PROBLEM BIDDING SCENARIOS

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“3H” 3NT “2C” “2H”-3NT 6NT “3D”-“4NT” (TRANSFER) (4*3*3*3) (STAYMAN) (CHECK-BACK)

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(TAKE-OUT) (NEGATIVE) (NEGATIVE) (NEGATIVE)

(BOTH MAJORS) (SPADES) (BOTH MINORS)

1D-1H-1S 1D-1H-2C 1C-1D-1H 1C-1D-1H 1S-1N-2D 1D-1H-2H 1S-1N-2H

1D-1S-2S 1D-1S-2C 1C-1H-2H 1C-1H-2H 1S-2C-2D 1D-1S-1N 1S-2C-2H

1D-1N-P 1D-1N-2C 1C-1S-1N 1C-1S-2S 2S-2H-3D 1D-2C-2H 1S-2D-2H

1D-2C-2N 1D-2D-P 1C-1N-P 1C-1N-P 1S-2S-P 1D-1N-P 1S-2H-4H

1S-2S-4S

1H-1S-2D 1H-1S-2D 1D-1S-2H(3H) 1C-1D-1S(2S) 1S-2D-3C 1H-1S-2D(3D) 1S-1N-2H(S)

1H-1N-2D 1H-1N-2D 1D-1N-2H(3H) 1C-1H-1S(2S) 1S-1N-2C 1H-1N-2D(3D) 1S-2C-2H(S)

1H-2C-2D 1H-2C-2D 1D-2C-2H(3H) 1C-1S-3S 1S-2H-3C 1H-2C-2D(3D0 1S-2D-2H(S)

1H-2H-4H 1H-2H-4H 1D-1H-4NT 1S-2S-4S 1H-2D-3H 1S-2S-4S

1H-2D-“5C” 1H-2D-“4S” 1D-2D-4NT 1S-2H-4H

1D-1H-1S 1D-1H-1N 1C-1D-1H 1C-1D-1H 1S-1N-2D 1D-1S-1N 1S-1N-2H

1D-1S-2S 1D-1N-2C 1C-1H-2H 1C-1H-2H 1S-2C-2D 1D-1H-3H 1S-2C-2H

1D-1N-P 1D-1S-2C 1C-1S-1N 1C-1S-2S 1S-2H-3D 1D-1N-P 1S-2D-2H

1D-2C-2N 1D-2C-3C 1C-1N-P 1S-2S-P 1D-2C-2N 1S-2H-4H

1D-2D-P 1S-2D-3D 1S-2S-4S

What Do You Bid, as Responder, to Partner’s 4NT Inquiry with the Following Hands, Subsequent to a Partnership Agreement on Hearts as the Trump Suit?

What Do You Bid, as Responder, to Partner’s 4NT Inquiry with the Following Hands, Subsequent to a Partnership Agreement on Diamonds

What Do You Bid, as Responder, to Partner’s 4NT Inquiry with the Following Hands, Subsequent to a Partnership Agreement on Hearts as the Trump Suit?

What Do You Bid, as Responder, to Partner’s 4NT Inquiry with the Following Hands, Subsequent to a Partnership Agreement on Diamonds

(D”O”P”E”) “Pass” “Pass” “Double” “Double”

(D”E”P”O”) “Double” “Double” “Pass” “Pass”

Select the appropriate overcall with each of the following holdings given the listed bidding conditions!

1S – Simple Pass – Too Few Points 2H - Normal 1NT - Normal

1-Level Overcall for a 2-Level Overcall 2-Level Overcall 1NT Overcall

Pass – No Stopper “2C” – Michaels “2D” – Michaels 1S Then 2H - Too

For 1NT Overcall for Both Majors for Both Majors Strong for Michaels

“2C” Then “3C” - “2H” - Michaels “2NT” – Unusual NT 2S – Weak Jump

Michaels With 16+ Showing Spades + Minor Showing Both Minors Overcall

Select the appropriate overcall with each of the following holdings given the listed bidding conditions!

2NT – Showing a Double – A Direct Pass – Too Weak Double - Perfect

1NT Overcall Seat 15+ Takeout Over Weak 2 for a Direct Overcall Takeout Dbl.

