Bob Crosby

Tom Gandolfo

 

 

SYSTEM      Bob Crosby    & Tom Gandolfo

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

General Approach                 nt opening bids             major opening              minor opening               2 bids

 

other conv. calls                     special doubles            nt overcalls                    simple overcall             jump overcall

 

defense vs notrump              over opp’s t/o dbl         vs opening preempts          opening preempts        direct cuebid

 

slam conventions         leads & defensive carding

 

 

 

          Using the convention card  as a guide , we will discuss our system , agreements & treatments with links to e-mails when appropriate. This system is dynamic and changing all the time to improve our game.

 

 

 

SYSTEM AGREEMENTS & UNDERSTANDINGS

 

I.                   General Approach

 

Our general approach is Standard Edmonton with our own biases built in . Tom and I do not like artificiality but we do like treatments that clarify our bidding structure. We play a constructive , disciplined style as opposed to a “swingy” style . We avoid the 23 HCP NT games made famous by Meckwell. We play 2/1 but with an important nuance which has implications on our forcing 1NT structure. A 2/1 is not game forcing when a minor suit is rebid after a major opener . Also we do not adhere to the 10 HCP requirement for 2/1 in competition or the non forcing to game 2/1 . The non-forcing 2/1 shows a suit not 10 HCP. If we have a bad suit and 10 HCP’s we bid a forcing 1NT.  2♥ as a 2/1 over 1♠ is still a game force as 1♠-p-3♥ is natural and invitational. 2♣ as a 2/1 over 1♦ is still a game force as 1♦-p-3♣ is natural and invitational. 

 

 1♠ - P-1NT-P

 2♦/2♣-P-3♥            does not show hearts but a splinter in support of the minor. A 2/1 non forcing to game is not the horrid Standard American way of playing it i.e. 10 HCP’s. Points have nothing to do with the bid but the quality of the suit does. You must have a decent suit for the bid - AQJ10xx is enough for a 3♥ bid after a spade opener. This treatment is carried over in competitive 2/1’s also . A 2/1 shows a good suit or else it is forcing to game with compensating game going HCP’s. Even if our original intent was not to go to game with our 2/1 , once partner raises the suit we are committed to game .

 

With this 2/1 structure the principle of “fast arrival” does not exist . 1♠-P-2♥-P   The jump to game is impossible as 3♥                                                         

is an all purpose waiting bid . The “serious 3NT” is now used as a Q bid to determine the overall strength of the auction. If neither side makes a serious slam try then we investigate slam below game and  remain in game . The “fast arrival” principle caused too many slam tries being made at the 5 level for disastrous consequences. There are some holes in the “serious 3NT” concept that must be plugged with “Last Train” concepts. Whether Q bidding shows extra or not depends on whether partner is an unlimited hand.

 

We prefer the Italian method of Q bidding over the American style . The Italian treatment allows 2nd round controls to be bid initially along with 1st round controls  as long as we pay attention to rank order of the suits . KCB is almost always used for slams after a Q bidding auction has deemed that it is safe to do so . Q bidding at the 5 level is discouraged and with the majors a Q bid at the 5 level is defined to be Exclusion Blackwood.

 

Our opening bid structure is light but we do not open flat hands just for the “pigeon shooting” aspect of bidding. We follow the Bergen rule of 20 with 6-4’s and 5-5’s and open with 10 HCP’s with those distributions. Otherwise suit quality and quick tricks determine the opening bid. In 3rd and 4th seat we will choose a good lead directing suit to open . 4 card majors are opened quite often in that chair if our minor does not support an opening lead. In 1st & 2nd  seat , all our openers and pre-empts are disciplined.

