Opening Developments

1♣ Intermediate Opening

(NV) 12-16 unbal or 14-16 bal. 0+♣. Non-forcing
(Vul) 12-16 unbal or 12-13 bal. 0+♣. Non-forcing

1♣ (Non-Vul)

1♦
0-7(8) or 12+, too weak or too strong for CS
- CS
  Mode 2. 12-16 unbal or 14-16 bal
- No other systematic rebids
CS
Mode 1. 8-11 unbal or 9-11 bal
2M
6-7 6+M. NF. New suit F1. 2N Inv

1♣ (Vul)

1♦
0-7 any, 10-11 bal, or 12+ GF,
- CS
  Mode 2. 12-16 unbal or 12-13 bal
- No other systematic rebids
CS
Mode 1. 8-11 unbal or 8-9 bal
2M
6-7 6+M. NF. New suit F1. 2N Inv

Interference

1♣ (Dbl=Any meaning)

P
0-8. Not interested in fighting for a partscore
Rdbl
12+ Opponents cannot play undoubled at any level
- Suit bids are Nat and GF
- Dbl by opener is T/O in shown suits
- Dbl by responder is PEN in shown suits
- NT by either side is NAT
1♦
5-8. Interested in fighting for a partscore. System on with Modified Drury and 2m passed responses
1♥+
System on. 1N = 9-11

1♣ (Overcall at Any Level)

Treat opponent’s overcall as an opening bid and apply our defense accordingly, except the following
(1)
Borrow 6 HCP from partner
(2)
Michael cuebids are off (unusual 2N on)
(3)
Dbl tends not to be GF when cue-bid is available
(4)
Cue bids are GF. No Good suits to bid
(5)
1N does not promise a stopper. 2N promise at least half-stopped
(6)
Jump in a suit when partner has shown strength is GF with good suit
(7)
T/O doubles by a capped player may be off-shape, followed by equal-level conversion
(8)
Jumps by a capped player shows a good suit, but not forcing

1♣ - 1♦ (Dbl=Any meaning)

P
Bal (NV=14-16; Vul=12-13). System off
- Rdbl
  Strong case.
- Bid
  Weak case
Rdbl
Art. 5=m 4+om. Poor 5-card suit
1N
14-16. Bal / semi-bal. Stopped. System on
CS
System on. 2m promise decent m / 6+m

1♣ (P) 1♦ (Overcall at any level)

Treat opponent’s overcall as an opening bid and apply our defense accordingly (no HCP borrowing). The following are used to distinguish weak and strong responders.

Opener’s action	Weak responder’s action	Strong responder’s action
Pass	Suit bids / Dbl (must pass next NF bid)	Dbl, then force if below game
Dbl	1N (6-8) / suit / jump in suit / 2N as Lebensohl	Cue / Jump to game
Bid a suit	Pass, or thru 2N: compete or invite / Dbl for T/O (must pass next NF bid)	Bid a game / keep forcing until above 2N

Opening Opposite Passed Hand

Opener shows 17-19. Responder is limited to 0-7 unbal or 0-10 Bal. Responder borrows 3 HCPs from 1♣ opener and continues as if direct opening.

1♦ Strong Opening

17+ forcing.

1♦

1♥
0-7 Catch all. See continuation
Others 8+ GF Relay
1♠
Either 4+♥ unbal or 8-11 (4333) / (4432) / 5m(332)
1N
12-14 Bal (including 5332)
2♣
4+♠ unbal (no 4+♥)
2♦
5+♣ unbal or 3-suiters short major
2♥
5+♦ unbal
2♠
8-11 5♥(332)
2N/3m
8-11 5♠(332). Zoom to doubleton

1♦ - 1♥

1♠
Art. 22+ Any, or 17-21 5+4+ majors
- 1N
  5-7 positive
  - 2♣
    17+ 5+4+ majors. Forcing to 2N. 2♦ asks 5M
  - 2X
    22+ 5+X GF
  - 2N
    22+ Bal GF. 2N development
  - 3♣
    22+ 6+♣ GF
  - 3X
    22+ 5+♣ 4+X GF
- 2♣
  0-4 ♣ or Bal.
  - 2♦
    Ask 3+ majors. Could be min with 5+4+ majors
  - Others
    Nat F1
- 2X
  0-4 (4)5+X. New suit F1
1N
17-19 Bal. 1N development
2X
17-21. Unbal 5+X NF (not 5+4+ majors)
2N
20-22 Bal. 2N development
3X
Nat. Good suit. GF

Interference

1♦ (Dbl or Bid)

P
NF. 0-5(7), or 6+HCP with opponent’s shown suit
Dbl
6+HCP. “Our board”. No biddable 5-card suit or 8+ bal
Rdbl
8+HCP. “We have game value”. Focus on penalties. Probably with a balanced hand.
NS
6+HCP. 5+card suit. F1
JS
Competitive. NF
Lowest NT
GF. Balanced hand. Good stopper in any shown suit
2-level Cue
GF. Ask stopper if opp shown one suit; shows stopper if shown multiple suits
3+level Cue
GF. Three suiter and short in the shown suit.

