- If it's not in these notes we don't play it (no matter how likely it is that we both know it and we both play it with other partners).
- If in doubt the bid is natural and nonforcing.
- In non-competitive auctions, if a simple bid in a suit is natural and forcing then a jump in that suit is a splinter raise
- We never play Gerber
- Fourth suit by responder or opener is GF
- After minor-suit agreement, bids below 3N are looking for the best contract.
- 4m instead of 3N after stopper-showing bids is natural and non-forcing
- After major-suit agreement, suit bids above 3M are Qbids (usually first-round control)
Unless otherwise defined, all doubles below 2N are takeout unless
- we are in penalty mode or
- the double is of their 1N, Q or 2N overcall or 1N or artificial opening (shows values) or
- we have opened 1S or higher (penalties) or
- we have doubled another suit for takeout (penalties)
When we are in penalty mode, doubles over the length are penalty (partner rarely removes) and doubles under the length are cooperative. A hand that overcalls or shows a two-suited hand is assumed to be long; after a takeout double, the hand that bids the suit is assumed to be long.
We are in penalty mode after:
- we XX after a 10-14 opening
- we X their 1N, Q or 2N overcall (or other artificial overcall) to show strength
- we pass opener's reopening X for penalties
- we double their new suit bid when partner has reopened, e.g.
| West |
North |
East |
South |
|
1S |
Pass |
Pass |
Dbl |
|
2D |
Dbl |
|
says I had a penalty Dbl of 1S and have 2+diamonds so let's penalise them here)
My preference, where a hand is constrained to have a penalty double of an earlier suit, is to have doubles of new suits for takeout. I think this is a more probable hand type - in general you have length in their suit and relative shortage in any suit bid by partner, but partner has not always bid. For example, after 1S - Pass - Pass - Dbl; 2C - Dbl, given the normal constraints on the opener, the doubler, and the penalty pass, I think the passer is more likely to have 0-2(3)C than 2+C. Doubler's second double is for penalties regardless of the meaning of this direct-seat double, though. At least one MSC Director agrees with this style - probably Rubens.
- we double when advancer responds to the overcall and we were intending to pass partner's reopening X, e.g.
|
|
1H |
1S |
Pass |
2D/2S |
|
Pass |
Pass |
Dbl |
|
(X of 2S is penalties; X of 2D says I had a penalty X of 1S and have 2+diamonds so let's penalise them here)
4N is simple Blackwood unless it is
- 1430 RKC if we have agreed a suit or one hand has shown a 6+card suit (RKC in that suit)
After RKC, step is Q ask. In reply teller bids first step without trump Q, second step with the Q but no K [non-trump bid asks for the Q of that suit] and other to show that K and the trump Q (5N shows the Q and an impossible-to-show K)
After RKC, 5N promises all keycards and invites a grand slam. Teller shows specific kings
Over interference P is first step, X/XX second step etc
- natural if a raise of a notrump bid
- natural if the 4N-bidder's previous bid was 3N
- natural if made by a strong BAL hand that responded to Stayman or a transfer, and bid 4N over partner's 4m slam try e.g
2NT 3C; 3X 4m; 4NT
or
2NT 3D; 3H 4m; 4NT.
- takeout over the opponents' 4M (promising hearts when bid over their 4S)
We underlead honours at trick 1 in our suit or an unbid suit (but not partner's shown suit - partner is assumed to have shown the suit when bidding it or making a two-suited overcall but not after making a takeout X)
On subsequent tricks we overlead honours except that 10s and 9s show 0 or 2 higher honours.
Mark thinks a ten is always an honour. Also, presumably, a suit we showed first before partner raised it, is our suit and gets underlead.
We lead 3rd and low against suits (low from three small unless you have supported partner when lead high) and fourths against notrumps (high from three small unless the pip may be critical; second-highest from four or five small) at trick 1. Subsequent leads are reverse attitude (low shows honour, high denies an honour or suggests the return of another suit).
We give reverse attitude on partner's honour lead or lead of a low card if the honour position is unclear (e.g. partner leads low, dummy plays the A or K, third hand signals attitude about the next honour [K or Q]). Attitude is just about possession of a relevant honour or doubleton (if partner shows AK), not a switch/don't switch signal [unless third hand can control the defence]
When dummy has a singleton and a switch is likely, third hand signals McKenny style
If our first discard is in a suit that has not been played it is reverse attitude; if in a suit that has been played it is reverse present count. Subsequent discards are reverse present count (with suit preference overtones).
