Silent Club
by Rob Forster
Version 1.0
Introduction: What is the “Silent Club”?
The Silent Club is not, as one might initially expect, a strong club bidding system. Rather, it is a general modification to any of a class of Precision-like strong club systems where 2
is normally a natural and limited opening. In particular, limited hands that would normally open naturally in their club suit instead pass (in first and second seat). The name is a reference to the fact that in these methods a good hand with clubs may not initially open the bidding.
Passing initially with 2 and 2
Precision Hands:
The hand types in Precision that have primary clubs (5+ with clubs the longest suit, possibly with one or both 4 card majors) and also hands that are 4414 with short diamonds are typically opened either 2 or 2 in Precision. These are the hands that will instead pass in the Silent Club. Additionally, one may also pass with exactly 3325 shape and values outside of the 1NT opening. Why do we do this?
- The 2 and 2 Precision openings have flaws which are improved upon by passing.
- 2 and 2 will be now available for weak preemptive openings (in 1st/2nd).
- The Precision 1 opening now promises 3+ diamonds instead of 2+ (in 1st/2nd).
The 2 Precision opening of 10-15 with 6+ or 5/4M is not one of the strongest parts of the Precision system. Although it is somewhat preemptive, constructive auctions are hampered by the safety concerns of starting fit exploration at the 2 level. Consequently most responding hands with less than 10 points are unable to proceed and a better contract (like 2M on a 4-4 or 5-4 fit) may be missed. Similarly the precision 2 opening showing a 3 suited hand with short diamonds is both quite infrequent and inconvenient for competitive reasons to include in a 1 opener. Starting these hands at 2 is both awkward for signing off in the right strain, as well as dangerous should the opponents hold balanced hands and the good values.
My suggestion is that these hands pass as their opening “bid”. Nothing else need change with the opening bids in a strong club system, although obviously 2 and 2 are now available for alternative uses (such as a weak two bids, multi, 2 suited bids, etc). The response structure I describe below is both GCC legal (as the pass is not forcing) and will almost always reach a better contract than the 2 Precision opener in uncontested auctions. Rarely we may play 2M in a 4-3 major fit when a better club fit is present. The precision 2 hands will also reach a better contract by passing initially, which includes more often finding the right major fit when responder would have had to guess otherwise (i.e. opener is (43)15 and responder is equal in the majors with 4+ each), or playing in 2 which is obviously difficult to do systematically after a 2 opener.
So far the Silent Club is very simple. In 1st and 2nd seat you just pass certain limited but decent hands. The test of these methods will be how successfully we can revise our 3rd and 4th seat bidding methods to handle these strong passed hands. The strong 2/2 hands are 4% of all hands and about 12% of all initial passes (one of 8-9 passes is strong). A perhaps unnecessary word of warning – the response methods are fairly different and somewhat artificial opposite a 3rd/4th opener (as compared to those opposite a 1st/2nd one. But if you are playing precision, fancy systems are probably your thing :)
Avoiding the Pass Out:
A 1st or 2nd seat pass in the Silent Club is not forcing – partner can and will pass with a bad hand. However, in order not to miss good contracts opposite a possible 15 point passed club hand (assuming a strong 16+ 1), we will open quite light 3rd and 4th seat. By opening all 8+ point hands we can be assured that almost no games and very few part scores will be missed (as we get the feel for how auctions continue with these very light hands, certain “bad” shapes may merit passing with a minimum 8 count). Even opening this light it’s possible that we occasionally will miss a part score when it is “our” hand, such as when we are dealt a maximum club hand opposite a maximum pass. In that case, the most we could have is a 22 point balance of strength (15 vs 7), and even in those rare cases a pass out may still be avoided if the opponents enter the bidding. These should be rare.
Opening all 8 point hands is not too much of a difference from a light opening system, where pretty much all 10 counts are opened, as well as distributional 8 and 9 point hands. In 3rd seat, some light lead directing bids are made with this strength anyway. Some hands might have passed out a minimum in 4th seat (esp NV when partner is more limited playing a 10-12 NT), but these must now be opened to cater to a strong passed partner. Still, while pass out results are typically good in these cases (the opponents usually missed their 11 vs 11 partial), these are quite rare. The small price paid by mandatory 4th seat openers with 8 points should be offset by benefits of the now available 2 and 2 weak bids and superior constructive auctions when pass shows an opening hand.
