PRE-EMPT BIDS
Rule of 2, 3 & 4:
Be disciplined in your preempt bidding, don’t ever preempt your partner if your partner is not a passed hand, you’ll still get an opportunity to show your long suit. Along with this line of thinking you should always hold 2 of the top 3 cards when vulnerable or 3 of the top 5 when not vulnerable. Pre-empt such that you expect to lose two tricks when vulnerable or three tricks with equal vulnerability and four tricks with favourable vulnerability.
Check the rule of 20 (add the number of cards in 2 longest suits to HCPs), bid 1 in longest major (if have 2 minors, then better minor)
1 HEART / 1SPADE 4 card suits up the line, 5 card suits down the line, unless 16+ HCPs, in which aim for a reverse
1 CLUB / 1DIAMOND (unless than <3 losers then bid 2C), think about 2NT as second bid. If 5/5 or 5/6 bid diamonds first if <16HCPs, otherwise bid clubs first and reverse
1HEART / 1SPADE (unless than <3 losers then bid 2C), think about 2NT as second bid or reverse or jump shift to show points
2C then 2NT(22-24) /3NT (28-29) /4NT (30-31) as second bid (also think Blackwood/Slam)
Add your total no of spades to your HCPs and if >15 bid 1 SPADE
Whenever an opener bids two suits in such a way that responder is forced to the 3 level (or higher) if they want to rebid the first suit.
Eg. 1H/2S - Opener has reversed because crossed the boundary of 2H
If bidding higher ranking suit first is normal then bidding it second is a reverse
(4 card suits up the line, 5 card suits down the line)
Need >17HCPs or if good distribution 15-16HCPs
Responder can reverse with 13+ HCPs
Often done with 5/5 or 6/5 hands but can do with 6/4 or 6/3 hands if clubs/diamonds
MUST HAVE
IF HAVE >16 HCPs, do a strength double.
weaker hand, MUST HAVE:
MUST HAVE:
TYPES
12-15 HCPs, other 3 suits
>16 HCPs DBL and then bid your suit
5+cards in each suit- See Michael’s Cue bid and Unusual No Trump
Should have an agreement to play this, and also discuss a maxi-mini agreement (ie only play if <10HCPs or >15HCPs). If in 10-15 range then make an overcall in higher ranking of your two suits and hope to get a chance to bid the other one later. Also discuss HCPs values if vulnerable.
Allows you to show that you have a 2 suited (5+ in each) hand, no matter the point count.
These hands are useless in defence, so better to play offence.
Joan Butts says only do with 11+ points needed if vulnerable.
A bid of opponents suit after they have bid only one suit. If opponents have bid 2 suits a cue bid is natural meaning you have length in the suit you just bid
Partners Response
With a fit raise partners hand, presume that partner has minimal points.
RESPONSES
If have a longer minor and some tolerance for the major bid the minor. Opener can bid the other minor if it is the wrong one. Responder can then bid the major if that minor is not suitable
OPENERS RESPONSE
When there is a fit, if maxi (>15HCPs) raise the responders suit but if mini pass
If it is not a jump (eg over a weak 2 bid) then it is a strong no trump opener
However 2NT over 2C opener is an unusual 2NT
NOTE: If partner bids 3H over LHO 1H, partner is asking if you have a stopper in hearts because partner has everything else covered.
Again only with mini or maxi hands
If intermediate hands make an overcall and then bid the other suit
With a strong hand, start with the unusual 2NT and bid again after partner takes her choice of suits, usually by raising the suit??
If hand is exceptionally strong can bid 4NT
RESPONSES
In the balancing seat:
A Michael’s cuebid can be used to tell partner you have 5/5 in majors
2NT shows 19-21 HCPs
If you have 8-9+ HCPs and a 5 card suit then bid it.
If no 5 card suit then DBL (X)
WEAK HAND
NOTE: Bidding at 2 level over 1H/S can be done but check vulnerability and assess hand - the longer the better.
STRONGER HAND
After 1NT - Stayman and transfers are on