----------- About the Spectrum Series ---------- If you are new to the Spectrum Series and would like to understand its format, please read the E-W "Convention Card" by hitting "PLAYING"..."CONVENTION CARD"..."EAST-WEST". If you would like to receive all 5 lessons in this Spectrum series please email Colin "KALTICA" Ward at: cpw@escape.ca ...OR go to our tutors" web page at: http://www.escape.ca/~cpw/tutors.htm ---------------------------------------------------------- Spectrum Series: Lesson #5 THE TWO-OVER-ONE SPECTRUM SYSTEM SUMMARY These system notes presume a good working knowledge of Standard American bidding methods. This system summary details all pertinent aspects of the Spectrum 2/1-GF system and is presented as a good lengua franca for casual partnerships. For a standard to be accepted one of four approaches are generally adopted: a) Consensus - Polls are conducted with aspects of the final system voted on by responding experts. An example of this is Bridge World Standard. b) Official - An organization or authority sets a standard in a "top down" approach. The ACBL's Standard American Yellow Cards is an example. c) Proprietary - The particular agreements of one individual, pair or small group are promulgated without regard for current praxis. Alan Sonntag's brilliant "Power Precision" is an example of this. d) Prosaic - An authority attempts to guess at what a majority of experienced players would accept as a standard. SARC is an illustration of this tack. 2/1-GF-Spectrum is intended as a prosaic standard in its effort to be intuitive, familiar and simple. If two players were to agree to "2/1-GF with strong reverses, strong free bids, strong jumps except for intermediate 3C and 3D replies to a major, and Jacoby 2S" they would, in essence, be playing 2/1-GF-Spectrum. What follows is a detailed description of this approach. CONTENTS CHAPTER 1.................The No Trump Structure CHAPTER 2.................2C Opening Bids CHAPTER 3.................Major Suit Openings CHAPTER 4.................Minor Suit Openings CHAPTER 5.................Dealing with Interference CHAPTER 6.................Other Doubles CHAPTER 7.................Passed Hand Bidding CHAPTER 8.................Defensive Bidding CHAPTER 9.................Pre-empts CHAPTER 10................Lebensohl CHAPTER 11................Slam Bidding CHAPTER 12................Defensive Carding THE NO TRUMP STRUCTURE Flat hands either open in No Trump or rebid it if, in doing so, they do not bypass a 4-card major. The exception is the 5-3-3-2 hand that includes a 5-card major. These are opened in the long suit unless they amount to 17 points (or 16 with Kx or AQ in the doubleton suit), in which case 1NT is preferred. The ranges for No Trump bids are similar to those of SAYC except for the addition of the Gambling 3NT: 1m:any:1NT = 13-14 points. 1H:1S:1NT = 13-16 points. 1NT = 15-17 points. 1any:1any:2NT = 18-19 points. 2NT = 20-21 points. 2C:2D:2NT = 22-24 points. 2C:2D:3NT = 25-27 points. 2C:2D:4NT = 28-30 points. 3NT = Gambling; solid minor, little outside. Responses to 1NT: 5NT = Quantitative, 20-21 points, invites 7NT, forces 6NT. 4NT = Quantitative, 16-17 points, invites 6NT. 4H = Texas Transfer to Spades with 6+ Spades. 4D = Texas Transfer to Hearts with 6+ Hearts. 4C = Gerber. 5C next will ask for Kings. 3NT = 11-15 points, to play. 3H/3S = 16+ points, 6+card suit, natural, inviting slam. 3C/3D = 9-10 points, 6+card suit, invitational. 2NT = 9-10 points, flattish, invites 3NT. 2S = Jacoby Transfer to a minor. Opener rebids: 2NT = Superior Diamonds to Clubs. 3C = Clubs equal to or better than Diamonds. Responder can now stop in 3C or 3D or move towards a possible minor suit slam by bidding hir longer major (a fragment). 1NT:2S:3C:3NT = Slam try in Diamonds. 1NT:2S:2NT:3NT = Slam try in Clubs. 2H = Jacoby Transfer to a 5+card Spade suit. Now: Pass = 0-8 points. 2NT = 9-10 points, inviting 4S or 3NT. 3C/3D = Game forcing, 3+card suit. 3H = 5-5 in the majors, slammish (else 4H). 3S = 6+ Spades, 9-10 points, inviting 4S. 3NT = 11-15 points, 5 Spades. "3NT or 4S?" 4C/4D = Cuebid slam tries with 6+ Spades. 4H = 5-5 in the majors, 11-15 points. 4S = 6+ Spades, 16-17 points, slam try. 2D = Jacoby Transfer to a 5+card Heart suit. Now: Pass = 0-8 points. 2S = 5-5 majors, 9+ points, ONE round force. Opener rebids 3H or 3S if minimum. 2NT = 9-10 points, inviting 4S or 3NT. 3C/3D = Game forcing, 3+card suit. 3H = 6+ Hearts, 9-10 points, inviting 4H. 3S = Cuebid slam try with 6+ Hearts. 3NT = 11-15 points, 5 Hearts. "3NT or 4S?" 4C/4D = Cuebid slam tries with 6+ Hearts. 4H = 6+ Hearts, 16-17 points, slam try. 2C = Stayman, asking for a 4-card major. Now: 2D denies a major, whereupon we might see: 2H/2S = 5+card suit, invitational only. 2NT = Natural, invitational. 3C/3D = Game forcing. 