3. 1D OPENING
REQUIREMENT: 10-14 HCP, 4+H, may have longer suit, may be three-suited with both majors
The relay structure retains the essential
symmetric nature of the 1C relay structure, but uses one step to
give a first-round minimum/maximum indication. Opposite a
minimum, a minimal invitational relay will consider signing off
or making a further invitational natural bid. The appropriate
definitions are:
Minimum hand: any 10-12 HCP hand that does not have a
7-card suit, or at least 10 cards in its two longest suits (i.e.
the hand is 5332, 6322, 6331, 5422, 5431, 4441 or 5440 shape).
Maximum hand: any 13-14 HCP hand or any hand with a 7-card
suit, or any hand with at least 10 cards in its two longest suits
(i.e. including all 55, 64 and higher shapes).
After the minimum response the relay structure is adapted to
reflect the reduced number of shapes available to the hand. Thus
it is important not to judge to downgrade one of the
"maximum" hand shapes. There is no subsequent
minimum/maximum response in the relay structure.
With maximum hands a game-force is established and the relay
structure is identical to the 1C relay structure. The
minimum/maximum response is still given for "maximum
shapes" (55, 64, 7-card) because their HCP range is still
10-14, however for the less shapely hands, there is no later
minimum/maximum response since the hand is constrained to 13-14
HCP already.
RESPONSES SUMMARY
Pass | To play in diamonds |
1H | RELAY - at least invitational to game, does not imply support |
1S | Natural 4+ spades, non-forcing, 0-11 |
1NT | Balanced or semi-balanced, forcing, 0-11 |
2C | Natural, 5+ clubs, non-forcing, 0-11 |
2D | Natural, 5+ diamonds, non-forcing, 0-11 |
2H | 8 - 10 HCP, 3 or 4 hearts |
2S | Fit showing jump with spades, invitational in hearts |
2NT | At least 5-5 minors, 0-11 |
3C | Fit showing jump with clubs, invitational in hearts |
3D | Fit showing jumps with diamonds, invitational in hearts |
3H | Pre-emptive |
3S | Pre-emptive with at least nine cards in H + S |
3NT | To play |
4C | Pre-emptive with at least nine cards in H + C |
4D | Pre-emptive with at least nine cards in H + D |
1S | Any minimum hand. |
1NT | Maximum, 4+ S, may be three-suited with both majors |
2C | Maximum, 4+ D |
2D | Maximum, 4+ C, 5+ H |
2H | Maximum, reverser, 5+ C, 4 H |
2S | Maximum, high shortage (S), 5+H, etc. |
Note: The normal relay structure continues, subject to the constraints on minimum/maximum responses as discussed above, and that the lowest control-showing response is 0-2 controls with a subsequent ask for 0,1 or 2.
1NT is a natural forcing bid in view of a minimum hand with opener. Opener is expected to correct to any 5 or 6-card suit, which responder is likely to pass. Further bidding is not constructive.
2C is a forcing relay, but does not quite force
to game, since opener's shape is still nebulous. The relay
structure is roughly symmetric but shifted up two steps. The
single-suited (and three-suited) relay structures are simply
shifted up two steps and truncated at 6331 shape. In the
two-suited structures, some steps are omitted because 55, 64 and
74 hands are impossible. These structures do not make
"symmetric" bids, but use the same order of
shape-showing as the normal two-suited structures.
Any subsequent non-relay bid by responder is invitational in the
context of the auction.
2D | 4+S, may be three-suited with both majors |
2H | 4+D |
2S | 4C, 5H |
2NT | Reverser, 5C, 4H |
3C | High (S) shortage, 5-6H |
3D | Middle (D) shortage, 5-6H |
3H | Even shortage, 3622 shape |
3S | Low shortage, 3532 shape |
3N | Low shortage, 3631 shape, 0-2 controls, etc. |
2S | Three-suiter, both majors (see 1C relay structure section 2.4 for three-suited continuations) |
2NT | Reverser, 4S, 5H |
3C | High shortage (D) 5413 |
3D | Even shortage, 5422 |
3H | Low shortage (C), 5413, 0-2 controls, etc. |
After 1D-1H-1S-2C-2D-2H-2N-3C (R)
3D | High shortage (D) 4513 |
3H | Even shortage, 4522 |
3S | Low shortage (C), 4513, 0-2 controls, etc. |
2N | Reverser, 5D, 4H |
3C | High shortage (S), 1543 |
3D | Even shortage, 2542 |
3H | Low shortage (C), 3541, 0-2 controls, etc. |
2D | Three-suited, both majors (see 1C relay structure for three-suited continuations) |
2H | Reverser, 5+ H, 4S |
2S | 5/5, H + S |
2NT | 5+S, 4H, high shortage, etc. |
2H | Reverser, 5+D, 4H |
2S | 5/5, H +D |
2NT | 5+H, 4D, high shortage, etc. |
1NT is a natural forcing bid made by a balanced
or semibalanced hand with no clear fit for hearts and no clear
suit to bid. Opener is expected to correct to any 5 or 6-card
suit, which responder is likely to pass.
In particular limited balanced hands with potential moysian heart
fits should respond 1NT rather than 2H as any eight card fit will
always be found after the 1NT response. For example with 5431
with opener and 3334 with responder, the auction 1D-1N-2S is
clearly superior to 1D-2H. Responding hands such as 2326 with a
weak suit are often best treated with 1NT also.
Further bidding is not constructive.
2NT | Inquiry (not used by ces and mabraham) | |
3C | minimum with clubs, 3 hearts | |
3D | minimum with diamonds, 3 hearts | |
3H | minimum with 4 hearts | |
3S | maximum with spades, 3 hearts | |
3NT | maximum with 3 hearts | |
4H | maximum (9 or 10) with 4 hearts | |
2S, 3C, 3D | Long suit trials | |
3H, 4H | Preemptive re-raises, not constructive |