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GENERAL BIDDING PRINCIPLES The bidding principles described here are not a set of universally accepted ideas, but a documentation of the particular principles the author has adopted. 1) In general, a jump to game or slam over any sort of notrump bid is a sign-off, unless the jumper has: -- bid three suits: Opener Responder 1H 2C 2H 2S 2NT 4H - slam try -- previously made a bid with slam connotations: Opener Responder 1D 2S 2NT 4S is obviously not a sign-off! The following are not invitational auctions: Opener Responder Opener Responder Opener Responder 1H 1S 1S 2NT 2NT 5D/6D 1NT 4H/4S 4S/6S This principle of "fast arrival" applies only to notrump bidding sequences. (Jeff Rubens of the Bridge World magazine has pretty well de- molished the "fast arrival" concept in general.) 2) The principle of "fast arrival" does not apply in sequences that involve suit bidding. In such cases, a jump raise to game when a lesser raise would be forcing implies that the quality of the suit(s) previously bid by the jumper is quite good, but there is little outside strength. Also, the jumper's hand should be at least somewhat better than has been promised up to the time of the jump. If all partner needs for slam is good suit quality in the jumper's suit(s), he/she can go on to slam. Opener Responder 1H 2C 2S 4H Responder has good clubs and hearts, nothing much else: S-2 H-KJxx D-765 C-AKJ10x. Opener can bid slam with S-A1085 H-AQ976 D-A2 C-97, pass with S-AK108 H-AQ976 D-Q32 C-Q. Opener Responder 1H 1NT 2S 4H In this case 3H would not be forcing, so 4H does not imply anything about suit quality, just a maximum hand: S-1032 H-J84 D-A652 C-A63. Opener Responder 1C 1D 2C 2S 3S 5C A 4C bid at this point would be forcing, but the 5C bid is not a "suit quality" bid. Responder has a strong hand with slam interest, and jumps to 5C only to promise a singleton or void in hearts. Opener Responder 2NT 3C 3D 4H/4S - "fast arrival," weak Responder has 6-4 in the majors and no interest in slam. This is a notrump bidding sequence, so "fast arrival" applies. 3) The bidding of three suits, including a jump, promises a singleton or void in the fourth suit, but there is at least one exception: When the last bid is a raise of partner's suit, and partner has bid and rebid just one suit, the raise denies a single- ton or void: Opener Responder 1H 1S 1NT 3C 3H 4H The 4H bid denies a singleton or void in diamonds, with which a 4D call would be made instead. See the chapter NON-JUMP SPLINTERS in the book "Marvin's Conventions and Treatments." 4) When a notrump probe gets doubled, a redouble by the next hand does not show strength in the doubled suit--it asks that partner bid notrump: South West North East Pass Pass 1D Pass 2C Pass 3C Pass 3S Dbl Rdbl North has S-92 H-A43 D-AQ964 C-A54. He redoubles to indicate that he would have bid 3NT if there had been no double. South should play the hand, so that her spade strength (Kxx?) won't be led through on the opening lead. With the major suit holdings reversed, North would pass over the double, despite the ace of spades, because he lacks a heart stopper. This redouble must be alerted. 5) When an opponent redoubles a takeout double (or a double that is primarily for takeout) of a suit bid, and the suit is one that only that opponent has bid, a pass over the redouble is for penalties. The passer wants to defend against the redoubled contract: South West North East 1H 2C Pass Pass Dbl Rdbl Pass South West North East 1D Pass 1H Pass 2D Pass Pass Dbl Rdbl Pass South West North East 1S Pass Pass Dbl Rdbl Pass In all three sequences, the pass over the redouble indicates a willingness to defend against the redoubled contract. When the suit has been bid by both opponents, however, or the redouble is made by the opponent who did not bid the suit, a pass over a redouble is non-committal: South West North East 1S Pass 2S Pass Pass Dbl Rdbl Pass South West North East 1S Dbl Rdbl Pass In both sequences, East's pass does not show a willingness to defend against the redoubled bid. It merely says that she has nothing worth showing at this time. When the double is for business (or more optional than takeout), a pass over any redouble shows a willingness (or resignation) to defend: South West North East 1C Pass 1H 1S Dbl Rdbl Pass - willing to defend 6) Immediate redoubles are not "S. O. S." They usually show a very strong hand, and tell partner not to be intimidated by the double: South West North East 1D 2C Dbl Rdbl If North's double is for business, East's redouble says that he expects 2C to make and does not want West to run. If it is a negative double, however, the redouble only shows the club ace or king in a (possibly weak) hand that cannot raise. A pass by South at this point is non-committal if the double is negative, since the redouble is made by the opponent who did not bid the suit. South West North East 1C Pass Pass Dbl Rdbl South has a strong hand with good clubs; the redouble is not a rescue request, although it does encourage North to bid if he has anything worth showing. Reopening redoubles (after two passes) ask for a rescue, but only at low levels, and only if partner has not participated in