Revised Opening Bids in 3rd/4th seat:
For comparison, I will describe the changes from my favorite Precision-style strong club system with light openings (Rule of 18) and 5 card majors. The opening bids are mostly the same in 3rd and 4th position, although there are usually a few new hand types added to each of the natural suit openings. Nevertheless, all hands that would normally open 1, 1, 1
/
, or 1NT in 1st/2nd seat continue to do so, and the bidding continuations remain mostly the same (with the exception of a few specialized 2/1 bids by a PH).
In addition to the “real openers” under the Rule of 18, define a class of “sub-minimum” hands worse than a real opener, that have 8-9 points and are typically balanced, semi-balanced, or otherwise flawed with their limited strength outside their long suit(s). These hands would pass in 1st or 2nd seat but will now open in case partner has a strong pass. Sub-minimum hands will try to signoff at their first opportunity, often by passing responder’s bid or making a specialized weak response.
In 3rd/4th seats, 2 reverts to a natural limited bid showing primary clubs with a 5+ suit and at most one 4+ major. Real 2 openers will have 10-15 points as in Precision, but some sub-minimum hands with 5+ clubs are also included so the full range is really 8-15. With both minors, 5/4 hands are opened 1, but any minors hand with 6+ and shorter diamonds will open 2.
In 3rd/4th seats, 2, 2, and 2 are used as natural weak 2 bids, typically showing ~3-9 points and a 6 card suit. While the preempting methods used in 1st and 2nd seat are largely independent of the Silent Club approach, it is recommended that single suited weak two bids be used in 3rd and 4th position. There is some overlap between a light Rule of 18 opening of 1/1/1 and a weak two bid of 2/2/2 in terms of values. This is intentional, allowing minimum real openers with awkward rebids to make a weak two bid (a strong suggestion to play there) instead of making a more forward-going opening at the one level. For example, minimum 6+ single-suited hands with short clubs (< 2) will prefer to make a weak 2 bid than open at the one level.
In 3rd/4th seats, the classic Precision 2 hands with 10-15 points and either 4414 or 4405 shapes do not have a Precision 2 opening available as 2 is used as a weak two bid instead. These hands are added to the 1 opener. While this is a slight departure from the 5 card majors style, these are rare hands and we will largely ignore this possibility of a good hand opening 1 with only a 4 card suit. Continuations will allow us to find our spade fit or NT when either partner has invitational or better values, although we may rarely play 2 in a 4-3 heart fit when a better strain was available.
Sub-minimum hands will open 1, 1, 1, 2, or 2/2/2 in 3rd/4th seat. Sub-minimum hands open 4+ card majors with priority over most longer minor suits (although judgment can be used here). Note: real openers still use 5 card majors with the rare exception for Precision 2 shapes mentioned above. With a sub-minimum and 4-4 in both majors, open 1. Opening a weak 2/2/2 (also in 4th seat) has priority over 1/1/1 for all sub-minimum hands with a 6+ suit. For a sub-minimum hand, 2 shows 5+ clubs and no 4 card major. For example, (332)5 are fine shapes for a sub-minimum 2 opening.