 

Passed hand bidding is simple . All our conventions are off . We do not play Drury but instead have redefined 2NT to show any 4 card raise varying in HCP points from a simple raise to a limit raise. 1NT is not forcing and a 2/1 does not promise another bid with ♣’s & ♦’s being natural. .  Since we play 2-way NMF , the 2♣ structure is still on but the 2♦ game force does not exist. 4th suit forcing is replaced by natural bidding. Weak jump shifts are replaced by fit showing jumps .  Splinters do not exist as a passed hand . Cheapest NT after a fit showing jump can ask for the stiff if required. A simple minor raise is invitational and a jump raise in the minor is pre-emptive.

 

          Forcing bids by responder after a simple rebid by opener sometimes a cause for concern . Not so for us as there is only one sequence where a new suit introduced by responder is not forcing to game . This rare sequence is where partner has opened a minor and rebid the suit and responder has bid a spade . 2 ♥ by responder is only a one round force . The same sequence with a 1♣ opener and a 2♣ rebid , 2♥ is not even a one round force. Jump preferences and jumps in a new suit by responder are all invitational . The one exception to an invitational bid is a same suit jump rebid by responder. This is “recovering the strong jump shift” and is not only a game force but it has strict suit requirements. We play a jump shift by opener at the two level as a strong jump shift . We  play a  major suit rebid by opener at the one level as a one round force. We do not bid up the line to find our 4-4 major suit fits if opener has a balanced hand. We prefer to show our distribution and HCP’s with a 1NT/2NT instead .

 

          Tom and I use relays extensively as a result of partnership agreement . The grand daddy of all relays is of course Lebensohl ( good/bad 2NT) which we use after our reverses , when they interfere over our take out doubles , when they pre-empt 4♥/♠ and over weak jump overcalls by the opponents . We also use relays to help us out after 1NT rebids , 2NT rebids ( Wolff ) , invitational 2NT bids either bid after a forcing NT bid either by opener or responder. Our relays always follow the Lebensohl principle , if we bid directly we are stronger then going thru the relay. The 2♣ structure lends itself to relays . Tom and I play relays to show all possible two suiters.

 

          Our style is not to get in the auction at all costs which sacrifices partnership discipline. We do not overcall or compete with a trump stack in their suit , or overcall 1NT with a stiff or a non stopper in their suit . We prefer to trap by passing and rely on partner to balance or the opponents to self destruct doubled. A pass means we do not have a suitable bid to preserve partnership discipline and not just a lack of values.

 

          Forcing passes comes in two forms . One is when the partnership has a known fit and the other when it does not. Forcing pass criteria is determined by whether you own the hand either by forcing to game bids or vulnerability considerations. Different sets of forcing pass rules for the two situations . In a not fit forcing pass , if you bid before partner has a chance to double it means that you are weak and distributional and would have pulled the double anyway . If you pass first and then pull the double it is a slam try or you prefer bigger and better things. With a fit , a double is the weakest bid , a pass says you prefer offensive action and you are probably short in their suit . Bidding is the next best hand and you have good offensive values . A pass first and then pulling the double is the best hand and shows slam interest. At slam levels , the pass shows the requisite shortness in the opponents suits. Established partnerships should know which penalty doubles setup a forcing situation and which do not . Taking out insurance is an IMP philosophy which involves forcing passes. In IMPS when in doubt bid one more rather then leaving in the double.

 

          Tom and I have “toned down” splinters . Splinters are over done as other bids are more useful and systemic bids can be introduced to ask for a stiff if interested. Direct splinters only exist over the opponents take out double and in our Bergen auctions of 1♥-P-3♣ & 1♠-P-3♣ which is any splinter. 1♥-P-2♠ is a weak jump shift in spades. In competition , we feel that jumps should be a weak jump shift . Having this bid is our repertoire helps clarify our 2/1 structure in competition and allows us to get our long suits in early. As a passed hand , splinters are replaced by fit showing jumps. At the 4 level in competition our otherwise we play flower bids. Instead of splintering or jumping to game in a major we jump in our fragment to show ”where we live” for offensive bidding decisions.

