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Opening bids in my preferred system fall into several categories: normal, strong and
pre-emptive. Normal bids are made with a minimum of
13 HCP or 14 DP (maybe a bit weaker in 3rd / 4th position). Strong
bids are made where a game contract is very likely and slam a distinct
possibility. Pre-emptive bids are made with a
long suit and few points where they are "strategically" advisable (i.e.
vulnerability and position in the bidding sequence must be taken into consideration).
| Your bid |
Requirements |
Comments |
| 1§ |
Promises at least 3 clubs. Responses Rebids |
Balanced hands that do not qualify for a NT or strong opening should
be opened 1§ unless they have only 2 clubs. A semibalanced hand with 5 clubs
should be opened 1§ or 1/2NT (as appropriate) |
| 1¨ |
Promises at least 3 diamonds. Responses
Rebids |
Balanced hands that do not qualify for a NT or strong opening are
opened 1¨ only if they have 2 clubs. A semibalanced hand with 5 diamonds should
be opened 1¨ or 1/2NT (as appropriate) |
| 1©/1ª |
Promises at least 5 cards in the bid suit. |
With two major suits, open in the longer suit. With two equal major
suits, open 1ª with up to 16 DP, and 1© with 17+ DP. |
| 1NT |
16-18 HCP, with a balanced or semibalanced (5-card minor)
distribution. Every suit must have some strength (K-x or Q-x-x). |
If the suit strength requirement is not satisfied, open 1§ or 1¨, as
appropriate. |
| 2NT |
21-22 HCP, with a balanced or semibalanced (5-card minor)
distribution. Every suit must have some strength (K-x or Q-x-x). |
If the suit strength requirement is not satisfied, open 1§ or
1¨, as appropriate (or 2§ with a good 5-card minor) |
What if there is a choice of possible opening bids? A simple principle applies:
bid the major even if the minor is longer (e.g. with 6-5-1-1 distribution, with 6 clubs
and 5 hearts, open 1©). With two 4-card (or longer) minors in an unbalanced hand (i.e.
4-4-4-1, 5-4-2-2 etc.) open the longer suit, and if of equal length, open 1¨ with up
to 16 DP, and 1§ with 17+ DP.
| Your bid |
Requirements |
Comments |
| 2§ |
Strong forcing opening, normally promising 20-23 DP with a
long suit or 23-26 HP with a balanced hand. |
The point requirements can be stretched judiciously with a strong
suit. |
| 2¨ |
Strong forcing opening, normally promising 24+ DP. A game
contract is almost certain. |
Distribution could be almost anything, except that balanced hands are
not opened with 2¨ unless having 27+ HP (which is extremely rare!). |
| Your bid |
Requirements |
Comments |
| 2©/2ª |
Promises at least 6 cards in the suit and 6-12 HP. In first or second
position, the suit should have at least two honours (Q-J-x-x-x-x) and an outside A or K.
In third and fourth position, these requirements can be lowered a bit. There should not be
a second 4-card major suit. |
This is a strategic bid ("weak two") that is over-used by many players. Hands that
would marginally qualify for a 1©/1ª opening should be opened as such, especially in
1st/2nd position. |
| 3§/3¨ |
(i) Promises at least 7 cards in the suit and fewer than opening
points. If opponents' double is optional or for penalty, contract should not go down more
than 2 (vulnerable) or 3 (non-vulnerable).
(ii) As weak twos are not possible
for the minors, these bids can be made sometimes on a nice 6-card suit and not much else. |
Because a major-suit overcall is not that difficult, these
pre-emptive bids should not be used with a weak suit, so that partner can proceed to 3NT
or a raise to 4/5 of your suit with confidence. |
| 3©/3ª |
Promises at least 7 cards in the suit and fewer than opening points.
If opponents' double is optional or for penalty, contract should not go down more than 2
(vulnerable) or 3 (non-vulnerable). |
The suit strength requirement is less important than for minors.
After all, how can a 3ª bid be disastrous with a 7-card spade suit? |
| 3NT |
Promises a long (6+) very strong minor suit (K-Q-J or better) and 2
outside stoppers (A or protected K). No 4-card or longer major. |
This is the famous "gambling no-trump" opening, much used
in the ACOL system. |
| 4/5 of a suit |
8-card suit or longer. |
This is an entirely strategic bid, which should not be made if a slam
is at all likely. Bid 2¨ to see which Aces partner has! |
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