Contents:

1. Abbreviations and definitions
2. General rules and system approach
3. Leads and signals
4. Openings - overview
5. Details and general conventions
6. Uncontested bidding
7. Bidding after opponents open
8. Bidding when opponents overcall
9. Gadgets and sequences

News since summer:

• Added Kokish Game Tries and Natural Game Tries

News since older versions:

• We play longer/worse minor - from 33 or 44 in minors, we open the one will less honors
• Gambling 3NT cancelled, used for minor preempts on 4th level, 4/ became Namyats
• After 2 a 2NT (strong against the expected diamond preempt) as well against 2M opener, we playFeature Ask, not classic Ogust
• New - Bergen raises / Hardy raises - make your pick
• Short/long trash overcall over strong club
• Overcall Polish NT until we find a better alternative - a way to bid 54 shapes and still keep strong NT overcall
• We play Two Way Reverse Drury, one is not enough :)
• We lead VINJE described completely except for the "absolute signal"

Used abbreviations and definitions:

HCP	High card points - with devaluation of doubleton and singleton honors unless NoTrump and not in any known OpFor suit
DP	Distribution points. Doubleon +1, Singleton +2, void +3. With a known fit, +1/+3/+5
M	major suits
m	minor suits
BAL	Balanced distribution, including 5332 with long minor (exceptionally 6322 or 7222, if the side suits are well stopped). Also 5422 in some cases. (i.e. with 15 HCP and 4 in major)
NF	Non-forcing bid
F	Forcing for one round. Some of these bids can actually be passed, if made by a passed hand and promising a major suit.
GF	Forcing to game (3NT, 4M) or to 4m.
CB	Cue bud. When we have a suit fit, promises stopper of 1st or 2nd round (below game bid) or 1st round (above game bid).
BW	Blackwood shortened, aces and kings (14 / 30 / 2+14 / 2+30 / 2+2)
RKCB	Roman Keycard Blackwood shortened, 4 aces and trump king and trump queen. ( 14 / 30 / 2 - Q / 2 + Q )
A	A bid that must be alerted
2/1	A non-jump bid in a new suit on 2nd level. Without interference, it is by definitionGF or a good 6card (9-11 HCP)
1/1	A new suit on 1st level
Tophonor	A, K or Q
game try bid	With agreed trump suit on 2nd level, a new suit bid is invitation, seeking help in this suit. If the responser has a top-honor in this suit or a very good hand, he bids game. Should be used with 3+card and 1+ tophonor (but there are cases when you need to bid with Qx).
4432	Any hand with two 4cards and one doubleton
5-3-2-3	Any hand with exactly 5, 3, 2 a 3
GSF	If we don't have an agreed suit, a jump to 5NT is forcing to 6NT and invitation to 7NT. If we have an agreed suit and we used cue-bids and did not use 4NT RKCB, 5NT (even non-jump) is GSF, asking how many trump honors partner has (answers 0,1,2,3).
STOP	A bid that strongly expects partner to pass.
P/C	Pass or correct - a bid that expects partner to pass or choose a better contract. (typically 3NT vs. 4M or looking for a conventionally shown suit of partner).
Axx	An ace with two spot cards. 8 is the highest spotcard, but in VINJE leads a lead of 8 promises the 9.
LTC	Loser trick count. My rules for counting: Max 3LTC per suit, Max 2LTC in 8-9 card suit, max 1 in 10+card. Axx = 2, AQx = 1.5, Kxx = 0.5. (Note that this system uses LTC only for stronger hands - and for these, it pays to count losers strictly. The stronger you are, the fewer entries your partner will have and the fewer finesses you will be able to play. A hand with AQ AQ AQ AKQJxxx has almost certainly 3 losers :-)
321	Rule for defining how many tricks below the bid a preempt promises. In fact, we play 5332 at MPs and 4332 at IMPs. (Numbers stand for 1#2, 1#1, 2#2, 2#1 game state)

General rules and system approach:

• We try first to find a major fit, then NT possibilities, then minor game. This causes a few alerts where we don't necessarily bid the longest suit, also a few alerts where we "hide" majors with NT rebids.
• We open 1NT always, when the hand contains 15-17 BAL without 5card major (and almost never with the major 5card)
• If the bidding goes 1x-1y, we always support y with 4card - and if not possible, always rebid 1NT or 2NT (12-14 or 18-19 HCP BAL). Therefore 1x-1y-1z guarantees 54xx or 4441 shape - and 1x-1y-2x guarantees either 6x or 5x with 4card and inability to reverse.
• 2/1 in uncontested bidding is always GF or a good rebiddable 6card. It may include some variants with support to openers suit.
• When bidding majors, we choose the lower from 44, the higher from 55, the longer otherwise.
• With 6m5M shape and 16+HCP it is possible to bid 1m and then rebid the M twice. With 66, start with the major.
• Opener's rebid on 2nd level in a higher suit than his first suit is, is called reverse and it promises 16+HCP. Note that this is NOT true if the responder used a GF bid!
• Reverse of responder is always GF!!!)
• FSF (fourth suit forcing) - GF Exception - bidding 1-1-1-1. Here the 1 is GF but can still mean 4card - so 2 response from opener is natural.
• In competitive bidding, the general rule says that a new suit is forcing on odd levels and nonforcing on even levels. (2/1 nonforcing, 1/1 forcing, 3rd level forcing)
• All strange NT overcalls mean "pick one of the unbid suits", most often minors. I.e. the sequence pass-4-kontra-pass-4NT says "pick a minor, I don't have spades".
• We play inverted minors whenever possible. 1-2-3 is still inverted. In this case, it should me more competitive than preempt, but still denies 9+ HCP.
• After 1M opening and 1st level response, we prefer showing a side 4+card to opening 6card, unless the hand is very weak.

Leads and signals
Honor leads VINJE:

We lead 1st from 1-2, 3rd from 3-4, 5th from 5, 4th from 6, 7th from 7, 6th from 8 etc.
We lead 3rd even from empty 3cards.

1st honor lead against NT:

• A – asks partner to signal low if should cash the king and continue with the suit. Partner should assume that the lead is from AKxx (but it can be from 3 or 5)
• K – ask partner to unblock (takže z AKJ10 nebo KQ10x). If partner does not have the honor to unblock, he will signal suit-preference to underlead the declarer - or signals count - discuss this with partner.
• Q,J,10 – shows a lead from sequence, promising 0 or 2 higher cards. If the lead is from 3-card sequence, the next played card shows original count. I.e. lead of Jack promises either AQJ or KQJ or J109. In first case, you don't lead the suit again, in second and third you play the odd card (K or 9) if your count is odd at the moment and the even card (Q or 10) in the other case. Leads in those cases are always from the two touching cards - i.e. Q from QJ9, 9 from Q109 (first case, no higher card, second case 2 higher cards)

• A – from AK in even count
• K – from AK in odd count
• Q,J,10,9 – second from sequence. Q from KQ, J from QJ or AQJ, 10 form J10 or KJ10 or AJ10. Lead Q from KQJ, followed by J (unless I fear partner reading it as doubleton)

• A – I don't have a king, please signal if you have it. (If the dummy shows singleton or the king, signal suit preference)
• K – from AK, please signal count

• 1,3,5th continues, but sometimes it is advisable to lead attitude - if I think that partner does not need to know the count exactly, lead high if I don't want the suit returned and small if I want it back.
• From sequences, it is possible to continue with VINJE leads but many players prefer natural leads in following tricks. Agree with partner. I prefer continuing with VINJE leads when opening new suits, with the exception of leading through honors (both seen and unseen), where you play your highest to show partner.

