INTERMEDIATE II

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INTERMEDIATE-2 BRIDGE

LESSON 1

NO TRUMP BIDDING

General Considerations:

a. Strength ‑ High cards points only (never distribution) are counted. The presence of a

5-card suit is worth one point, and the presence of tens can also be taken into

account. The system is based upon 26 HCP's = Game, 34 HCP's = Small

Slam, and 37 HCP's = Grand Slam.

b. Distribution ‑ Only balanced hands; i.e., no voids, no singletons, and not more than one

doubleton, qualify. (Examples: 4‑3‑3‑3, 4‑4‑3‑2, 5‑3‑3‑2)

(1) The 5‑card suit is rarely a Major suit.

(2) Distributional exception: (5‑4‑2‑2) Where the two doubletons are Major suits

headed by an Ace or a King (Example: KX AX KJXX AQXXX).

c. Location Of Strength ‑ The concentration of honors, presence of any tenaces (AQ, KJ, etc.),

or the holding of a worthless doubleton are rarely considered.

OPENING NO TRUMP BIDS

a. 0‑12 HCP’s ‑ Pass

b. 13‑14 HCP's ‑ Bid one of a preferred Minor and rebid 1NT

c. 15‑17 HCP’s ‑ Bid 1NT

d. 18‑20 HCP’s ‑ Open one of a Minor and jump to 2NT with 18 or 19 HCP’s & 3NT with 20 HCP’s

e. 21‑22 HCP's ‑ Open 2NT

f. 23‑24 HCP’s ‑ Open “2C”(Strong, Artificial, and Forcing) and rebid 2NT

q. 25‑27 HCP's ‑ Open "2C" (Strong, Artificial, and Forcing) and jump to 3NT

h. Gambling "3NT" ‑ Holding a 7‑Card self‑sufficient Minor suit (Example: AKQXXXX )

If partner has stoppers in both Majors and two (2) quick tricks or better,

he/she passes. Alternatively, he/she) bids "4C" (The pre‑arranged

escape) and opener either passes or bids "4D" to escape the doomed

3NT gamble.

RESPONSES TO OPENING 1 NT WITH DESIRE TO REMAIN IN NO TRUMP

a 0‑8 HCP's ‑ Pass

b. 9‑10 HCP's ‑ Bid 2NT ‑ Invites Partner to Pass with a minimum (15 HCP's) or to bid

3NT with a maximum (16 or 17 HCP's)

c. 11‑15 HCP's ‑ Bid 3NT

d. 16‑17 HCP's ‑ Bid "4NT" (Quantitative) Invites partner to Pass with a minimum (15

HCP's), or to bid 6NT with a maximum (16‑17 HCP's) Note: "4NT" is not

Blackwood in this sequence. Must use Gerber ("4C") to ask for Aces.

e. 18‑19 HCP's ‑ Bid 6NT

f. 20‑21 HCP’s ‑ Bid "5NT" (Quantitative) Requesting partner to bid 6NT with a minimum

of (15 HCP's) and to bid 7NT with a maximum of (16‑17 HCP's)

g. 22‑23 HCP's ‑ Bid 7NT

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RESPONSES TO OPENING 1 NT WITH DESIRE TO DEVIATE FROM NO TRUMP

a. “2C” ‑ Stayman Convention asking for a 4‑Card Major. (“3C”over a 2NT opening)

b. “2D”, “2H”, “2S”, or “3C” ‑ Jacoby Transfer (Alertable) bids.(“3D”, etc. over a 2NT opening)

c. “3D” - An invitational bid (Seeking 3NT) with a 6‑Card Minor suit headed by two of the

top three honors and fewer points than would normally elicit game.

d. 3H or 3S ‑ A game force bid holding a 5‑Card Heart or Spade suit, respectively.

e. “4C” ‑ The Gerber Convention, an artificial system, asking for Aces.

f. 4H or 4S ‑ A close‑out bid with a 6‑Card suit. (Opener can have no fewer than two)

g. 5C or 5D ‑ A close‑out bid with a freak hand holding a long broken Minor suit, probably

seven or eight cards in length, with little additional outside honor strength.

A ONE NO TRUMP OVERCALL

(1) In the direct position. (2nd position relative to the opponent's opening bid of one of a suit) ‑

Shows an equivalent hand to a 1NT opening bid with the added feature of at least one, and

preferably two, stoppers in the opponent's opening previously bid suit.

(2) In the balancing position (4th position relative to opponent's opening bid of one of a suit) -Shows about 10‑13 HCP's with at least one stopper in the opponent's opening suit.

A TWO NO TRUMP OVERCALL

(1) Over a 1H, 1S, or 1NT opening bid ‑ Shows a Minor two‑suited hand with at least a 5‑5

distribution ("UNUSUAL NT"). The minimum strength may vary according to

the vulnerability. At favorable vulnerability, a 7‑8 HCP hand would be considered adequate.