Continuation after 1♦ (Dbl or Bid) Action

NS: Forcing if below game.
JS: Good suit and forcing if below game
Raises
- (by Opener) GF. Jump in opp’s suit / 4-level shows shortness.
- (by Responder) simple raise is NF (if not already GF).
Cue
- (by Opener) GF. Asks stopper.
- (by Responder) F1. Catchall
Simple NT: Nat. NF. System on
Jump NT: GF. System on

Fourth Hand Bids after we confirm this is our board

(After they raised)
- P: Tends to be bal. Forcing
- Dbl: T/O. Neutral if balancing position
- Suit: Shapeful GF; 4+ cards in balancing position
- NT: Good stop. NF
(After they bid a new suit)
- P: Forcing. Could be short
- Dbl: Penalty. Neutral if balancing position
- Suit: Shapeful GF. 4+ cards in balancing position
- NT: Good stop. NF

Continuation after Responder Denied Strength

Applies in the following sequences
- 1♦ (Dbl/Bid) P (Bid/Pass)
- 1♦ (P) 1♥ (Dbl/Bid)
Follow above methods with additional below:
- 1♦ (P) 1♥ (Dbl), opener’s Rdbl has “opposite meaning” as opp’s Dbl.
- 1♦ (Dbl) P (P). Rdbl is takeout in ♦, or very strong
- Opener’s jump to 2N in the balancing position shows a strong 2-suiter

Opening Opposite Passed Hand

Opener shows 20+. Responder is limited to 0-7 unbal or 0-10 Bal. Responder borrows 3 points from 1♦ opener and continues as if direct opening.

Cornerstone Openings

1♥
8-11 4+♥. Not 4333 / 4432. May have a longer minor
1♠
8-11 4+♠. Not 4333 / 4432. May have a longer minor
1N
(NV) 10-13. May have 5M / 6m
(Vul) 14-16. May have 5M / 6m
2♣
8-11 6+♣ or 5=♣ 4+♦. No 4-card major
2♦
8-11 6+♦ or 5=♦ 4+♣. No 4-card major

Continuation please refer to Cornerstone section. Mode 0.

2M Intermediate Opening

12-14. 5+M, no 4+oM. Unbal (at least some singleton or 6+M).

2♥ = 12-14 5+♥ unbal no 4♠

2♠
Nat. Constructive NF.
- 2N/3♥/♠
  NF
- others
  GF
2N
Art GF. Continuation
3♣
Art. Misfit inv. Continuation
3♦
3+♥ Inv
3♥
Blocking
3♠
Nat GF+
4m
Splinter
3N/4M
To play

2♠ = 12-14 5+♠ unbal no 4♥

2N
Art GF. Continuation
3♣
Art. Misfit inv. Continuation
3♦
Art. 5+♥ GF or 6+♥ Inv+
- 3♥
  0-1♥ NF
- 3♠
  6+♠ NF
- 3N
  Accept. Some ♥ Tolerance
- 4M
  To play
3♥
3+♠ Inv
3♠
Blocking
4m
Splinter
3N/4M
To play

2M - 2N

3♣
6+M 2+oM. 3♦ ask
- 3♥
  Short ♦. 3♠ ask
  - 3N
    6331
  - 4♣
    6421
  - 4♦
    7(32)1
- 3♠
  6(322) / 7222. End of shape ask. Treat as “6333”
- 3N+
  Short ♣. Bid like 2M-2N-3♦-3♥
3♦
5431 3=oM. 3♥ ask m
- 3♠
  4=♣
- 3N
  4=♦
3♥
Short oM. ♣ more than ♦. 3♠ ask
- 3N
  5431
- 4♣
  6421
- 4♦
  7321
3♠
6331 short oM
3N+
Short oM. ♦ more than ♣. Bid like 2M-2N-3♥-3♠

2M - 3♣

P
4+♣ To play
3♦
4+♦ NF
3oM
Art. Accept. Do not want to declare
3M
6+M NF
3N/4M
To play

2N Both Minors Opening

12-14 HCP. 5+5+ minors.

2N = Minors

3m
To play
3M
GF. Either asks for stopper, or natural 5+M slam try
- 3N
  Stopper. Then pulling means 5+M slam try
- 4♣
  No stopper, 2+M. Then 4♦ is fitting M and optional RKCB
- 4♦
  No stopper. Singleton in M
- oM
  Short in both majors
- 4M
  Void in M
Games
To play
4m
Optional RKCB
4N
Quantitative

Preempts

New suit is F1 if below game.

4♣ over 3♦/♥/♠, 4♦ over 3♣, and 4N over 4M asks Keycards.

3N Solid Major Opening

7+ card suit major headed with AKQ. 8.5 to 9.5 tricks. No side Ace.

4♣
ST. Should be able to distinguish the major. Ask side King
- 4M
  No side King
- 4♦/oM
  Side King in the bid suit
- 4N
  Two side Kings
- 5♣
  ♣ King
4♦
Asks opener to sign-off. Do not compete to 5M
4M
P/C. Opener may compete to 5M