3H/3S = Smolen, 4 in one major, 5+ in the other. 2H shows 4-5 Hearts. Now: 2S = Game force with 4 Spades OR Slam try with 4+ Hearts. Opener rebids 2NT or, with 4 Spades, 3H (minimum) or a minor. 2NT = Invitational with 4 Spades, 0-3 Hearts. 3C/3D = Game forcing, natural. 5+ card suit. 3H = 9-10 points, natural, inviting game. 4C/4D/3S = Cuebid slam tries with 4+ Hearts. 2S shows 4-5 Spades. Opener rebids similar to after 1NT:2C:2H except that 1NT:2C:2S:3H is always a slam try in Spades while 1NT:2C:2S:4H is a cuebid slam try with 4+ Spades. Responses to 2NT: Replies to 2NT are similar to those to 1NT, with Stayman 3C, Jacoby Transfers of 3D, 3H and 3S, Gerber 4C and Texas Transfers of 4D and 4H. Again, ST TOMAS ("Stayman Then The Other Major Asks `Slam'") is in effect: 2NT:3C:3H:3S asks Opener to rebid 3NT without 4 Spades while 2NT:3C:3S:4H is a slam try in Spades. 2NT:3C:3D:3H (4 Hearts, 5+ Spades) and 2NT:3C:3D:3S (4 Spades, 5+ Hearts) are Smolen. 2NT:4NT (12 points) and 2NT:5NT (16 points) are quantitative slam tries. Rebids over 2C:2D:2NT: Responder rebids as opposite a 2NT opening, forcing game with 4+ points, inviting a small slam with 11-12 points or a grand slam with 13-14 points. Rebids over 2C:2D:3NT: Here 4C is Stayman, after which 4NT is Blackwood. Over 2C:2D:3NT, 4D, 4H and 4S are all Jacoby Transfers while 4NT (6-7 points) and 5NT (10-11 points) are quantitative raises. --------------------- Quiz #1 ----------------------- 1a. How does the 2/1-GF-Spectrum 2S response to 1NT differ from that of SAYC? ANSWER: Both are Jacoby transfers but the SAYC notes suggest that Opener MUST rebid 3C even if hir Diamonds are superior to hir Clubs. This makes it difficult for Responder to guess where to play with a very weak or very strong 5-5 minor 2-suiter. 1b. How does the 2/1-GF-Spectrum 2S response to 1NT differ from that of 2/1-GF-OK? ANSWER: 2/1-GF-OK uses 1NT:2S as Minor Suit Stayman (a slam try in a minor, usually). This may come as a surprise to many who have not read the 2/1-GF-OK notes! :) 2. Name two "gadgets" included in 2/1-GF-Spectrum that are not explicitly part of 2/1-GF-OK or SAYC. ANSWER: ST TOMAS and Smolen. 3. 1NT:2D:2H:4C and 4D are described as "Cuebid slam tries with 6+ Hearts". Don't most people play such a rebid as a splinter? ANSWER: Yes. Overwhelmingly, players tend to use such "unnecessary" jumps as splinters. Since splinters are a type of cuebid, though, the more general term is used so as to include that minority of players (like Kaltica) who will cuebid any control here as an overt slam try. ------------------------------------------------------- 2C OPENING BIDS 2C shows 22+ HCPs and a flat hand OR 9+ tricks in an unbalanced hand. If Opener finds a fit game is forced. Responder's options are: 2D = Waiting, on one of three types: i) Negative, 0-7 points. ii) 4-4-4-1 type, 8+ points. iii) Flat, 13+ points, too strong for 3NT. Opener rebids 2NT (22-24), 3NT (25-27) or higher if flat, leaving Responder to proceed. If unbalanced, Opener rebids naturally in a suit. The Principle of Fast Arrival applies to all raises. 2H/2S/3C/3D = Natural, 8+ points, 5+ card suit of any strength. Game forcing. 2NT = 7-9 points, flat, game forcing. 3C by Opener now is Stayman. All other bids are natural. 3NT = 10-12 points, flat, game forcing. 4C by Opener is Stayman, 4D, 4H and 4S are FORCING and natural. 2C:3NT:4NT is quantitative. --------------------------------------------------------- MAJOR SUIT OPENINGS 1H and 1S in first or second seat promise 5+ cards in the bid suit and 13-21 points. 2/1-GF-Spectrum uses a forcing 1NT response, 4th suit forcing to game and strong jump shifts in the majors but intermediate jumps in the minors. Bergen raises are not part of 2/1-GF-Spectrum. In response to 1H we may see: 1S = 6+ points, one round forcing. 1NT = 6-12 points, forcing for one round. 1H:1NT:2m:2S is a strong raise of the minor. 1H:1NT:2H:2S is a limit raise with 3 Hearts. 2C/2D = 13+ points, 3+card suit (usually 4+), game forcing. If followed by 3S Responder shows 3-card support. If followed by a jump to 4S Responder shows a distributional raise (10-12 points and plenty of cards in the 2 bid suits). 2H = 6-9 points, 3+ Hearts. 2S = 16+ points, 5+ Spades and 3+ Hearts or 6+ Spades. Strong jump shift. 2NT = Jacoby 2NT, 4+ Hearts, game forcing. Responder rebids: 3NT = 16-18 points. No shortness. 3H = 19-21 points. No shortness. 3C/3D/3S = Shortness in the bid suit. 4H = Minimum, 13-15 points. 4C/4D = Natural, 2-suited. 3C/3D = 10-12 points, natural, 6+ card suit. Intermediate jumps in the minors. 3H = Limit raise, 10-12 points, 4+ Hearts. 3S = Splinter raise, 13+ points, 4+ Hearts, 0-1 Spade, suggesting slam. 4C/4D = Splinter raises, similar to 3S, short in the bid minor suit. 4H = Pre-emptive, 0-9 points, 5+ Hearts. Responses to 1S are similar. 