Signals VINJE:

• Attitude – up-down – low positive, high negative. Vinje says to use third lowest as high (or even 2nd lowest, if the 3rd could make a trick), but discard the the highest you can afford.
• Count - standard - low odd, high even
• Discards - Italian - odd means positive (into this suit), even means Lavinthal (low even to lower suit, high even to higher suit).
• Both for attitude and Lavinthal, 6 is "no-signal" if possible. Unless you can see all (or most) of the lower cards, do not treat 6 as low.

• When signalling count, we always show the current count, with the exception of 3-card sequence leads against NT.
• After attitude signal, if the leader continues the suit, the remaining count is signalled.
• If none of the following is signalled, signal suit preference.
• On first spot-card lead against NT, attitude. Exception - Third Hand Rule. If both dummy and third hand contain spot cards only AND the leader, dummy and third hand have total of 11 cards, add the lowest! This will tell the your partner everything.
• On first honor-card lead against NT:
  • If we have a doubleton honor, drop it unless it is likely to cost a trick
  • If dummy holds two or less cards, signal attitude first and count later.
  • If dummy holds three or more, signal count
  • If we have three cards and dummy has three cards, unblock the honor partner lacks.
• On first lead against suit, spot card or honor up to queen:
  • signal attitude
  • if dummy contains singleton, signal suit preference
  • If the lead is Q, signal count if dummy contains AJ or Jxx(x+)
• On first lead against suit A,K:
  • if dummy contains singleton, signal attitude - low = have the queen), high can be suit preference if your choice of cards is wide enough.
  • if dummy contains Qxx (x+), signal count
  • if we see the ace when the king was led, signal attitude
  • in all other cases we use a special signal: How many tricks would we make in that suit if dummy could not ruff (low 1 or 3+, high exactly 2 tricks)
• On subsequent leads
  attitude, then count
• Discards:
  odd is positive (but high odd followed by low odd cancels the signal), even is suit preference
• Trumps:
  Three possibilities: a) suit preference b) trump count c) absolute signal.
  If partner tries to give you a ruff, signal trump count so that he will know whether you can ruff or not
  Otherwise, use suit preference, unless you agree on the absolute signal
  13 cards can be divided as 3 odd counts and one even OR 3 even counts and one odd (5332 vs 4432 as example) - trump signal of low-high shows that your hand is of the odd type.
• In a suit opened by declarer
  signal count IF you think it will help your partner.

Openings overview:

Notrump ranges:

• 12-14 1x-1y-1NT (1y-2x-2NT)
• 15-17 1NT
• 18-19 1x-1y-2NT (1y-2x-2NT)
• 20-21 2-2-2NT
• 22-23 2NT
• 24-25 2-2x-2NT
• 26-27 2-2-3NT
• 28-29 2-2x-3NT
• 30-31 4NT
• 32-33 5NT
• 34-35 6NT
• 36-37 7NT

Preempts by length

• 5M do 7(8-) 2M (in red, don't bid with 5332)
• 6M do 7(8-) 2M
• 6M 8-11 2
• 6m - 3m, if it fits the 321 (4332) rule
• 7+ - nat, by 321 (Namyats changes it a little). Don't bid 4m against unpassed p.

Suit openings

• 2 3 or losers with any shape, 4 or less with 5+M
• 1 3+card, longer than diamonds or the uglier suit from 33 or 44 in minors
• 1 3+card, longer than clubs or the uglier suit from 33 or 44 in minors, also from 55 or 66 in minors.
• 1M longer or higher major