 

          Tom and I have a special understanding of penalty doubles in direct competition . In general we will not bid or compete with a trump stack in the opponents suit . When we double the final contract without competing it is obviously for penalty. This discipline allows us to take the ambiguity out of our penalty doubles in competition . They are never trump stack doubles so they convey the message of Do Something Intelligent Partner and bid or defend. With trump stacks we pass and hope that partner will make a D.S.I.P. double . This is similar to negative double theory but these are normally penalty double situations with other partnerships. We do not play enforcer doubles. Since D.S.I.P. doubles are pulled quite often we use Lebensohl to assist us. D.S.I.P. theory and forcing pass theory do not mix. If we own the auction forcing pass theory takes precedence. In competitive situations where we do not know who owns the auction , D.S.I.P. theory is in effect. There are many good reasons to play D.S.I.P. doubles. When the opponents are using pre-emptive strategy , D.S.I.P. doubles still apply . D.S.I.P. theory is very helpful in competitive auctions when your side wants to sacrifice. Balancing bids is where penalty doubles still apply. Balancing bids by their very nature is gambling so penalty doubles are a good tool. Sometimes there is confusion with low level doubles whether the double is penalty or D.S.I.P.  Penalty doubles still occur in misfit auctions and auctions where there is no “escape hatch” or safe resting place for the partnership. D.S.I.P. doubles are a cousin to forcing pass theory not the doubles/undoubles that some partnerships use for sacrificing against high level contracts. Our high level penalty doubles in competition are similar to “splinter theory” in that it shows no duplication of value in the opponents suit. The double is also a safeguard to prevent partner from rescuing the opponents when the other partner does have duplication of value.

 

 

II.                   NT OPENING BIDS

 

          The strong NT is the cornerstone of our system . We open 1NT/2NT  with a 5 card major quite often to avoid the rebid problem of 1 major then a forcing 1NT . We will open 1NT with the appropriate HCP’s with 5-4-2-2 distributions and 6-3-2-2 distributions . In very rare occasions we may open 1NT or 2NT with a 5-4-3-1 distribution . We play 4 way transfers with super acceptances . We play modified Stayman over 1NT and puppet Stayman over 2NT . 5-5 in the majors are handled differently depending on whether they are weak or strong.

 

We play Texas transfers and its cousin the leap to 4♠ . This bid asks partner to bid 4 card suits up the line and jump to 6 with a 5 card suit. 4NT by the NT opener is to play and probably a doggy 4-3-3-3 .

 

One of our weapons after partner opens 1NT is our distribution asking bid . This happens after Stayman and a response. The 3♣ bid now asks for openers distribution. He replies by indicating if he is one of the following 3 distributions , 4-4-3-2 , 5-3-3-2 or 4-3-3-3 . This tool is designed to find out if the NT opener has a 5 card minor or a 5 card major. It also finds 4-4 minor fits for slam purposes. Usually if a fit is found there is slam but in some instances we are just finding the best game.

 

Over 2NT with the minors we use 3♠ as a relay to 3NT . Now all our minor slam tries follow with a major bid showing both minors and shortness in that major.

 

When the opponents interfere over our NT , we play Rubensohl rather than Lebensohl to identify our suit immediately and compete or force. Partnership understandings for the 2nd round of Rubensohl are necessary. If they pre-empt at the 3 level we use negative doubles. Natural overcalls at the two level are handled by D.S.I.P. doubles. Trump stack doubles over 1NT do not exist .

 

III.              MAJOR OPENING

 

The fact that 2/1 is not forcing to game if the suit is rebid has a significant effect on our forcing 1NT sequences . Gone are the natural jumps by the 1NT  responder to show a good suit as we would have gone to the 2 level initially. These jumps are now splinters . We play relays over invitational 2NTs to show weak 5-5’s or weak 6-4’s . Over a 2NT invitational bid by opener partner can choose to relay by bidding 3♣. Weak hand sequences will follow. After a 1♠ opener and 1NT we have two special sequences . One is a jump shift to 3C shows 3 types of hands 1) strong heart hand 2) strong spade hand  or 3) strong club hand . Partner must relay to 3♦ and the hand is clarified . This allows 1♠-P-1NT-P   3♥  to be invitational and 2♥ not to be forward going . This prevents the “obligatory” 3♥ raises which blows partials. Second special sequence is modified BART which uses 2♦ after a 2♣ rebid to show a strong club raise and find the 5-3 heart fits.

