where they are known as mini
twos. They show 6+ cards in the suit |
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and 7 - 11 points. When maximal, these holdings require careful
consideration as hands with a good 10 or 11 |
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points and a 6 card major often qualify fo an opening of "One".
Experience and judgement will often tell when to |
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open two or one, but in general we follow the guidelines as laid down by
the Italians, as follows:- |
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With a near maximum:- |
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Never open 2♥ or 2♠ with better controls than
one ace and one king. |
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If you do have an ace and a king then you should not have a singleton or
void as well. |
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Do not open 2 on any kind of 2-suiter. |
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In all these cases open "One". |
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Responses to an Opening of 2♥ or 2♠. |
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Again these are specified in the Blue Club. |
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The only forcing response is 2NT and is generally made on about 14 high
card points. |
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Opener then rebids as follows:- |
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3♣ shows minimal
points and denies 2 out of the top 3 honours (A,K,Q) in his suit. |
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3♦ shows minimal
points with 2 out of the top 3 honours in his suit. |
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3♥ shows maximal
points but denies 2 of the top 3 honours in his suit. |
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3♠ shows maximal
points with 2 of the top 3 honours in his suit. |
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2NT shows a set up suit of 6+ cards to the A,K and Q. |
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SPECIAL CONVENTIONS |
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The Sputnik Double. |
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This
is used only after an opening of 1♦ , and may be used in accordance
with partnership |
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preferences, but the following procedures are recommended:- |
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A double of an overcall of 1♠ shows a holding of 4 hearts and a minimum of 8 points. A
double of an overcall of 2♣ |
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or 2♦ ideally shows
both majors and a minimum of 8 points when vulnerability is equal or not
favourable. At |
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favourable vulnerability, doubles at the 2 level are always for
penalties. |
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Checkpoint Blackwood |
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This is the preferred slam asking convention. |
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When a suit has been agreed directly or inferentially, a bid of 4NT asks
partner to bid as follows:- |
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He counts the King of Trumps as an Ace. Thus there are 5 aces for the
purpose of the convention. |
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With no "aces" or with 3 "aces" he bids 5♣ |
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With one "aces" or 4 "aces" he bids 5♦ |
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With two "aces" but not holding the Queen of Trumps, he bids 5♥ |
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With two "aces" and the Queen of Trumps, he bids 5♠ |
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A further bid of 5NT asks for Kings (respond 6♣ with none,6♦ with one etc.) |
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When responder responds 5♣ or 5♦, the 4NT bidder may ask for the Queen of Trumps by bidding in
the lowest |
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ranking so far unbid suit. Partner responds 5NT or cue bids an outside
king if he has the Queen of Trumps. |
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Otherwise he signs off on the lowest available bid in the agreed suit. |
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SPECIAL CONVENTIONS (cont'd) |
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The Responders Reverse. |
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This convention is used in response to opening bids of
1♦, 1♥
or 1♠ to show a
game-going hand (typically 12 or |
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more points) and a so far unbid major of precisely 5 cards. Responder
first bids a conventional 2♣, then bids his |
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5 card major at the next opportunity. This forces opener to bid game
either in responder's suit or in NTs |
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depending on his holding. |
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This convention serves to distinguish between a game-going hand with a 5
card major, and hands with 6 or more |
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card majors. These are responded in the major suit which is then bid
again at an appropriate level. |
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Its non application also aids clarification when responding 2♥ to
an opening of 1♠. |
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TRIAD |
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( A device for two-suited
overcalls when opponent has opened a natural one in a suit). |
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Triad overcalls typically require two suit of at least 5 cards and a
willingness to play at the three level in one of |
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them. In this last respect, they compare with the traditional overcall of
the Unusual Two No Trump (UNT). |
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Triad Summary |
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When an opponent opens a natural one in a suit. |
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An overcall of 2NT shows the two lowest
ranking unbid suits. |
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A jump overcall to three shows the suit in which the jump was made and the highest ranking unbid |
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suit. |
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Thus;- |
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Over an opening of 1♣, 2NT shows ♦s & ♥s, 3♦ shows ♦s & ♠s, 3♥ shows ♥s & ♠s. |
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Over an opening of 1♦, 2NT shows ♣s &
♥s, 3♣ shows ♣s & ♠s,
3♥ shows ♥s & ♠s. |
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Over an opening of 1♥, 2NT shows ♣s & ♦s, 3♣ shows ♣s & ♠s, 3♦ shows ♦s & ♠s. |
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Over an opening of 1♠, 2NT shows ♣s & ♦s, 3♣ shows ♣s
& ♥s, 3♦ shows ♦s & ♥s. |
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Triad is logical, relatively natural, and unlike some other
two-suited conventions,(e.g. Ghestem), it preserves the |
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overcall in opponent's suit for the rockcrusher hand. |
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It may also be viewed as a plus point that if partner does
happen to forget and passes, at least you are likely to |
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be playing in a 5 card suit, and you might even be in the best
contract. (Just kidding). |
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Modified Splinter Bids. |
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These are similar to other splinter bids, but in view of the maximum
limitation of 15 points on a 1♥ or 1♠ opening, |
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the splinter should show a 'void' rather than a 'singleton or void'. |
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Thus, in response to an opening if 1♥ or 1♠, a response of four in another suit shows 4 card support for
the |
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opener's bid, the values for a goodish raise to game and a void in the
splinter suit. |
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Transfer Bids in Response to Opening NTs. |
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These are generally well understood, but there is one choice which has to
be made. The most usual way to take |
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out 1NT into a minor is to respond 2NT directing partner to bid 3♣ which responder converts to
3♦ if that is the |
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required suit. We prefer the bid of 3♣ to direct opener to bid 3♦ which ensures the lead will round to him. We regard |
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this as a better use for the 3♣ bid than the alternatives but it is really a matter for
personal choice. |
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