the auction: South West North East 1C Dbl Pass Pass Rdbl South wants to be rescued from 1C redoubled. South West North East 1S 2C Pass Pass 4S Dbl Pass Pass Rdbl South is not asking to be rescued! There is one situation when a redouble is S. O. S. even though both partners have participated in the auction: A responder to a takeout double may ask to be rescued after a minimum forced response: South West North East 1S Dbl Pass 2C Dbl Pass Pass Rdbl East no doubt has made a "weakness response" in clubs and wants to be rescued. She might have S-72 H-7632 D-J873 C-J76. If 2C had been a free bid (e.g., over a redouble by North), then the redouble would be to play. 7) When partner uses an artificial bid (e.g., unusual notrump, cue bid) to ask for a choice between two suits, and you have equal length--choose the lower ranking suit. With a doubtful unusual notrump, holding longer clubs than diamonds, it is good to know that partner will prefer clubs with equal length. The corollary is that when partner bids two suits naturally, you usually prefer the first bid suit with equal length (but there are many exceptions). Another corollary is that with 5-4 or 6-5 suits you should try to bid both suits rather than show them in some conventional way, as you would want to do with 4-5 or 5-6. 8) When an opposing voluntary bid has been raised immediately to the two or three level, all doubles are negative, not business: South West North East 1S 1NT 2S Dbl South West North East 1C 1S 2C Dbl In both cases East's double is for takeout, asking West to take another bid. South West North East 1C 1H 1S 2H Dbl South has too much to pass, and doesn't know what to bid: S-32 H-98 D-AQJ3 C-AKJ82. The double asks North to bid again. However: South West North East 1C Dbl Pass 1S 2C 2S Dbl - business (1S a forced bid) South West North East 1C 1S 2C Pass Pass 2S 3C Dbl - business North's raise to 3C was not "immediate." See the chapter ACTION DOUBLES in the book "Conventional Doubles." Another exception: When a takeout doubler of one major later doubles a raised bid in the other major, he is exposing a probable psych: South West North East 1H Dbl 1S Pass 2S Dbl - business double If the doubled opening had been in a minor, say 1C, the second double would be for takeout (e.g., a very strong 3-4-5-1 hand). 9) You can't double an overcall at the one or two level for business if the suit is bid on your left, unless partner has bid notrump: South West North East 1C Pass 1S 2D Pass Pass Dbl - for takeout (5-4-1-3?) A double of 2D by South would have been for business (suit bid on the right). South West North East 1NT 2S Pass Pass Dbl - for takeout (he bid the notrump) South West North East 1NT Pass Pass 2S Dbl - for business (direct double) South West North East 1NT Pass Pass 2D Pass Pass Dbl - business The last double is for business because North's partner has bid notrump. 10) Whenever your side has opened the bidding and an opponent doubles (for business) a completely artificial bid (i.e., a bid that implies absolutely nothing about that suit, which excludes splinter bids and cue bids), a redouble shows at least one stopper in that suit, a bid is non-committal, and a pass implies no stopper: South West North East 1NT Pass 2H Dbl Rdbl - heart stopper(s), doubleton spade 2S - three or four spades Pass - No heart stopper, spades may be good The 2H response is a transfer to spades. Note that the 2S bid says nothing about South's heart holding, although he probably has Kx or better. Otherwise he would pass to let North play spades (in case North has something like Kx). If South passes North can redouble to insist that South bid 2S. This redouble says nothing about hearts. A 2S bid by North, whether South has passed or redoubled, must be passed by South. To invite game in spades she must bid 3S (or 3H, to insist on the transfer). If partner has bid notrump strongly, the redouble is okay with only a potential stopper (e.g., Qx, Jxx). The assumption is that a person who has shown a good notrump hand probably has at least a little something in the doubled suit, making the "potential" as good as actual. The principle does not apply to Stayman 2C/3C or to 2D/3D re- sponses to Stayman after an opening notrump. Doubles of these bids require a different treatment. See the chapter WHEN THE OPPONENTS INTERVENE VS 1NT in the book "Notrump Bidding". The principle does not apply in these situations either: -- When a Blackwood or Gerber bid (or response) is doubled. DEPO, DOPI, etc., take precedence. -- Double of a Fourth Suit Artificial bid. See the chapter FOURTH SUIT ARTIFICIAL in the book "Marvin's Conventions and Treat- ments." -- Double of an artificial bid during Checkback Stayman sequences See the chapters CHECKBACK STAYMAN BY OPENER and CHECKBACK STAYMAN BY RESPONDER in the book "Marvin's Conventions and Treatments." 