 

     Tom and I play modified Bergen 1st & 2nd seat which makes our jump raises pre-emptive and our simple raises always on a 3 card suit. Our Jacoby 2NT is disciplined and will not hold a good suit or a singleton. We have modified the Jacoby 2NT bid along the lines of the Swedes but with our own enhancements including the “serious 3NT” . Limit raises fall under the umbrella of the Jacoby 2NT and after a minimum 3♣ response , a return to the trump suit can be passed. With a good suit and 4 card support we will bid a 2/1 and either jump a level or directly to game . 1♥-P-2♣-P  2♦-P-3♥  shows the fit showing jump type of hands as a non passed hand.

 

     4NT is always KCB with a major suit agreement . With a two suit fit 4NT KCB can mean a double agreement . Q bids are based on a fit not just a powerful hand. Unassuming Q bids are used often to signal a fit.

 

     The forcing NT is used to show the limit raises with 3 trump . After a forcing 1NT bid , limit raises after  jump rebids , 2NT rebids , 3NT rebids and strong jump shifts ( especially 3♣ )  need to be discussed. Forcing NT bids and D.S.I.P. theory go together. A direct double of a bid by the opponents in the sandwich position is D.S.I.P. as opposed to a trump stack double.

 

IV.             MINOR OPENING

 

        Our minor agreements are predicated on inverted minors and fairly standard treatments .  Since 1♦ - P - 2♣ is  forcing to game , we use the jump shift by having 1♦ - 3♣  as 9-11 HCP’s with a good suit . With the minors and the gravitation towards 3NT it is important to distinguish solid suits . Whenever we are in a forcing auction and we jump it shows a solid suit . If we choose to jump to 3NT rather then making a same suit jump in a minor it shows a solid suit. 3NT is a special contract with the minors and if we pull out of 3NT it is never done out of weakness – it is always a slam try. We play fit showing jumps in the minors as a passed hand . Direct splinters after a minor opener do exist but they must be in a major at the 3 level . We have special sequences after a 1NT or a 2NT response to our minor. A rebid in another suit is a splinter rather then a suit. A jump rebid is non forcing & pre-emptive in these sequences after a 1NT response.

 

     A jump rebid in a minor will never show a solid suit or we would have chosen a leap to 3NT . A jump shift reverse shows a 6-5 with values under a legitimate reverse. This bid is non forcing. A 1♦ - 2♣ auction is clumsy in standard bidding . Eric Kokish has come up with an excellent idea dealing with that specific auction – only the 2♣ bidder is allowed to search for the 4-4 major fit ! This means the diamond bidder is not allowed to bid a major initially . This allows  special meanings can be attached to those bids if they are bid. We play weak jump shifts over a minor as a non passed hand . A 2NT bid is an asking bid ( Ogust ) in these sequences .  As we rebid NT with balanced hands , we must make an adjustment after a 1♣ opener. We frequently bypass 1D as a response in favour a major . This is so we do not miss our major fit when responder is only strong enough for one bid .

 

     One of a minor and one of a major is a special sequence in our system. A raise to game is based on distributional values. A flat 18-19 with 4 card support is shown by a 2NT rebid. The four  card support is shown by breaking the 3 club relay if it occurs or by jumping to game if responder bids another suit..

