11 - 14 NT

1NT is 11-14 balanced in 1st, 2nd and 3rd seat. Upgrade to 12-14 in 4th seat.

Forcing and non-forcing Stayman over weak NT

2 is non-forcing stayman and is used to show any invitational hand including a 5 card Major. Auction such as 1NT - 2 - 2 - 2 shows 5 hearts, invitational. 2NT re-bid is invitational but may be without a 4 card Major.

2 is GF stayman and shows a hand that is not a single suited hand. It also does not contain two Primary (5+ card) suits.

Responses over 2:

• Bid 4 card Major or 5 card minor in that order.
• Bid 2 before 2 then 3 if you get a chance. The 2 bid denies spades.
• If you bid 2NT, which denies a 4 card major or a 5 card minor then:
  • 3 is Baron (shape asking). Responses:
    • 3 = 3343
    • 3 = 2344
    • 3 = 3244
    • 3NT = 3334

In all auctions that subsequently show a 5+ card Major by the 2 bidder, the responder is slammish, has a second 4 card suit, and is requesting cue bids (Aces before Kings), if you have 3-card support.

Other Systems over 1NT (11-14)

• Bids of 2 and 2 are to play (less than 9 points).
• Bids of 2NT through 3 are transfers. Transfer to minors may be either to play or slam tries. Transfers to Majors are GF, but not necessarily slammish; bid 3 NT without a fit. Super accept over the Major suit transfers with at least 4 controls (A=2, K=1) and a fit by making the cheapest cue bid (Aces first). With less than 4 controls but with a 4 card support, bid 4 of the transfer suit.
• 3 is very specifically 5+ diamonds and 4 clubs, GF. Discussed below.
• All 4 level bids are slammish. Discussed below.

Run outs over 1NT - Dbl (Must run with less than 9 pts) - Swine run outs.

• An immediate bid shows touching suits.
• Redouble shows single suit.
• Pass forces a redouble to show non-touching suits. After the forced redouble, 2 shows that suit and either Major. 2 shows diamonds and spades.

Run outs over 1NT - P - P - Dbl (Opener must immediately run to his 5 card club suit if he has it.)

Responder may:

• Pass with balance of power (>9 pts.)
• Redouble to show single suited minor hand.
• Bid a suit which is DONT run outs for the 2 suited hands.

Invitational 5/5 in the Majors

are handled by going through 2 (non-forcing stayman), and subsequent bid of 3.

Example:

1NT - 2 - 2 - 3 shows 5/5 in the Majors, invitational.

• 3 No preference; you pick. 2/2 in the Majors.
• 3/ Play here.
• 4/ Play here.
• 3NT Both Majors, pick a game.

Game Forcing 3 bid.

As mentioned earlier this bid shows very specifically 5+ diamonds and 4 clubs.

1NT - 3

• 3NT To play. 3 or less cover cards. Cover cards are A, K, Q of either minor and the Ace of either Major. Exception is King of a Major, when accompanied by Ace of both Majors, is also a cover card.
• 4/4 is 4 Cover Cards, for the bid suit. Subsequent 4 of a Major by responder asks about the King of the bid suit; bid 4NT to show the King or bid 5 of the minor to deny. 4NT by responder is Key card. 5 of the minor by responder is to play.
• 4 is 5+ Cover Cards, Keycard for clubs.
• 4 is 5+ Cover Cards, Keycard for diamonds.

Game Forcing 5/5 with any 2 suits

are handled by transferring to the cheaper suit and then bidding the higher suit.

Example:

1NT - 2NT Transfer to 3 then 3 is 5/5 GF with hearts and clubs

• 3NT To play.
• 3/4 Cue bid for the 2nd suit (hearts in this example). Guarantees 4+ cover cards.
• 4 Confirms clubs, and is Keycard for clubs. Subsequent 4NT is to play. The bid of 4 guarantees 4+ cover cards.
• 4 To play. 3 or less cover cards. 1 step - over bid of 4 (4NT over spades) by the responder is Keycard asking.
• 4 (or 4NT over spades) Kick-back Keycard for hearts (or spades respectively). Guarantees 5+ cover cards.

Subsequent bidding after a transfer to a minor

3 level transfers to a minor are done with:

• 1. A hand that is weak with a 6+ card suit.
• 2. A single suited hand that is slammish without a 6 card minor.
• Subsequent bid of 3NT is quantitative with 5 cards in the minor shown. Opener may accept if he has at least 4 controls by bidding 4 of the minor, which shall be key card asking in that suit.
• 3. A single suited hand that is slammish with a 6+ card minor.

Subsequent bid of 4 of the minor is quantitative. Opener bids 4NT (or 5 of the minor with 3 card support) are to play, unless he has at least 4 controls in which case he shows keycards. Note that 4NT will not be a keycard step.

Subsequent jump bid in a different suit is Exclusion Keycard.

4 level Bids

4 level suit bids are all Keycard asking for the bid suit. Since we have an extra step available, 4NT will show 0 without the Queen of the asking suit. A direct 4NT bid over 1NT is quantitative without any 5+ card suit.

Minor Suit Openings

1/1 followed by 1NT rebid is a 15 - 17 balanced hand

All minor suits openings are sound openers. 4 card Major openings or the occasional 1NT with a singleton are preferable over a bad 12 count minor suit openings. You can always pass a bad 12 if 1NT is not practical.

All invitational sequences are 8 - 10 points.

Inverted minor sequences are:

• 1m - 2m Game Forcing. We do not need an invitational sequence (especially at IMPs) since a minor suit opener is almost always a strong notrump strength, either in HCPs or in playing strength. Bid of 2m does not deny a 4 card Major.
• 1m - 3m Pre-emptive (3 - 5 points).

Stretch to bid over minor suit openers. A 5 count is an easy bid. An Ace must bid. Some times a 3 card Major is a good response. So is a suitable 5 card weak jump shift in a Major.

Modified Kokish Rebids after 1 - 2

1 - 2.

The 2 response shows 10+ points, natural, and is not GF. The opener cannot try to find a Major suit fit, unless he has an off shape, minimum opener. Where as the responder does not deny a 4 card Major and may subsequently try to find a Major suit fit without showing extras.

• 2 is 5+ diamonds, forcing at least 1 round.
• 2/2 - Opener confirms an off shape, minimum opener. Can be passed.
• 2NT 15-17 flat hand, with 4 clubs. GF established.
• 3 - Good raise for clubs. Opener may still have a 4 card Major. GF.
• 3 - A hand that would have rebid 3 in any case. GF.
• 3/ - 6/5 hand with diamonds and the bid Major.
• 3NT 18 - 19 points, balanced hand that would have bid 2NT.
• 4 - KCB for clubs. Subsequent 4NT by the opener is to play.
• 4 - KCB for diamonds with a very good diamond suit. 4NT bid by the responder is not a step and is a quantitative denial showing no interest. Subsequent 4NT by the opener is to play.