The Penguin Book of Card Games: Everything You Need to Know to Play Over 250 Games (10 page)

3 of opener’s major suit if you hold at least four.

2 of a major over an opening minor if you hold at least four.

2 No Trump if your hand is balanced.

Otherwise: your own biddable suit at lowest level.

With 13-15 points, bid:

4 of opener’s major suit if you hold at least four.

3 of a major over an opening minor if you hold at least four.

3 No Trump if your hand is balanced.

3 of a suit of which you hold at least six.

With 16+ points, bid:

your own best suit one level higher than necessary (for example, 1 -2 , or 1 -3 ).

The jump-bid is mandatory, and forces to game.

Opening 2 (Two-club convention). You show 23-24 pts,

either balanced or with a strong suit and 5 quick tricks.

Partner must respond. Negative response is 2 .

Partner’s response:

Having no support, bid 2 (conventional).

With a good suit and 8+ pts or 11/2 quick tricks, bid it.

With 8+ points but no biddable suit, bid 2NT.

Opening 2 or (Strong two.) You show anything up to 22

points, at least 8 playing tricks, and one or two strong suits.

Partner’s response:

You must not pass. Having less than 11/2 quick tricks,

bid 2NT (conventional).

With 11/2 quick tricks and three-card trump support,

raise opener’s suit to 3.

To show 11/2 quick tricks and balanced hand, bid 3NT.

With a 5-card suit of your own and at least 11/2 quick

tricks, bid your suit at the lowest level.

Opening three of a suit (Pre-emptive bid). This shows

weakness in al but the suit bid, which wil be a long, strong

suit (7+) in a hand counting not more than 10 pts in al . The

purpose of this is to hinder the opponents from opening. It is

purpose of this is to hinder the opponents from opening. It is

wel made from third position, fol owing two passes, but

pointless from fourth position.

Partner’s response:

With 16 pts and at least 2 cards of opener’s suit, raise to

‘4’.

With 2+ sure tricks and cover in three unbid suits,

consider 3NT.

Otherwise, No Bid unless you can be sure of taking 2

tricks.

Opening 1 NT (weak). You show 12-14 pts (never more or

less) and a balanced hand. With 15-20 on a balanced hand,

bid the best suit first and No Trump next time round. A

balanced hand is 4-3-3-3 or 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2 if the 5 is a

minor suit.

Partner’s response:

With 0-10 points

If balanced, 2NT. If not, 2 of major suit or 3+ of very

long suit.

With 11-12 points

If balanced, 2NT. If not, 2 of major suit or 3+ of very

long suit.

With 13 points

If balanced, 3NT. If 5+ suit and 14+ pts, bid ‘3’ of it,

forcing to game.

With 11+ pts and 4 or more or

Bid 2 to ask for major suit (Stayman convention; see

below). If you have values for a possible slam

Bid 4 , asking for Aces (Gerber convention; see below).

Opening 1NT (strong). Some players prefer a strong NT

opening, requiring 15-17 or 16-18 points by prior agreement.

Some play strong when vulnerable, weak when not. For the

equivalent response to a strong NT, deduct 3 or 4 points from

those for a weak NT (above).

Opening 2NT. You show 20-22 pts and a balanced hand.

Partner’s response:

With 0-3 points, no bid.