 

     Minors and 4NT KCB do not mix. The trick to determining if a sequence is KCB is the level at which the minor suit agreement is made . With ♣’s agreed at a low level a jump to 4♣ is KCB or if a 4♣ bid makes no sense in an auction with ♣’s agreed it is KCB . There are times when 4♦ is KCB when the club fit is found at the 4 level. With ♦’s agreed at the 4 level sometimes 4♥ is Kickback KCB .  When 3NT has reared its ugly head in a minor sequence if you pull to a minor it is KCB. 4NT to play is the most important agreement in these sequences.

 

     Where most people would open a hand 5 of a minor , we open 4 of a minor . A 4♣/♦ jump response to a minor opening or overcall is always pre-emptive.

 

     Balancing over 1 of a minor is systemic . We have a 1♦ balance over a club to specifically show 4 card majors. In general we use diamonds to show majors and clubs to show both minors when we balance. Intermediate minor hands are quite often described with a 1NT balance.

 

V.               2 BIDS

 

2♣ is strong and artificial with 2♦ a waiting bid and a 2 ♥ bid as negative . We hate relying on the opponents to balance us into our games and slams so our 2C bid is predicated on one requirement . If partner does not have a response will we miss game ? Therefore our 2♣ bid is sometimes light and then we back pedal so partner gets the message . Strong minor hands over 16-18 HCP’s are impossible to describe with standard methods so those are quite often opened 2♣ and a minor rebid . NT probes are used to get to 3NT with the understanding that responder might be just bidding values. The old fashioned NAMYATS hands are opened with 2C and then a jump to game in a major . After 2♣, a jump rebid shows a solid suit and forces responder to Q bid . 2♣ is forcing to 3 of a major and not game. This allows us to open 2♣ with a strong one suiter in a major that does not have game in its own hand. Hands too strong to make a jump rebid in a major do not exist at the one level, as they are opened 2♣.

             

 We use relays with our 2♣ structure . 2♣-P-2♦-P   2♥  forces a 2♠ bid by responder . Opener shows a single heart hand or a two suiter . if opener chooses to now bid NT after the relay it forces 3♣ and the opener shows all club two suiters. After a ♠ rebid , responder must relay to 2NT and all the spade two suiters are shown. When the opponents interfere with our 2♣ opener an immediate double by responder shows a negative hand with no controls. A jump bid by responder shows a long suit with no controls. 4NT by opener now asks how long the suit and you respond in steps. If partner has shown no controls with a 2♥ bid or a double , the meaning of 4NT changes to a queen ask.

 

Weak 2’s are disciplined 1st and 2nd seat . We do not subscribe to the xxxxxx type suit vul or non vul in those chairs .  Of course in 3rd seat anything goes.  We play weak 2’s in the majors via the multi 2♦ . The multi can be a Roman 2♦ with 17-24 HCP’s. A weak 2♥ opener shows any 2 suiter that involves ♥’s and is in the weak 2 HCP range. 2♠’s shows the minors and is also in the weak 2 HCP range. Suggested defenses are written for the multi 2♦.   If the opponents psyche a 2NT response to their weak 2’s we have a way of handling it . Defense over their weak 2’s involve a Q bid over their major weak 2’s to ask for a stopper for NT. Over their weak 2♦ , a Q bid shows the majors and a jump Q , strong majors.

 

In 4th seat our 2 bid structure changes . 2♦ is a Roman 4-4-4-1 with 17-24 HCP . 2♥/♠ is an intermediate hand with 14-16 HCP’s and a six card suit. This makes our jump rebid in a major as a game force.

 

When the opponents open a weak two and we overcall 2NT we have defined some special sequences. We use transfers and we are allowed to transfer into their suit. This shows a stiff and asks partner to accept the transfer if minimal duplication of value otherwise bid 3NT. A 3♠ bid is a relay to 3NT to start minor sequences.

 

VI.             OTHER CONV. CALLS

 

              Kokish game tries – a two way game try either long or short . partner bids the suit in which a game try would be accepted.

 

              2-way NMF -  2♣ shows the invitational hands and 2D shows the game force. 2NT is a transfer to ♣’s or a 4-4-4-1 slamish.