1S:3H is strong while 1S:1NT:2m:3H shows 10-12 points with 6+ good Hearts. 1S:2H promises a 5+card Heart suit. Subsequent rebids: After a one-over-1 response and a 1NT rebid by Opener (e.g. 1H:1S:1NT) Responder can use New Minor Forcing to check back for 3-card Spade support. If Opener rebids 2S any rebid by Responder other than 3S is game forcing. Over any other rebid by Opener New Minor Forcer must rebid a minor to force game. 2/1-GF-Spectrum uses 4th Suit forcing to game. To avoid forcing with length in the 4th suit Responder has to jump in the 4th suit. 1H:1S:2C:2D is a game force; 1H:1S:2C:3D is non-forcing. Sequences after a 2-over-1 reply: After a game forcing 2-over-1 response Opener should only reverse (e.g. 1H:2C:2S, 1H:2D:3C, etc.) or raise a minor (e.g. 1S:2C:3C) with 16-21. With 13-15, Opener should rebid the major before raising or introducing a minor (e.g. 1S:2C:2S:2NT:3C or 1S:2D:2S:2NT:3C reveals 13-15 points) at the 3-level. If Opener skips a suit after hearing a 2-over-1 response Opener denies 4+cards in that suit. Responder often uses an unlimited and artificial 2NT rebid after making a 2-over-1 response to seek more information from Opener. A 2NT rebid by Opener (e.g. 1S:2C:2NT) reveals a flat hand of either 13-15 points or 17-21 with 3-card support for Responder's suit. In the latter case Opener will rebid again over a 3NT signoff by Responder (e.g. 1S:2C:2NT:3NT:4C). Since Opener will rebid in No Trump (3NT is a picture bid with 17-19 points and a doubleton in Responder's suit) any suit rebid--including the catch-all rebid of the major--promises an unbalanced hand. --------------------- Quiz #2 ----------------------- 1. Does 1S:2C:2H:3D promise 4+ Diamonds in 2/1-GF? ANSWER: Yes. Unlike SAYC, 2/1-GF does not require Responder to "make up" new suit bids in order to force the bidding along. If Responder wants to inquire for more information about Opener's hand Responder can and should use a 2NT rebid over 1S:2C:2H. 2a. 1S:2D:2H:2NT:3S shows 6-4 in the majors, but does it show extra values in 2/1-GF-Spectrum? ANSWER: No, not after a 2-over-1 reply. An auction like 1H:1S:2D:3C:3H does promise 16-18, but after a 2-over-1 reply one should show any 4+card suit cheaply regardless of strength. 2b. After 1S:2D:2H:2NT:3S a 4S rebid by Responder would stop in game. So how can Responder suggest slam in a 6-2 Spade fit? ANSWER: A belated "new suit force" of 4C must confirm Spades as trump here. Had Opener shown 5-5 in the majors, as with 1S:2D:2H:2NT:3H, Responder's 4C rebid would be a slam try in Hearts. 2c. Forcing Opener to rebid ANY 4+card suit cheaply loses the ability to define hir strengths with 6-4 2-suiters. So what are the ADVANTAGES of this more modern approach? ANSWER: The advantages of ALWAYS showing a second suit cheaply in game forcing sequences include but are not limited to: i) Finding fits in the second suit quicker. Otherwise, 1S:2D:3NT could leave Opener wondering if s/he should show a 4-card Heart suit now. ii) Patterning out quicker. 1S:2C:2H shows NINE of Opener's cards; 1S:2C:2S shows only 5. iii) Allowing for "impossible" bids later, often showing support or tolerance for Responder's minor. iv) Saves space with fits, as with 1S:2C:2H:2S or 3H. Bottom line: The faster you show your suits in a game forcing auction without reversing, the better! 3. Does 1S:2D:2H:3S show a strong hand or a weak one? ANSWER: Weak. 13-15 points. 2S would save room and thus suggest a stronger hand. 1S:2D:2H:4S would show a distributional raise (i.e. 10-12 with a lot of pointed suit cards). 4. What does 1S:2D:2S:3C:3H show about Opener's hand? ANSWER: Such an "impossible major" rebid must show Club support and a 13-15 hand--too weak to have bid the Clubs directly over 1S:2D (a high level reverse showing 16-21 points). http://www.escape.ca/~cpw/ribsbibs.htm is the URL for more information about such "impossible" rebids. You may also email us at: cpw@escape.ca to request an article on the subject. --------------------------------------------------------- MINOR SUIT OPENINGS 1D shows a flat hand in the 13-14 or 18-19 point range or an unbalanced hand in the 13-21 point range. 1D Opener has 4=4=3=2 or 4+ Diamonds. 2/1-GF-Spectrum bids suits up the line and uses inverted minors except over a double. In response to 1D we may see: 1H/1S = 6+ points, 4+card suit, one round forcing. 1NT = 6-9 points, no major. This may include significant support for Opener's minor, too strong for 3D (weak), too weak for 2D (10+ points, inverted). 2C = Game forcing. Opener rebids as after a 2/1-GF response to 1H or 1S except that Opener may reverse into a major with a flat 18-19 points. 1D:2C:2D promises an unbalanced hand but can be 3-suited if minimal. 1D:2C:3C shows 16-21 so with 13-15 and Club support Opener may rebid 2D before raising Clubs. 