Details and general conventions

• If the opener shows a natural NT range (see above for NT ranges), we play 4 Gerber asking for aces, answers 1/4, 3/0, 2+0/1K, 2+2/3K. If the answer does not speak about kings, +1 is asking for Kings and Queens analogically. If the answer speaks about kings, +1 is asking how many exactly.
• After 2/1 GF, opener's rebid of 2NT shows either 12-14 BAL or 18-19 BAL and rebid 3NT 15-17 PR.
• If we have an agreed suit, 4NT is always RKCB and the answers promise 14/30/2-Q/2-Q+trump/2+Q.
• After RKCB answer, the first step (except the trump suit) is asking for the trump Q, second step is asking for 3 remaining kings. If Q was shown, +1 is asking kings. Kings are shown 0/1/2/3. After the Q ask, +1 denies the queen. If I have the queen, I respond by showing the closest King. After a king is shown, a new suit is asking FOR that king. Example: 1-2NT-4NT-5-5-6-6-7: I promised 1/4, partner asks for the queen and I say: I have the queen and also have the club king. Partner then says that if I have the diamond king as well, he wants to play the grand.
• After BW and answer, +1 is King asking if kings weren't shown, CB otherwise.
• Cuebids: either a suit bid by opponents or a new suit on 3rd or higher level AFTER we have agreed a suit. (In some cases it might be a game-try, but if this hand continues bidding, the bid is upgraded to cuebid.)
  • If we have a shortness in partner's suit, we can cue-bid it only once we have DENIED the cuebid.
  • We play Exclusion RKCB - if we have an agreed suit and we jump above 4 in the agreed suit, we're showing void and asking for remaining keycards. Answers as for regular RKCB.
• Snapdragon double - If LHO, partner and RHO bid each a different suit AND we can support partner on 2nd level, double shows BOTH 3+card support AND 5card in the remaining suit. Therefore, in these situations, supporting partner is alertable as it denies 5card in the remaining suit. Bidding the remaining suit is alertable as it denies 3card support for partner.
• Lightner double - When the defender that is NOT on the lead doubles a slam, he demands the following lead (sorted by priorities:) a) in dummy's side suit, if there is only one. b) in dummy's first side suit, if there are more. c) in declarer's side suit if dummy bid no side suits. d) in leader's longest suit if opponents bid no side suits. This double promises a void and guides partner to find it.
• Maximum overcall double - if opponent's competitive bidding wasted our space for Help Suit Game Tries, our suit on 3rd level is pure competition, while double is game-try (but can be converted to penalty under good conditions). I.e. 1-2-2-3-double is game try, while 1-1-2-2-double is penalty.
• DOPI/ROPI/DEPO - when opponents interfere into Gerber/BW/RKCB:
  • suit +1/+2: DOPI double 0/3, pass 1/4, other bids normal
  • suit +3 or more: DEPO - double even, pass odd, any other bid the response I would have used anyway.
  • double: ROPI - redouble 0/3, pass 1/4, other bids in order (NOT NORMAL) - 1NT-pass-4-x-4 is not 1/4, it shows 2 aces and 1/4 kings.
• We use Polish NT overcall, 5m4M, which means that all minor overcalls must be alerted as they deny unbid major 4cards.
• With strong two-suited hands, it is advisable to open bidding on one level, hoping that it will not be passed. If you open with 2CLUB, it may be hard to describe your hand in time.
• After any quantitative 4NT/5NT bids, pass with a bad hand and ANSWER to BW with good hand.

Uncontested bidding

1NT
15-17 FB, BAL:

• PAS - 0-7 HCP, without interesting shape (5M, 6m, 3+3+4+1-)
• 2 - Stayman (A, F: asking for major 4cards), promises 8+ HCP and at least one major 4card (but no more than 5-4) OR a very weak hand with all suits except clubs (4+diamonds, 3+ both majors), passing any response)
  • 2 - no major
    • 2 Smolen (A) - 5-4-x-x,F (2NT and 2 show minimum hands, 3NT maximum without support, 3,, CB with support)
    • 2 Smolen (A) - 4-5-x-x,F (2NT and 3 show minimum hands, 3NT maximum without support, 3,, CB with support)
    • 2NT,3NT invit/to play
    • 3m - nat, F.
    • 3 - 4-5-x-x, NF. (Pass with bad values/no support, bid 4 with good values and support or good misfit)
    • 3 - 5-4-x-x, NF (Pass with bad values/no support, bid 4 with good values and support or good misfit)
    • 4 - Gerber
  • 2 - 4hearts, may have spades:
    • 2 5-4-x-x, F.
    • 2NT - invit with 4 and without 4
    • 3, 3 - a) gametry b) CB to 6 c) natural slam try. 3 is negative, new suit and 3NT is positive, the latter with bad shape. Rebid of this minor shows the c) variant
    • 3NT P/C with 4 and without 4.
    • 3, 4 - invit,STOP.
    • 3 (A) - strong, asking for 4. 3NT denies, new suit CB with spades. Use with hands that want to explore 6NT possibility even without spade fit.
    • 4, 4 - CB shortness for slam.
    • 4NT - quantitative invit to 4NT with 4. (If you want to use RKCB for hearts, use 3m as a pusher first)
  • 2 - spades, denies hearts (answers are identical except for 5 + 4, where 3 is invit and 4 is GF)
    • 2NT - invit to 3NT with 4 and without 4
    • 3, 3 - help-suit or CB for or natural slam try
    • 3NT STOP.
    • 3, 4 - invit, STOP.
    • 4, 4, 4 - shortness CB looking for 6
    • 4NT - quantitative
• 2 - Jacoby (A, F), 5+, 0+ HCP. Denies 54M, may have 64 or 55.:
  • 2 (A)- 2 or 3 hearts.
    • 2 nat, F, 5+ and 5+,
    • 2NT invit to 3NT/4 with exactly 5 hearts.
    • 3, 3 and 3 - a) invit with 6, minors are game-tries, b) natural slam try with 5 and (4)5+ minor.
    • 3NT P/C
    • new suit on 4th level - CB (not necessarily shortness)
    • 4NT P/C quantitative (again, use 3m to enforce suit auction)
  • 3 (A)- 4+, minimum
    • 3NT, 4 STOP.
    • new suit - CB.
  • 2NT (A)- 4, maximum 3-4-3-3 or with any doubleton honor
  • new suit (A)- 4, maximum, worthless doubleton (up to Jx) in this suit
• 2 - Jacoby (A, F), 5+, answers identical to 2, 3 shows 64+! (With 55, transfer to hearts and then show spades on 2nd level!)
• 2 (A) Minor Suit Stayman - for slam-try hands with one or two minors and weak hands with two minors.
  • 2NT (A) - no minor 4card
    • 3 {A} 55 minors, very weak, P/C
    • 3 {A} 55 minors, slam-headed
      Top honor showing after MSS:
      • 4NT both aces, no king
      • 4, this ace, no king
      • 3NT to play (the only negative answer, typically with a lot of wasted values in majors)
      • 3 - this king, may have spade king as well (3 asks, 3NT denies)
      • 3 - this king, denies heart king
    • 3, - exactly 54 in minors with this major singleton
    • 3NT - exactly 5422 with both minors.
    • 4, - 6+list, asking for CB. 4NT negative - unsuitable minimum, likely doubleton in this suit.
  • 3 - 4+card, may have 4. Bidding identical to 2NT, pass with the weak variant.
  • 3 - 4+card, denies 4. Bidding identical to 2NT, pass with the weak variant. Treat the strong 55 as 5431 - show the singleton.
• 2NT - 8-9 HCP, no major 4card
• 3, 3, 3, 3 - 6+ card, exactly two from AKQ in this suit and almost NOTHING on the side! Opener passes or corrects to 3NT (with empty 3card or doubleton honor and 2.5 tricks on the side). Don't use with AKxxxx, this has extra chances to make, such a good 7HCP is worth bidding 2NT directly.
• 3NT - 10-14 bodů, bez drahého 4+ listu, STOP
• 4 - Gerber (A, F, asking for aces).
• 4 - 6+, 10-13 DP, after acceptance 4NT RKCB, new suitExclusion RKCB.
• 4 - 6+, 10-13 DP, after acceptance 4NT RKCB, new suitExclusion RKCB.
• 4 - 6+, to play.
• 4 NT - 15-17 HCP, BAL slam try.
• 5 NT - GSF (F do 6NT, invit to 7NT)

