Major Raises This is version 2.0 (2/13/92), alterations suggested by Walter. This is version 2.1 (2/21/92), alterations to Soloway auctions. This is version 2.2 (3/20/92), addition of passed hand methods. This is version 3.0 (8/7/92), Roberto suggestions, Mike version This is version 3.1 (9/23/92), Muchoscary dumped, Soloway inversion added This is version 3.1R (12/4/92), Roberto-preferences (16-18 splinters) Responses to 1 Heart Openings ========= == = ===== ======== 1H-? 1S natural, forcing, 5+ spades, 6+ HCP 1NT semiforcing, can include 3 hearts if 10 losers or 10-12 balanced 2C natural, forcing, can be invitational 2D natural, forcing, can be invitational 2H 6-10, 3 or 4 hearts, normal raise 2S Strong Jump Shift, unidentified suit, 16+ 2NT Muchoscary 2NT 3C Limit raise or 16-18 splinter 3D Singleton or void splinter or Bergen 3NT 3H Preemptive raise 3S 4-1-4-4 shape, 12+-15 HCP 3NT 12-15 balanced, 2 hearts 4C 16-18 balanced, 3 hearts 4D superlimit raise 4H preemptive, not a good one 4S RKCB 4NT 19 HCP, balanced, 2 hearts Rebids ====== Responses to 1NT semiforcing: --------- -- --- ------------ 1H-1NT; ? Pass 5-3-3-2 11-13- or 5-4-2-2 bad hearts, submin, or other hands close to that. The hand must not be willing to accept a limit raise. 2C 11-18, not forcing, 3+ clubs 2D 11-18, not forcing, 3+ diamonds (3-3 in minors bids clubs) 2H 11-15, not forcing, 6+ hearts 2S 16+, natural reverse, forcing, Lebensohl on 2NT 17+-19-, usually balanced, not forcing, transfers on 3C 19+, game forcing, 3+ clubs, usually natural clubs 3D 19+, game forcing, 3+ diamonds, usually natural diamonds 3H 16-18, good 6+ hearts, not forcing 3NT to play 4H to play Soloway Auctions ------- -------- 1H-2S; ? 2NT Almost always 3C 6-5 3D 6-5 3H Solid suit 3S 6-5 1H-2S; 2NT-? 3C Soloway in clubs 3D Soloway in diamonds 3H Solid or semi-solid spades 3S Soloway in spades, heart support, no stiff 3NT 16-18 balanced 4C Soloway in spades, heart support, stiff club 4D Soloway in spades, heart support, stiff diamond 4H 4-card balanced raise, 16-18 HCP, very good trumps 4S currently unused 4NT straight Blackwood Muchoscary 2NT Auctions ---------- --- -------- 1H-2NT; ? 3C Minimum with shape 3D Extras, no stiff 3H Extras, 5-5 3S Extras, stiff spade 3NT Extras, stiff diamond 4C Extras, stiff club 4D Min, no shape, 6H 4H Min, no shape, 5H 4S RKCB 4NT RKCB (How about GSF or such instead?) 1H-2NT; 3C-3D; ? 3H Min, 5-5 3S Stiff spade 3NT stiff diamond 4C stiff club 1H-2NT; 3C-3D; 3H-3S; ? 3NT 5 spades 4C 5 clubs 4D 5 diamonds 1H-2NT; 3H-3S; ? 3NT 5 spades 4C 5 clubs 4D 5 diamonds 1H-2NT; 3D-3H; ? 4H 14-15 ish Other Cue-bid Any break in the asking sequence begins cue-bidding. Any new suit after the asking sequence is a cue-bid. 4S is always Keycard after 2NT. Misc. Raise Auctions ----- ----- -------- 1H-3C; ? 3D Which? 3H Cheese 3S 6-5 3NT cue-trigger 4C 6-5 4D 6-5 4H game ok, no slam interest period 4S RKCB 1H-3C; 3D-? 3H limit raise 3S 16-18, some void 3NT 16-18, spade stiff 4C 16-18, club stiff 4D 16-18, diamond stiff 1H-3C; 3D-3H; ? 3S MAB 3NT spade cue-bid 4C cue-bid 4D cue-bid 4H End 4S RKCB Splinter Auctions -------- -------- 1H-3D; ? 3H Asks 3S 6-5 3NT Cue-trigger 4C 6-5 4D 6-5 4H signoff vs. anything 4S RKC Kickback 1H-3D; 3H-? 3S Some Void 3NT Bergen 3NT 4C singleton club 4D singleton diamond 4H singleton spade 1H-3D; 3H-3S; 3NT-? 