Pass – Wrong Pass – Too Weak and “2C” – DON’T Double – DON’T

Shape Too Balanced Showing C + Higher Suit Showing 1-Suiter

1S – Forced to Bid 2C – Not Strong Enough 1NT – 8+ HCP’s Plus

for a 1NT Response a Spade Stopper

2C – Simple Response 3H – Jump Response 2NT – Invitational with

Showing 0-8 HCP’s Showing 9+ HCP’s Stopper + 10-11 HCP’s

3NT – 13+ HCP’s + 4H – Game Values and “2H” – Cue-Bid with Game

Stopper in Hearts Good Heart Support Values with No Suit and No Stopper

“2D” – First Negative 2S – Positive Bid (8-9 HCP’s) 2NT – 8-9 HCP’s with

Showing 0-7 HCP’s Along With a 5-Card or Longer Suit No 5-Card Suit

3H – Jump Response with 3NT – Jump Response with 2NT – Second Negative

10+ HCP’s + 5+Card Suit 10+ HCP’s and No 5-Card Suit Showing 0-4 HCP’s

3H – Positive Bid Following “3C” – Stayman Following “3D” – Transfer Following

First Negative = 5-7 HCP’s Opener’s 2NT Rebid Opener’s 2NT Rebid

With a 5-Card Suit or Better

“3H” – Transfer with Intent 4H – Game with Support and 3H – Game Forcing with

to ReRebid 4H (Game) 0-4 HCP’s (Weaker) Support and 5-7 HCP’s (Stronger)

(“Quick Arrival”) (“Slow Arrival”)

Pass – Then = 2 Spades Pass – Then 2D or “2NT” 2 Hearts = To Play

3 Spades = Game Forcing “3H” = Stayman for Spades “2NT” = Forces “3C”

With 5 Pieces Asking for 3 (Without a Heart Stopper) Then Bid 3S = Stayman

For Hearts

With a Spade Stopper

4 Hearts = To Play Pass – Await Completion of “2C” Puppet bid and

(Transfers Are Off) Action By East, Then bid “2NT” and after opener

Puppets “3C”, Responder then invites game by

Bidding 3S. (Could have bid 2S directly)

NOTE: One cannot invite if suit Lower ranking than

The suit used to interfere.

Spades Equal or Longer No Other Interest 17+ HCP’s

Than Hearts – 19+ HCP’s Self-Sufficient Hearts Forcing One Round

2H – “Drop Dead” Bid 3H – Invitational “2S” – 4^th Suit Forcing

Pass – Or 2 Hearts “2C” – New Minor Forcing “3C” – New Minor Force

“2D” – New Minor Force “3C” – Stayman “3D” - Transfer

Note: Difference From #5

(Hearts Not Yet Explored)

By Opener are forcing Showing 5 Spades + 4 Hearts with 5 Spades + 4

For One Round and show Hearts

First suit Longer than Second Note: Difference Between #17 & #18

Pass – No Conceivable 2S – Game interest if “3S” – Splinter Bid

Game Interest Opener Has Better Than in Support of Hearts

Minimum Holding

Does Not Deny Support for to Bid – Does Not Non Support for

Partner’s Minor Suit Negate Support for Partner’s Overcall Suit

Overcall Partner’s Overcall With Stopper in Hearts

Dependent Upon (Requires Partnership) “Front of Card”

Vulnerability (Understanding)

“Front of Card”

2S – Do Not Get Excited “2NT” – Negating Pass – Over-rule

Partner Could Have Spade Support, Asks Partner’s

0 HCP’s Over-caller to Mention Michael Bid

Minor Suit For the Major Suits

“2C” – Michael’s for “2D” – Michael’s for “2C” – Michael’s

the Majors – Pass the Majors – Pass for the Majors -

on Next Opportunity on Next Opportunity The Longer the Suits,

the Fewer HCP’s Needed

3C – Simple Overcall Pass – Need 6-Card Suit “2C” – For Majors

Natural for Clubs To Make a Natural Overcall

1S – Simple Overcall “2H” – Showing Spades + “2S” – Showing Hearts +

Cannot use Michael’s Unspecified Minor Suit Unspecified Minor Suit

1S – Planning to Rebid 1S – Planning to Rebid “2NT” – “Unusual”