Other sub-minimum hands open 1, promising a 3+ suit (either 4+ or 3334, also including 4/5 shapes). Regarding NT openings in 3rd/4th seat, these are still vulnerability and position dependent as usual. In addition, a 1 opener could be 8-9 balanced with 3+ diamonds and no 4 card major. The normal bidding plan for balanced hands is summarized below:
| Balanced Hand type | Vul or 4th seat | NV in 3rd seat |
| 12+-15 | 1NT | 1, rebid 1NT to show 13-15 |
| 10-12 | 1 (2+), rebid 1NT |
1NT |
| 8-9 no 4-card major | 1 (2+), pass preferably or rebid a suit naturally (not NT). |
1 (2+), pass preferably or rebid a suit naturally (not NT). |
To summarize the new opening rules after a pass, we have:
| P-1 |
16+ strong (unchanged) |
| P-1 |
8-15 3+, or balanced 2+ (10-12- Vul/4th or 13-15 NV) |
| P-1M | 8-15 4+M (almost always 5+M for Rule of 18 or better hands) |
| P-1NT | 10-12 or 12+-15 (unchanged) |
| P-2 |
8-15 5+ (6th club or 5/4M if 10+ points) |
| P-2 |
3-9, 6+ card weak two bid (has priority over 1, downgrades possible) |
| P-2M | 3-9, 6+ card weak two bid (has priority over 1M, downgrades possible) |
A Quick Word on Values:
In general, in the discussions that follow we will distinguish between 3 classes of values by the strong passed hand – minimum, invitational, and maximum, which roughly correspond to 10-11, 12-13, and 14-15 points. Opener’s values are shown in 4 classes – sub-minimum (worse the Rule of 18), minimum, invitational, and maximum (but use judgment of course especially in light of fitting club values). Roughly speaking, we assume (invitational + invitational) = game/4m or (maximum + minimum) = game/4m, while all combinations involving sub-minimum hands pretty much give up on game. With both maximums, we play game/5m and may investigate for optimistic slams. For simplicity, these terms for relative values are still used in sequences where the auction becomes game forcing. Inv- and Inv+ will be used to refer to the sets (minimum or invitational) and (invitational or maximum) in the obvious way.
New Responses by Strong Passed Hands:
Many 2/1 PH bidding sequences don’t make much sense as “natural” (5+ suit, ~10+ points) in a light opening bid system, so we use these bids to show the stronger hands now possible in our pass without much loss. For the most part, a strong passed hand will bid a natural 2 over a 3rd/4th seat 1/1/1 opener unless it holds a fit for opener. With a fit, 2 is bid, being either Drury (over 1M) or Inverted (over 1). Non-raises of 2+ are specialized bids for very distributional passed hands.
| 3rd/4th seat opening bid | first response by a strong PH |
| 1 (art strong, 16+) |
normal positive responses |
| 1 (2+, 8-15) |
2: 4+ clubs, 10-15 points, < 4, 4M ok 2 : 4+, 10-15 points (inverted), no 4M2M: very distributional 6 /5M(note that strong hands do NOT respond 1M) |
| 1M (4+, 8-15) | 2: 4+, 10-15 points, < 3 M support, 4OM ok 2 : Drury, 3+ M support, 10-15 points, 4OM ok2OM: very distributional 6 /5OM(again note strong hands will not bid 1 over 1) |
| 1NT (bal, 10-12/12+-15) | normal responses (2 GF by PH over weak NT) |
| 2 (5+, 8-15) |
2 or 2NT as inquiries (2 inv-, 2NT for max hands) |
| 2 (6+, ~3-9) |
2NT Ogust or 3 natural NF |
| 2M (6+, ~3-9) | 2NT Ogust or 3 natural NF |
2 Drury to show a Fitting Strong Passed Hand after P-1M:
Using 2 as 1-way reverse Drury allows 2 to be used as a natural NF response for club hands without a fit for the major. Continuations after 1-2 Drury use 2-way game tries and an artificial 2 rebid, while those after 1-2 Drury are more natural due to space constraints and to cater to possible 4 card 1 openers. After P-1/-2 showing a 3+ M fit and 10-15 points (usually clubs too, but not necessarily if partner could have passed a balanced 12 count), responses are as follows:
| Opener’s Rebid | Drury Continuations (over P-1-2) |
Drury Continuations (over P-1-2) |
| 2 (over 1) |
-- | artificial and forcing - any minimum, or natural 4+ with Inv+ values (see below) |
| 2M | sub-minimum, might have only 4M. Very good PH’s with a 4M fit may still make a 2-way game try over 2M, but most will pass | |
| 2 (over 1) |
Inv+ with 4+ (might have opened with only 4). , NT bids natural |
-- |
| 2NT | Inv+ help suit game try in (but with less than 4) |
Inv+ artificial game try, requesting cheapest help suit acceptance |
| 3m | Inv+ help suit game try | Inv+ short suit game try |
| 3 (over 1) |
-- | Inv+ short suit game try |
| 3M | minimum (real) opener, ~9-11 5+M | invitational, trump game try |
| 3NT | maximum, balanced with stoppers, choice of games | |
| 3/4/4/4 |
splinter, maximum values, slam try | |
| 4M | maximum, no shortness or slam interest | |
In spades, since we have an extra step of 2 below our 2 signoff, this can be used to both look for 4-4 heart fits and also to stop at 2 when opener has a minimum (contrast with opening 1 where 2 forces all real openers to the 3 level). The artificial 2 response after Drury shows either a minimum or a better hand also with 4+ hearts. All inv- responders will bid 2 waiting to cater to opener’s possible minimum (who will then pass), while opener’s heart rebids over 2 are natural and show 5, with other bids showing 5+/4 and inviting game. With a maximum hand, responder may bid higher than 2 waiting, making a suit bid (cue/splinter) in support of spades. Alternatively, with a maximum and interest in hearts, responder may bid 2NT (with 3) or 3 (with 4).