2D = 10+ points, 5+ Diamonds, no major. Opener tends to rebid stoppers up the line. If Responder rebids 3D immediately Responder unveils a limit raise. 2H/2S = 16+ points, 5+ card suit with 4+ Diamonds or a good 6+card suit. Strong. 2NT = 10-12 points, flattish, no major, inviting Opener to 3NT. 3C = 10-12 points, 6+ Clubs, no major, invitational. 3D = 0-6 points, 5+ Diamonds, no major, weak. 3H/3S = Splinters, 5+ Diamonds, no major, 13+ points. 3NT = 13-15 points, flat, no major. 1C reveals 4=3=3=3 or 3=4=3=3 in the 13-14 or 18-19 point range or 4+ Clubs with 13-21 points. Responder bids much the same as opposite 1D. Of note is the fact that 1C:2D is strong; it is the one exception to the rule that jumps in the minors are intermediate in 2/1-GF-Spectrum. 1C:1D:1H:1S is a one round force, after which Responder's only game-forcing rebid will be 2S (e.g. 1C:1D:1H:1S:1NT:2S forces game). 1C:1D:1H:2S is an immediate game force denying 4+ Spades. Fourth Suit Forcing is ofter used to distinguish between strong raises. After 1C:1D:1S a leap to 4S is 13-14; 2H then 4S is 15-16 while 2H then 3S is 17+ points, strongly inviting 6S. --------------------- Quiz #3 ----------------------- 1a. Name two NON-forcing rebids by Responder after 1D:2D:2H. ANSWER: 2NT (flat or semi-balanced limit raise) and 3D (unbalanced limit raise). 1b. Can Responder pass 1C:2C:2NT? ANSWER: Yes. 2NT shows a flattish hand in the 13-14 point range with values in all of the suits outside Clubs. 1c. Is a 2NT or 3D rebid by EITHER Partner EVER forcing after a 1D:2D start? ANSWER: No. Not even if it takes place on the third or fourth round of bidding. 2. Is 1D:2NT:3D forcing? ANSWER: Yes. In fact, any rebid over 1D:2NT is forcing to game. 2NT, then, is a "last stop for part scores". 3a. After an auction such as 1D:2D, can the pair ever stop in 4D? ANSWER: Yes. In fact, 4D is NEVER forcing after a 1D:2D start unless the bidder has JUMPED to 4D (e.g. 1D:2D:2NT:4D) or bid it over Partner's 3NT (e.g. 1D:2D:3NT:4D). 3b. After hearing 1D:2D:3NT:4D we know that Responder has a slam-going hand. But what ELSE do we know about Responder's holding from hir 4D call? ANSWER: Responder lacks a control in Clubs. Otherwise we would expect a 4C cuebid here. 4. How many Diamonds should Opener expect from Responder for 1D:2NT? ANSWER: 2 to 4. While it is possible that Responder may have 3=3=4=3 distribution for 2NT we will normally expect 2 (if 3=3=2=5) or, most often, 3 Diamonds from 2NT Responder. --------------------------------------------------- DEALING WITH INTERFERENCE After 1-of-a-Suit Opening: Free calls in a new suit over a takeout double are forcing for one round if at the ONE level (e.g. 1D-Dble-1S), not forcing (e.g. 1D-Dble-2C) otherwise. Free 1NT bids show 8-10 while 2NT is Dormer/Jordan, showing a limit raise or better with 4+card support for Opener's suit. After an overcall, simple free bids in any new strain show at least 8 points. Free No Trump calls promise a guard in the enemy suit, a flattish hand and usually less than 4 cards in any unbid major suit; their ranges are: 8-10 (1NT), 11-12 (2NT) and 13-15 (3NT). Even a simple raise should show some extras: 1H-1S-2H shows 8-10 points. CARLOS (i.e. "Cuebids Are Raises--Limit--Or Strong") is employed by Responder or Advancer. Negative doubles (e.g. 1D-1S-Dble showing four Hearts, 8-12 points with one of the unbids OR a plan of action) are in effect up to 3S. A negative double followed by a new suit rebid by Responder is NOT forcing. Support doubles and redoubles are in effect up to and including the 2H level, but promise extra values. Hence, a pass does not deny 3+ card support for Responder's suit. Free bids other than raises (e.g. 1D-P-1H-1S-2D) do deny 3+ card support for Responder's suit, though. Inverted minors are ON after an overcall but OFF over a takeout double. Over any takeout double or cuebid, an immediate raise is weakest, pass then raise is a medium strength hand while [re]double then raise is strongest. "Unusual versus Unusual" is employed if the opponents bid 2NT over our 1H or 1S openings. For example, after 1H-2NT: a) 3C = 3+ card Heart support, limit or stronger, b) 3H = Competitive, c) 3D = 5+ good Spades and 11+ points, d) 3S = reveal 5+ Spades, competing (8-10 points). Similarly, after 1S-2NT we might see: a) 3C = 5+ Hearts, 11+ points, b) 3H = 5+ Hearts, competing (8-10 points), c) 3D = Spade support, limit or stronger, d) 3S = 3+ Spades, competing (8-10 points). After a 1NT or 2NT opening: Doubles and redoubles are penalty. Lebensohl with "direct denies" is in effect if the opponents overcall via 2-of-a-suit. Should 1NT or 2NT be doubled system is on. After 2C openings: All doubles are penalty except a low level (i.e. below 3NT) double in the passout seat by 2C Opener. 