The Penguin Book of Card Games: Everything You Need to Know to Play Over 250 Games (11 page)

With 0-3 points, no bid.

With 4-10 points, raise to 3NT if you hold a balanced hand, or

bid 3 of a suit of which you hold at least five.

With 11-12 points, raise to 4NT; with 13-14, raise to 6NT.

4. Opener’s re-bids

After opening 1 in a suit and receiving a response:

With 13-15 pts

If partner made a limit bid in your suit or No Trump, No Bid.

If partner changed suit, bid ‘2’ of opening suit if five held, or ‘2’ of partner’s, or new suit at lowest level.

With 16-18 pts Re-bid your opening suit one level higher.

With 19+ pts Re-bid your suit with jump bid or go straight to game.

With a balanced hand

If partner bid at ‘1’ level, bid 1NT on 15-16, 2NT on 17-18, 3NT on 19+.

If partner bid at ‘2’ level, bid 2NT on 15-16, 3NT on 18+.

After opening other than 1 in a suit and receiving a response:

If partner passed, re-bid only to show extra values.

If you opened NT and partner made a limit response, use your discretion.

If you opened 2 and partner denied with 2 (Stayman), you can bid 2 of a

major suit or NT.

If you opened 2 of another suit and partner denied with 2NT, you can pass.

5. Slam bidding

Having in the course of bidding identified a probable trump suit and possible values for a slam, either partner may inquire as to the other’s holding of Aces by bidding a conventional 4 (Gerber convention) or 4NT (Blackwood). Given an encouraging

response, a repeat at the 5 level asks for Kings. Gerber has the advantage of keeping the bidding level low and the bidding space wide, but may be confusing if clubs have been mentioned seriously.

Gerber:

4 asks for Aces. Response: 4 = none, 4 = one, 4 = two, 4NT = three, 5 =

four

5 asks for Kings. Response: 5 = none, 5 = one, 5 = two, 5NT = three, 6 =