1♦ Strong Opening

17+ forcing.

1♦

• 1♥
  0-7 Catch all. See continuation
• Others 8+ GF Relay
• 1♠
  Either 4+♥ unbal (♥ >= ♠) or 8-11 bal (including 5332)
• 1N
  Either 12-14 Bal (including 5332), or
• 2♣
  4+♠ unbal (no 4+♥)
• 2♦
  5+♣ unbal or 3-suiters short major
• 2♥
  5+♦ unbal
• 2♠
  Some solid 6+ card suit.
• 2N
  Three suiter short minor
• 3/4/5X
  Long suit. Not solid. Nothing outside

Note

Continuation for 1♠+ positive bids see Relay section.

1♦ - 1♥

• 1♠
  Art. 22+ unbal, or 20-21 / 25+ Bal, or 17-21 5+4+ majors

  • 1N
    Art. 0-4 with 5+ suit

    • 2♣
      P/C. 20-21 bal
    • 2♦
      17-21 5+4+ Majors

      • P
        Long ♦. To play
      • 2M
        Preference
      • 2N
        Minors
      • 3♣
        Nat NF
      • 3♦
        Art. 3+3+ majors not trash
      • 3M
        blocking
    • 2♥+
      Nat F1. 2N = 25+ bal
    • 3M/N
      5-5 minors. Short M / no small singleton
  • 2♣
    Art. 0-4 Bal / 4441

    • 2♦
      Ask better major. Either min with 5+4+ majors or 20-21 bal
    • 2♥+
      Nat F1. 2N = 25+ bal
  • 2♦
    Art. 5-7 Bal / 4441. 2M F1. 2N system on
  • 2M/3m
    Nat 5-7
  • 2N
    5-7 5-5 minors
• 1N
  17-19 Bal. 1N development
• 2X
  17-21. Unbal 5+X NF
• 2N
  22-24 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.