General description of bidding

Four-card majors, weak notrump, weak twos in three suits

Opening 1NT

Balanced 12-14
2 Promissory Stayman, 2/2 transfers

Two-level openings

2	Game force or balanced 23+ 2 negative
2/2/2	6-10 natural 6+ suit 2NT relay
2NT	Balanced 20-22 3 Stayman, 3/3 transfers

Other opening bids

1/1	Natural 10+, rule of 19, four+ cards
1/1	Natural 10+, rule of 19, four+ cards 2NT = game-forcing raise
3suit	Natural pre-empts, seven cards
4suit	Natural pre-empts, eight cards

Defensive methods after you open

• A simple overcall shows 5+ cards
• Jump overcalls are weak
• A cue bid is strong and artificial
• 1NT overcall is balanced, 15-17 direct or 11-14 protective, with system on in both cases
• 2NT overcall is weak five-five minors direct or 18-20 balanced protective
• No special methods over a strong or short minor
• Over 1NT, 2/2 show both majors and better minor
• Double of a natural suit up to 4 is takeout
• Double of a Multi 2 shows balanced 12-15

Slam conventions

• Roman Keycard Blackwood (and EKB)

  0122+, then 5NT for specific kings

Competitive auctions

• After you double: new suits are forcing, jump new suits are fit jumps, and 2NT is a good raise
• Opposite partner's double of 1NT, pass over your pass or redouble shows values

Other conventions

• Unassuming Cue Bids
• Splinters
• Fourth suit forcing
• After you double 1NT, redbl tells partner to bid 2

Notes

1. Opposite 2/2/2, 2NT is a relay; minimum opener rebids the suit; otherwise new suit = better minor or four-card major; 3NT = two top honours in opener's suit
2. Opposite 1/1, 2NT shows a game+ raise with no splinter; minimum opener rebids 4/4; otherwise new suit = values; jump new suit = splinter; 3/3 = six cards; 3NT = 15-19 balanced

Opening leads

All leads are standard i.e. as underlined. Ten is an honour.

v. suit	AK	AJ10	KJ10	K109x
	KQx	QJx	J10x	109x
	Hxx	Hxxx	xx	xxx(x...)
v. NT	AKx(x)	AJ10	KJ10	K109x
	KQx	QJx	J10x	109x
	Hxx	Hxxx	xx	xxx(x...)

Carding methods

On partners lead	usually attitude, but count opposite king and McKenney when obvious
On declarer's lead	count
Discarding	odd encouraging, even McKenney