11) Whenever a 4NT bid would be a natural raise in notrump and spades have not been bid previously, a bid of 4S is usually an artificial notrump raise: -- If neither partner has bid a suit, 4S is merely a weaker raise than 4NT, which is therefore a highly invitational raise: Opener Responder 1NT/2NT/3NT 4S - mild interest in slam 4NT - strong interest in slam The 4S response to 1NT implies 15 HCP, while 4NT implies 16 HCP. -- If the 4S bidder has shown a suit previously, he implies that his suit is not strong: Opener Responder 1NT 2D - transfer to hearts 2H 4NT - notrump raise, good hearts 4S - notrump raise, weak hearts 3S - splinter, slam try 4C/4D - splinter bid The 4S notrump raise implies that responder's hearts need a good fit to be useful in a notrump slam. With a poor fit opener tends to sign off at 4NT, even with 18 HCP. Note that Gerber is not used immediately following a Jacoby transfer bid. If responder wanted to ask for aces, he could have used a Texas Transfer to 4H, after which 4NT is Roman Key Card Blackwood (or his first response could have been 4C, Gerber). Opener Responder 1H 2C 3NT 4S - notrump raise Responder's clubs need a good fit (e.g., two of the top four honors) to be useful for slam. Opener usually signs off with 4NT when lacking a good club fit. When a club fit is not important, responder bids 4NT to invite slam. The 4S artificial notrump raise is not used after a 2NT opening unless it is responder's first bid or follows a transfer to hearts: Opener Responder 2NT 4S - invitational notrump raise 4NT - stronger notrump raise Opener Responder 2NT 3C Any 4S - natural Opener Responder 2NT 3D 3H 4S - notrump raise, weakish hearts The 4S notrump raise is especially valuable after a 2NT or 3NT overcall, both of which (especially 3NT) are wide-range bids. The conventional raise does not apply when 4S is a Super Gerber bid. See the chapter SUPER GERBER in the book "Other Conventions and Treatments." It also does not apply when a 2NT responder rebids 4S after opener raises to 3NT: Opener Responder 1C 2NT 3NT 4S - Five spades, 19-20 HCP 12) When the opponents have bid a suit, a splinter bid in an unbid suit denies first or second round control of the opposing suit. A jump in the opposing suit is also a splinter bid, but implies nothing about the unbid suit(s). 13) When a splinter bidder follows with a 4NT bid on his very next turn to bid, that is Exclusion Blackwood. Partner does not show the ace of the splinter suit, because the 4NT bidder is void in that suit. 14) When competing at a high level, it is a stronger action to make a forcing pass and then pull partner's double than to bid im- mediately. With a strong hand you won't look unethical when you pull a double that partner has made after long thought. Another reason is that you may want to bid slam if partner bids, but stop at five if he doubles. Besides, why not bid right away with the weaker hand instead of letting partner agonize over a meaningless decision? Note that this policy does not apply to non-forcing passes. Pulling a double after a non-forcing pass is a weak action. If the double is pulled to a new suit, that is a cue bid: South West North East 1H Pass 2D 3S 4H 4S Pass Pass Dbl Pass 5C - cue bid, not a suit North's pull of the double after his forcing pass shows interest in slam. In order to bid clubs naturally, North would have to bid clubs immediately over 4S: South West North East 1H Pass 2D 3S 4H 4S 5C - natural, not a cue bid A player who doubles in the direct position instead of making a forcing pass is strongly suggesting that partner not go on. A reopening double is a little more optional. 15) Whenever first seat has opened with one of a suit, and third hand has bid a new suit, a bid by fourth hand of opener's suit is natural and non-forcing. An exception may occur when RHO bids a new suit over partner's 1NT overcall. See the chapter NOTRUMP OVERCALLS in the book "Defensive Bidding." 16) When is a pass forcing? At least in these cases: -- When either partner has previously made a bid that is forcing to game (but is not a game bid itself): South West North East 1S Pass 2NT 3H Pass - forcing South West North East 1H Pass 4H 4S Pass - not forcing -- When either partner has made a strong (not preemptive) raise to game: South West North East 1C Pass 1H 1S 4H 4S Pass - forcing -- When a bid has been made that is forcing to a limit situation. When is a pass not forcing? At least in these cases: -- Following a limit raise, when opener has not made a particularly strong rebid. -- When either partner has made a game bid that may be speculative or preemptive (i.e., the bid was not preceded by any strong call from either partner): South West North East 1H 1S 2H 3S 4H Pass Pass 4S Pass - not forcing -- When the passer has previously limited his hand (e.g., by a notrump bid): South West North East 1NT 2C 2S 4H Pass - not forcing -- A player who has shown nothing and who may have nothing cannot make a forcing pass and cannot be subjected to a forcing pass. A direct double by such a player suggests only "cards," not a particular desire that partner stop bidding, and a pass is neither forcing nor invitational: South West North East 1H 4C Pass Pass 4H 5C Pass - not forcing, weak Dbl - shows cards North's "cards" cannot be too impressive, in view of his pass to 4C, but his double is not a warning for partner to stop bidding. South West North East 1H 4S Pass Pass 5H Pass Pass 5S Pass - not forcing 17) When either partner has redoubled during an auction in which both have participated, a subsequent double by either partner is a business double.