4C void club 4D void diamond 4H void spade Directly after showing void, 4S is exclusion Blackwood. Preemptive Raise Auctions ---------- ----- -------- 1H-3H; ? Pass normal 3S Mathe 3NT spade cue-bid 4C cue-bid 4D cue-bid 4H signoff (does not create a force) 4S RKC Kickback Other ---- 1H-3S; ? 3NT to play 4C relay to 4D 4D RCKB in C 4H RCKB in D 4S RCKB in H 4NT RCKB in S 5C to play 5D to play 1H-3S; 4C-4D; ? Pass to play 4H = to play 4S = to play 4NT = natural, invitational 5C = to play 5D = to play (after the relay, all bids natural, not forcing) Swiss Raise Auctions ----- ----- -------- 1H-4C; ? 4D RCKB 4H signoff 4S spade cue-bid 4NT to play 5C club cue-bid 5D diamond cue-bid 5H trump ask 5S GSF 5NT GSF Superlimit Raise Auctions ---------- ----- -------- 1H-4D; ? 4H signoff 4S Mathe (n.b.) 4NT RKCB (n.b.) 5C club cue-bid 5D diamond cue-bid 5H trump ask 5S spade cue-bid 5NT GSF 1H-4D; 4S-? 4NT short spade 5C short club 5D short diamond 5H no shortness Other ----- 1H-4NT; ? 5C,5D,5S forcing 5H forcing We play 4NT or a slam. Passed Hand Methods ====== ==== ======= Pass-1H; ? 1S normal 1NT semiforcing 2C Drury 2D natural, 10-12 2H 6-10 2S Fit bid 2NT invitational with 6+ clubs 3C Fit bid 3D Fit bid 3H preemptive Pass-1H; (Dbl) ? Rdbl 10+-12, at most 2H, usually 1 1S natural, forcing 1NT natural, non-forcing 2C constructive single raise 2D Drury 2H grungy raise 2S weak 2NT ? 3C,D Fit bids 3H preemptive 3S,4C,4D Fit bids Drury Treatments: 1M-2C; ? 2D = maybe game, artificial 1S-2C; 2D-2H = not forcing After 1M-2C; 2D-2M; ?, Nagy game tries are on 2H (over 1S) = natural, submin 2M = EOA 2S (over 1H) = 4-5, reverse 2NT = balanced, choice of games or slammish (game forcing) responses: 3x = singleton with 3-card support 4x = stiff, with 4-card support (1H-2C; 2NT-3S = spade stiff, 3 or 4 Hearts) 3NT = no stiff, 3NT interest 3M = no stiff, slam interest 4M = no stiff, no slam interest 3X = side suit, slam interest 3M = cue trigger 3NT = To play 4X = splinters, slam tries 4M = EOA 4S (over 1H) = Kickback 4NT (over 1S) = RKCB Responses to 1 Spade Openings ========= == = ===== ======== 1S-? 1NT semi-forcing, can include 3 spades if 10 losers or 10-12 balanced 2C natural, forcing, can be invitational 2D natural, forcing, can be invitational 2H natural, forcing, can be invitational 2S 6-10, 3 or 4 spades 2NT Strong Jump Shift, unidentified suit, 16+ 3C Muchoscary 2NT 3D Limit raise or 16-18 splinter 3H singleton or void splinter in unidentified suit or Bergen 3NT 3S Preemptive 3NT 12-15 balanced, 2 spades 4C 16-18 balanced, 3 spades 4D superlimit raise 4H Void heart splinter (12-15) 4S preemptive, not a good one 4NT RKCB Rebids ====== Responses to 1NT semiforcing: --------- -- --- ------------ 1S-1NT; ? Pass 5-3-3-2 11-13- or 5-4-2-2 bad spades, submin, or other hands close to that. The hand must not be willing to accept a limit raise. 2C 11-18, not forcing, 3+ clubs 2D 11-18, not forcing, 3+ diamonds (3-3 in minors bids clubs) 2H 11-18, not forcing, 4+ hearts (4-4 in H+m bids hearts) 2S 11-15, not forcing, 6+ spades 2NT 17+-19-, usually balanced, not forcing, transfers on 3C 19+, game forcing, 3+ clubs, usually natural clubs 3D 19+, game forcing, 4+ diamonds 3H 19+, game forcing, 4+ hearts 3S 16-18, good 6+ spades, not forcing 3NT to play 4S to play Soloway Auctions ------- -------- 1S-2NT; ? 