At unfavorable vulnerability, both the hand and the suits should be distinctly stronger.

(2) Over a pre‑emptive opening 2‑Bid ‑ Shows an opening 1NT (15‑17 HCP) hand with at least one, and preferably two, stoppers in opener's pre‑emptive bid suit.

A ONE NO TRUMP RESPONSE TO AN OPENING OF ONE OF A SUIT

6‑10 HCP's ‑ No support for partner's suit and no 4‑Card Major suit having been by‑passed. This bid is of great pre‑emptive value by prohibiting the fourth player from bidding at the one‑level.

A TWO NO TRUMP RESPONSE TO AN OPENING BID OF ONE OF A SUIT

(1) Over a Minor suit opening bid ‑ Shows 11‑12 HCP's ‑ An invitational bid which can be passed. It denies holding a 4‑card or better suit in either Major.

(2) Over a Major suit opening bid ‑ Shows 13‑15 HCP's ‑ Denies support for partner's suit.

A THREE NO TRUMP RESPONSE TO AN OPENING BID OF ONE OF A SUIT

(1) Over a Minor suit opening bid ‑ Shows 13 ‑15 HCP’s which denies a 4‑Card or better suit in either Major.

(2) Over a Major suit opening hid ‑ Shows 16‑18 HCP's and denies support for partner's suit.

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INTERMEDIATE-2 BRIDGE

LESSON 2

OPENING BIDS WITH UNBALANCED HANDS AND REBIDS BY THE OPENER

(Unlike No Trump Bidding, Does Include Distributional Points)

A. OPENING 1 OF A SUIT:

0‑12 HCP’s Pts. = Pass unless Rule of 20 Satisfied in 1^st and 2^nd positions

13 HCP’s Pts. = Should open since Rule of 20 will always be satisfied

14‑15 HCP’s Pts. = Must open 1 of a suit and then rebid:

(a) 1 No Trump

(b) 2 of one's own suit (if a 5-card or better Minor or a 6-card or better Major)

(d) Pass, but ONLY if there occurs an intervening bid by opener’s RHO (Right-hand opponent)

(e) Pass ONLY if partner has limited the combined partnership potential via one of only

two limiting bids; i.e., either 1NT or 2 of opener’s bid suit

16‑18 Pts. = Must open 1 of a suit and then rebid:

(a) Jump in opener’s own suit

(b) Jump in Partners suit; i.e., raise him/her two levels of bidding

2H 3C

19 Pts. or more = Open 1 of a suit and jump-shift into a second suit

B. OPENING 2 OF A SUIT: (“2C”= strong, artificial and forcing)

when weak two’s (2D,2H,2S) are otherwise used)

25 or more Pts. with a 5‑card suit

23 or more Pts. with a 6‑card suit

21 or more Pts. with a 7‑card suit

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C. OPENER"S REBID: The second bid (the so‑called "rebid") by the opener, subsequent to his/her opening of one of a suit, is frequently the crucial point in any auction. It is the first opportunity for opener to more finitely describe his/her hand and becomes the basis by which responder can then proceed.

(1) AFTER A ONE‑OVER‑ONE RESPONSE FROM PARTNER:

Examples: 1C P 1D P (or) 1D P 1H P

?? ??

(A) A Rebid of 1NT [1D - 1H - 1NT] = (11-14 HCP’s and a balanced hand)

(B) A Rebid of opener's original suit [1H ‑ 1S‑ 2H] = (11‑15 Points and a 6‑Card suit)

Promises 11‑18 Points)

(D) A Rebid of a lower ranking suit at the 2‑level [1H ‑ 1S ‑ 2C] = (Since 1NT was

by-passed, this usually shows a 2‑suited hand)

(E) A Reverse; i.e., a rebid of a higher ranking suit at the 2-level [1C ‑ 1H ‑ 2D] =

Usually 16‑18 Points and is encouraging but not forcing)

(F) A Single raise in responder's suit [1H ‑ 1S ‑ 2S] = (11‑15 Points and at least a

4‑Card support for responder’s bid suit)

(G) A Rebid of 2NT [1H ‑ 1S ‑ 2NT] = (18‑19 HCP's and a balanced hand)

(H) A Jump rebid in opener's suit [1D ‑ 1H ‑ 3D] = (At least a 6‑card suit and at least

16‑18 HCP’s)

(I) A Jump raise in responder's suit [1D ‑ 1H ‑ 3H] = (16‑18 points and at least a

4‑card support for responder’s bid suit)

(J) A Rebid of 3NT [1H ‑ 1S ‑ 3NT] = (20 HCP's and a balanced hand)

(K) A Jump‑shift rebid [1D ‑ 1H ‑ 3C] = (An unbalanced hand with at least 19 Points

and is game-forcing)

(L) A jump to game in responder's Major suit [1H ‑ 1S ‑ 4S] = (A 4‑Card support and

game values)

(M) A jump to game in opener's Major suit [1H ‑ 1S ‑ 4H] = (At least a 7‑Card suit

and game values)

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(2) AFTER A TWO‑OVER‑ONE RESPONSE FROM PARTNER:

Examples: 1H P 2D P (or) 1D P 2C P

?? ??

