CAN YOU BID?

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PRE-EMPT BIDS                 

• 2 LEVEL OPENINGS:
  • 6 cards in suit
  • 6-10 HCPs (if more HCPs or strong in other suits, do a normal overcall)
  • no void, 
  • 2D should not have 4+ cards in either major
  • 2H or 2S should not have 4 cards in other major
  • Must have 2 to top 4 honours (if J is one must be supported by 10)
  • Favourable vulnerability
  • Do not do over 1NT 
  • Do not do over another weak hand
  • Do not do a pre-empt from 1st or 4th seat
• 3 LEVEL OPENINGS
  • 3C - 6 cards in suit, must be good clubs as risky but same rules as a weak 2
  • 3D - 7 cards in suit - do pre-empt
  • 3H/S - 7 cards in suit, if borderline (especially spades) pass and wait if in 1st or 2nd seat
    • 7321 (KQJ10xxx) hand is a good pre-empt, as has no high cards in other suits
    • 7222 hand is a poor pre-empt, pass if in 1st or 2nd seat, bid if in 3rd seat
• 4 LEVEL OPENINGS
  • 8 card suit or longer
  • 10-11 HCP
  • With a major - “shut-out” bid i.e. game level
  • With a minor suit open as a 3 bid

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 CLUB / 1DIAMOND

           1 HEART / 1SPADE 4 card suits up the line, 5 card suits down the line, unless 16+ HCPs, in which aim for a reverse

              1NT (one doubleton, no singleton, no 5 card major*)

               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

                2 NO TRUMPS

                2C then 2NT(22-24) /3NT (28-29) /4NT (30-31) as second bid (also think Blackwood/Slam)

              2 CLUBS

• Open with 11 HCPs, especially with a 5 card suit

• Can you use Rule of 15? 

                   Add your total no of spades to your HCPs and if >15 bid 1 SPADE

• Should you open light? Yes stretch to open if not vulnerable.

• weak (6-10 HCP) with 6 hearts (replaces opening 2H bid)
• weak 6-10 HCP with 6 spades (replaces opening 2S bid)
• strong (20-22 HCP balanced (replaces opening 2NT)

• 5 hearts and 5 of any other suit (do not open if both suits are lousy)

•  5 spades and 5 of a minor (do not open if both suits are lousy)

              MUST HAVE

• 5 cards in suit
• 2 of top 3 Honours (3 of top 5 Honours - limit to level 1 overcall)
• 10-15 HCPs at 2 level (if have 8/9 points limit overcall to 1 level MUST HAVE GOOD SHAPE)

IF HAVE >16 HCPs, do a strength double.

 weaker hand, MUST HAVE:

• 6+ cards - if 7 cards go to at least 3 level, 8 cards go to 4 level
• 2 of top 3 honours (or 3 of top 5), lead directing
• 6-10HCPs  (if more HCPs or strong in other suits, do a normal overcall)
• No void
• good vulnerability
• not over 1NT
• Must be a jump - no jump shows >10 HCPs
• don't jump over another weak hand (bid is 2H and you have AKJxxx in spades bid 2S)
• 2/3/4D should not have 4+ cards in either major
• 2/3/4H or 2/3/4S should not have 4 cards in other major

 MUST HAVE:

• 15-18 HCP 
• Stopper in openers suit (if no stopper, strength double if >16 points)

TYPES

• TAKEOUT DOUBLE

                            12-15 HCPs, other 3 suits

• STRENGTH DOUBLE 

                            >16 HCPs DBL and then bid your suit

• NEGATIVE DOUBLE
• SUPPORT DOUBLE

                    5+cards in each suit-  See Michael’s Cue bid and Unusual No Trump

 Opponents have bid 1 of a suit - and you are in pass out seat

 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

• 1 CLUBS -  2 CLUBS shows spades and hearts
• 1 DIAMONDS -  2 DIAMONDS shows spades and hearts
• 1 HEARTS -  2 HEARTS shows spades and a minor
• 1 SPADES -  2 SPADES shows hearts and a minor

Partners Response

With a fit raise partners hand, presume that partner has minimal points. 

RESPONSES

• A preference bid
• A jump preference bid (usually preemptive)
• A cue bid of openers suit, which is a game or slam try
• A new suit, non-forcing
• 2NT - when the cue is in a major suit, this asks partner to name the minor suit
• 3NT to play
• 4C serves the same as 2NT when 2NT is not available 
• 4NT is same as 2NT and 4C if they are not available 

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

• 1 CLUBS -   2NT, shows hearts and diamonds
• 1 DIAMONDS - 2NT, shows hearts and clubs
• 1 HEARTS -  2NT, shows both minors
• 1 SPADES -  2NT, shows both minors

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

• A preference bid
• A jump preference bid (usually preemptive)
• A cuebid of openers suit which is a game or slam try
• A new suit non- forcing
• 3NT to play
• 4NT Blackwood 

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

• Pass with an opening hand and a long major (wait and see)
• 3C/3D with an opening hand and a long minor
• DOUBLE with an 12-15HCPs and no long suit (semi support for any suit) - partner bids best suit if no intervening bid, otherwise it is a free bid so only bid if stronger
• 2NT (alert) with any hand 16+ HCP - does not need to be balanced

• Pass with opening hand and opposition's major
• Pass or take a chance with opening hand and the other major
• DOUBLE with opening hand (12-15 HCPs) and no long suit - partner bids best suit if no intervening bid, otherwise it is a free bid so only bid if stronger
• 2NT (alert) with any hand 16+ HCP - does not need to be balanced (is a strong takeout bid)

If you have 8-9+ HCPs and a 5 card suit then bid it.

If no 5 card suit then DBL (X)

 WEAK HAND

• Pass if your LHO’s contract will not make or if you have nothing to bid
• Less than 10HCPs bid a 5 card or 4 card suit at the 1 level (if have 15-17 HCPs double first)

NOTE: Bidding at 2 level over 1H/S can be done but check vulnerability and assess hand - the longer the better.

STRONGER HAND

• 1NT with a balanced hand and stoppers in LHO’s suit and 10-14 HCPs
• DOUBLE with 10+ HCPs and no long suit
• JUMP in your suit if you have an opening hand (or better) and 5 cards
• If you have genuine 1NT hand DOUBLE first then rebid 1NT.

After 1NT - Stayman and transfers are on