• ALL lessons/coaching/de-debrief sessions will follow the strategies outlined below EITHER
• A Basic Modern Acol Bidding System (preferred) OR
• A Basic SAYC Bidding System OR
• A 'HYBRID' 5-card major with a weak NT system
In all systems, the number one priority is to exchange information with your partner to find out whether "game" is possible in 3NT, 4♥ or 4♠ .
| A Basic Modern Acol Bidding System |
Preferred system for regular partners and in particular for those using "Find a Partner".
• Open 4 card majors
• A weak no-trump -12-14 high card points
• 3 weak twos
• 2♣ strong …23+balanced…9+ winners unbalanced
• Stayman
• Transfer to a major
• Blackwood
The system is based on the following strategies:
• Bid FAST when you are weak…..remove bidding space
• Bid SLOW when you want to exchange information……retain bidding space
• IF your hand is BALANCED you aim to bid or rebid no-trumps at the appropriate level
• With two 4 card suits in a hand that cannot open no-trumps, you open the higher ranking BUT open ♥ with ♥ and ♠
• IF your hand is UNBALANCED you aim to open your longest suit and rebid the shorter
(A balanced hand is NORMALLY a distribution of 5332 4432 and 4333)
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| A Basic SAYC (Standard American Yellow Card) Bidding System |
Alternative system for regular partners and in particular for those using "Find a Partner".
It is based on 5-card majors and a strong 1NT.
GENERAL APPROACH :
• Normally open 5-card majors in all seats with opening values
• Open the higher of long suits of equal length: 5-5 or 6-6
• Normally open 1♦ with 4-4 in the minors
• Normally open 1♣ with 3-3 in the minors OR
• Open ‘ better/convenient ‘ minor OR
• Open a ‘ short club ‘ with 4432 (not 15-17)…you need 4♦ to open
• Notrump openings show a balanced hand….5532, 4333, 4432 and may include a 5-card major or minor
• 1NT = 15-17
• 2NT = 20-22
• Strong conventional 2♣ opening
• 3 weak twos
• Stayman
• Transfer to a major
• Blackwood
The system is based on the following strategies:
• Bid FAST when you are weak……remove bidding space
• Bid SLOW when you want to exchange information…..retain bidding space
• IF your hand is BALANCED you aim to bid or rebid no-trumps at the appropriate level. A rebid of a 4-card major can show 44 (unlike in ACOL where it will show UNBALANCED 5+4+)
• IF your hand is UNBALANCED you aim to open your longest suit and rebid the shorter
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| A 'HYBRID' Bidding System based on 5-card MAJORS and a WEAK NT |
Alternative system for regular partners and in particular for those using "Find a Partner".
It is for players who like playing a 5-card major system but are not prepared to give up their weak NT.
GENERAL APPROACH:
• Open 1NT with a balanced hand 12-14 (ANY 5332,4333,4432)
• Aim to rebid NT with 15-19 balanced…. at the appropriate level
• Normally open 5-card majors UNBALANCED BUT
• Normally open your longest suit and plan to rebid the shorter
• Select a system from SAYC (above) for a hand that cannot open 1NT OR 1 MAJOR
• 1NT = 12-14….2NT = 20-22
• Strong conventional 2♣ opening
• 3 weak twos
• Stayman
• Transfer to a major
• Blackwood
The system is based on the same strategies as appear under A Basic Modern Acol Bidding System BUT remember that you cannot open a 4-card major!
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| Hand Evaluation Strategy for ALL Bidding Systems |
BALANCED HANDS
Use the "responder line" high card points evaluation
UNBALANCED HANDS
Use the LOSING TRICK COUNT for hand evaluation when you are UFO
- Unbalanced
- Fit - your side has a MAJOR suit “fit“
- Openers - your side has opened the bidding
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| Coping with Intervention |
Reference notes for members keen to improve their Bridge
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| Principal of Fast Arrival (PFA) |
Reference notes for members keen to improve their Bridge
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