2H – (11-15 HCP’s) 2D – (11-15 HCP’s) Two Lower Unbid Suits

Michael’s nor Unusual NT “2C” – Planning to Rebid “2H” – Planning to Rebid

Can Be Here – Must “3C” (Cue-Bid Again) “3H” Later to Show

Bid 1S Hoping to Be Able To Evidence 16+ HCP’s 16+ HCP’s

To Rebid 2D Later

15-17 HCP’s with 15-17 HCP’s with Heart Stopper 21-22 HCP’s with

Evenly Balanced Hand and Evenly Balanced Hand Evenly Balanced Hand

Unusual No Trump 6-10 HCP’s Balancing No Trump

5-5 in 2-Lower Unbid Absence of 4 Spades 10-15 HCP’s – No Long Suit of Own

Suits (Diamonds & Hearts) Fewer than 3 Hearts Stopper in Hearts Not Guaranteed

Unusual No Trump Unusual No Trump

5-5 in 2 Lower Unbid Suits 5-5 in 2 Lower Unbid Suits To Play – Point Count Based Upon

(Clubs & Hearts) (Clubs & Diamonds) Partnership Agreement(13-15 or 16-18)

Unusual No Trump Jacoby 2NT (Hearts + Opener) or any Unusual No Trump

5-5 in 2 Lower Unbid Suits Other Partnership Agreed-To 5-5 in 2 Lower Unbid Suits

(Clubs & Diamonds) Understanding (Diamonds & Hearts)

Unusual No Trump Blackwood Asking for Aces Unusual No trump

5-5 in 2 Lower Unbid Suits Final Denomination Unspecified 5-5 in 2 Lower Unbid Suits

(Clubs & Spades) Assumed to be Hearts if Key Card Used (Clubs & Diamonds)

Weaker than a Take-out Dbl.

(28) (29) (30)

1D 1C/3NT(?) 1NT/2NT(?)

Pass Pass Pass Pass

2NT(?) 1S 2S

To Play Forcing (“RONF”) To Play

A Drop-Dead Bid Question Asked Based Upon A Drop-Dead Bid

Game Values Partnership Understanding North Must Pass

Evenly Balanced Hand Evenly Balanced Hand Evenly Balanced Hand

11-14 HCP’s with Fewer 17-18 HCP’s with Fewer with Minimum Values

Than 3 Hears and 4 Spades Than 4 Spades (11-14 HCP’s)

17-18 HCP’s To Play Gambling No Trump

with Evenly Balanced Hand “Gerber” No-Trump Escape 7-Card Minor (AKQXXXX) with

No Outside King

“Grand-Slam Force” 13-15 HCP’s 11-12 HCP’s

Asking for 6H or 7H No Interest in Spades Invitational to 3NT with Fewer

With 1 or 2 of Top 3 Honors A Club Stopper and Only 4 Hearts Than 4 Spades & Only 4 Hearts

Shows Extra Values in 2/1 System

1D 1C/3NT(?) 1NT/2NT(?)

Pass Pass Pass Pass

2NT(?) 1S 2S

11-12 HCP’s 20 HCP’s with Evenly Balanced Hand Diamonds Preference if

Invitational to 3 NT Especially if 2NT Opening = 21-22 HCP’s Minor Suit Stayman Utilized

4NT(?) 1NT(?) Double

Pass

2NT(?) Double 3NT(?) Double Double

Pass Pass 1NT(?)

2S Pass 2H 2H

3NT 2NT(?)/3NT(?) 3H

Quantitative (16-17) – Askin Quantitative (20+) – Asking Invitational to

Opener to Pass with 15 HCP’s Opener to Bid 6NT with a 3NT

Or to Bid 6NT with 16-17 HCP’s Minimum of 15 HCP’s or (9-10 HCP’s)

7NT with a Maximum of 16-17 Can Be Fewer if Longer Suit

To Play (17-19 HCP’s) To Play (21+ HCP’s) To Play – (11-15 HCP’s)

4NT(?) 1NT(?) Double

Pass

A Weak Preempt for the Minors Unusual No Trump

For the Two Lower Unbid Suits 7-9 HCP’s with

(Clubs & Hearts) Fewer than 4 Spades +

A Heart Stopper

2NT(?) Double 3NT(?) Double Double

Pass Pass 1NT(?)