2NT
22-23 HCP, BAL (may contain 5M)

• 3 - Puppet Stayman (asking for major 5 or 4cards) - promises 3HCP and at least one M 3card, unless very flat shape.
  • 3 (A) no major 5card, promises at least one major 4card
    • 3 (A) DENIES 4
    • 3 (A) PROMISES 4, DENIES 4
    • 3NT (A) PROMISES both major 4cards and denies slam interest
    • 4m - PROMISES both majors and slam interest, CB.
  • 3 5card
  • 3 5card
  • 3NT not even 4card in majors
• 3 - Jacoby with 5, promises no values, but opener with 3-4 and good values is encouraged to bid 4 anyway.
• 3 - Jacoby with 5, promises no values, but opener with 3-4 and good values is encouraged to bid 4 anyway.
• 3 - (MSS asking for minor 4cards (see 1NT-2 for answers, strong variants only).
• 3NT - do 8 HCP, to play. Should be without major 4card or 3card and side doubleton/singleton
• 4 - Gerber
• 4 - Jacoby transfer with 6, 4NT and Exclusion afterwards
• 4 - Jacoby transfer with 6, 4NT and Exclusion afterwards
• 4NT - 10-12 HCP, BAL, no majors interest.

3NT gambling
Solid 7card minor and nothing on the side! (A, P/C)

• 4 P/C
• 4 - asking for shortness
  • 4M - short in this major (4NT: bid 6m with void, 5m with singleton. 5 P/C)
  • 4NT - short in other minor(5: bid 6m with void, P/C with singleton. 6/7 P/C, 5M bid 7m with void, 6m with singleton)
  • 5m - 7222
• All other bids are to play or P/C
• 4NT,5NT invit to 6 or 7NT if you happen to have an extra trick (8card or Qxx on the side of the 7card).

1
longer or worse minor, 12+HCP. Upper limit is given by 2 opener - so any unbalanced hand with 4+ losers fits here.
Promises either more than or 33 or 44 in minors with being the better suit in quality. Exception: with 1-4-4-4, open 1 if you don't have 16+HCP.

• 1 (A,F) 4+card, 5+ HCP, denies major 4card unless 5 and 12+HCP
  • (A) 1,1 4list, 12+HCP, F, denies BAL
  • (A) 2, 3 denies BAL and shows 12-15, 16+HCP
• 1,1 - (A,F), 4+card, 5+ HCP, may have longer diamonds if not 12+HCP
  • 1 after 1 4card, 12+HCP, F, denies BAL
  • 1NT,2NT - 12-14, 18-19 BAL, may have other major 4card
  • 2 - denies BAL, denies support, either 6+card, or 54xx below 16HCP
  • 3 - denies BAL, denies fit, 6+card and 18+ HCP.
• 1,3 NT - 6-10(11), 12-15 HCP, no major 4+card, BAL, NF (shapes like 3-3-3-4 or 3-3-4-3, occasionally with a major, when I want to play NT from my hand)
• 2 (A, F), 4+ card, 9+ HCP, asking for stoppers up the line. (Stoppers may become cuebids. Fourth suit is asking for half-stopper or CB, will recognize later.)
  • 2 I stop diamonds.
  • 2 I stop hearts and do not stop diamonds
  • 2 I stop spades and don't stop either lower suit.
  • 2NT I stop both majors, do not deny diamond stopper but deny extra points! (3 to play, 3 asking for stopper, 3M CB for slam, 3NT to play)
  • 3 I stop only clubs (something like Qx-Qx-xxx-AKQxx)
  • 3, - shortness, slam interest. This is applied in any further bidding, any jump shows singleton, not stopper)
  • 3NT to play
  • 4 in new suit - void, slam try
• 2,, - (A) 6+card ( denies major 4card), 2-5 HCP, STOP
• 2NT - (A) 5+card, 2-6 HCP, no major 4card, destructive preempt
• 3 - 5+ card, 7-8 HCP, no major 4card, constructive preempt
• 3,, - (A) singleton, at least game try.
• 4,, - (A) void, at least game.

