Many of the agreements with Andy Cotton, 9/25/04 (slightly modified 11/12/04) X = some suit M = major m = minor when describing distribution: in order except within () ph = passed hand uph = unpassed hand GF = game force pGF = pseudo game force (forced to 3NT or 4m) inv = invitational NF = nonforcing ? denotes items I need to discuss with Andy 1. General approach 2/1 absolute GF only over 1M by uph 2/1 "standard American" by ph unless conventional 2C forcing opening 2. 1NT opening = 15-17 system on over 2C and artificial x Stayman, 4-way transfers, Texas Bergen superaccepts, retransfers if available 2S: 2NT superaccept, at least Kx or Qxx or xxxx, good outside cards 2NT: superaccept via 3D, else bid 3C 1NT 2S/2NT 2NT/3C/3D 3X(showing shortness) 4m: accepts m, not RKC 3C = (13)(45) (3D asks for shortness) 3D = 5-5 minors slam interest 3H = 40(45) 3S = 04(45) Smolen ways to show both majors (see below) Lebensohl over natural 2X overcall, fast denies neg. double at 3 level 3. 2NT opening = 20-21 agreements also on after 2C-2D-2NT and natural 2NT overcalls Jacoby, Texas minor suit Stayman promises at least one minor opener bid 4m only when slammish or worried about 3NT 4NT over opener's 4m is to play (chose wrong minor!) naturalish development, majors suit are usually cues modified puppet Stayman (switch 3H and 3NT) 4. 3NT gambling 7+ solid minor, denies any stopper in 1st/2nd clubs at any level is pass or correct 5. Major openings expect 5 in all seat sometimes 4 in 3rd/4th (tend to be lead-directional) double raise invitational, showing 4+ natural GF 2NT with Josh Sher's follow-ups (see below) 1S-3C and 1H-2S Jacoby with Josh Sher's follow-ups (see below) 1NT forcing by uph, semiforcing by ph should rebid 2H or 3H holding 5+S 4+H (use judgment) sometimes opener rebids 2m with 6M and "2.5M" rebid hence try not to pass 2m rebid (within reason) Bart and corollaries (see below) 1M 1NT 2NT: 3m signoff or 3M signoff, 3H forcing if M = S 3NT = 15-17, (3334) or (2344) with M as shortest suit 2-way reverse Drury only when no competition: 2C = 3, 2D = 4+ P-1M-3M = 4+M, constructive raise 1M-2C: 2D = full opener, 2M = weak 1M-2D: 2M = weak 1S-2C: 2H = weak, natural (so 2S tends to deny 4H) tend to raise 1H-1S to 2S on 3 when appropriate ? usually no better rebid and side xx or worse agreements over 1H-1S-2S similar to 1X-1M-2M below 2-way game try over 1M-2M (see http://www.gg.caltech.edu/~jeff/system/nagy.html) 1M-2M-3M is power game try 6. 1M-2X agreements should usually have 5 in 2/1 suit, always 5 in hearts opener's first rebid: 2M = catch-all 2NT = stoppers, probably 12-14 or 18+ 3NT = stoppers, 15-17 2-level reverse = shape-showing, could be min 3-level nonjump new suit = extra shape or strength simple jump into new suit = splinter raise 3M = great suit expecting 0 or 1 loser opposite x, not AKQxxx, about 5.5 losers or less, sets suit 4M = probably long suit with 1 outside card simple raise of C = 3+; try to have 4+ or decent hand simple raise of D = 4+ or know where hand is going responder should raise M at 2nd turn, else denies support 6-key RKCB with two guaranteed fits if minor fit was previously found, 4m is RKC iff it's forcing Kantar's rules for RKC with minor fit (see below) if responder rebids 2M, opener should bid out shape then subsequent cuebids, nonserious 3NT, etc if a major is agreed at 3 level, nonserious 3NT on but must first cue 3S with a control often show partial support "on the way" later in auction various fairly logical picture jumps 7. Cuebidding