10-11 HCP’s – Invitational 12+ HCP’s – Game to Play 8-10 HCP’s With at

to 3NT – No 4-Card Major No 4-Card Heart Suit Least One Heast Stopper

Definite Diamond Stopper Definite Spade Stopper

2S Pass 2H 2H

3NT 2NT(?)/3NT(?) 3H

Game Values – No Spade Stopper (Relay) – Game with Heart Stopper Heart Stopper – Fewer

Than 4 Spades

A Re-Opening No Trump Unusual NT (E) – Followed by a A 16+ HCP Count Evenly

17-20 HCP’s - Too Strong for a Game Try (S) Balanced Hand

a 1NT Opening – Too Weak for With a Heart Stopper

an Opening 2NT

4H – Very Weak 3H – Heart Support “2NT” – 2^nd Negative

With Heart Support Top of 5-7 HCP Range

Pass – Nothing to 3NT – Game Values “3C” Stayman – If Ptnr.

Contribute Bids 3S Correct to 3NT

If 3H, Bid 4H

“3D” – Trans.to Hearts “3D” – Trans.to Hearts “3D” – Trans.to Hearts

With Intent to Pass Then ReBid 3NT - Then ReBid 4H -

Afterwards – You are CheckBack Game to Play

The Captain Opener will Pass with 2 Hearts

Pass – Partner Has 6NT – Partner Denies Pass – Opener is Here

25-27 HCP’s 3 Hearts The Captain Since Responder

Cannot Bid Stayman Has Already Shown 8-9 HCP’s

No Biddable Room

4S – Showing at Least 3-Card 3D – A Jump Shift 3NT – A Jump Shift

Support for Opener’s 5-Card Evidencing 10+ HCP’s Evidencing 10+ HCP’s

Spade Suit – Opener May Invoke and a 5-Card or and no 5-card Suit

4NT since Responder Evidenced Longer Diamond Suit Opener May Invoke Gerber

8=9 HCP’s

3D – Denying 3-Card Spade 4S – Evidencing 3-Card Pass – Opener will

Support – Opener Bids 3NT or Better Support for Ptnr. Either Double West or

Bid 3H or 3S – Then 4H/4S

In the Following Examples – What, if any, Should Be One’s Pre-emptive Bid?

Even Vulnerability Favorable Vulnerability Unfavorable Vulnerability

In the Following Examples – What, if any, Should Be One’s Pre-emptive Bid?

Even Vulnerability Favorable Vulnerability Unfavorable Vulnerability

Pass – “RONF” “FEATURE” OR Ogust Responses Pass – Is To Play

Pre-Empter Never Re-Bids

Unless Asked By Responder

Pass – Is Penalty Dbl. Pass – Is to Make or Pass – Pre-Emptive

Not a Negative Dbl. Furtherance of Pre-Emptive Call

2C – Natural – To Save 2S – Competitive 3H – Pre-Emptive

Note: Trans.& Stayman Are Off Showing 0-5 HCP’s Evidences 9 Pieces of Trump

4S – Pre-Emptive Pass with intent to bid 2H “2NT” - Jordan

Evidences 10 Pieces of Trumps on Second Opportunity Evidences Limit Raise or Better

In Support of Partner’s Suit

Stopper in Doubler’s A Non-Forcing Response Showing 10 HCP’s or More - Opener

To Double For Penalties

Tends to Deny Support for Partner

North, having bid 1NT on his/her first rebid must have a balanced hand with no fewer than two (2) cards in each of the four suits and 11-14 HCP’s. North, therefore, not having supported Spades, cannot have four Spades, but must have either two or three Spades. In either instance, South’s hand will produce more tricks in a Spade contract than it will in a NT contract. In this example, South’s proper rebid is “2S”. Always bid or rebid a 5-card Major over 1NT

If you held: QXXXX XXX XX XXX You would not hesitate to transfer to 2 Spades over a 1NT Opening by partner, and so should you do similarly in the above referenced example with a 1NT rebid by Opener. Always bid or rebid a 5-card Major over 1NT

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Here, South has opening count, but does not have enough cards in the three unmentioned suits, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades, to justify a take-out double. In this example, South’s proper bid is to “Pass”. A second position “Pass” says nothing other than at this moment the player chooses not to make a bid, and, indeed, could even have values equivalent to or even stronger than the opening call. In order to make a Take-out Double, one’s hand must be of proper shape, and/or of sufficient point count.

One should never make a direct take-out double with minimum balanced opening hands that contains more than 2-cards in Opener’s suit.