After P-1-2-2 (Any minimum, or inv+ with 4+ )
| 2 |
waiting, any hand with inv- values, NF | |
| P | any minimum (other bids below promise 4+ and inv+) |
|
| 2NT | artificial game try (asking for help and/or heart support, implies exactly 4) |
|
| 3m | short suit game try (implies exactly 4) |
|
| (after either 2NT/3m game tries, heart bids are natural 4 card support, NF) | ||
| 3 |
invitational with 5 (NF) |
|
| 4m | splinter, maximum with exactly 4 |
|
| 4 |
maximum with 5 (NF) |
|
| 2NT | maximum with 3 (GF) requests hearts clarification (3 shows 5, others 4) |
|
| 3m | max, cue for |
|
| 3 |
inv+ with 5 (agrees hearts, requests cue.) |
|
| 3 |
inv values | |
| 4m | splinter for |
|
| 4 |
4, min values (pass/correct) |
|
| 4 |
min values, no heart suit | |
| 3m | cue bid, maximum (agrees spades) | |
| 3 |
max 4 (4M signoff, others cue for ) |
|
| 4 |
very strong clubs, maximum (agrees spades) | |
| 4/ |
splinter, maximum (agrees spades) | |
| 4 |
maximum, no shortness or cue | |
In hearts, bidding is more natural. After P-1-2-2 showing inv+ values and a 4+ spade suit, responder should cater to the possible 4-4 major suit opener. As such, major bids show 4 card support while NT bids deny any additional major length beyond the 3 shown with Drury. Minor suit bids are natural game tries or cue bids. In the case of cue bids, responder will have a max may pull hearts to spades to show this later.
After P-1-2-2 (inv+ values, 4+ (might be 4414 or 4405, as well as 4+/5+/)
| 2NT | min with only 3 , <4 NF (game tries in ) |
| 3m | help suit game try (or advance cue with max – may have 4 and correct later) |
| 3 |
min 4, NF |
| 3 |
min 4, NF |
| 3NT | inv+ with only 3, <4, stopper (new bids cues for ) |
| 4 |
max, 4, good clubs |
| 4 |
max, 4, splinter |
| 4 |
inv 4 |
| 4 |
inv 4 |
2 Inverted to show a Fitting Strong Passed Hand after P-1:
With 4+ (and 6+), a strong PH can make an inverted raise of a 3rd/4th seat 1 opener. A Vulnerable balanced hand with 10-12 can make the same bid, and as usual, this would deny a 4 card major. Since major fits are generally out of the question barring a very distributional diamond opener, the continuations primarily involve checking stoppers for 3N and/or values for 5m. Since there will often be a fit in both minors, 3 is often a signoff offering a choice of strains while 3 (the known fit) is invitational.
| P-1-2*-? |
Inverted Diamond Raise Continuations |
| P | any sub-minimum |
| 2M | stopper in M and not in OM (or cue bid, or 6/5M and inv- values). (see below) |
| 2NT | both majors stopped, inv- values. (see below) |
| 3 |
fit, no major stoppers with inv- values (3/3NT to play, 4m invites, new suits cue for ) |
| 3 |
no major stoppers with inv- values (3NT to play, 4m invites, new suits cue for ) |
| 3M | maximum with 6/5M (3NT,4,4M to play, others agree ) |
| 3NT | both majors stopped, maximum |
| 4m | maximum, inviting 5m |
After a 2M or 2NT rebid by opener showing major stopper(s), the focus becomes on values for 3NT and/or the status of missing stoppers. Invitations after 2NT use 3 as weak choice of minors and 3 as invitational (both NF), while higher bids are game forcing.