agreements A. General cuebids below 4NT = 1st or 2nd round control (but see below) cuebid in partner's likely 5+ suit should show A or K 4th suit probably cue (agree last bid suit) in strong auction after bids confirming really good suits, new suits usually cue should cue 1st round controls first, then 2nd round delayed raises of majors should be taken as natural, not cue try to make unambiguous cues (i.e. not delayed major raises) the fewer cues available, the less informative the cues B. 3NT probing auctions when space is lacking, NT gropes say nothing about stopper with space and 2+ suits possibly unstopped, cue shows stopper with space and 1 suit possibly unstopped, cue denies stopper unless it turns out to be advanced cue for slam with a minor fit, interpret ambiguous 3-level bids as 3NT gropes rather than cuebids, until further notice 8. Minor openings 1C/1D promise 3+ see below for 1m-2m structures Walsh style response to 1C but tend to bid 1D with inv+ hand, more D than M 1C 1D 1NT when appropriate, might have major(s), promise 2+D modified "2-way" checkback over 1C 1D 1NT (see below) 2NT = 10-12 natural inv (should be good 10) 3NT = 13-15 tend to bid 1S over 1m-1H with 4S 3H (except for 2NT) tend to raise 1m-1M to 2M on 3 when appropriate ? usually no better rebid and side xx or worse 1m-1M-2M-3/4M show 5, 2/3NT show 4 (inv/NF respectively) 1m-1M-2M-single jump to new suit = splinter 1m-1M-2M-3m: inv NF, usually 4+m and exactly 4M 1m-1M-2M-3X: inv forcing, usually exactly 4M 1m-1M-2NT (may bypass S): NMF, 3 level suit bids forcing 9. Rebids over 1D-2C 2D = 5+D, forcing 1 round 2M = values, pGF 2NT = natural, NF 3NT = natural, probably had 18-19 balanced 3C = 3+C, pGF if responder introduces a new major suit: natural GF only auctions that can end at 2NT or 3m: 2N; 2D-2N; 2D-3D; 2D-2N-3D 10. Third seat openings style on preempts listed elsewhere usually sound opening, should have reason to open light P-1m-1M: can pass on 3 and min; raise on 4 if game might be on 11. 2C openings 22+ or lots of tricks with sufficient defense 2H = double negative (no A or K, at most one Q) immediate suit (2NT for H) = good suit, should have something outside unless extremely good suit 2D = waiting, basically forcing to game systems on over 2NT rebid natural bidding over a suit rebid 12. Weak 2 openings I wrote down 4-10 very dependent on seat and vulnerability: 1st = "normal" aggressive, rarely 5 (need good suit+shape) 2nd = disciplined (decent 6 card suit) 3rd = very aggressive, often 5 when not spades and nonvul 4th = preemptive and with expectation to make 2NT = OGUST over 1st and 2nd seats (3D = bad hand good suit) non-game new suit forcing 1 round natural bidding, 2NT rebid stronger than rebid of suit 13. "Other conventional calls" and other things 2-way NMF with followups as in Hardy for 1X-1M-1NT or P-1X-1M-1NT not in competition (no reworking of 2D for now) ?bid hearts first over NMF 4SF 1-round unless reverse or at 3-level (then GF) always stronger to go through 4SF than not responder's rebid shows his intention, sets suit 1C-1D-1H-1S: natural, probably inv+ (whereas 2S is 4SF GF) 1X-1Y-1Z-2W: if both 2X and 2Z are available, then ? 