Index
Weak Jump Shifts
Unusual over Unusual
OBAR
New Minor Forcing
4th Suit Forcing
Flannery Defense
Precision Defenses
After an opening bid of 1 of a suit, a jump shift to a new suit is natural and preemptive, unless superseded by some other convention on our card (e.g., Bergen Raises).
When the opponents have interfered with a bid showing 2 known suits,
Unusual over Unusual applies. A bid of one of their suits promises
game-invitational values or better, with the lower suit showing the lower of
the other two suits, and the higher showing the higher. Direct bidding of
one of the other two suits is natural (but alertable)
and denies the strength to invite.
When the opponents have agreed upon a suit, a direct bid or double
may be a little soft, so as to get into the bidding. Partner should expect
no more than if the call was made in the pass-out seat.
(1Y)-(2Y)-X: Take-out, possibly weak.
(1Y)-(2Y)-2Z (Z higher than Y),
(1Y)-(2Y)-X-2N,
1H-1S-1N-2C: Asking for a further description,
particularly a 3-card spade holding. Game invitational or better, with clubs
the better minor.
1H-1S-1N-2D: Asking for a further description,
particularly a 3-card spade holding. Game invitational or better, with
diamonds the better minor.
Because the New Minor Forcing sequence is available, major suit jumps become
invitational.
1H-1S-1N-3H: Invitational hand with 3 hearts.
1H-1S-1N-3S: Invitational hand with 6 spades.
As has been shown elswhere, in an uncontested auction in which the first
three bids have been different suits, a bid of the fourth
suit institutes a game force and is either entirely artificial (promises
nothing in the bid suit) or semi-artificial (tends to show the bid suit).
The latter case occurs when there are other available game-forcing bids (e.g.,
1C-1D-1H-1S or 1C-1S-2H-3D).
Partner should continue describing his/her hand after a Fourth Suit Force.
When Fourth Suit Forcing bids are available, jumps in previously bid suits
generally become invitational only.
(1Y)-(2Y)-3Z (Z lower than Y): Possibly a
soft bid for an overcall at that level -- the old "borrow a king" principle.
(1Y)-(2Y)-X-2Z-2N: Not
to play, but rather the "Scrambling Notrump" in search of a fit, asking for
partner to bid 4-card suits up the line.
Three New Minor Forcing sequences over an opening bid of 1 of a minor
are described here.
In addition, we use an NMF sequence over a Major suit opening:
(2D)-X: Advertising
a 1NT opener type hand. Willing to play or defend.
(1C)-(1D)-(1N): Treat as an opening strong notrump, defense system on (see here for a reminder), with the realization that any calls at this point promise opening strength.
(1C)-(1D)-X:
Two-suited hand showing both majors.
(1C)-1H,
(1C)-(1D)-1H:
Two-suited hand showing hearts and an unspecified minor.
1N asks which minor.
(1C)-1S,
(1C)-(1D)-1S:
Two-suited hand showing spades and an unspecified minor.
1N asks which minor.
(1C)-1N,
(1C)-(1D)-1N:
Two-suited hand showing both minors.
(1C)-2Y,
(1C)-(1D)-2Y:
Natural jump overcall
(1C)-1Y,
(1C)-2C,
(1C)-2D,
(1C)-2H,
(1C)-1Y,
(1C)-X,
(1C)-1N,
The two-level suit bids show that suit and the next higher one.
(1C)-2C,
(1C)-2D,
(1C)-2H,
(1C)-2S,
(1C)-2N,
CRaSh gets its name from the mnemonic: Color, RAnk, SHape. Two-suited
calls identify which of thes three characteristics the suits have in common,
but not which pair. For instance, if overcaller doubles (two suits of the
same color), they may be either the reds or the blacks. Partner should make
a Total Tricks call (figuring partner for about 4.5 cards in the suit and
taking into account the opponents' likely holding) that is a preference in the
most pessimistic strain. Continuing this example, if doubler's partner has
3-5-5-0 shape, spades should be bid -- the preference in the pessimistic
strain. Partner can then correct. If there is bidding room for such a
correction (as is between spades and diamonds), overcaller can by agreement
show compared length. In this case, notrump would show no preference, bidding
to the diamonds would show a longer suit there, and bidding to the clubs would
show longer hearts. Suggested algorithm: If one bidding slot is available,
it shows a preference for the less cheap suit, while a direct correction shows
the cheaper suit or no preference. If two slots are available, the intervening
suit shows a preference for the less cheap suit, notrump shows no
preference, and a direct correction shows a preference for the cheaper suit).
(1C)-X:
Two-suited hand showing suits of the same color.
(1C)-1D:
Two-suited hand showing suits of the same rank (majors or minors).
(1C)-1H,
(1C)-1N:
Two-suited hand showing suits of the same shape (round or pointed).
Example: (1C)-1D-2H-2S-4D indicates the
following:
Overcaller either has both majors or both minors.
(1C)-(1D)-1Y:
Natural.
(1C)-(1D)-2C:
Two-suited hand showing clubs and another suit. 2D
is a pass-or-correct call asking what other suit.
(1C)-(1D)-2D:
Two-suited hand showing diamonds and an unspecified major.
2H (pass-or-correct) asks which major.
(1C)-(1D)-2H:
Two-suited hand showing both majors.
(1C)-(1D)-1Y:
Natural.
(1C)-(1D)-X:
Single-suited hand. Partner is asked to keep the bidding open at the cheapest
level if necessary with a pass-or-correct call.
(1C)-(1D)-1N:
Two-suited hand showing diamonds and spades.
(1C)-(1D)-2C:
Two-suited hand showing both minors.
(1C)-(1D)-2D:
Two-suited hand showing both red suits.
(1C)-(1D)-2H:
Two-suited hand showing both majors.
(1C)-(1D)-2S:
Two-suited hand showing both black suits.
(1C)-(1D)-2N:
Two-suited hand showing clubs and hearts.
(1C)-1S: Natural.
Advancer is ready to compete higher if overcalles's suits are the minors,
but in case the suits are the majors, places the contract at 2H.
Overcaller's 2S bid shows minors, with longer diamonds than clubs.
Advancer places the contract accordingly.
DTS Home
Notrump Openings
Major Suit Openings
Minor Suit Openings
2-level Openings
Special Doubles
Overcalls and Cues
Over Doubles
Preempts: Ours and Theirs
Slam Bidding
Leads & Carding