2♦-2♥ | is forced with most hand-types. The exceptions appear further below: | |||
-2♠ | shows 16-19 and any 4441 distribution. Now: | |||
-2NT | is an automatic relay asking for the location of the singleton suit, and now: | |||
-3♣ | shows a Diamond singleton. No Eta Asks are permitted. Responder either signs off in the denomination of their choice at the appropriate level, or may bid Beta in the singleton suit first. |
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-3♦ | shows a Heart singleton. No Eta Asks are permitted. Responder either signs off in the denomination of their choice at the appropriate level, or may bid Beta in the singleton suit first. | |||
-3♥ | shows a Spade singleton. No Eta Asks are permitted. Responder either signs off in the denomination of their choice at the appropriate level, or may bid Beta in the singleton suit first. |
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-3♠ | shows a Club singleton. No Eta Asks are permitted. Responder either signs off in the denomination of their choice at the appropriate level, or may bid Beta in the singleton suit first. |
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-2NT | shows 20-23 and 4441 shape with a singleton Club. Responder signs off at the appropriate level in the suit of their choice or can bid the singleton suit as Beta, but no Eta Asks are permitted. |
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-3♣ | shows 20-23 and 4441 shape with a singleton Diamond. Responder signs off at the appropriate level in the suit of their choice or can bid the singleton suit as Beta, but no Eta Asks are permitted. | |||
-3♦ | shows 20-23 and 4441 shape with a singleton Heart. Responder signs off at the appropriate level in the suit of their choice or can bid the singleton suit as Beta, but no Eta Asks are permitted. |
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-3♥ | shows 20-23 and 4441 shape with a singleton Spade. Responder signs off at the appropriate level in the suit of their choice or can bid the singleton suit as Beta, but no Eta Asks are permitted. | |||
2♦-2♠ | shows 0-4 with an unspecified 6-card or longer suit. | |||
-2NT | shows ANY 16-19 4441 (See below for 20+ hands) | |||
-3x | Responder simply bids their long suit and Opener will almost always pass unless a good maximum with a 4-card fit, in which case they may invite game in a Minor or bid game in a Major |
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-3x | With 20-23 HCP Opener bids their singleton suit at the 3-level (Oliver's Twist) | |||
-Pass | If Opener hits Responder's long suit they almost invariably pass. However, with a maximum 4-count and and self-sufficient suit (eg: QJ109xxx), they may bid game in a Major or invite game in a Minor, despite Opener's singleton. |
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3/4y | If Opener does NOT hit Responder's long suit, Responder corrects by bidding it at the cheapest level. Opener will usually bid game if it's a Major, since we will almost always make at least 10 tricks in these circumstances. If their suit is a Minor, they can bid game or invite at the 4-level. |
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2♦-2NT=> | 2♦-3♥ are all 2-way transfers to 3x (next suit up), which show either
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-3x | With a 4-card holding in the transfer suit, Opener completes the transfer | |||
-Pass | If Responder is 0-4 HCP with any distribution, they pass. |
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-3/4y | If Responder is 14+ they treat Opener's completion of the transfer as a Gamma Ask in the transfer suit (4-card minimum length). Asking Bids are now established |
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-3y | With a singleton in the transfer suit, Opener does not complete the transfer, but relays in the suit above the transfer suit (eg: 2♦-3♣-3♥) | |||
-Pass | If Responder is 0-4 HCP with any distribution, they pass, having reached the cheapest available fit of at least 7 cards. This is why 0-4 2-suiters must be touching and why a 5332 shape hand must have a 3-card suit immediately above the 5-card suit |
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-3/4z | If Responder is 14+ they now bid their second suit as an Eta Ask (3NT asks in the suit Opener has actually bid). Asking Bids are now established. Examples: 2♦-3♣-3♥-3♠ is Eta in Spades, and 2♦-3♣-3♥-3NT is Eta in Hearts |