| bid | responses to P-1-2-2NT (inv- with both majors stopped) |
responses to P-1-2-2M (any values with stopper in M) |
| P | (a rare match point choice I guess) | -- |
| 2 (over 2) |
-- | artificial, inv with stopper in . (see below) |
| 2NT | -- | over 2: minimum with stopper in over 2 : inv- with stopper in . (see below) |
| 3 |
minimum (pass/correct to 3) |
minimum, no OM stopper (pass/correct to 3) |
| 3 |
invites 3NT | invitational values but no OM stopper |
| 3M | maximum, shortness slam try (4m agrees m, else 3NT) |
3M: maximum, 3M fragment (3NT, 4/5m, 4M to play) 3OM: maximum, no stopper in OM (3NT, 4/5m to play) |
| 3NT | maximum | maximum, stopper in OM |
| bid | opener rebids after P-1-2-2-2 (stopper in , inv values) |
opener rebids after P-1-2-2M-2NT (stopper in OM, min or inv- values) |
| P | -- | minimum, prefers NT to 3m |
| 2NT | (a rare match point choice I guess) | -- |
| 3 |
minimum, signoff with club fit | over 2M=: minimum signoff with club fit over 2M= : artificial invite (3 declines, else 3NT or show 3M) |
| 3 |
minimum, signoff | minimum signoff |
| 3M | inv values, 6/5M shape |
maximum, cue bid (slam try, 3NT or cue) |
| 3OM | inv+ values, transfer to 3NT | maximum, cue bid (slam try, 3NT or cue) |
| 3NT | inv+ values, willing to declare 3NT | maximum |
Continuations in Strong Passed Hand Auctions P-2-?:
After a 3rd/4th seat precision 2 opener, we basically respond as if we were an unpassed hand where 2 is an invitational inquiry and 2NT is a strong one. A few small modifications are needed to stop in 3 (with the big known fit) when the opener could be on 8-9 with only 5 clubs.
| bid | opener’s responses to 2 inv- inquiry |
opener’s responses to a 2NT strong inquiry |
| 2M | inv- with 4+M (now 2NT/3M invite and 3/P declines) |
-- |
| 2NT | inv with 6+ and no 4M (3 signoff) |
-- |
| 3 |
signoff, any submin, or min with 6+ and no 4M |
signoff, sub-minimum |
| 3 |
unbalanced maximum, either with 4+ or long (check for NT stoppers, else responder picks 4/5 ) |
unbalanced inv-, either with 4+ or long (bid stoppers for NT or openers picks 4/5 ) |
| 3M | 4+M, maximum | 4+M |
| 3NT | balanced maximum | balanced, inv- values |
| 4 |
maximum long clubs, no interest in NT (invites 5) |
maximum long clubs (5 to play, else agrees ) |
| 4 |
-- | 6/5 maximum |
| 4M | -- | 6/5M maximum |
Continuations in Non-Fitting Strong Passed Hand Auctions P-1//-2:
When a strong passed hand lacks a fit for opener’s suit, his response will almost always be a natural NF 2 response barring extreme distribution. This shows 5+ clubs almost always (except for P-1-2 with 4414) and may conceal one or both unbid 4 card majors. Sub-minimum hands must pass 2, while bidding on by opener shows normal values and (almost always) a 5 card major if 1M was opened (the 4414 shapes opening 1 will not have trouble over a 2 response as there is a big fit). The rebid structure is very similar regardless of the opening bid – 2 is an artificial asking bid with inv- values while 2NT is a GF asking bid. Rebids of 2, 2, and 3 are natural and limited, while any bids of 3+ are show maximum values and are forcing to game or 4m.
