BACK TO BASICS. Back to Basics is a gentle reminder of the Bids & Meanings in the game of Bridge. ONE N/T. Limit Bid. Pre-emptive. Pt Range to be announced by the Responder. Three Shapes. 4-3-3-3. 4-4-3-2. 5-3-3-2. Maximum of One Doubleton. No Singleton & No Void. STAYMAN. (2 ). This bid by the responder after the opening of One N/T is asking whether the opener has a minimum of a four-card Major. The OPENER'S response to Stayman. 2 Negative. No four-card Major. 2 / Positive. If you initiate Stayman you must beable to respond to the worst response by the Opener. TRANSFER'S. Transfer's are initiated by the bids in the TWO RED SUITS after any No Trump opening. RESPONDER BIDS 2//. (After the opener has opened One N/T). These are DAMAGE LIMITATION BIDS and are known as ONE-UP SHUT-UP BIDS ans as such, these bids must be respected and the Opener MUST PASS. INVITATION BIDS. By the Responder to a One N/T Bid. 2N/T = 11-12 Pts. 3/ = Five card Suit and a MINIMUM of 12 Pts. GAME BIDS by the Responder to the opening of One N/T. Balanced Hand 13-18 Pts Bid 3N/T. Six Card Major & 11 Pts+ bid Game in that Major. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BALANCED HANDS 15-19 Pts. Shape determines the opening bid. 4.3.3.3. Bid the Four Card Suit. 4.4.3.2. With both Majors bid the Heart Suit first. With Major/Minor Bid the Major Suit first. 5.3.3.2. Bid the Five Card Suit. If one suit is vastly superior to all the other suits bid that suit because all can PASS and you would be left in that suit. Point Count for your Rebid. 15 - 16 Pts bid the lowest possible N/T. 17 - 18 Pts Jump Bid in N/T. 19 Pts Bid Game 3 N/T. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> UNBALANCED HANDS 10 - 19 Pts. The weakest bid of ONE complies with the Rule of 19(20). The formula for this bid is to add yours Pts and then add the TWO longest suit giving a Pt for each card and if this totals 19(20) then you can open ONE OF THE LONGEST SUIT.. With 11 Pts and a Five Card suit you can open one of that suit. With 12 Pts you will have a bid. DON'T BID ON RAGS!!!! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> STRONG TWO BIDS. 2 N/T = 20-22 Pts. Balanced/Semi Balanced Hands. This is the a Two Bid that your partner can PASS. 2 - - = You play these bids as either forcing or Non-forcing. MUST be declared at START. NEGATIVE 2 N/T = 0 - 7 Pts. All other Bids are POSITIVE. 2 CAN BE PLAYED AS HAVING THREE MEANINGS. a. 10 Playing Tricks. b. Balanced or Semi- Balance Hand containing a MINIMUM of 23 Pts. Negative Bid 2 = 0 - 7 Pts. All other Bids are POSITIVE. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> WEAK THREE'S & FOUR'S 2 - - - 4 - - - = 8 Card Suit & 6 - 9 Pts. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> GAMBLING THREE N/T BID. = A Solid SEVEN/EIGHT card suit. (AKQJxxx). Responder with stoppers in the other three card suits will PASS. With NO STOPPERS the responder MUST bid Four Clubs. The opener will CORRECT the bid if the long solid MINOR was Diamonds by bidding Four Diamonds. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> THE ONE N/T OVERCALL. The OVERCALLER will have a minimum of 15 - 16 Pts & STOPPERS in the OPENER'S suit. Stayman & Transfer's still apply. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> OVERCALLS. Overcalls are for lead directing & to use up Bidding Space. The Pt count can be as low as SEVEN Pts. A raise by the partner of the Overcaller is PRE-EMPTIVE. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> JUMP OVERCALLS. I recommend the Intermediate Overcall = A Six Card suit & 11 - 15 Pts. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> DOUBLES. All DBL's bid at the first opportunity are for TAKE-OUT. All DBL's of N/T CONTRACTS are for PENALTIES. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> SLAM CONVENTIONS. BLACKWOOD is a convention to find ACES & KINGS enwhen a Suit has been agreed. GERBER is a convention to find ACES & KINGS when a N/T contract has been agreed. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LEADS. NEVER UNDERLEAD an ACE against a suit contract. Against a N/T contract lead 4th BEST or lead from the top of an inner sequence. If partner as overcalled lead your best card. When in doubt lead a TRUMP but never a Singleton. |