2X = extra X, 2Z = catchall bid, 3Z = 5-6 or more 4th suit jumps to 3 are weak, signoff (e.g. 1D-1H-1S-3C) JS in competition = fit showing, limit+ JS not in comp, ph = 2 level fit showing, 3 level inv JS not in comp, uph = 2 level natural strong, 3 level inv fast arrival after fit jump (remember that 1H-2S, 1S-3C are replacement for Jacoby) strong JS: 3 hand types, etc. (see below) after reverse: lower of 2NT and 4th suit is discouraging denies 5 in own suit (else can rebid it) 14. Special doubles after overcall: continuum of interpretations of negative x responsive: through 3S no maximal double support: on usually if responder bid 1M and we can still bid 2M not on over any opponents 1NT or 2M cuebid not on over 1C 1D (1S) (4H, takeout-ish hand) on over 1C 1D (1H) (since could bid 1S) support xx 15. Simple overcall 1 level 8-16 usually (I like decent suit or fairly sound) responses below assume no interference by RHO: over 1-level overcall, simple new suit: NF Const over 2+ level overcall, simple new suit, non-game: natural; forcing if by uph new suit game bids: to play jump raise: probably a law bid, weak if not a game bid cuebid: ambiguous over 1-level overcall, else usually support 3-level jump cue: mixed raise 16. Jump overcall weak unless over a weak bid (then strong) I try to follow Robson-Segal guidelines i.e. often "short a card" in certain situations 17. Opening preempts, 3/4 bids 1st = light, "normal" aggressive 2nd = light, disciplined (good suit, right number of cards) 3rd = light, very aggressive 4th = preemptive and with expectation to make 18. Direct cuebid Michaels over natural bids natural over artificial bids 19. Notrump overcalls direct 1NT overcall = 15-18, systems on balancing 1NT = 11-14 over 1m, 11-16 over 1M, system on jump to 2NT = 2 lowest 20. Defense vs 1NT Woolsey vs strong (lower range at least 14) Landy vs weak (meaning 2C = majors, others = natural) ?After we double their weak NT, takeout thr 2D? 21. Over opp's takeout double new suit forcing at 1 level, not at 2 level jump shift = fit showing, limit+ (see above) redouble = 10+, prepared for subsequent bidding 2NT over major or minor: support, limit+ 22. Vs opening preempts double is ?Takeout through 4S/5D (need discussion) Lebensohl 2NT response 23. Slam conventions RKC 1430 if desiring to show a void, bid 5NT with even# keycards; with odd#, bid lower of 6 of void suit or 6trump lowest bid that makes sense is queen ask without queen, bid 6trump with queen, bid lowest king below 6trump or 5NT 5NT rebid asks for specific kings, guarantees all keys bid lowest below 6trump if possible, else 6trump or is specific kings the next lowest bid besides queen ask? probably both, for now... suit bid not making sense as queen ask = suit ask sometimes 5M = pass if 0/1, else answer Q ask vs interference: if below 5trump: "DOPI/ROPI" with 1430 steps at or above 5trump: DEPO with # keycards next available bids for queen ask or specific king strange jumps to 5 of a suit = 1430 exclusion possibility of 4m being RKC; Kantar's rules 24. Leads standard honor leads, A from AK usually low from xxx vs suit unless having shown 3+ in auction high or low from xxx vs NT (basically attitude lead) 4th best vs NT; 3rd from even, low from odd vs suit after trick 1: remaining count if leading count card if the answer is not already known: attitude on our leads, count on theirs (including remaining count) UDCA don't help declarer! almost like an obvious shift principle at trick 1 try not to discourage if you know a switch is fatal look for suit preference opportunities: when clearing a suit in NT; on A lead, when dummy has stiff in trump contract and it's clear a switch is needed 25. Forcing pass situations in our fit auctions direct raises: no force of any kind fit jumps and lim (not lim+) raises: force to min level pGF bids by uph and all GF bids: force at all levels other lim+ bids: force to min level and at 5+ level ********** Kantar's rules on RKC in minor fit GF auctions (situation is that a minor was agreed at the 4-level in a GF manner, so that 4m isn't keycard) If 3NT was not bid: 1.If no unbid suit, 4th bid suit is RKC. 2. If one, that's RKC. 3. If two, lower (actually, the cheaper) is RKC, higher a cue, 4NT a replacement cue for the lower. 