Major-oriented one-level openings

SPREAD uses a MAFIA approach to describing hands too weak for a strong opening and too strong for a weak opening (MAjors FIrst Always). All such hands with a major suit will open 1C or 1D; all hands with spades will open 1D and those with hearts (and not spades) will open 1C. These opening bids may be opening their longest suit, or could have a longer side suit, or be balanced. The limited nature of these hands often makes it very easy for responder to determine that the opening side has little (or no) play for game, and responder will take an action that is a suggestion of a final contract.

Continuations follow the same general principles after these openings; the cheapest step begins game-forcing relays, the next step begins most invitational auctions, most other low-level steps are natural and tend to suggest final contracts, a few jump bids show fit but are not forward-going, a few jump bids show fit for the shown suit and are invitational, and some jumps in notrump show fit, at least invitational strength and undisclosed shortage.

After the game-forcing relay and the subsequent descriptive rebid by opener, responder can continue to bid Step 1 for relay in all cases. Opener's replies are structured to rightside contracts wherever possible. When opener has shown a balanced hand after a game-forcing relay (with a 1S bid in both cases), 1NT is the normal game-forcing relay, which implies interest in level or choice of strain, as 3NT is available to place the final contract and 2NT offers a choice of 4 of opener's major if they have a 5-card suit in their balanced hand, or 3NT. Opener may then choose who declares what contract. Further, a choice of games relay of 3H is available to explore a 5-3 fit in the major suit not shown by opener. Opener bids 3S to puppet the declaration of 3NT to relayer, or selects an appropriate game.

The following objectives were met in the design of the structure:

When the opponents compete before a relay auction has begun, relays are not used. Bids formerly used as relays are now natural and non-forcing. A redouble of either the 1C or the 1D opening tends to deny invitational values and denies tolerance for the suit bid. A redouble of the opening shows game-forcing strength, at most two spades and penalty interest. Otherwise, their double of our opening or their overcall of our shown suit is ignored.

After any raise by responder, doubles by responder are for penalties. Except where specified above, a double by opener at his first opportunity strongly suggests bidding on but without the freak needed to break the captaincy held by responder. Ordinarily after a simple raise to the two level and next-level interference, exactly five trumps and a singleton in the opponents' suit will be held for such a double. Six-card or longer trump length, or a void in the opponents' suit, should break the captaincy in such cases.

When holding three-card support for opener's suit and the opponents have overcalled, responder should prefer to make a negative double if possible, then to raise if unbalanced, then to pass if balanced, and finally to raise. An invitational three-card raise should start with a negative double. Opener is expected to rebid naturally on the assumption of a perfect 4432-shape negative double.

The remaining discussion assumes either an overcall of the opening bid, or a pass, followed by responder's action, followed by subsequent action from either opponent.

If a relay auction has not begun, doubles of suit bids (including the bids formerly used as relays) are negative/takeout until either hand is defined, then penalty. Hand definition occurs when a hand describes a long suit, shows a second suit, indicates balanced or semi-balanced nature, or makes a takeout double. Passing when double would be for takeout does not define the hand. Doubles of notrump bids show values and some degree of penalty interest depending on the meaning of the bid doubled.

2NT by either hand at their first opportunity to raise partner's suit shows at least invitational values and primary fit. A cuebid by either hand shows a game-forcing raise; in the case of responder it shows exactly 3-card fit for opener's suit, which allows the correct hand to declare 3NT where no major-suit fit exists.

Jump bids in opponents' suits are splinter actions. Jump bids in new suits are fit-showing. In all cases, a fit-showing action below three of opener's major suit shows three-card fit, a good six card or longer shown suit and invitational values. Fit-showing actions above three of opener's major suit confirm primary fit for opener's major and sufficient offensive strength to contract for four of opener's major. Jumps to suit games above the cheapest game in opener's suit are natural and to play. Non-jump suit and natural notrump bids remain non-forcing, however any passed-hand non-jump new suits are fit-showing. Raises tend to be not constructive. Opener may continue over raises to 2H/2S as in the absence of competition. Cuebids and double-then-raise auctions are constructive. In various esoteric auctions where fit is known and further competition possible, jumps (and non-jumps that can't be natural) are fit-showing to empower partner's further actions in competition.

Remaining 2NT bids in competition show two places to play, particularly in smouldering 2-level auctions when double would be for penalties. In any case, 2NT is never natural in competition.

4NT in a competitive auction is RKCB whenever that is possible, and suggesting two possible strains at the five level whenever RKCB is not a possible interpretation. An unnecessary jump to five of opener's suit asks for control of their suit (partner cuebids holding first-round control, and raises holding second-round control).

When the opponents compete after a relay auction has begun, then the agreements used are identical to those used after interference during Pass auction. In particular all doubles by relayer (and opener if relays have been broken) are for penalties.

Abbreviations : M = Major suit shown by opening bid, OM = Major suit not shown by opening bid, O = Suit opened, m = minor suit.