§1 Items §2 to §l4 define the basic system. Section §15 defines permitted variations.
§2 An opening One of a Suit shows a 4+card suit and 12+ HCP, perhaps less if the suit is good.
In response, direct suit raises and no-trump bids are limit bids.
§3 An opening INT shows l2-l4 HCP balanced, usually 4333, 4432 or 5332 shape.
A 2♣ response is Stayman, asking opener for a 4-card major. 2♦ , 2♥ and 2♠ responses are weak. No-trump raises are limit bids.
§4 An opening 2♣ is artificial and very strong, it is forcing to game unless opener rebids 2NT, showing a balanced 23-24 HCP.
A 2♦ response is a negative or waiting bid.
§5 An opening 2♦ , 2♥ and 2♠ shows 8+ playing tricks and a 5+card suit.
A response of 2NT is a negative or waiting bid. All other responses are forcing to game.
§6 An opening 2NT shows 20-22 HCP and a balanced hand.
A response of 3♣ is Stayman. Responses of 3♦ , 3♥ and 3♠ show 5+card suits and are forcing to game.
§7 Opening bids of Three of a Suit are pre-emptive showing a goodish 7-card suit and not much else.
Opening bids of Four of a Suit show an 8-card suit or a very good 7-card suit.
§8 If an opponent opens One of a Suit, a suit overcall is natural.
A jump overcall shows a good 6+card suit and a better than minimum opening bid.
A INT overcall shows a (fairly) balanced hand with 15-18 HCP and a stop in the opponent's suit.
A double is takeout. A double is also the first bid on strong hands unsuitable for a direct overcall.
§9 If an opponent opens INT, a double is for penalties.
Overcalls are the same as over an opening One of a Suit but strong hands usually double.
§10 If the opponents open at the two-level or higher the same principles are used.
A double of a suit bid is for takeout and overcalls are natural.
§ll In most auctions, 4NT is Blackwood.
§l2 Leads
Lead the top of touching honours, fourth best fiom long suits, top of a doubleton.
With three cards, lead low from an honour and top of small cards.
§13 Signals
Signals are not compulsory.
You may choose not to signal if you think it will help declarer more than partner.
On partner's lead, a high card is encouraging and a low card is discouraging.
On declarer's lead, a high card shows an even number of cards in the suit, a low card shows an odd number.
It is normal (but not obligatory) to reverse the count signal in the trump suit - a high card shows an odd number of trumps and a low card an even number.
A suit preference signal is used when giving partner a ruff. A high card asks partner to return the higher suit, A low card asks for the lower suit
§14 Discards
A high (low) card may have one of the following meanings:
attitude high encouraging, low discouraging
count high shows an even number of cards, low an odd number
suit preference high asks for the higher suit, low for the lower suit
§15 You may use any of the following in addition to or instead of the standard methods defined in §2 to §14.
- A prepared opening bid of 1♣or l♦ , promising 3+cards in the suit.
- Five card majors - an opening 1♥ or 1♠ may promise 5+cards in the suit (but you may not play a INT response as forcing)
- Any 3-point range for an opening INT, e.g. 14-16 or 15-17. The range may vary with vulnerability, e. g. 12-14 not vulnerable and 15-17 vulnerable, but not with position at the table.
- Major suit transfers over 1NT: 2♦ shows 5+hearts, 2♥ shows 5+spades
- Major suit transfers over 2NT: 3♦ shows 5+hearts, 3♥ shows 5+spades
- Baron 3♣ over 2NT, asking opener to bid his lowest 4-card suit.
- Takeout doubles when partner has done nothing other than pass, e.g.
- S W N E S W N E S W N E
1♥ P 1♠ Dbl 1♥ P 2♥ P 1♥ Dbl 2♥ P
P Dbl P Dbl
- Takeout doubles after an immediate suit overcall of partner's opening bid,
e.g. 1♦ , 1♠, Dbl
- Fourth Suit Forcing
- A cue-bid of a suit shown by the opponents is strong and forcing
- Gerber 4♣ - asking for Aces
- Cue-bids showing side-suit controls in slam auctions
- Any defence to pre-emptive opening bids
- Lead second best from a bad suit
- Lead the middle or lowest card from three small
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