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Here, in this example, everyone would surely support partner by re-bidding “2S”. North has shown 6-18 HCP’s with at least four Spades, and therefore, a rebid by South is mandatory. South’s rebid of “2S” evidences a Golden Fit in Spades with minimum opening count. With this as a baseline background:

Here, the bidding as gone slightly differently. Never-the-less, North, has, in effect, similarly bid the same 1 Spade by virtue of his/her Negative Double. If you had been prepared, as above in (3a) to bid “2S” why not still do the same here. South should bid “2S” just as in (3a) above. A bid of “3S” would have shown a one trick better Opening count of 16-18, but here, the “2S” bid, as before, would show minimum count and a hand which would have bid “2S” had there not been an intervening overcall. In effect, why bid only “1S” which would more easily allow West an opportunity to enter the bidding with a “2H” or “2C” call?

Ignore the Opponents! Never suppress support for Partner! Bid as quickly as possible to your own contract level, thereby making it more difficult for the opponents to find their best contract.

Here, if you recognize as in (3b) above that a “2S” bid would guarantee four (4) Spades, then in the referenced hand here in (3c), the appropriate rebid by Opener would then be “1S” which would evidence minimum values and only three (3) pieces of Spades. (Note: In effect the principal in (3c) acts similar to a Support Double which, in competition, evidences 3-card support for partner’s 4-card suit.)

With game values (11+ HCP’s) opposite a 1NT opening bid, Responder, having both a

4-card and a 5-card Major suit holding must abandon the tendency to think in terms of Jacoby Transfer bids and alternatively first bid a “2C” Stayman call. Receiving either a “2H” or a “2S” response by opener, Responder will then proceed to game level in the agreed-upon Major. If however, opener bids “2D” denying a 4-card Major, Responder may then proceed to the 3-level of his/her 5-card Major (“3S” in this instance) asking opener to proceed to the 4-level if holding three pieces, else to 3NT as an alternate rejection of the 5-card Major suit of Responder. Never use Jacoby Transfer bids opposite 1NT or 2NT Opening bids when holding both 5-card and 4-card Major suits and game values. Stayman always takes precedent over Jacoby Transfers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Redouble is the only strong bid, other than conventional raises of partner’s opening suit (Like Jordan) following a Take-out Double by the Opponents. A Redouble implies no fit with partner and is a Defensive Bid. As a result, in this instance, South should make a penalty “Double” confirming his/her willingness to defend against the 1S overcall by the opponents. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Previous discussion indicated the thought that it be best to pass a previously-passed Responder’s bid when one held a third-hand light opening bid as shown here in (6). The latest thinking, however, is that to “Pass” in these instances would only invite the opponents to enter the bidding in what might be, for them, a favorable contract. To thwart this, however, as in this hand, bid aggressively even with a sub-minimum opening count. Here, South should bid “2H”. Never suppress support except when pre-empted.

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When holding few HCP’s and the opportunity arises to bid a pre-emptive support bid for partner’s bid suit, bid as quickly as possible to a level supported by the “LAW OF TOTAL TRICKS”; i.e., the 3-level with 9 pieces, 4-level with 10 pieces, and the 5-level with 11 support pieces for partner.

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If you bid two suits, you have two suits! If one were, therefore, to open 1 Club and rebid 1S one must have 4+ Clubs. In this instance, therefore, one should not rebid 1S, but rather “1NT”. Percentage wise, even acknowledging the potential to sometimes miss a 4-4 Major suit fit, the acknowledged admission of two suits, as in the following hand, more than makes up for the possible afore-mentioned deficiency.

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North has shown, by virtue of his/her rebid of 2D, a likely 6-card Diamond holding. South easily competes to the 3-level holding 4 Diamonds. When West bids 3H, North re-enters the bidding with a 3S call which, having previously denied four pieces of Spades absent a 2S call in lieu of his/her 2D bid, confirms North to have just three pieces of Spades. South, not wanting to be in a 3S contract with only seven trumps, easily bids the preferred contract of “4D” holding a likely ten Diamonds between the two partners. Play in the right suit, Even if you are 1-level higher!

South should bid “2C”. Similar to (8b) above which indicates that if one bids two suits, one has two suits: If one bids three suits, you have three suits and are short in the fourth! Here, North can now either pass the 2C bid, else seek the best 7-card final contract.