* Victoria Bridge Centre: New Player Information *

Bid

Points

Comments

1C

13 – 21

No 5-card major; Any Shape; could be as few as 3 cards

1D

13 – 21

No 5-card major; Any Shape; could be as few as 3 cards

1H

13 – 21

5+ hearts; Any Shape

1S

13 – 21

5+ spades; Any shape

1NT

15 – 17

Balanced

2D, 2H, 2S

6 – 10

Weak Two; 6 cards in suit bid; pre-emptive

2C

22+

Strong; Any shape; Says nothing about club suit

3C,3D,3H,3S

6 – 10

Pre-emptive; 7-card suit.  Most points should be in your suit.

Partner

You

Points

Comments

1C

1D

6 +

4+ Diamonds; forcing one round

1H

6 +

4+ Hearts; forcing one round

1S

6 +

4+ Spades; if exactly 4 then denies 4 hearts; forcing one round

1NT

6 – 10

Denies 4+ card major; Not forcing

2C

6 – 9

4+ Clubs; denies 4-card major

2D, 2H, 2S

18+

Jump-shift; game-forcing; 6-card suit or an excellent 5 card suit … AKQTx minimum

2NT

11, 12

Invitational, denies a 4-card major

3C

11, 12

Invitational, denies a 4-card major

1D

2D

6 – 10

4+ Diamonds; denies 4-card major

2C

10 +

4+ Clubs; does not deny 4-card major; promises another bid

3D

11, 12

Invitational, denies a 4-card major

All other

bids

as above (same as for 1C opener)

Partner

You

Points

Comments

1H

1S

6 +

4+ Spades.  May deny 3 hearts if weak, or may just be a forcing bid. Forcing one round

1NT

6 – 10

Denies 4 spades; Not forcing

2C, 2D

10 +

5+ cards in suit; forcing one round; promises another bid; Does not deny 4 spades

2H

6 – 9

3+ Hearts

2S, 3C, 3D

18+

Jump-shift; game-forcing; 6-card suit or an excellent 5 card suit … AKQTx minimum

2NT

11, 12

Invitational, denies a 4-card spade suit.

3H

11, 12

Invitational, denies a 4-card spade suit; 3+ hearts

1S

1NT

6 – 10

Any shape; denies 3 spades; not forcing

2S

6 – 10

3+ Spades; not forcing

2C, 2D, 2H

10 +

4+ cards in minor or 5+ in hearts; Forcing one round, promises another bid.

3C, 3D, 3H

18+

Jump-shift; game-forcing; 6-card suit or an excellent 5 card suit … AKQTx minimum

2NT

11,12

Invitational; denies 5- hearts; denies 3 spades.

3S

11, 12

3+ spades; not forcing; invitational to game.

Partner

You

Points

Comments

1N

2C

8 +

STAYMAN: Asks partner to bid a 4-card major;

Partner rebids 2D with neither; 2H with 4 Hearts or 2S with 4 Spades.  2S denies 4 hearts but 2H does not deny 4 spades.

NEXT:

With 8,9 pts: if partner bid 2D or a major you do not have, then bid 2NT.  If partner bid a major you DO have, raise the major to 3.

With 10+ bid 3N or 4 of the agreed major.

2D

0 +

TRANSFER: 5+ Hearts; Partner must bid Hearts;

NEXT:

With 0-7 pts you will pass;

With 8,9 you will bid 2N with exactly 5 hearts or 3H with 6+ hearts;

With 10+ pts you will bid 3NT if exactly 5 hearts, or 4H if 6+ hearts.

2H

0 +

TRANSFER:  5+ Spades; see above for the remainder of the auction, using spades instead of hearts.

2S

Partnership agreement; do not use if no agreement exists.

2N

8,9

No 4+ card major

3N

10-15

No 4+ card major

4N

16, 17

Invitational to small slam.  Partner will pass with 15 pts, bid 5N with 16, bid 6N with 17.

5N

20, 21

Invitational to Grand Slam.  FORCING.  Partner must bid 6N or 7N

6N

18, 19

Partner must pass

7N

22+

Partner

You

Points

Comments

2C

2D

3+

Artificial: Promises an Ace or a King.

Denies the ability to show a 5+ card suit with 2 of the top 3 honours.

2H

0 +

Artificial: Denies an A or a K.

2S

5+

5+ Spades with 2 of the top 3 honours.

2N

5+

Artificial: 5+ Hearts with 2 of the top 3 honours.

3C

5+

5+ Clubs with 2 of the top 3 honours.

3D

5+

5+ Diamonds with 2 of the top 3 honours.

RHO *

You

Points

Comments

1 x

Double

13+

Short in openers suit, at least 3-card support in other 3 suits.

LHO *

Partner

RHO *

You

Points

Comments

1 C

Double

Pass

1D

0 – 8,9

4+ Diamonds, you must bid even with NO points.

1H

0 – 8,9

4+ Hearts, you must bid even with NO points.

1S

0 – 8,9

4+ Spades, you must bid even with NO points.

1NT

6 – 9

Stopper in opponents suit, Cannot bid a suit as above

2D, 2H, 2S

9 – 12

4+ cards in your bid suit; jump a level to show 9-12 HCP

2C

10 +

Forcing; usually have a game forcing hand and not sure where to play; sometimes you have an invitational hand and not sure where to play.

2N

10 – 12

2 Stoppers in opponents suit; Cannot bid a suit.

Any Game

To play.