2C-2H-Dble, 2C-Pass-2D-2H-Dble and 2C-Pass-2D-2H-Pass-Pass-Dble are all penalty, but 2C-2H-Pass-Pass-Dble is takeout. After pre-emptive openings: Free bids in a new suit are a one round force, often lead directional bids in support of Opener's long suit. All doubles by Responder are penalty. ----------------------------------------------------- OTHER DOUBLES Responsive, competitive and maximal ("game try") doubles are in effect up to and including 3S. For maximal doubles, both opponents must have implied a holding in their bid suit for it to have been "agreed" by them. Ergo: i) 1S Dble 2S 3H Dble = Maximal. ii) 1S Pass 2S 3H Dble = Co-operative. iii) 1S 2H 2S 3H Dble = Maximal. Snapdragon doubles are in effect up to the 2S level. Lightner doubles and SOS redoubles are included. ----------------------------------------------------- PASSED HAND BIDDING Reverse Drury is in effect opposite any third or fourth seat major suit opening. Opener rebids hir major if weak, but can rebid an artificial 2D on 14+ points as a "wait and see" temporizer. After P:1S:2C:2D or P:1H:2C:2D Responder can rebid Opener's major at the two level with 10-11 points or force game by jumping to three of Opener's major with 12 points. Responder's 2C promises support for Opener's major since, with 6+ Clubs and 10-12 points Responder could make an intermediate jump response of 3C. P:1S:2NT and P:1H:2NT are natural and invitational. P:1S:3NT and P:1H:3NT are "Martian", showing a distributional raise with 10-12 points and, usually 5+card support for Opener's major. Other 2-over-1 responses by a passed hand (i.e. P:1D:2C, P:1H:2D, P:1S:2D or P:1S:2H) reveal 10-12 points but are not forcing. A 2NT rebid by Opener (e.g. 1D:2C:2NT) will now promise 14 or a poor 15 points, inviting 3NT. New minor forcing is not in effect by a passed hand Responder. Inverted minors are. 4-card major suit openings are rather common in 3rd or 4th seat. Opposite 1H or 1S openings, a 1NT response by a passed hand is "semi-forcing". Any fourth suit bid by Responder is natural and non-forcing UNLESS Opener has jump shifted or reversed. Pass:1C:1H:1S:2D is to play, since Responder can invite in No Trump (2NT here) or in any suit (3C, 3D, 3H or 3S here). Pass:1C:1H:2S:3D, though, is "4th Suit Forcing": a 10-12 point hand. --------------------- Quiz #4 ----------------------- 1. Why is 1NT forcing by an UNPASSED hand but only SEMI-forcing by a passed one? What kind of hand would Responder have that needs 1NT to be forcing opposite a 1st/2nd seat Opener but NOT opposite a 3rd/4th seat Opener? ANSWER: S- AQxxxx H- Axx D-xx C- xx. If Pard opens 1S we can bid a "Martian" 3NT to force to 4S with 10-12 points ONLY if we are a passed hand. Without that option as an UNpassed Responder we need 1NT to be 100% forcing. 2. What is the purpose of intermediate jumps in the minors? ANSWER: Without them, after an auction such as 1S:1NT:2H:3C Opener can be put to an impossible guess as to whether Responder has 6 points or 12 points for the natural 3C rebid. --------------------------------------------------- DEFENSIVE BIDDING Simple overcalls are in the 8-16 point range. Advancer can now introduce a new denomination with 10-15 points, forward going but not forcing. Direct double or higher raises are weak. Cuebids are a one round force--often a limit raise. If minimal, Overcaller will rebid hir suit simply. Jump overcalls are pre-emptive. New suits by Advancer (e.g. 1C-2D-Pass-2H) are forcing. Jump cuebids of a minor (i.e. 1C-3C or 1D-3D) opening are natural and weak while jump cues of a major ask for a stopper in that suit--often based on a long running minor in cuebidder's hand. Simple cuebids after the opponents have bid only one suit and before Partner has bid are Michaels. 1D-2D and 1C-2C show the majors while 1H-2H and 1S-2S show the unbid major and an unspecified minor (which Advancer may discover by bidding 2NT). The specific sequence 1S-2S-P-3D is "Lover's Leap", inviting 4H. After 2H-3H-P or 2S-3S-P a 4C call by Advancer asks for correction to 4D if that is Overcaller's minor. A 2NT overcall in direct seat is unusual, promising the two lowest unbid suits. Should the opponents bid 2 suits a 1NT overcall is Sandwich, showing a weaker hand with 5-5 in the unbids. 