 

4th suit forcing – this bid is normally used to show hands too strong to just bid game. It is also the way to show all the quantitative NT hands. Opener is not allowed to jump to show extra values after a 4th suit forcing . The exception to that is too show a solid suit. 4th suit forcing is a game force rather than a one round force.

 

Defense over 2♣/1♣ forcing -  Over the opponents forcing 1♣ or 2♣ we play Suction . Disturbing their auctions is almost mandatory !!

 

Good-Bad 2NT – When the opponents bid in the “sandwich” position at the two level , a 3 level bid is a good hand and 2NT is a relay to 3♣ to show a competitive hand. Also if they make a weak jump overcall in the sandwich position this treatment applies.

 

VII.          SPECIAL DOUBLES

 

We play negative and responsive doubles to 4♦ . Game tries with negative doubles need to be discussed . Negative doubles after an opponents 1♥ overcall denies 4 spades.  Responsive doubles also apply in overcall  situations. How we choose to re-open in negative doubles is vulnerability dependent. With re-opening doubles , minimum equal level conversion principles apply.  Over a 3♦ or ♥ or ♠ pre-empt a double may be a thrump double which asks partner to bid 3NT with a stopper in their suit. This is in addition to the normal negative double and partner must bid 3NT with a stopper or in rare cases pass for penalty. When the opponents bid in the sandwich position we play support doubles and redoubles up to 2♠ . When we overcall , support doubles are changed to Rosenkranz doubles and redoubles which shows a high honour in partners suit for a lead. If all 3 suits have been bid , we play snapdragon support doubles by the overcalling side.  Game tries or maximal doubles are used when the opponents are competing in their suit. Competitive doubles are a class of doubles which help partnerships clarify competitive situations. A close cousin of competitive doubles are the D.S.I.P. doubles . Example auction would be 1♠-P-1NT-2♣  x by opener shows a good hand but with shortness in ♣’s. When the opponents make special doubles , a good tactic is to crawl in for lead directors. Belated doubles which include balancing doubles are special doubles that should be discussed by established partnerships. Doubles by partner in the “sandwich” position are special doubles. Sometimes they are takeout , sometimes lead directing and sometimes natural and suggest a sacrifice. These doubles need to be clarified. Established partnerships should have agreements when pulling penalty doubles. Pulling high level doubles directly should be a slam try . You should never pull penalty doubles from a position of weakness - it could have been your only chance for a plus. Put the Lebensohl relay to work with weak distributional openers or responses. Bid 4NT and force partner to bid 5C and now a bid shows this kind of hand . Lead directing doubles are special doubles which should be discussed. The lead directing pass occurs when you have a chance to double a Q bid of your own suit. A double sends a clear message not to lead the suit. Penalty doubles are a special double in our system . A penalty double in a competitive situation in effect asks permission to bid if partners hand is suitable for offense. If we have been competing a “trump stack” double does not exist. These type of doubles are shown by a green card. In many competitive situations a 2NT bid has been replaced by a D.S.I.P. double. This frees the 2NT bid for Lebensohl or showing two suits or “scrambling”.  Since trump stack penalty doubles do not exist , D.S.I.P. doubles assist us in high level competitive decisions. A pass in these auctions do not give partner a green light to bid again.

 

VIII.        NT OVERCALLS

 

                   Systems on over a NT overcall . If we get doubled we play DONT runouts . The redouble shows a one suiter and a direct bid shows two suits  that suit and one higher. A balancing 2NT shows 18-19 balanced . 2NT not in the balancing spot shows the minors or the two lower unbid. A balancing 1NT bid shows 12-14 HCP and does not promise a stopper in the opponents suit. We play a system of transfers after a balancing 1NT where you can invite to game by transferring into the opponents suit. A  NT overcall can be bid with a 5 card major . If the opponents interfere , we use a  D.S.I.P. double which can start a scramble to find the best spot. A direct major bid in these sequences is mostly a 5 card major.

