1. The "HIGH FIVE" Rule: with 2 5+card suits, bid the HIGHER
ranked suit first.
S- Qxxxx H- AKJxx D- Qx C - x
Open 1S, not 1H, even though Hearts are stronger.
EXCEPTION #1: With Clubs and Spades and a minimum
opener, begin with 1C, not 1S.
S- AQxxx H- xx D- x C- AQxxx
Bid 1C NOW. You may not get another chance!
EXCEPTION #2: If the lower ranked suit is LONGER and
the hand is a maximum (17-21 if an Opener, 13+ if
a Responder), then start with the 6+card lower ranked
suit and bid & rebid the higher 5+card suit--even
if this involves increasing the level of bidding.
S- KQxxx H- AKQxxx D- void C- Kx
Open 1H and, over 1NT, rebid 2S.
S- KQxxx H- KQxxxx D- x C- Kx
When partner opens 1D, respond 1H and, over a
1NT rebid by partner, "reverse" into 2S.
2. Always bid the LOWER/LOWEST of 2 or 3 4-card suits.
The is called bidding the suits "up the line".
S- Qxxx H- Qxxx D- Qxxx C- x
If partner opens 1C, respond 1D. This leaves
Opener plenty of chance to show a 4-card major.
EXCEPTION: When opening with 4-4 in the minors and
no 5-card major, open 1D and not 1C.
S- KJx H- Jx D- Jxxx C- AKxx
Lacking the strength for 1NT, open 1D, not 1C.
3. A new suit by an unpassed Responder is forcing.
1D 1S - Forcing.
2D 2H - Forcing.
EXCEPTION: A natural new suit rebid by Responder
after Opener has rebid 1NT is NOT forcing unless it
is a jump.
1D 1S - Forcing.
1NT 2H - NOT forcing. 3H WOULD be forcing.
4. Except for conventional bids (e.g. Blackwood, Stayman,
transfers, Grand Slam Force, etc.), a passed hand has
NO forcing options. A jump shift by a passed hand is
"all but forcing" and should only be passed if the
3rd seat opener is sub-minimal.
-- Pass
1D 1S - NOT Forcing.
1NT 3H - NOT forcing.
-- Pass
1D 2S - GOOD hand, often with Diamond support.
Pass - A sub-minimum.
5. Bids of a suit previously mentioned by the partnership
are non-forcing.
1H 1S - Forcing.
2D 3H - NOT forcing.
2C 2D - Waiting.
2S 2NT - No Spade support.
3S - Not forcing. Cancels the game force.
EXCEPTION #1: If Responder's previous bid showed 10+
points a jump in a previously bid suit is forcing.
1H 2C - Forcing, 10+ points.
2D 3H - Forcing, 13+ points.
EXCEPTION #2: If either player has started a game
forcing sequence, a raise to any level BELOW game
shows a good hand (while a jump to game shows a bad
hand according to the Principle of Fast Arrival).
2C 2D - Waiting. 2C is GF *if* there is a fit.
2S 3S - Stronger than 4S. Forcing.
Compare this auction to 2C:2D:2S:2NT:3S (above)
where 2C Opener is NOT guaranteed a fit. Only 2C
OPENER can cancel the game force!
EXCEPTION #3: Any suit rebid--new or not--over a
jump rebid of 2NT by Opener is forcing.
1D 1S - 6+ points, 4+Spades.
2NT 3S - 5+Spades, FORCING.
6. Except for conventional rebids (e.g. Blackwood, Grand
Slam Force), 1-of-a-suit Opener has NO 100% forcing
rebids.
1D 1S
2H - This STRONG "reverse" is NOT forcing.
EXCEPTION #1: If Responder has RAISED one of Opener's
suits any suit rebid is forcing--at least until the
pair returns to the agreed suit.
1S 2S - 6-9 points, 3+Spades.
3D - Forcing to at least 3S.
EXCEPTION #2: A jump shift in a new suit is forcing
in the opinion of MOST experienced players. I do NOT
consider them 100% forcing, and will pass with a bare
minimum 6 points and a total misfit for partner.
1S 1NT - 6-9 points, 0-2 Spades (else 2S).
3H - Forcing IN MOST EXPERT'S OPINION...
S- x H- x D- QJxxx C-QJxxxx
...but bidding on with this hand is suicidal.
7. If a MINOR suit is established as trumps, any new
suit tends to show a guard for No Trump until 3NT
is passed.
1D 2D - 6-9 points, 5+ Diamonds
2S - Spade stopper. No Heart stopper.
8. If a MAJOR suit is established as trumps, any new
suit below 3-of-the-major is a game try, hoping for
help in that suit. Any non-trump suit bid beyond
that level is a cuebid of an Ace or void (or King
or singleton, perhaps).
1S - 13-21 points, 5+Spades.
2S 3D - Forcing to 3S, looking for Diamond help.
3H 4C - A cuebid, looking for a Spade SLAM.
9. A bid of 4-of-a-major can only be a cuebid if NEITHER
partner has bid that major naturally. Otherwise, it
is a natural sign-off.
1H 1S - 6+ points, 4+Spades.
3S 4H - Natural sign-off. NOT a cuebid.
10. Once partner opens, overcalls or responds, a cuebid of
the enemy suit shows strength. FAILURE to make such
a cuebid often limits one's hand.
1C 1H P 1S - NOT forcing. "Forward going".
EXCEPTION: Free suit bids by an unpassed Responder
are forcing.
1C 1D 1S - Forcing. No need for 2D here.
12. Doubles followed by free rebids tend to show STRENGTH.
1D Dble P 1S - 0-8 points, Spades.
P 2H - 16-19, too strong for 1H.
With 20+, Doubler cues 2D.
1D Dble P 1S
P 1NT - 19-21, too strong for 1NT
immediately over 1D.
13. 1NT rebids show 13-14 if partner responds, 18-19 if
partner does NOT respond.
1D P 1H P
1NT - 13-14 points, flat.
1D 1S P P
1NT - 18-19 points, flat.
14. With 3-3 in the minors, 13-21 points and no 5+card
major (i.e. 3-4-3-3 or 4-3-3-3), open 1C unless
the hand qualifies for a 1NT (15-17) opening.
S- Qxxx H- AJx D- AKx C- xxx
Open 1C, even though the Diamonds are stronger.
15. A 1D opening can be made on 3 Diamonds ONLY with
4-4-3-2 distribution and either 13-14 points or
18-19. With a flat 15-17 points, open 1NT.
S- Qxxx H- AJxx D- xxx C- AK
Open 1D.
16. The "New News" Rule (aka "The `Tell me Something I
DON'T Know' Rule"): When choosing between two
good alternatives in a constructive auction, make
the bid which is most descriptive.
S- KQxxxx H- KQxx D- Ax C- x
Over 1S:1NT rebid 2H and NOT 2S. 2S would locate
SIX cards in your hand. 2H will locate NINE of
your cards (i.e. 5 Spades and 4 Hearts) and is MUCH
more likely to "strike gold" in partner's hand.
EXCEPTION: Rebid a good 6-card major BEFORE
showing a 4-card minor.
S- KQxxxx H- Ax D- KQxx C- x
Over 1S:1NT rebid 2S, not 2D -- especially at
MatchPoints.
