Defense
against natural openings
Level 1 openings including
1C/D with a 2+ suit
- DBL: Takeout. Promises 3
cards in the un-bid majors and 2 in the un-bid minors. Maybe light with
the right distribution.
- If opponent RDBLs
- All jumps are preemptive
- Pass asks doubler to
“get us out of here”
- If opponent passes
- Cue-bid is only forcing
- Other bids are limit
- Level-1 over-call: 8-16 HCP,
4+ suit
- Raises: Preemptive
- Cue-bid: Limit raise or
stronger
- Jump cue-bid: 4+ fit,
constructive raise
- Shift: Round forcing only if non-passed hand
- Jump shift: forcing with semi-fit or better
- 1NT: Stopper, 8-11 HCP
- 2NT: Stopper, 12-14 HCP
- 3NT: To play
- Level-2 over-call (without
jump): 10-18 HCP, 5+ suit
- Raises: Preemptive
- 2NT: Stopper, 9-12 HCP
- 3NT: To play
- Cue-bid: May be with a
forcing raise
- Jump cue-bid: Fit, short
in opening suit
- Shift: Round forcing
- 2D over 1C/D: Both majors
- Other jump over-calls: Weak
- Cue-bid: Natural over 1C
and a Precision-style 1D, Michaels over 1H/S
- 2NT over a major: 5+5+ in
the minors
- 2NT over a minor: 5+5+
(excluding opening suit), very strong offensively
- 1NT: Balanced, 16-19 HCP
over a minor, 15-18 over a major. Developments are as after 1NT opening
including after
opponents’ intervention.
- Jump cue-bid over 1C:
Natural, weak
- Other jump cue-bids: Ask partner to
bid 3NT with a stopper
- 3NT: Stopper, 2 or fewer
controls
- 4NT: Stopper (at least
Kx), 3 or more controls
- 4C: No stopper, 2 or fewer
controls
- Other suit bids up to the
game: Natural
- Cue-bid: No stopper, 3 or
more controls
- Other bids: Preemptive
Developments if 3rd
seat does NOT pass
- Negative DBL through 4H
- Snapdragon DBL through 2S
- New suit: Round forcing
- Jump shift: 4+ fit and a
good suit
- Cue-bid: Strong, usually
with limit+ fit
- Raises: preemptive
- Jump cue-bid at level-3:
Mixed raise (4+ fit, weaker than limit, too strong for a preempt)
- Jump cue-bid at level-4:
Splinter
- NT: Natural
- RDBL: 7+ with Hx or any
11+HCP
When our 2-suited Over-call is
doubled:
- Preference: Hx(x)
- RDBL followed by preference:
less than Hx(x)
Natural 2C (i.e. Precision
Club)
- Over-call: 8-15 HCP, 5+ suit
- 3C: asks for stopper
- 2NT: 15-17, balanced
- 3NT: To play
- DBL: Take-out, 3+ cards in
both majors or any 18+ HCP
- Other bids: Preemptive