 

 

IX.             SIMPLE OVERCALL

 

Our philosophy towards overcalls vrs takeout doubles are on the same wavelength . Shape before strength dictates our overcall style . We would rather show our shape by overcalling first and then doubling later to show our strength. Old Bridge doctrine had strength more important then shape so hands around 16 HCP and above were too strong to overcall.  Our style lends itself to “minimum equal level conversion” . Since we will rarely have a hand “too strong to overcall” we can double with 6-4’s and 5-4 in the majors . If partner bids a suit we do not have , we can convert to another suit at the same level and it does not show extra values. Splinters are off in competition . A jump in a new suit after an overcall is a weak jump shift . Rescuing sequences are important if your overcall gets converted for penalty. The SOS redouble follows take out double principles and can show the majors or the unbid suits. It is the ultimate scrambling tool. In competitive or balancing situations when 2NT can not be natural and if freely bid it is Lebensohl. If we were forced to come up with a bid and the context dictates that it can not be natural , it is scrambling. The person who overcalls or his partner can not make “trump stack” penalty doubles . All penalty doubles in directly competitive auctions are D.S.I.P.

 

 

X.               JUMP OVERCALL

 

Jump overcalls are pre-emptive with favourable vulnerability and a good suit or distributional at unfavourable . A 2NT response asks for a graded response to describe your range. When the opponents make a weak jump overcall and rob you of your ability to make invitational bids we use Lebensohl and D.S.I.P. doubles. 2NT is never natural  either directly , after a negative double or jammed in the sandwich position.

 

XI.             DEFENSE VS NOTRUMP

 

Our “toy” vrs their no trump is simple - ♣’s for the minors & ♦’s for the majors . For weak NT’s we have a specific defense after a double . The first double after the original double is always for takeout and forcing passes apply. Doubles of NT bids in general are always for penalty as we will Q bid or use a toy for takeout. Interference over our NT should bring out some counter measure understandings.

 

 

XII.          OVER OPP’S T/O DOUBLE

 

Splinters still apply either by a passed hand or a non passed hand over opp’s T/O double. In order to right side 3NT , a jump raise in the minor is a limit raise. 2NT over a minor is pre-emptive . 2NT after a major opener is limit raise plus and Jacoby 2NT responses apply. The Dormer 2NT after a major does not promise 4 trump but should show a distinct preference to play in partners major.  A bid at the one level is a one round force and at the 2 level is non forcing. Redouble implies no fit and is normally for punishing the opponents. There are other partnership understandings concerning the redouble which established partnerships should have worked out.

 

XIII.        VS OPENING PREEMPTS

 

Doubles of pre-empts are takeout thru 4♠ . 4NT is not a takeout for 3 suits but it shows any two suits. We play Lebensohl  over their weak 2’s and also Lebensohl over their 4♥/♠ pre-empts . Bidding 3NT over a pre-empt rather than a double depends on vulnerability and the suit pre-empted. A balancing 3nt is different again and may just be a strong NT hand. A Q bid over a pre-empt is never a weak Michaels . Over a 3 level pre-empt the Q bid is a strong 2 suiter and over a weak 2 it asks partner to bid 3NT with a stopper. A jump to 4 of a minor over a weak 2 shows that minor and the other major.

 

XIV.      OPENING PREEMPTS

 

Established partnerships need to be consistent on pre-empts strategy. Pre-emptive 4H/S bids also vary as to position and vulnerability . We will not have outside stuff in 1st and 2nd seat either . 3rd seat and 4th seat if we can not envision slam with a passed hand partner then we could leap to 4 with anything . Discipline is the key as we have a partner to think about in 1st and 2nd seat. We play a trump asking “Gerber” over our pre-empts.