1C-Pass-1S-1NT, then, shows 5-10 points and 5-5 or better in the reds. 1NT overcalls in direct seat are natural with 15-18 points. System is ON. In balancing seat a 1NT bid shows 10-16 points and a flattish hand with little interest in the majors. A 2NT call (e.g. 1D-P-P-2NT) in the passout chair reveals 20-21 points and a flat hand with guards in the enemy suit. Takeout doubles are either interrogative (10+ points with support for the unbids) or declarative (17+ unbalanced or 19+ flat). Responder is asked to bid a suit, jumping with 9-12 points. Cuebids by Responder are responsive: either 9+ points and two of the unbid suits or 14+ points. Such cues do not promise a rebid so Doubler would have to jump or cuebid the opponent's suit to force game. Against a strong 1NT DONT is in effect. Cappelletti (aka "Capp" or "Hamilton") is used against weak 1NT openings. As a default definition, "weak 1NT" refers to any 1NT opening call which can be made on 13 HCPs or less. --------------------- Quiz #5 ----------------------- 1a. Why is DONT preferred over a strong 1NT while Capp is used over a weak 1NT opening? ANSWER: DONT is the choice over a strong 1NT since it is safer, allowing us to stop in the minor at the 2 level with any minor-major 2-suiter. Capp is preferable against a weak 1NT since it preserves our ability to double for penalty (rarely useful against a strong 1NT) and because it shows our majors quickly whenever we are 2-suited. 1b. What is the DIFFERENCE between CAPP and Hamilton? When asked this question, Fred Hamilton took a drag on his cigarette, thought, and said: "If you bid 2C and it works out, that is Hamilton. If it goes for -800, that's CAPP!" :) 2. Is it true that Capp was never intended for use against a strong 1NT? ANSWER: Yes. Capp was explicitly designed for use against a weak 1NT. 3. Why include Capp when the Geneva (2C = Hearts, 2D = Spades, 2H = majors but weak, 2S = Spades only but weak) Convention, HELLO, SUCTION and other methods are so much better? ANSWER: Familiarity. Yes, Capp may head many of our "Worst Convention Ever" lists, but at least people are familiar with it. Geneva is rarely seen outside Canada in F2F or online play. Similarly, we rarely spot HELLO or SUCTION outside of the United States. ---------------------------------------------------- PRE-EMPTS Opening bids of 2D, 2H and 2S are weak. Below game, only a raise is non-forcing. A 2NT response asks Opener to rebid hir suit if minimal or, if holding a sound pre-empt, show a feature. 3C and 3D are pre-emptive openings with natural, forcing 3-level suit responses. 3H and 3S are also pre-emptive. Major suit responses are natural, forcing to game. Hence, 3S:4H is to play. Minor suit responses are to be taken as forcing cuebids until Responder rebids that suit or a lower ranked one. 3H:4D:4H:5C is natural but 3H:4C:4H:5D or 3H:4D:4H:4S is a cuebid in support of Hearts. 3NT is gambling, showing a solid minor with little outside. Any Club response is now a runout, asking for correction to Diamonds if that is Opener's long minor. 3NT:4NT is quantitative, asking for a 7th card in Opener's minor for slam. 3NT:4D asks for a singleton whereupon: 4H = Spade shortness. 4S = Heart shortness. 4NT = No singleton or void. 5C = Long Clubs, short Diamonds 5D = Long Diamonds, short Clubs. 4C and higher suit pre-empts are natural. Any 4NT or 5NT opening bid is a pre-empt with both minors. --------------------- Quiz #6 ----------------------- 1. Why does 3NT:4D:4H show a shortness in Spades? Why not show the shortness directly, as with 3NT:4D:4S? ANSWER: By bidding the major in which we are NOT short we show our preference in case Responder has a 5-5 or better major 2-suiter. 2. Why does 3NT:4D:5D show a Club shortness with Diamond length? ANSWER: We may need to stop in 5C after 3NT:4D:5C if the news that Opener is short in Diamonds cools Responder's ardour for slam. ---------------------------------------------------- LEBENSOHL Lebensohl is in effect if our 1NT overcall or opening bid is overcalled by the opponents at the two level, opposite any double of a pre-emptive 2D, 2H or 2S opening bid or whenever the opponents raise their suit to the 2-level before or after a takeout double by Partner. e.g. a) (1D) 1NT (2D) 2NT = Lebensohl. b) (1S) Pass (2S) Dble = Takeout. (P) 2NT = Lebensohl. c) (1H) Dble (2H) 2NT = Lebensohl. d) (2D) Dble (P) 2NT = Lebensohl. The style employed is that of "direct denies" while "slow shows". e.g. a) --- 1NT (2S) 3NT = No Spade guard. b) (2D) Dble (P) 3NT = No slam interest. c) (1H) Dble (2H) 2NT = Forcing 3C. (P) 3C (P) 3NT = Slam interest. d) --- 1NT (2C) 2NT = Forcing 3C. (P) 3C (P) 3NT = Club guard. e) --- 1NT (2S) 2NT = Forcing 3C. (P) 3C (P) 3S = Stayman, Spade guard. f) --- 1NT (2H) 3H = Stayman, no Heart guard. ---------------------- Quiz #7 ------------------------ 1. How does 2/1-GF-Spectrum's use of Lebensohl differ from when 2/1-GF-OK uses Lebensohl? ANSWER: 2/1-GF-OK uses Lebensohl only opposite Partner's 1NT opening or the opponents' weak 2-bids. 2/1-GF-Spectrum uses it then and over any 2-of-a-suit bid when Partner has made a takeout double. 