Untitled Document

OPENER'S BIDS and REBIDS
An opening bid of a suit at the 1 level represents a point count of anything from 12 to 19 points. The second
bid fixes the range within a narrow limit. The bids on this page and pages 2 and 3 are not applicable if either
Opener or responder agrees the first suit bid by his partner. If either player agrees his partner's first suit, then
please see the appropriate section on page 4 or 5. Responder's bids are shown in brackets.

The hand The bid Examples
(i) 2 touching suits with both suits Bid down the suits. 1H ( 2C ) 2D
the same length or the higher With 4 4 4 1 bid the hearts first. 1S ( 2C ) 2H
ranking suit containing more With 1 4 4 4 bid the diamonds first.
cards than the other suit.
( eg 5 4 2 2, 2 5 5 1 )

(ii) Exactly 4 spades and at 1 club followed by minimum spades. 1C ( 1H ) 1S
least 4 clubs. ( eg 4 2 2 5,
4 1 2 6, 4 1 4 4, 4 4 1 4 )
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(iii) 6 or more cards in a major in Bid the major twice and bid it at the 1H ( 2C ) 3H
a hand with 6 or fewer losers. 3 level with a jump the second time. 1S ( 2D ) 3S
( eg 6 4 2 1 ). If unfamiliar with
the losing trick count, use (iv).

(iv) At least 5 cards in a suit when Bid the suit and bid it again at the 2 1H ( 2C ) 2H
none of the above apply. level. With two 5 card non-touching 1D ( 1H ) 2D
( eg 5 3 4 1, 2 3 2 6, 4 5 2 2, suits, bid the major suit twice.
2 4 5 2, 5 2 5 1 ).

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2. Opener has 15 or 16 high card points and at least one long suit. With no long suit, please see the
appropriate section on page 4.

The hand The bid Examples
( i ) 4 or 5 spades and 3 or 1 club followed by a jump bid in 1C ( 1D ) 2S
more clubs ( eg 5 3 2 3, spades at the 2 level. The club
4 2 2 5 ). bid should be alerted.

( ii ) 4 or 5 cards in a major and Bid the minor first and then the major 1C ( 1D ) 1H
3 or more cards in a minor. at the minimum level. The first bid 1D ( 1H ) 1S
Not clubs and spades. should be alerted. 1D ( 1S ) 2H
( eg 5 3 3 2, 3 5 3 2, 2 5 2 4,
2 4 2 5 )

(iii) Two biddable majors with 1 heart followed by spades at the 1H ( 2C ) 2S
5 cards in one or both majors. minimum level. Sometimes the heart 1H ( 2D ) 2S
( eg 4 5 2 2, 5 4 3 1, 5 5 1 2 ) suit will be the shorter of the two suits.
Responder should alert these bids.

(iv) 6 cards in a major. Bid the major and bid it again with 1S ( 2C ) 3S
( eg 6 3 2 2, 6 4 2 1, 4 6 2 2 ) a jump. With 7 cards, 16 points and 1H ( 1S ) 3H
5 or fewer losers, Opener's second
bid is game in the major.

(v) Two biddable minors with 5 1 club followed by diamonds at the 1C ( 1H ) 2D
cards in one or both minors. minimum level. Sometimes the shorter 1C ( 1S ) 2D
( eg 2 2 5 4, 3 1 4 5, 1 2 5 5 ) suit will be clubs. Responder should
alert these bids.

(vi) 5 or more cards in a minor Opener bids the minor first and then 1C ( 1H ) 1NT
and fewer than 4 cards in any bids no-trumps at the minimum level. 1D ( 2C ) 2NT
other suit. (eg 2 3 3 5, With 6 cards in the minor and a 1D ( 1H ) 3D
2 2 6 3, 4 2 5 2 ) singleton suit bypassed by responder,
Opener makes a jump bid in the minor
to the 3 level.

With the right bid from responder, Opener's second bid will sometimes be a minimum no-trumps
( showing 15 or 16 points ) in preference to some of the above second bids. It is only in this range
( 15 or 16 points ) that Opener sometimes bids the shorter of two suits first.