| opener’s rebid P-1 /1M-2 |
1 opened |
1 opened |
1 opened |
| P | any sub-minimum | ||
| 2 |
inv- artificial asking bid -- almost all inv- hands |
inv- artificial asking bid -- almost all inv hands -- min hands with 5 /2-- min hands with 4 and 3 |
inv- artificial asking bid -- all inv hands w/o 5 -- min hands with 2 -- min hands with 3 and M interest |
| 2 |
inv- NF reverse 6/5 |
min long , or 5 and 1- |
inv- 5+, or 4 min and 1- |
| 2 |
inv- NF reverse 6/5 |
inv- NF reverse 6/5 |
min long , or 5 and 1- |
| 2NT | max artificial asking bid | ||
| 3 |
min 3+C no interest in M’s | ||
| 3 |
max long (no 4M) |
max 5/5+ |
max 5/5+ |
| 3 |
max reverse 6/5 |
max long |
max 5/5+ |
| 3 |
max reverse 6/5 |
max reverse 6/5 |
max long |
| 3NT | max, unbid stoppers | ||
After a non-fitting weak rebid of 2 or 2 (over P-1M-2), responder can pass or scramble with a min hand. Bids over 3 are GF, and 3 in particular is a GF inquiry.
The responses to the 2 and 2NT asking bids are fairly similar regardless of what the opening bid was. Typically major suits are shown up the line (show a new 4OM, or show 2M support whichever is cheapest). When partner opened 1M, going past 2M promises either a 6th or inv+ values. With weak hands, the auction will typically stop in 2M (5-2 after 1M opened), 2NT (if one side has inv values), or 3 (on 8+ fit, or long clubs opposite inv values).
| responder’s rebid P-1 //-2-2 |
1 opened |
1 opened |
1 opened |
| 2 |
inv- 4 |
min 4/5 only (hopefully to) |
inv- 4 |
| 2 |
inv- 4 (not 4) |
inv- 4. If min, also 6+ |
inv- 2 (not 4) |
| 2NT | inv 6+ bal (no 4M) |
inv 6+ (not 4) |
inv 6+ (not 4 or 2) |
| 3 |
inv- 6+, unbal if inv |
min 6+ (not 4) |
min 6+ (not 4 or 2) |
| 3 |
max long unbalanced |
||
| 3 |
max 4 |
max 2 (may have 4) |
max 4 (may have 2) |
| 3 |
max 4 (not 4) |
max 4 (not 2) |
max 2 (not 4) |
| 3NT | max bal (no 4M) | max 6+ stoppers, short |
max 6+ stoppers, short |
After a potentially minimum response to the 2 inquiry (2M, 2OM, 3), opener can pass or scramble, looking for either a fit in a major or else 2NT (which responder will pull to 3 without extras). Returning to 3 directly shows an invitational hand with a club fit (ie P-1X-2-2-2M-3 inv 3+). Bids higher than 3 are natural and show invitational values. If responder’s values aren’t clarified yet these are NF, whereas if responder has promised inv values (by a 2NT response) then the auction is forced to game/4m.
| responder’s rebid P-1 /1M-2-2NT |
1 opened |
1 opened |
1 opened |
Relay responses after 3 -3 (asking) |
| 3 |
max with 4M, or inv- long unbal |
any max, or inv- long unbal |
any max, or inv- long unbal |
-- |
| 3 |
max long unbal |
max 6/4+ |
max 6/4+ |
-- |
| 3 |
inv- 4 |
inv- 2 (maybe 4) |
inv- 4 (maybe 2) |
max with (maybe ) |
| 3 |
inv- 4 |
inv- 4 (not 2) |
inv- 2 (not 4) |
max with (not ) |
| 3NT | inv- bal 6+ no 4M |
inv- balanced 6+, short |
inv- balanced 6+, short |
inv- long unbal |
With a minimum hand (10-11) 5/4M and short clubs, consider passing 2 since the alternative if unlucky is to end in 2NT on a misfit (or worse 3NT if partner gets optimistic with his 12-13 count). 5/4 intermediate hands will not be able to invite 3NT after a 2 response (hence the suggestion to pass 5/4 minimums so this 2NT is sounder). 5/4 minimum hands will not be able to look for a spade partial after a 2 response unless they also possess a club fit.
