1NT - 1st & 2nd & 3rd (NV) Seat - 11-13 HCP - 3rd (Vul) & 4th Seat - 15-17 HCP

Five card majors are possible in all scenarios. 

11-13 HCP RANGE (Invitational 12-13 HCP) - 1st/2nd Seat or 3rd Seat Non-Vul

 

A reminder that you likely do not have the best hand to play so transfers and stayman don't make sense

When opening a 5 card major with this range it should be a rag suit if it is a good suit open the major instead

 

  • 2♣ is a Modified Puppet Stayman promising invitational values (12-13/14-), but denying game forcing values.
  • 2♦/♥/♠/3♣ shows a five card or longer suit (3♣  shows 6) and 0-11 HCP.
    • if this is not passed can guarantee a 4-4-1-4 distribution with the 1 being in bid suit that is an honor
  • 2NT is game forcing showing a balanced or semi-balanced hand, interest in a major suit game and 14+ HCP (similar to 2♦ Game Forcing Stayman).
  • 3♦ shows interest in a club or diamond slam should be very long in one suit or 5-5
    • 3♥ interest in club only no help in diamonds (doubleton)
    • 3♠  interest in diamond only no help in clubs (doubleton maybe singleton with an honor)
    • 3NT - min values

      All 4 level leaves a response allow Kickback RKC with the lower bid being clubs and higher diamonds

    • 4♣ - 4/3 in clubs with w/ interest in slam
      • Should start at hearts for club kickback, diamonds bid is just setting the contract
    • 4♦ - 4/3 in diamonds w/ interest in slam
      • Hearts is clubs again and spades is diamonds kickback
    • 4♥ - 3/3 w/ interest in slam
    • 4NT quantitative raise
  • 3♥/♠ shows 5+ of that suit and an unbalanced hand. Game Forcing.
  • 3NT, 4♥, 4♠, 6H, 6S, 6NT, 7NT are to play.
  • 4♣ is Standard Gerber.
  • 4NT invites 6NT.
  • 5NT invites 7NT.

 

Even though this works against being doubled for consistency we will use DONT when doubled for penalty

 

 

15-17 HCP RANGE (Invitational 8-9 HCP) - 3rd Seat Vul or 4th Seat

*Note for this range a couple bids change 1c-1x-1NT is 18-19

2♣ - Stayman may not have a 4 card major

  • Garbage Stayman is possible
  • Crawling Stayman is possible
  • With Major response from Opening a Jump shift to other major is Slam interest in original Major
  • Response of 2♦ or 2♠ followed by 2NT is ALERT may not have a 4 card major
    • If 2♥ is bid and 4 card major is ♠ then responder should bid it
  • 3 Lvl major after 2 Diamonds response is Smolen

 

 

2♦ - Transfer to ♥

  • Bid of another suit shows super accept and A of bid suit
  • 4♣ 1430
  • After transfer if 2♠ is bid it is 5-5 invitational
  • Following a minor is GF showing unbalanced hand with possible slam interest - respond 3lvl majors to show slam interest in major (bid) or minor (unbid major)

 

2♥ - Transfer to ♠

  • Bid of another suit shows super accept and A of bid suit
  • 4♣ 1430
  • After transfer if other major at 3♥ it is 5-5 game force
  • Following a minor is GF showing unbalanced hand with possible slam interest - respond 3lvl majors to show slam interest in major (bid) or minor (unbid major)

 

2♠ - Transfer to ♣

  • Break transfer promises 3 card support at 1 or the top 3 honors
  • Following with a major after is slam interest in minor likely first or second round control

ALERT

 

2NT - Transfer to ♦

  • Break transfer promises 3 card support at 1 or the top 3 honors
  • Following with a major after is slam interest in minor likely first or second round control

ALERT

 

3♣ - Puppet Stayman

 

3♦ - shows interest in a club or diamond slam should be very long in one suit or 5-5

  • 3♥ interest in club only no help in diamonds (at best doubleton)
  • 3♠  interest in diamond only no help in clubs (at best doubleton)
  • 3NT - min values

    All 4 level leaves a response allow Kickback RKC with the lower bid being clubs and higher diamonds

  • 4♣ - 4/3 in clubs with w/ interest in slam
    • Should start at hearts for kickback, diamond bid is just setting the contract
  • 4♦ - 4/3 in diamonds w/ interest in slam
  • 4♥ - 3/3 w/ interest in slam
  • 4NT quantitative raise

 

3♥ - Suit setting slam try

  • 3NT response indicates only 2 of the suit
  • Any other suit is a cue bid

 

 

3♠ - Suit setting slam try

  • 3NT response indicates only 2 of the suit
  • Any other suit is a cue bid

 

 

3NT - Game likely no 3 or 4 card major

 

4♣ - Gerber

 

4♦ - Transfer to ♥ promising 6 and no interest in slam

 

4♥ - Transfer to ♠ promising 6 and no interest in slam

 

4NT - Quantitative Raise

 

5NT - Grand Slam Invite