Advanced Conventions

These are the more advanced conventions I like to play.

XYZ

What is it? After a sequence of three 1-level bids by a partnership (1X-1Y-1Z, hence the name), responder's rebids take on the following meanings:

  • 2C - A relay to 2D showing either a desire to sign off in 2D or an invitational hand. With absolutely no tolerance for a 2D signoff, opener can make a different bid, but will almost always complete the relay.
  • 2D - An artificial game force. In response, opener bids naturally from the following preferences:
    • Show 4-cards in the major not shown by partner (if this hasn't already been done)
    • Show 3-card support for partner
    • Rebid a 6-card suit
    • Show a 2nd 4-card minor (if holding 22(54) distribution, otherwise skip and rebid 2NT)
    • Rebid 2NT
  • 2H/2S - These bids are signoffs, except if responder bid 1H and then 2S, which shows an invitational hand with exactly 4-4 in the majors.
  • 2NT - Invitational to 3NT. Going directly to 2NT shows that responder held 4 cards in his first bid suit. Going through 2C-2D and then bidding 2NT shows a 5-card suit and a balanced hand.
  • 3C - signoff.
  • 3D/3H/3S - These bids are game-forcing showing extra strength and distribution.

When to use it: The rule of thumb is that these bids apply when opener makes a rebid that is 1NT or below, or is a support double of a bid that is 1NT or below.

Why use it? This convention removes the ambiguity of responder's point range for 2H or 2S bids at 2nd call, and allows for a low level game force when the best game is not immediately clear. The only cost is the inability to sign off in 2C. It also allows some fits to be found that would be missed in standard methods. For example, if opener has 2443 distrubtion and a minimal opener, while responder has 5422 dsitribution and a minimal response, the standard auction will likely be 1D-1S-1NT-P. There is no way to stop in 2H, as to bid it would be forcing. With XYZ, 2H is a perfect description of this hand.

Other nuances: Note that the differing invitational sequences can be used to identify the length of responder's major. After 1X-1Y-1Z, with Y a major, 2NT and 2C are both used to show invitational hands. 2NT shows that responder's major is exactly 4 cards, while going through 2C shows 5. Similarly, bidding 1H and then 2S shows 4-4 majors, while bidding 1H and then going through 2C and bidding 2S shows 5H/4S


Soloway Jump Shifts

What is it? A modification to the usual strong jump-shift to show extra hand types.

When to use it: After an opening bid of 1 of a suit by partner, there are three types of hands that make a Soloway Jump Shift:

  • A strong (more than game forcing) hand with a self-sufficient (or nearly so) single suit and no support.
  • A strong (more than game forcing) 2-suited hand (at least 5/4) where one of the suits is partner's suit.
  • A very strong (slam inviational 18+) balanced (4333) hand.
Holding one of these hands, responder makes a jump bid of his longest suit (not partner's suit in the case of the second hand type.

What happens next? Opener puppets by making the next available bid, which asks responder to clarify which of the three hand types is held. The followups on responder's 2nd call are:

  • With a self-sufficient single suit, responder rebids his suit.
  • With a 2-suited hand including support, responder has two options. With no shortness, responder bids opener's suit. With a singleton or void in a side suit, responder bids that side suit.
  • With the balanced hand, opener bids NT cheaply.
Once opener has a picture of responder's hand, the best game is likely known and slam can be explored by cuebids and/or ace-asks.

Why use it? There is not much other use for these sequences after a strong jump shift, and the additional hand types added to these bids can be difficult to show otherwise. Usually it will be possible to begin cuebidding below game level to determine if slam is likely.

To really mess with the opponents, a 4th hand type can be added, a weak jump-shift to the suit to which opener will puppet. With this hand, reponder makes the jump shift and then passes when opener puppets. It should be noted, however, that this is very much not GCC legal.