2. Is Ingberman part of 2/1-GF-Spectrum? That is, does 1C:1H:2D:2NT force 3C? ANSWER: No. Ingberman is NOT part of 2/1-GF-Spectrum. It can be added, or a pair can adopt the "Perverse Reverse" style. The latter involves reversing with EITHER a normal reversing hand OR a "2-and-a-half" raise of Responder's suit. Responder rebids hir suit if unwilling to chance game opposite such a raise. All other rebids by Responder force game. After 1C:1H:2D, then, any rebid higher than 2H--including 3C--by Responder forces game. With no such agreements, 1C:1H:2D:2NT and 1C:1H:2D:3C are signoffs. --------------------------------------------------------- SLAM BIDDING Cuebids: 2/1-GF-Spectrum uses the "European" (aka "Italian") cuebidding approach of cuebidding first or second round controls (Ace, King, singleton or void) indiscriminately at the first level up the line. Skipping a suit denies a first or second round control there. e.g. a) 1H 3H = Limit raise. 4C 4D = Control of Diamonds & Spades. In the above example, 4C denied a Spade control so 4D promised control of both Spades and Diamonds (else 4H, ending there). Once trumps have been bypassed at the next level the pair specifies first round controls. e.g. a) 1H = 13-21 points, 5+ Hearts. 3H = Limit raise. 3S = First or second round Spade control. 4D = Diamond control, no Club control. 4S = Ace or void in Spades. 5D = Ace or void in Diamonds. Gerber: 4C is Gerber only as a jump opposite Opener's 1NT or 2NT opening bid or rebid. Roman Key Card Blackwood: 4NT is Roman Key Card Blackwood. Trumps can be confirmed either explicitly via a raise (e.g. 1S:3S) or implicitly (i.e. the last bid suit, as with 1S:4NT). Key Cards (i.e. any Ace or the King of trump) are shown via the following steps: 5C = 0 or 3 Key Cards 5D = 1 or 4 Key Cards 5H = 2 or 5 Key Cards without the trump Queen. 5S = 2 or 5 Key Cards with the trump Queen. 5NT = 0, 2 or 4 Key cards with a useful void. 6-suit = 1, 3 or 5 Key cards with a useful void in the bid suit or, if trumps, a higher ranked suit. If RKCer (i.e. the person who bid 4NT) finds Replier (i.e. the one responding to 4NT) with 3+ Key Cards the pair is committed to slam. If RKCer tries to sign off at the five level after 5C or 5D from Replier the latter MUST bid again. To illustrate, after 1S:4NT:5D:5S Replier's options are: Pass = 1 Key Card. 5NT = 4 Key Cards with the trump Queen. 6C/6D/6H = 4 Key Cards, no Spade Queen (else 5NT), King in the bid suit. 6S = 4 Key Cards, no trump Queen or King outside Spades. After hearing the reply to 4NT RKCer can try for a grand slam and confirm possession of all five Key Cards by rebidding 5NT. Replier shows specific Kings, cuebidding any King. If Replier has a source of tricks Replier will force to the seven level. Instead of 5NT, RKCer can bid a new suit below trumps to ask for the trump Queen. With this card Replier will usually bid beyond the trump suit (e.g. 1H:4NT:5C:5D:5S or higher). Without the trump Queen Replier will usually stop in the agreed suit (e.g. 1H:4NT:5C:5D:5H). One sequence is noteworthy: after 1S:4NT:5C:5D, 5H shows the Heart King but does not answer the question regarding possession of the Spade Queen. If RKCer attempts to stop in 5S Replier will insist on 6S if in possession of the trump Queen. If RKCer rebids higher than 5S, on the other hand, Replier will insist on 7S if looking at the trump Queen. A 5-level rebid higher than the agreed trump suit may be either a signoff in 5NT or, if RKCer bids a small slam, may be a grand slam try looking for the trump Queen. Replier will rebid 5NT which RKCer will either pass or, if making a grand slam try, correct to six of the agreed suit. 1D 4NT = RKC. 5D 5H = "Bid 5NT, please." 5NT 6D = "Bid 7D with the Diamond Queen, Pard." If not preceded by 4NT, 5NT is a Grand Slam Force (aka "Josephine") asking Partner to a grand slam if holding two of the top three honours in the trump suit. If no suit has been raised the last bid suit is presumed to be trumps. 1S:5NT, then, asks Opener to bid seven if holding the AK, AQ or KQ of Spades. --------------------- Quiz #8 ----------------------- 1. If two experts sit down and agree to "RKC" have they agreed to the 0314 or 1403 version? ANSWER: 0314. This is why Spectrum and all other 2/1-GF standards use 0314 by default. 2. As briefly as possible, describe the difference between North American and European style cuebidding practices. ANSWER: NA = 1st round controls, THEN 2nds. Euro = Controls first, THEN 1st rounders. 3a. If two experts--at least one of them a North American--sit down and do not discuss cuebids, which style of cuebidding will they be using? North American or European (aka "Italian")? ANSWER: North American. 3b. If two experts--at least one of them a North American--sit down and DO discuss cuebids, which style of cuebidding will they PROBABLY choose to use? North American or European (aka "Italian")? ANSWER: Most steady expert partnerships--including most North American ones--adopt the European style of cuebidding. 