3C Almost always 3D 6-5 3H 6-5 3S Solid suit 1S-2NT; 3C-? 3D Soloway in diamonds 3H Soloway in hearts 3S Solid club suit 3NT 16-18 balanced 4C Solway in clubs, spade support, no stiff 4D Soloway in clubs, spade support, diamond stiff 4H Soloway in clubs, spade support, heart stiff 4S 4-card balanced raise, 16-18 HCP, very good trumps 4NT 19 balanced Muchoscary 3C Auctions ---------- -- -------- 1S-3C; ? 3D Minimum with shape 3H Extras, no stiff 3S Extras, 5-5 3NT Extras, stiff heart 4C Extras, stiff club 4D Extras, stiff diamond 4H Min, no shape, 6H 4S Min, no shape, 5H 4NT RKCB Misc. Raise Auctions ----- ----- -------- 1S-3D; ? 3H Asks 3S Cheese 3NT Cue-trigger 4C 6-5 4D 6-5 4H 6-5 4S No slam interest 4NT RKCB 1S-3D; 3H-? 3S Limit raise 3NT some void, 16-18 4C 16-18, club singleton 4D 16-18, diamond singleton 4H 16-18, heart singleton Splinter Auctions -------- -------- 1S-3H; ? 3S Asks 3NT Cue-trigger 4C, 4D, 4H: 6-5s 4S signoff vs. either 4NT RKCB 1S-3H; 3S-? 3NT Bergen 3NT 4C Minor Void 4D singleton diamond 4H singleton heart 4S singleton club 1S-3H; 4C-4D; ? 4H club void 4S diamond void Preemptive Raise Auctions ---------- ----- -------- 1S-3S; ? Pass normal 3NT Mathe 4C, 4D, 4H: cue-bids 4S signoff (no force) 4NT RKCB Other Auctions ----- -------- 1S-4C; ? 4D RCKB 4H cue-bid 4S signoff 4NT to play 5C club cue-bid 5D diamond cue-bid 5H short hearts 5S trump ask 5NT GSF 1S-4D; ? 4H Mathe 4S signoff 4NT RCKB 5C club cue-bid 5D diamond cue-bid 5H heart cue-bid 5S trump ask 5NT GSF 1S-4D; 4H-?; 4S some void 4NT heart stiff 5C club stiff 5D diamond stiff 5S no stiff 1S-4D; 4H-4S; 4NT-? 5C club void 5D diamond void 5H heart void Passed Hand Methods ------ ---- ------- Pass-1S; ? 1NT semiforcing 2C Drury 2D natural, 10-12 2H natural, 10-12 2S 6-9 2NT invitational with 6+ clubs 3C Fit bid 3D Fit bid 3H Fit bid 3S preemptive Pass-1S; (Dbl) ? Rdbl 10+-12, at most 2S, usually 1 1NT natural, non-forcing 2C constructive single raise 2D Drury 2H natural, forcing 2S grungy raise 2NT ? 3C,D,H Fit bids 3S preemptive 4C,4D,4H Fit bids Mnemonics ========= After splinter raises, showing stiffs attempts to be natural. All other sequences are stepped, except Muchoscary showing 5-5s. After direct heart raises, 4S is Kickback, including after artificial relays, with the exception of 1M-4C, in which 4D is Kickback. Any relay break shows a 6-5, a solid suit, or is a 100% cue-trigger (3NT.) After Reverses ----- -------- 1H-1NT; 2S-? 2NT Lebensohl, usually weak 3C natural, game forcing 3D natural, game forcing 3H balanced limit raise 3S natural, game forcing 3NT 9-12 In Competition == =========== 2NT = 11-12 Competitive reraises are not invitational Game tries may be artificial, double in one case Jump shifts in competition are weak at 2-level, fit-showing otherwise Cue Bid is limit raise or better Preemptive raises in competition Discussion ========== For a 16-18 splinter in contrast to a strong jump shift splinter sequence, no side suit can be as strong as KQxx. Bergen 3NT is not aces and spaces, but slow cards and tenaces. The only 4-card raise that goes through a 2/1 is the "Game Raise," which is 12-15 with a good suit and 4 card support with concentration. Since 1NT is not 100% forcing, limit raises are made on hands that will almost surely play a trick better in the suit.