 

 

XV.         DIRECT CUEBID

 

Over a minor and a major a direct Q bid is Michaels . It is either weak or strong but never intermediate. We do not play Michaels Q in the balancing spot . That shows a strong distributional hand. A direct bid of responders suit is natural . A  jump Q bid shows a strong one suiter and asks partner to bid 3NT with a stopper. Over their Michaels or unusual NT we play invisible Q bids . We Q bid their implied higher ranking suit to show a forcing bid in the 4th suit and the lower ranking suit Q bid shows a limit raise or better.  Stepping stone Q bids are used when the opponents have Q bid to show unbid suits and you bid them instead and define a meaning for them. As a general rule a direct Q bid is fit showing rather then an ambiguous strong hand. We have to find another way to show a strong hand without a fit so D.S.I.P. doubles come into play. Direct Q bidding involves D.S.I.P. theory unless the Q bid is at the game level or forces to the game level. Forcing pass theory is applicable with those auctions when the opponents interfere.

 

XVI.      SLAM CONVENTIONS

 

Kantar is our hero so we attempt to incorporate  most of his KCB understandings. In some auctions we allow a choice of suits at the 6 level. We play 1430 KCB with specific King asks & specific suit asks.  Voids can be shown in KCB responses. Exclusion Blackwood is used when the asker has a void & is 0314 to save room with duplication of value. Exclusion Blackwood can be used  at the 4 level. Interference over Blackwood is a little different then standard DOPI. We use the double as penalty and pass as the first step but we just use KCB steps after that. Our Grand Slam Force sequences vary from standard and are specialized over our 4 of a major pre-empts to ask for suit quality. Doubling slams that are not lead directors are D.S.I.P. doubles which in effect ask partners permission to sacrifice . Choice of slams are accomplished by the 5NT bid . An opening bid of 4NT is ace asking but for specific aces.

 

XVII.    LEADS & DEFENSIVE CARDING

 

Opening leads are just an extension of bidding . “There are no blind opening leads just deaf opening leaders”.  We have adopted interior sequence leads against both NT and suit contracts. We have a special agreement with Ace from AK leads . In a suit contract the lead of the Ace demands attitude . If we decide to lead a King from an AK sequence it demands count. This is reversed against NT contracts.

 

We play upside count and attitude as we do not like to waste spot cards. Our first discard is odd even . odd card we  like the suit and even we do not with the further agreement that the even card is suit preference. A high even card for the higher ranking suit and a low even for the lower ranking suit.

 

We play Smith echoes which is a signal to partner whether we like the opening lead or not . If declarer is running a solid suit where count is not relevant we use the opportunity to use  the order of playing the cards to convey information about the opening lead . A low card means we like the lead and that can be done by both partners. If we do not like the lead then the order we play the cards can determine suit preference. If we are known to have length in a suit  ( overcalled or pre-empted ) so we can afford the spot cards, a odd card is encouraging and the higher and lower even cards are suit preference. You must train yourself that an opening lead in now a two step process. One you make the lead and two you see if partner likes your lead when declarer runs or attacks his own suit.

 

Signals are nested 3 deep generally. The first round is attitude , the 2nd round shows count and the 3rd round suit preference. The exception is declarers suit which shows count 1st round , declarers suit 2nd round is suit preference and declarers suit 3rd round is attitude.

 

There are many situations where the bidding has told the partnership how many cards partner has in the suit. A pre-empt , weak two , an overcall or Bergen raises to name a few. In all these “known count” situations suit preference can be given . Tom and I play the Roman style in these auctions. If after a Bergen raise for example an odd card means continue and even card ( high or low) is suit preference for the higher or lower suits. Even after a simple Bergen raise showing 3 cards we use suit preference. The middle card says continue and the higher and lower cards suit preference.

 

The meaning of “attitude” changes at the slam level or whenever it is obvious that declarer is executing a squeeze or trying to make the defense sluff incorrectly.  An odd discard says this is the suit I am going to protect . Smith echo suit preference change their meaning in slams also . The suit preference aspect of Smith echoes indicate what suit partner is going to protect in a squeeze or a run of declarers suit.