Ariel

General Principles

  1. When the opponents have shown one suit, the cue-bid is a stopper ask
  2. When the opponents have shown two suits, the cue-bid shows a stopper. In some cases the direct double shows a stopper in that suit and no stopper in the other.
  3. When a redouble shows a strong hand, doubles are penalty from the redoubler and takeout from the opener; the principle is that the opener is unlikely to hold a penalty double.
  1. Usually the first double is T/O; we make an exception for the cases after a preempt, when the direct double is penalty
  1. We rarely penalise cue-bids of partner's suit. Therefore the double is lead-directing: “I like the lead”.
  1. When the opponents interfere with our Blackwood responses we play REPO-DEPO
  2. When we ask for second-round control in a suit looking for a grand slam, the steps are as follows: the next step shows xx, we bid the grand slam with Q/K, and we sign off with Jxx+ or xxx+. When there is no room for the next step with two small cards, we bid the grand slam.
  3. The responses to Exclusion Blackwood are 0, 1 without Q, 1 with Q, 2 without Q, 2 with Q, etc. The responses are analogous when one hand is limited. A typical example is 1♣︎ – 1♦︎ or after a preempt. The same applies to the situation where we have opened with a preempt or have made a negative response – e.g. (1♦︎) – X – (Pass) – 1M
  4. Whenever we have passed we play simple Lebensohl (except after a 1NT opening, where we always play transfer Lebensohl, even after a pass). If we have not passed we play transfer Lebensohl. The positions are absolutely all of those in which partner has doubled (T/O or HCP), or has opened 1NT or 1♦︎. Regardless of whether the opponents' call is conventional or not.
  5. When they make a conventional call (e.g. Michaels etc.) X + X = T/O, Pass + X = penalty
  1. When the opponents have put us under pressure after a 1♣︎ opening, pass (if possible) + fit is better than the direct one, and the double shows shortage in the opponents' suit.
  1. When the opponents intervene in our GF auction, the double shows shortage
  2. When we are in a GF auction and show a 6-card major, 2NT promises 2+ cards and asks for shortage
  3. In 3rd and 4th seat all openings are natural and assume no game (0-13 points)
  4. When we have shown 5-4, the next suit is a shortage in a natural sequence.
  5. After a 5-7(8) double, a NT bid and a jump are the only forcing calls. Note that NT does not necessarily mean a balanced hand; it simply introduces a force, usually when there is no undefined suit, and it is forcing at least to 2NT, i.e. it demands a mandatory invitation, and any acceptance is forcing. The continuations are analogous to those after a 1NT opening.
  6. 1♣︎(4♥︎+)X0-7 or 10- with points in the overcalled suit, and Pass is GF
  7. We do not play 4th suit forcing after a 1♣︎ opening.
  • 4♣︎ is “bid 4♦︎, and I will tell you which game we play”
    • 4♦︎/♥︎/♠︎/5♣︎ is OPTIONAL Blackwood for ♥︎/♠︎/♣︎/♦︎. We respond to it in steps.
    • the 1st step is always MIN, and the following ones are as in normal Blackwood
    • After the “MIN” response, the next step that is not the trump suit is RKCB and we respond in the well-known way.
NB. The Blackwood is optional regardless of whether we have already shown minimum/maximum.

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