(M) A Rebid of 2NT [1H ‑ 2C ‑ 2NT] = (An unbalanced hand with 11-14 Points – Is

Invitational to GAme

(N) A Rebid in opener's suit [1D ‑ 2C ‑ 2D] = (A minimum opening bid with a 6‑Card

or a very good 5‑Card suit)

(O) A Rebid in a lower ranking suit [1S ‑ 2C ‑ 2D] = (13‑15 Points and is not forcing)

(P) A Single raise in responder's suit [1H ‑ 2D ‑ 3D] = (A minimum non-forcing rebid)

(Q) A reverse at the 2‑level [1H ‑ 2C ‑ 2S] = (A game-forcing bid with the first bid

suit equal or longer than the second bid suit)

(R) The rebid of a second suit at the 3‑level ("A HIGH REVERSE") [1H ‑ 2D ‑ 3C]

(A game forcing bid evidencing at least 16 HCP’s)

(S) A jump shift to the three level [1S ‑ 2C ‑ 3D] = (A game-forcing bid approaching

Slam)

(T) A jump rebid in opener's suit [1S ‑ 2D ‑ 3S] = (Shows a 6‑Card suit and 16‑18

Points)

(U) A jump raise in responder's suit [1S ‑ 2C ‑ 4C] = (Forcing and presumably a

4‑card or 5‑card support) [1S ‑ 2H ‑ 4S] = (Shows a hand slightly too good for

a 3H rebid and may be as little as a 3‑card support since responder has

promised a 5‑card suit)

(V) A jump to game in opener's suit [1S ‑ 2D ‑ 4S] = (A strong 6‑Card or better suit

and no interest in no Trump or responder’s suit)

(W) A 3NT rebid [1D ‑ 2C ‑ 3NT] = (Equivalent to a 2NT rebid over a one‑over‑one

level response; i.e., a 18‑19 HCP opening with a balanced hand)

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INTERMEDIATE-2 BRIDGE

LESSON 3

PRE-EMPTIVE BIDDING

A. DEFTNITION: An opening bid of two or more with a hand containing both a long suit and

a sub‑minimum high-card strength (5-11 HCP’s) The bid is usually

defensive in purpose. The pre‑emptive bidder hopes that the hand belongs to

the opponents with the stronger hands and that they find it difficult to bid

accurately when the auction has started at a higher level with one or more

bidding levels have been previously consumed by the pre-emptive bid.

B. POSITIONAL CONSIDERATI ONS:

The third player seat in the auction is in the best position to make an opening pre‑empt. He/she knows that such a bid cannot pre-empt the first position player since that partner has already limited his/her hand by passing. The fourth player is almost sure to have the best hand at the table. Since partner's initial pass makes game unlikely, a sub‑minimum pre‑empt is often very effective.

Next to third chair, pre‑emptive bids by the dealer are the most attractive. Although they may present difficulty to partner, there are two opponents who may have good hands, and the odds favor that the hand belongs to the opponents.

Second chair is least desirable for opening a pre‑emptive bid. One opponent has already passed; therefore, the odds are no longer two to one in favor of the opponents having a good hand. Hence, marginal pre‑empts should always be avoided in second position; i.e., they should be slightly stronger than pre‑empts by the dealer and by the third positioned player.

When opening a pre‑empt in fourth chair, one obviously expects to get a plus score, otherwise one would simply pass the deal out for no score to either side. Therefore, fourth chair "pre‑empts" generally suggest the values of a minimum opening one‑bid both offensively and defensively.

C. INFLUENCING FACTORS:

(1) LENGTH OF SUIT ‑ A pre‑emptive or weak 2‑bid is usually with a 6‑card suit, a weak 3-

3-bid is with a 7‑card suit, and an opening 4‑bid is usually with an 8‑card suit.

(2) POSITION AT THE TABLE ‑ Already discussed.

(3) STRENGTH OF SUIT ‑ The best pre‑empts have a concentration of honor strength in the

bid suit. This automatically increases his/her playing strength, decreases the

danger of suffering a substantial penalty, and decreases the chance of a successful

defense against an the opponent’s presumed contract. Weak 2‑Bids usually have 5‑11

HCP’s in strength; weak 3‑Bids have about 6‑10 HCP's.

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(4) VULNERABTLTTY ‑ With favorable vulnerability; i.e., when not vulnerable against