4. If diam agreed, clubs the unbid or 4th suit, instead use someone's 2nd suit if there is one (ie if one partner bid H and S or if one partner bid D then a major, use that second suit). If not, 4NT is keycard. (presumably when a major is keycard, 4NT is a replacement cue for that major) 5. When a "cuebid" of 4NT is made w/ diam trump, 5C is then keycard (presumably if a cuebid of a suit below 4NT is made that bypasses the bid that would've been keycard, then 4NT afterwards would be keycard). 6. If a cuebid of 4NT is made with clubs trump (or 5C cue with diam trump) then no keycard available. He suggests the stronger hand promise 3 when making such a cue and the weaker hand promise 2. 7. 4NT is never natural. If 3NT was bid: 1. no unbid -- use 4th for RKC 2. one unbid -- use it 3. two unbid -- no keycard ask, both are cues 4. 4NT is always natural 5. if diam agreed and clubs the unbid or 4th suit, then someone's second suit (as above) is RKC. (if there is no such, then presumably no keycard) ********** ??use serious or nonserious 3N? Responses to 1h-2s: 2nt=minimum 3c asks NLMH over 3d, 3nt = serious 3nt over 3h,3s,3nt, bidding shortness is general slam try, not necessarily Ace 3c=extras, 5 cards, shortness 3d asks, LMH, bidding shortness is general slam try, not necessarily Ace 3d=extras, 6 cards, shortness 3h asks, LMH, bidding shortness is general slam try, not necessarily Ace 3h=extras, bal 3s,4c,4d=2nd 5 card suit at least as good as kt9xx 3nt= 6+ hearts, no shortness, extras (good14+) 4h = really bad hand for slam, barely an opener, totally awful hand Responses to 1s-3c: 3d = minimum (see 4s below though) 3h asks, NLMH over 3s, 3nt = serious 3nt over 3nt,4c,4d, bidding shortness is general slam try, not necessarily Ace 3h = extras (15+), 5+ spades, shortness somewhere 3s asks, LMH, bidding shortness is general slam try, not necessarily Ace 3s = extras, balanced 3nt = 6+ spades, no shortness, extras ( good14+) 4c, 4d, 4h = extras, 2nd 5 card suit at least as good as kt9xx 4s = really bad hand for slam, barely an opener, totally awful hand Responses to 1M-2NT: a. 3c = shows shortness, relay to 3d, may be the start of a slam try: 3h,3s,3nt=shortness, LMH responder bids 3nt or passes 3nt w / appropriate holdings 3 or 4 M, shows 3 cd M support new suit is showing concentration of values, denies 3 cd M support slam tries can be made after showing shortness, bidding naturally 1s-2nt-3c-3d-3h-3nt-(4d,4h,4s all natural slam tries) 4c,4d = 6M and 4 of bid m, slam try short in other M, around 16-17 pts 4M = 6-3-3-1 slam try in M, around 16-17 pts, short in other M 4h / 1s opener = 6 spades, 4 hearts, slam try b. 3d = 5+ M and 4+ either m: 3h = relay, could have 2/3 cd support, (with 3 cd supp, looking for strain) 3s=5+M and 4+c, then over 3nt by 2nt bidder, 4c = 5M and 4c, slam try 4d = 5M and 5c, mild slam try 3nt = 4+d (nf) 4c = 5M-4d, slam try 4d = 5+M - 5+d, mild slam try 4M = 6M - 4d slam try 3s = 3 cd support for major, extras, suit oriented 3nt = 3 cd support for major, min, suit oriented c. 3other M = natural, at least 5M-4oM, natural responses