Opponents interfere over our 1NT opening
After a Penalty DBL
- RDBL: 5+ in a minor, weak. Partner must bid 2C.
- 2C (Stayman): Maybe 4+4+ in majors in a weak hand. Partner has only 3 possible
responses.
- 2D/H: Transfers
- Pass: Weak, no 5+ suit, no 4-4 in majors. Partner may RDBL to initiate a
scramble or bid a suit with 5+ cards.
- All other bids are un-changed
After a Non-penalty DBL the system stays unchanged. RDBL is for business
(usually less than game values).
After a level-2 overcall showing explicitly only 1 suit (either a 1-suiter
or a 2-suiter with an un-known second suit)
- New suit at level 2: competitive, non forcing
- DBL: Negative (Stayman)
- Pass over an artificial overcall followed by DBL: Business
- Cue-bid at level 2 (If possible, i.e. after a transfer intervention): Take-out,
no indication about stoppers. May hide a limit club 1-suiter, but typically
has values for 2NT.
- 3NT: With stopper
- 2NT: Lebensohl relay to 3C. After the relay:
- Pass: competitive in clubs
- New suit lower than opponent’s bid: competitive
- New suit higher than opponent’s bid: game+ with stopper
- Cue-bid: Take-out without stopper
- 3NT: Without stopper
- Other bids over 2S
- 3C/D: Transfer to diamonds/hearts
- 3H: Singleton spade, 4 hearts
- 3S: Singleton spade, 3 hearts
- Other bids over 2H
- 3C: Transfer to diamonds
- 3D: Singleton heart, 3 or 4 spades
- 3H: 5 spades without heart stopper
- 3S: 5 spades with heart stopper
- Other bids over 2D
- 3C: Stayman
- 3D/H: Transfer to hearts/spades
- Other bids over 2C
- 3C/D/H: Transfer to hearts/spades
- 4C/D: 5+5+ in the suit and another (usually major) suit
- 4H/S cuebid: 5+5+ in minors
- 4H/S otherwise: To play
After a 2-suited overcall showing explicitly both suits
- New suit: Competitive
- DBL: Business if overcall is natural (Negative otherwise)
- 2NT: Invitational
- Lower cue-bid: Shows the lower of the other 2 suits
- Higher cue-bid: Shows the higher of the other 2 suits
After 2NT with a 2-suiter (usually the minors)
- Pass: The equivalent of a Negative DBL or a Competitive bid or a Pass
- DBL: business interest and also initiates stopper investigation
- All other bids are as above
After a Natural Overcall at level 3
- DBL: Negative
- New suit: game forcing
- 3NT: sign off
- Any jump at level 4 retains its original meaning (4D/H Texas or 4S/NT QST)
After a DBL of our Stayman 2C
- 2NT: 4-4 in the majors, club stopper, no indication for min/max
- 3C: 4-4 in the majors, no club stopper. Responder usually bids his major
suit, but can bid 3D to still make opener play the hand!
- 2D/H/S: Unchanged, but with club stopper
- Pass: Any other hand without club stopper. If next opponent passes, responder
bids RDBL. Opener’s responses:
- 2D: No 4-card major suit
- 2H: 4+ spades. Responder can bid 3H to still make opener play the hand.
- 2S: 4+ hearts. Responder can bid 3S to still make opener play the hand.
- RDBL: Let’s play 2 clubs!
After an overcall of our Stayman 2C
- DBL: Business
- 2H/S: 4 cards
- Cue-bid 3D: 4+ cards in both majors
- 3C/D: Good 5+ suit
- Pass: Otherwise. If next opponent passes, responder bids:
- DBL: Business
- 2H/S: Competitive
- 3H/S over 2D: Smolen
- Cue-bid: Asks for stopper
- 3C/D: Natural, forcing
- 2/3NT: Limit
After a DBL of our 2D/H bid (showing the suit)
- Pass: Only 2 cards in partner's suit
- 2H/S: Sign-off, prefers to play the hand
- 2NT: Limit, without stopper
- New suit: Competitive
- Cuebid: Short in the suit, limit or more
- 3H/S: Limit, prefers to play the hand
- Jump cuebid: Void, slam invitation
- RDBL: Relay – opener must accept the transfer. Follows:
- 2NT: Limit, with stopper
- Cuebid: Semi-stopper, looking to play 3NT
- Jump cuebid: Singleton, slam invitation
- 3H/S: Limit, shows at least 2 quick loosers in opponents' suit!
- New suit: Forcing
- RDBL: 3+ fit without stopper
- 2H/S: To play
- Others: Natural game tries
- 2H/S: 3+ fit with heart stopper
- Other: Max, 4+ fit
After a DBL of our 2S/3C transfer bid (showing the suit)
- Pass: Only 2 cards in partner's suit
- 2NT: Trying for 3NT
- 3C/D: Prefers to play
- RDBL: Otherwise
- RDBL: 3+ fit without topper
- 3C: 3+ fit with stopper
- Other: Max, 4+ fit
After an overcall of our transfer bid
- Pass: The usual bid. After opponent’s pass follows:
- DBL: Negative
- New suit: Competitive
- Accept own transfer: Competitive
- NT: Limit
- Cue-bid: Take-out
- Jump shift: 5+5+, game values
- DBL: Negative
- Other: Fit