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1, forcing, requires 1; hands with hearts or balanced hands go through here. The point ranges of the balanced hands are 17-18 and 23-24 balanced.
1Natural, 5+, up to 22 points.
1NTAny GF hand
2Natural, 5+, up to 22 points
2Natural, 5+, up to 22 points
25+, 4, up to 18-19 points
2three-suiter, just short of GF, about 19-22; otherwise we bid 1NT [may include 5m(044)]
  • 2NTrelay for the shortage, in rank order (3 = / 3 = / 3 = / 3 = , so that the suits can easily be agreed by bidding the shortage suit.)
  • 3xp/c
33(6)7+ cards, just short of GF (more shape than points)
355MM, INV, then 3NT is a choice of games, 4/ – accept with the corresponding major, and it is better than 4M, which is to play
355MM, GF, then 3NT is a choice of games, 4/ – accept with the corresponding major, and it is better than 4M, which is to play
1relay, an almost obligatory bid
1NT0-4 points, any long solid suit; implies zero playing strength in any other suit and usually denies three cards in (typically 7-card suits headed by queens and jacks). A 7-card suit headed by AK goes through 1. Then 2 is a p/c relay and only 2NT is GF – where the suit is shown by transfer; 2 of a suit is NF
  • The only non-forcing bids by the 1 opener are the sign-offs in one of the suits; everything else is natural and forcing – 2NT is always a relay, answered low singleton, high singleton, low void, high void, regardless of whether you are 6-5. Then the suits are agreed in rank order and are slam tries.
25+, 4+, NF
25+, 4+, NF
2(5)6+, NF
25+, 4+, a better hand
35+, 4+, a better hand
35+, 4+, a better hand
319–22 with a 6-card suit (natural continuations with a 3+ card fit, ST)
1NT3-5 points, at most 2 cards in
26-8 without a good 6-card suit (an invitation with 3-card support (without shortage) also goes through here); 2 = 18+, semi-GF (every subsequent bid makes it GF) and expects further description; any other suit is up to 17 points and can be played there – i.e. a direct 3 would be 5-5 with up to 17 points
220-5 points, 6+ cards in the suit
23-5 points with 3 cards in
2NT3-5 points with 4-card support and a shortage
33-5 points, 4-card support
3 of a suit – 6 cards, 6-8 points
4x6-8 points, 4-card support with a shortage, or various hands with 5-card support
2at most 2 cards in , without a 5-card suit
2335 cards, without 3-card support
2NT3-card support (6-8 points)
25-8 points, asks for a 4-card major, or with a 5-card suit of our own (3 = minimum); development analogous to 2 – 2 – x
2NT6-8 points, transfer to 3 + shortage; then 3 of a suit is the shortage (or a very weak hand with a nice 4+ card fit)
33-5 points with a fit
3 of a suit – 6-8 points, 6-card suit

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