The hand The bid Examples
(i) 4 spades and 5 or 6 clubs. 1 club followed by a double 1C ( 1D ) 3S
(eg 4 2 2 5, 4 2 1 6 ) jump in spades to the 3 level. 1C ( 1H ) 3S

(ii) 5 spades and 3 or more clubs 1 spade followed by a club at 1S ( 2D ) 3C
but fewer than 4 hearts. the minimum level. 1S ( 2H ) 3C
(eg 5 3 2 3, 5 2 1 5 )

(iii) 4 cards in a major and 5 or 6 Bid the minor first and then the 1C ( 1D ) 2H
in a minor. Not clubs and major with a jump. 1D ( 1H ) 2S
spades. (eg 4 2 5 2, 2 4 1 6 ) 1D ( 1S ) 3H

(iv) 5 cards in a major and fewer Bid down non-touching suits without 1S ( 2C ) 2D
than 4 cards in the other major. a jump. Opener's second bid must be 1S ( 2H ) 3D
(eg 5 3 2 3, 3 5 4 1, 5 2 1 5) alerted. The second suit may contain 1S ( 2D ) 3D
fewer than 4 cards. 1H ( 1S ) 2C

(v) 6 cards in a major or 8 Opener makes a jump bid in the suit 2S ( pass )
playing tricks. With 8 at the 2 level. Responder, with 2 cards in 2S ( 4S ) pass
playing tricks Opener may the suit, bids to tell Opener how many 2H( 3H ) 4H
have less than 17 points. extra tricks he expects to make. With 2H ( 3H ) pass
(eg 6 2 3 2, 2 6 3 2, 2 2 7 2) less than 2 cards in the suit but with a
strong hand, responder bids no-trumps or
a new suit. If weak, he passes.

(vi) 7 or more cards in a major 1 of the suit followed by game in the 1S ( 2H ) 4S
( eg 7 1 1 4 ) major.

(vii) 2 biddable majors with at Bid one of the majors and then the 1S ( 2D ) 3H
least 5 cards in one of the second major with a jump. Bid the 1H ( 2C ) 3S
suits. ( eg 6 4 2 1, 5 4 3 1, longer suit first if there is one.
5 5 1 2)

(viii) 5 or more cards in a minor Opener bids the minor first followed 1C ( 1D ) 4C
and fewer than 4 cards in by no-trumps at the appropriate level. 1C ( 1S ) 5C
any other suit (eg 3 2 2 6, However, with 6 cards in the minor and 1D ( 2C ) 3NT
3 3 5 2) a singleton bypassed by responder, Opener
goes to 4 of the minor unless the singleton
is an ace. With 7 cards in the minor he bids
game in the minor if responder bypasses a
non-ace singleton.

2 biddable minor suits with Bid one of the minors. Choose the longer 1C ( 1S ) 3D
at least 5 cards in one of the suit if there is one. If responder's reply is 1D ( 1S ) 3C
suits and fewer than 4 cards helpful, Opener makes the appropriate bid 1C ( 1S ) 2NT
in a major. (eg 1 2 5 5, in no-trumps. Otherwise, he bids the second
2 2 5 4) minor with a jump.

With the right bid from responder, Opener's second bid will sometimes be the appropriate strong
bid in no-trumps in preference to some of the above second bids. With 18 or 19 points Opener is able
to bid a second time after a response of 1NT showing 6 or 7 points. With no long suit, please see the
appropriate section on page 4.

15 to 19 POINTS AND NO LONG SUIT
With 15 to 19 points and three 4 card suits, Opener's first bid is 1C except when holding 4 4 4 1 in which case
he opens 1D. Importantly, Opener waits to hear his partner's bid before deciding on his own second bid. eg.
with 4 4 1 4, 15 points and 6 losers, the bidding would vary as follows: 1C ( 1D ) 1NT, or 1C ( 1H ) 3H,
or 1C ( 1S ) 3S, or 1C ( 1NT ) pass or, 1C ( 2C ) pass.

If Opener has 15 to 19 points and two 4 card suits, he bids the lower ranking 4 card suit first. If responder bids
Opener's 2 card suit, Opener bids no-trumps at the appropriate level. If responder's bid shows a fit in a major,
Opener continues in that suit. If responder bids Opener's 3 card suit, Opener bids his second 4 card suit at the
appropriate level to show his point count. If responder's bid shows a fit in a minor, Opener must choose between
supporting the minor or bidding no trumps at the appropriate level.

With one 4 card suit, Opener's second bid is no-trumps at the appropriate level.