d. 3M = basically a waiting bid, inquires more about responder's hand; shows extras, could be say 15/16-17 bal or single suit slam try. ? Responder bids 3NT or 4M without slam interest opposite 15/16-17 bal, ? but cuebids when accepting 4M with slam interest opposite 15/16-17 bal. ? If opener bids over a 3nt choice, he shows single suit slam try ? (4M = weakest slam try; 4 other = cue, stronger slam try). e. 3nt = choice of games, 5-3-3-2, or something that looks like that f. 4c, 4d, 4h(over 1s) = strong slam try, 2nd 5 card suit, 17+ 4M,4nt=signoff; all other bids are slam interest g. 4M = to play h. 4nt = 18-19 bal, slam invitational ********** 1m-2m structures After 1m-2m: 4m+1 always keycard 1C-2C-?: 2D: any min (occasionally 18-19 bal) 2H: pGF relay 2S/2N: 4 or fewer clubs 3C: 5 clubs 3D/3H/3S: values 3N: 3334 wants to declare NT 2S/3D/3H: splinter 2N: NF 3C: NF 2M: 5+C, 4M, pGF 2N: 5+C, 4D, pGF 3C: 6+C, GF 3D/3H/3S: splinter, slam try 3N: 18-19 bal 1D-2D-?: 2H: any min (occasionally 18-19 bal) 2S: pGF relay 2N: honors in all side suits 3D: 5 diamonds, no desire to declare NT 3C/3H/3S: values 3N: 3343 wants to declare NT 2S: 5+D, 4S, pGF 2N: 5+D, 4H, pGF 3C: 5+D, 4C, pGF 3D: 6+D, GF 3H/3S/4C: splinter, slam try 3N: 18-19 bal ********** Ways to show both majors opposite 1NT opening + miscellaneous (all sequences beginning with 1NT 15-17) Weak hands 2C 2D 2H = garbage Stayman Invitational hands 2C 2D 2S = 5+-4+ 2C 2D 2S 2N 3H = 5-5 2C 2D 2S 2N 3S = 6-4 2D 2H 2S = 4-5+ 2D 2H 2S 2NT 3H = 4-6 2D 2H 2S 2NT 3S = 5-6 Game forcing hands 2C 2D 3oM = Smolen 2C 2D 3oM 3N blah = 6M 4oM slam interest 2C 2D 4D/4H = (64) no slam interest 2D 2H 3S = splinter 2H 2S 4H = splinter 2H 2S 3H = 5+-5+, # spades >= # hearts 3S = ok slam hand for spades 3NT = suggestion of contract 4m = cue for hearts 4M = bad slam hand for M ********** Bart ********** Continuations after 1C 1D 1N or P 1C 1D 1N, no competition (for now, no reworking of the GF 2D for passed hand) (thanks to Sam for this write-up) - 2C puppets to 2D, then - pass is weak with D - 2M: inv, 4M + 5+D + 3C - 2N: inv, 5+D + 4C, NT-oriented - 3C: inv, 5+D + 4C, suit-oriented - 3D: inv, 6+D - 2D art gf, requests opener to bid 2H, then: - 2S/N: gf, 4H/S + 5+D - 3C: gf, 5+D + 4C - 3D: gf, 6+D, weak suit - 3M: spl for C - 2M: inv, 4M + 5+D + <3C - 2N: inv, <4M + <4C - 3C: weak - 3D: gf, 6+D, strong suit (direct = less doubt) - 3M: gf, 5M + 6+D ********** My definition of 3-way strong jump shift, whenever 1X 2Y is SJS (need to make sure that Andy knows we're playing this) Responder has one of three hand types: 1. Single-suited slam try. Suit is solid minus maybe A or K opposite x (i.e. can determine solidity via RKC). Not allowed to be missing Q if solidity requires partner holding Q or xx. Trump set as own suit (but NT still possible). 2. Fit jump. 4+ support for partner, 5+ own good suit (usually exactly 5). Trump set as opener's suit unless opener can raise (but NT still possible). 3. Picture NT. 16+, 5332, 5 in bid suit, 2 in partner's suit. Opener should generally raise on 3 (perhaps optional with one or more of (1) xxx, (2) Y = D, (3) NTish hand not slammish?). Otherwise, bid where your values are or bid NT? If opener raises, this sets trump. Otherwise, 1. With single-suited slam try, rebid own suit. Jump rebid to game shows solid suit (how many promised?) plus one outside card. 2. With fit jump, bid a shortness if one exists, or raise opener's first suit. 3. With picture NT, bid 2NT if available or else a quant NT bid?