Continuations in Strong Passed Hand Auctions 2M Jumpshifts or New Suit 2/1’s:
Rarely we make a new suit bid of 2 or 2 over a one level opener to show a 6/5M hand with clubs and the major bid. We use a Lebensohl like structure of 2NT relaying to 3 to show weaker hands while stronger hands bid directly. Going through the 2NT relays shows a weaker and/or more club-oriented hand than direct bids, while direct bids are stronger and less oriented. Bids in the 4th suit (clubs being implied) are GF but not natural.
For direct bids (not using the 2NT relay), all hands are maximums except those that support one of responder’s suits, ie P-1X-2M-3 (inv-) and P-1X-2M-3M (inv). Going through the 2NT relay, all hands are weaker, although maximums in support of clubs can bid the 4th suit or 3NT+ after the relay. For the chart below where responder has 6/5, let X= or and consider the auction P-1X-2.
| bid | opener’s rebid over P-1X-2 (showing a 6 /5 shape) |
opener’s rebid after 2NT relaying to 3 |
| P | subminimum, preference to |
subminimum, preference to |
| 2NT | relay to 3 (see next column) --> |
-- |
| 3 |
inv- with fit |
-- |
| 3X | max with long X | inv- with long X |
| 3Y | max, stopper ask, tolerance |
max, fit, cuebid (3NT rejects) |
| 3 |
inv with fit |
min with fit |
| 3NT | max, stopper in Y, less tolerance |
max, stopper in Y, tolerance |
| 4 |
max, fit, cue bid |
max, fit, inviting 5 or cuebidding |
| 4X | max, fit, cue bid |
max, fit, cuebid |
| 4Y | max, fit, cue bid |
max, fit, splinter |
| 4 |
max, fit, no slam interest |
max, fit, splinter |
For cases where responder bids 2, these are simple methods using a similar 2NT Lebensohl relay (fancier methods would use 2 as an inv+ value ask and 2NT as weaker Lebenshol). The fancier methods would allow distinguishing between min and inv values on hands with club support or a long single suiter in opener’s bid suit.
| bid | opener’s rebid over P-1-2 (showing a 6 /5 shape) |
opener’s rebid after 2NT relaying to 3 |
| P | subminimum, preference to |
subminimum, preference to |
| 2NT | relay to 3 (see next column) --> |
-- |
| 3 |
inv- with fit |
-- |
| 3 |
max with long |
inv- with long |
| 3 |
inv with fit |
min with fit |
| 3 |
max, fit, cuebid |
max, fit, cuebid |
| 3NT | max, stopper in , less tolerance |
max, stopper in , tolerance |
| 4 |
max, fit, cue bid |
max, fit, inviting 5 or cuebidding |
| 4 |
max, fit, cue bid |
max, fit, cuebid |
| 4 |
max, fit, no slam interest |
max, fit, splinter |
| 4 |
-- | max, fit, splinter |
| bid | opener’s rebid over P-1-2 (showing a 6 /5 shape) |
opener’s rebid after 2NT relaying to 3 |
| P | subminimum, preference to |
subminimum, preference to |
| 2NT | relay to 3 (see next column) --> |
-- |
| 3 |
inv- with fit |
-- |
| 3 |
max, stopper ask, tolerance |
max, fit, cuebid (3NT rejects) |
| 3 |
inv with fit |
min with fit |
| 3 |
max with long and slam interest |
inv with long |
| 3NT | max, stopper in , less tolerance |
max, stopper in , tolerance |
| 4 |
max, fit, cue bid |
max, fit, inviting 5 or cuebidding |
| 4 |
max, fit, cue bid |
max, fit, splinter |
| 4 |
max, fit, no slam interest |
max, fit, splinter |
| 4 |
max with long , no slam interest |
max, fit, cuebid |
Select Competitive Bidding Examples by a Strong Passed Hand:
In general, doubles are takeout. If at a low level, especially where clubs could be bid naturally, double suggests both clubs and a (unbid) major. For example,P-(1M)-P-(1NT)- |
takeout, +OM |
| P-(1M)-P-(2M)- |
takeout, +OM (with a better hand/shape at the higher level) |
| P-P-1-(1M)- |
negative with 4OM (not necessarily a strong PH) |
| P-P-1/M-(1NT)- |
penalty oriented strong PH (maximum values or running clubs) |
| P-P-1/M-(1NT)-2 |
natural strong PH, NF |