11-14 NT

1NT is 11-14 balanced in 1st, 2nd and 3rd seat. Upgrade to 12-14 in 4th seat.

Forcing and non-forcing Stayman over weak NT

2 is non-forcing stayman and is used to show any invitational hand including a 5 card Major. Auction such as 1Nt-2-2-2 shows 5 card Major, invitational. 2NT re-bid is invitational but may be without a 4 card Major.

2 is GF stayman and shows a hand that is not a single suited hand. It also does not contain two Primary (5+ card) suits.

Responses over 2:

Bid 4 card Major or 5 card minor in that order.
Bid 2 before 2 then 3 if you get a chance. The 2 bid denies .
If you bid 2 Nt, which denies a 4 card major or a 5 card minor
- 3 is Baron (shape asking). Responses:
  - 3 = 3343
  - 3 = 234
  - 3 = 3244
  - 3Nt = 3334

In all auctions that subsequently show a 5+ card Major by the 2 bidder, the responder is slammish, has a second 4 card suit, and is requesting cue bids (Aces before Kings), if you have 3-card support.

Other Systems over 1NT. (11-14)

Bids of 2 and 2 are to play (<= 9 points).
Bids of 2 Nt through 3 are transfers. Transfer to minors may be either to play or slam tries. Transfers to Majors are GF, but not necessarily slammish; bid 3 Nt without a fit. Super accept over the Major suit transfers with at least 4 controls (A=2, K=1) and a fit by making the cheapest cue bid (Aces first). With less than 4 controls but with a 4 card support, bid 4 of the transfer suit.
3 is very specifically 5+ and 4, GF. Discussed below.
All 4 level bids are slammish. Discussed below.

Run outs over 1NT- X (Must run with < 9 pts)– Swine run outs.

An immediate bid shows touching suits.
Redouble shows single suit.
Pass forces a redouble to show non-touching suits. After the forced redouble, 2 shows that suit and either Major. 2 shows and .

Run outs over 1NT - P - P - X(Opener must immediately run to his 5 card suit if he has it.)

Responder may:

Pass with balance of power (>9 pts.)
Redouble to show single suited minor hand.
Bid a suit which is DONT run outs for the 2 suited hands.

Invitational 5/5 in the Majors

are handled by going through 2 (non-forcing stayman), and subsequent bid of 3.

Example:

1Nt 2 2 3Shows 5/5 in the Majors, invitational.

3 No preference; you pick. 2/2 in the Majors.
3/Play here.
4/Play here.
3NT Both Majors, pick a game.

Game Forcing 3 bid.

As mentioned earlier this bid shows very specifically 5+ and 4.

1Nt 3

3Nt To play. 3 or less cover cards. Cover cards are A, K, Q of either minor and the Ace of either Major. Exception is King of a Major, when accompanied by Ace of both Majors, is also a cover card.
4 / 4 Cover Cards, for the bid suit. Subsequent 4 of a Major by responder asks about the K of the bid suit; bid 4Nt to show the K or bid 5 of the minor to deny. 4Nt by responder is Key card. 5 of the minor by responder is to play.
45+ Cover Cards, Key card for.
45+ Cover Cards, Key card for.

Game Forcing 5/5 with any 2 suits

are handled by transferring to the cheaper suit and then bidding the higher suit.

Example:

1Nt 2Nt Transfer to 3 then 3 5/5 GF with and

3NtTo play.
3/4Cue bid for the 2nd suit ( in this example). Guarantees 4+ cover cards.
4 Confirms , and is Key card for . Subsequent 4 Nt is to play. The bid 4 of guarantees 4+ cover cards.
4 To play. 3 or less cover cards. 1 step - over bid of 4 (4NT over ) by the responder is Key card asking.
4 (or 4Nt over )Kick-back Key card for (or respectively). Guarantees 5+ cover cards.

Subsequent bidding after a transfer to a minor

3 level transfers to a minor are done with:

1.A hand that is weak with a 6+ card suit.
2.A single suited hand that is slammish without a 6 card minor.
Subsequent bid of 3NT is quantitative with 5 cards in the minor shown. Opener may accept if he has at least 4 controls by bidding 4 of the minor, which shall be key card asking in that suit.
3.A single suited hand that is slammish with a 6+ card minor.

Subsequent bid of 4 of the minor is quantitative. Opener bids 4 NT (or 5 of the minor with 3 card support) to play, unless he has at least 4 controls in which case he shows key cards. Note that 4 NT will not be a key card step.

Subsequent jump bid in a different suit is exclusion key card.

4 level Bids

4 level suit bids are all Key card asking for the bid suit. Since we have an extra step available, 4 NT will show 0 without the Q of the asking suit. A direct 4Nt bid over 1Nt is quantitative without any 5+ card suit.

Minor Suit Openings

1 /1 followed by 1 NT rebid= 15 - 17 balanced hand

All minor suits openings are “sound” openers. 4 card Major openings or the occasional 1 Nt with a stiff are preferable over a bad 12 count minor suit openings. You can always pass a bad 12 if 1NT is not practical.

All invitational sequences are 8 - 10 points.

Inverted minor sequences are:

1m 2m Game Forcing. We do not need an invitational sequence (especially at IMPs) since a minor suit opener is almost always a strong notrump strength, either in HCPs or in playing strength. Bid of 2m does not deny a 4 card Major.
1m 3m Pre-emptive (3 - 5 points).

Stretch to bid over minor suit openers. A 5 count is an easy bid. An Ace must bid. Some times a 3 card Major is a good response. So is a suitable 5 card weak jump shift in a Major.

Modified Kokish Rebids after 1 - 2

1 2 The 2 response shows 10+ points, natural, and is not GF. The opener cannot try to find a Major suit fit, unless he has an off shape, minimum opener. Where as the responder does not deny a 4 card Major and may subsequently try to find a Major suit fit without showing extras.

25+, forcing at least 1 round.
2/2 Opener confirms an off shape, minimum opener. Can be passed.
2Nt Confirms 15 - 17 flat hand, 4. GF established.
3 Good raise for . Opener may still have a 4 card Major. GF.
3 A hand that would have rebid 3 in any case. GF.
3/6/5 hand with and the bid Major.
3Nt 18 - 19 points, balanced hand that would have bid 2Nt.
4KCB for . Subsequent 4Nt by the opener is to play.
4KCB for with a very good suit. 4Nt bid by the responder is not a step and is a quantitative denial showing no interest. Subsequent 4Nt by the opener is to play.