4. How do we use Blackwood after Partner bids 3NT? ANSWER: Generally speaking, we bid 4C or 4D, which is ALWAYS forcing over Partner's 3NT unless it is doubled. A raise of 3NT to 4NT is always quantitative. 5. How do we use Blackwood to move towards a SUIT slam after Partner bids 3NT and is doubled for penalty? ANSWER: Now we may need 4C or 4D as a runout, but with a quantitative raise we would now redouble. Hence, 4NT directly over 3NT-Dble is Blackwood. ---------------------------------------------------- DEFENSIVE CARDING 2/1-GF-Spectrum uses 3rd & 5th best leads against suit and no trump contracts. From AK one leads the Ace to ask for count, the King to ask for attitude in that suit. This is KATARACT: "King ATtitude, Ace Requests A CounT". An Ace FROM LENGTH against No Trump asks Partner to drop any honour in that suit, showing count only if lacking such an honour. Aside from those headed by the Ace, the highest is led from any sequence except a good broken sequence. For instance, from KQ109x one leads the Queen to "look for the Jack". Suit preference (high for a high ranked suit, low for a low ranking suit), attitude (high encourages, low discourages) and count (smallest from an odd number, echoing with an odd number in the suit) are all standard. Suit preference is often shown in trump. The first discard is attitude unless one is discarding from a "known" suit (typically, one in which Declarer has shown out), when one shows suit preference. ------------------ Final Quiz -------------------- 1. Most people who play 3rd and 5th best leads play them only against SUIT contracts. Why does 2/1-GF-Spectrum play them against both suits AND No Trump contracts? ANSWER: Playing essentially the same signalling methods against No Trump and suits is designed to save the 2/1-GF-Spectrum pair's "brain cells". Also, experience may show that as valuable as 3rd and 5th best leads are against suits they are even MORE valuable against No Trump contracts. 2. Why are Odd-Even or Lavinthal discards not included as part of 2/1-GF-Spectrum? ANSWER: One reason is that these are not standard anywhere. Hence, one's default assumption would be that they are not included. Another is that Lavinthal is not demonstrably superior to standard methods of showing suit preference. O/E signals and discards are complex, often lack the proper cards for accurate signalling and would require those unfamiliar with them to learn an entirely new carding method. 3. Why are Bergen raises generally considered unplayable when playing 2/1-GF (as opposed to "2/1-GF unless the suit is rebid")? ANSWER: Giving up strong jump shifts to play Bergen raises is costly enough. But if one is playing 2/1-GF where 1H:2C:any:3C is still game forcing we would have no way to distinguish a 6-9 point Club one-suiter from a 10-12 pointer after Partner opens 1H or 1S. Thus, when we DO see an expert "2/1-GF" pair playing Bergen raises, they are USUALLY playing "2/1-GF unless the suit is rebid". ==== Differences between 2/1-GF-Spectrum and 2/1-GF-OK ==== 2/1-GF-Spectrum 2/1-GF-OK Intermediate jumps to 3C and 3D Strong jumps throughout ST TOMAS and Smolen Not included 1NT:2S as a Jacoby Transfer Minor Suit Stayman 1H:1NT!:any:2S as a strong raise Undefined DONT vs Strong 1NT, CAPP vs weak CAPP against any 1NT 1S:2C:3NT = 5=3=3=2, 18-19 Any flat 18-19 hand Up the line bidding Undefined CARLOS Cuebids undefined Jordan Undefined Support [Re]Doubles show extras Can be made if minimum Unusual versus Unusual Not mentioned Replies to 2C and NT bids detailed Undefined Passed hand bidding detailed Undefined Jump cuebids described Undefined Responsive Cuebids Not mentioned System ON opposite 1NT overcalls Undefined Lover's Leap Not mentioned Leb over 2-bids if Pard Xd or 1NT Leb opp 1NT or 2any-X-P European style cuebids Undefined Gerber Not mentioned Grand Slam Force Not mentioned SPIT, KATARACT and 3rd & 5th Carding not mentioned ===== Additions and Modifications to 2/1-GF-Spectrum ===== The following common conventions are among many which are not part of 2/1-GF-Spectrum but could be added to it after discussion: Wolff Signoffs Coded 9s and 10s Defensive Doubles Flannery Dynamic 1NT openings & overcalls Ghestem Redwood/Minorwood Kickback Blackwood Roman 3-suited openings Multi 2D openings Herbert responses Step responses to 2C ----------------------- References ----------------------- Impossible Bids: http://www.escape.ca/~cpw/ribsbibs.htm BORIS and SORIS Doubles: http://www.members.shaw.ca/firesiders/fireside.htm#BORIS Defensive Doubles: http://www.escape.ca/~cpw/kaleido3.htm Lebensohl: http://www.escape.ca/~cpw/rainbo9.htm ----------- Questions about Spectrum Lesson #5? ------------ If you have any questions arising from these notes, or about the Spectrum Lesson Series, please email Colin (at cpw@escape.ca) or Bill (at btreble@escape.ca). ----- SPECTRM5.ANS ----- Last Revised: 02-27-2002 -----