Taken from Blue Book 2019
Chapter 6
6 A Introduction
6 A 1 This level is suggested for novice events, no fear events and events where there are several flights and a separate level is wanted for the lowest flight. The regulations are intentionally expository rather than prescriptive.
6 B General
6 B 1 Regulations apply only to calls made before opener’s rebid. From opener’s rebid onwards any understandings are allowed.
6 B 2 Any natural call is permitted, subject to the restrictions on the strength of opening bids in 6C1
6 C One Level Openings
6 C 1 A one-level opening bid in a suit must either show 11+ HCP, or show 8+ HCP and satisfy the Rule of 19. See 5C2
6 C 2 An opening 1NT must be non-forcing. It may show any agreed range with at least 10 HCP, with no singleton or void and no 7-card suit.
6 C 3 Within those constraints you any common English system may be played e.g.:
• Natural one-level openings (such as Acol), including the possibility of a three-card minor suit opening on some balanced hands • Five-card majors with better minor or a short club suit • A strong club, possibly with a nebulous 1♦ opening (e.g. Precision, Blue Club, Nottingham Club). The 1♣ opening must, by agreement, satisfy 5C3 above. All the standard responses are permitted, but (apart from negative responses to a Strong 1♣ opening, or a catch-all 1NT response) artificial weak bids in response to a one-level suit opening are not.
6 D Two Level Opening Bids
6 D 1 Any opening that shows 4+ cards in the suit opened is allowed (e.g. Acol Twos, Lucas or Weak Twos, a Precision 2♣ opening), as is any meaning or meanings showing a hand conforming to 5C3 above (16+ HCP or 12+ HCP with five controls e.g. Benjamin 2♣ and 2♦ openings).
6 D 2 A two-level opening showing a three-suited (4441, 5431 or 5440) opening bid including length (three or more cards) in the suit opened is also allowed. Alternatively, two of a suit may show a three-suited opening bid short in the suit opened (such as the Precision 2♦ opening).
6 D 3 ‘Multi’ style openings are not allowed, nor is a 2NT opening bid showing the minors.
6 E Other Conventional Openings
6 E 1 A 3NT opening may be used to show a solid minor.
6 E 2 4♣ and/or 4♦ may be used as ‘South African Texas’ (4♣ showing a good 4♥ opening, 4♦ a good 4♠ opening).
6 E 3 A 3♣ opening may be played as 5-5 in the minors, any strength; or alternatively as 6+ clubs with a four-card major, denying 3+ cards in the other major, any strength.
6 F Defensive Bidding
6 F 1 Any methods in second or fourth seat are allowed after:
(a) an artificial one-level opening (not promising at least three cards in the suit opened), or (b) any forcing opening, or (c) any two-level or higher opening
6 F 2 Second Seat – after a natural non-forcing one-level suit opening
A double of a natural opening bid or response must be either take-out or penalty.
A 1NT overcall or any suit bid must be natural, with the following exceptions:
(a) A jump overcall in a suit, a no trump overcall (jump or not) or a cue-bid (jump or not) may alternatively be used to show a two-suited hand (any range, and any suits, as long as at least one of the suits is specified)
(b) A 2NT overcall may alternatively be used to show any two-suited strong hand (16+ HCP or 12+ HCP with at least 5 controls) without specifying either suit
(c) A 1NT overcall in second seat may alternatively be used as a takeout bid
(d) A cue bid may be used to show any strong hand (16+ HCP or 12+ HCP with at least 5 controls)
6 F 3 In Fourth Seat – after a natural one-level suit opening
Any understandings in fourth seat are allowed after
(a) an artificial response to a one-level opening bid, or (b) opener’s suit is raised by responder, or (c) second seat overcalls 1NT, or (d) second seat overcalls showing a strong hand, or (e) second seat overcalls showing a two-suited hand
A cue bid in fourth seat may be used as a general force or to show a good raise of partner’s overcall.
Overcalls and responses to second seat overcalls must otherwise be natural.
6 G Defending against 1NT
6 G 1 Double must, by agreement, be for penalties in second seat. In fourth seat or by a passed hand any defence is permitted.
6 G 2 Two-level overcalls must specify at least one suit (although 2NT can alternatively also be used to show a strong (16+ HCP or 12+ HCP with at least 5 controls). unspecified two-suiter). In addition, 2♣ can show a (semi)-balanced hand with three or more clubs (‘Roche’).
6 G 3 After a natural response to 1NT, double must be one of takeout, penalty, or showing a penalty double of an opening 1NT. Any defence is permitted against an artificial response such as Stayman or a transfer.
6 G 4 All other overcalls or responses to second seat overcalls must be natural (other than a cue bid of opener’s or responder’s suit to show a good hand).
6 H Leads, Signals and Discards
6 H 1 Any system of leads, signals and discards may be used as long as the system card gives reasonable detail, except that dual meaning signals and encrypted carding methods are not permitted (for details, see 7F2 and 7F3).
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