Overcalls Not light (KQxxx xx xx Axxx is min Over which opening bid?) and occasionally four cards at one level; usually six cards at two level (except 2H over their 1S). New suit responses forcing, Qbid==support, jumps fit-showing (4+card support), jump raise 4-8HCP (not two aces) and 8 losers, jumpQ is same shape as jump raise but extra high cards.
Jump overcalls (in 2nd seat) Weak, may be frisky (good 5-card suit) when NV at the two level. Continuations as after a weak 2 opening (i.e. different when NV cf V)
(in 4th seat) good hand: say 14-17 HCP with good 6+card suit
Takeout X Over all natural openings below 4N, may be light with 0-1 cards in their suit. Q by advancer is forcing to suit agreement; Q by doubler is forcing to game. Lebensohl in response to our X of their 2M (opening, raise or rebid). Non-jump rebid of a suit by doubler shows a flexible hand with extra strength not a single suiter (jump with that).
1N overcall Good 15-18/12-15 (in 4th) BAL with 2C Stayman (rebid at 2 level INV, at 3 level GF), Q GF SPL, other NF at 2 level, INV at 3 level.
Non-jump 2N overcall Good 16-19 BAL. Continue as over 2N opening with TFR to their suit showing SPL
Jump 2N overcall lower unbid suits, unlimited but not rubbish (i.e. close to a minimum opening bid)
Immediate two-level cuebid (Normal) Michaels (i.e. Q of their m shows both M; Q of their M shows oM and a minor, at least 5-5), unlimited but not rubbish. Advancer's 4m when overcaller has shown a major and a minor asks Q bidder to compete further if that is his unshown suit
Immediate three-level jump cuebid asks for stopper for 3N
(Double) jump 4m overcall of their 2D/2M opening Two-suited, 4-5 losers, oM+m or m+one M or both M (if they promise the m)
Sandwich position
| West |
North |
East |
South |
|
1X |
Pass |
1Y |
1NT
|
|
— |
— |
— |
2Y
|
|
— |
— |
— |
2X
|
|
1. 16-19 BAL
2. Natural, good suit, decent hand
3. The other two suits
|
Balancing position
| West |
North |
East |
South |
|
1X |
Pass |
Pass |
1NT
|
|
— |
— |
— |
2Y
|
|
1. 12-15 BAL
2. (jump) 14-17, good 6+card suit
|
Over 1N Aspro (2C = H+another, 2D = S+another; 2M 6+cards; 2N minors or GF two suiter)
Over artificial openings
(if they promise a suit) X is takeout of their promised suit, other as though they opened in the promised suit
(if no suit is promised) X shows values, subsequent X by either partner is takeout (until we have doubled a suit for takeout when usual rules apply)
We bid any control in a control-bidding auction, although control bids in partner's known long suit show a fitting honour rather than shortness (a later Q shows a shortage). Controls are bid up the line; bypassing a suit denies a control in that suit.
A first control-bid under game does not show extra values just a slam-suitable hand if partner is wide-range. Bypassing game or control-bidding when partner is limited shows extras. Failure to make a return control bid denies control in a suit bypassed by partner or may be a hand with control in that suit but lacking sufficient strength to make a control bid above game.
Failure to use an asking bid (if available) means the control in that suit cannot be the ONLY thing needed for slam: for example (natural system)
1S 3S; 4D 4S; 5H
opener cannot need JUST a C control for slam, or he'd have bid 5C directly over 3S; so opener is looking for a C control PLUS something (extras, good trumps in particular, most likely). So responder is allowed to bid 5S even if holding a C control, which wouldn't be the case except for the negative inference from the non-use of the asking bid.
Asking bids When a non-jump bid in a new suit would be a control-bid (or potentially a control-bid, such as a stopper-showing bid after a minor suit is agreed) then a jump in that suit is an asking bid.
Responses to an asking bid are natural: a return to trumps denies a control; NT = guarded K; other bids show controls (bypassing 5 trumps shows 1st round control in the asked suit).