1
longer or worse minor, 12+HCP. Upper limit is given by 2 opener - so any unbalanced hand with 4+ losers fits here.
Promises either more than or 33 or 44 in minors with being the better suit in quality. Also all 55 and 66 in minors.

• 1,1 - F, 4+ card, 5+ HCP.
  • 1 after 1 4card, 12+HCP, F, denies BAL
  • 1NT,2NT - 12-14, 18-19 BAL, may have 4 after 1 response
  • 2 - denies BAL, denies fit, buď mám 6+card, nebo 54nn a nemám body na revers
  • 3 - denies BAL, denies fit, mám 6+card a 18+.
• 1,1 - (A,F), 4+card, 5+ HCP.
• 1,3 NT - 6-10(11), 12-15 HCP, no major 4+card, BAL, NF (shapes like 3-3-3-4 or 3-3-4-3, occasionally with a major, when I want to play NT from my hand)
• 2 (A, GF), 5+card, 12+HCP or 6+card, 9-11HCP, answers nat. Immediate rebid of 3 shows the weaker longer variant.
• 2 (A, F), 4+ card, 9+ HCP, asking for stoppers up the line. (Stoppers may become cuebids. Fourth suit is asking for half-stopper or CB, will recognize later.). Identical to 1-2 sequences.
• 2, - (A) 6+ card, 2-5 HCP, STOP
• 2NT - (A) 5+card, 2-6 HCP, no major 4card, destructive preempt
• 3 - 5+ card, 7-8 HCP, no major 4card, constructive preempt
• 3,, - (A) (A) singleton, at least game try.
• 4,, - (A) void, at least game.

1
5+ card, 12+ HCP:, upper limit is 19 BAL or 5 losers.

• pass - 0-5 HCP
• 1 (F) 4+card, may contain 3card limit raise without shortness. Also, with longer spades, responder may choose to ignore system major raise in order to explore opener's hand. Also may contain bare minimum with 3card support, when I really don't want partner to bid any game-try.
  • 1NT 12-14HCP
  • 2, (A,F): Better minor. May be 3card if opener has 15-17HCP BAL. With 33 in minors, is always preferred.
  • 2 6+card, 12-14 HCP
  • 2 4+card, 12-15 DP
  Meckstroth Adjunct
  
  • 2NT - 18-19, anything except 5332 or 55xx
    • 3 (A) - without support, asking for further description
      • 3 6card
      • 3 4card, exactly 5
      • 3 4card, exactly 5
      • 3NT 4card , exactly 5 (or 6, but so ugly that I don't want to play against a singleton).
      • 4, 4card, exactly 6card srdcový, don't mind playing against singleton
    • 3 - limit raise with 3card support without shortness.
    • 4 - to play.
  • 3, 3: 5card, 18+ HCP
  • 3: 6+card, 15-17 HCP
  • 3: 4+card, 16-18 DP
  • 3NT 5332,18-19HCP
  GF jumps
  
  • 2NT 18-19 BAL
  • 3, 4+card, 18-19
  • 3NT (A) exactly AKQxxx a 16+, trying to steal 3NT.
  • 4, - CB for spades
  • 4,4 - to play
• 1NT (A,F) 6-11+ HCP, F, may have 3card support without shortness.
  • 2 4+card, spades shorter than hearts, 16+ HCP
  • 2 same as after 1, but may be doubleton with 4-5-2-2 below 16HCP.
  • Other bids same as after 1
  • 3,4,,: undefined as yet.
• 2,: (A) 2/1, 4+card, 12+HCP or 6+card, 9-11HCP, answers nat., immediate rebid / shows the weaker variant. May have 3card support if I want to show a VERY good suit for slam as a trick source (AKQxx, AKJ10x). Note that if Hardy raises are used, this bid includes any 12-15 with 3card support and a side shortness.
  • 2NT (A) 12-14 or 18-19 BAL (5332, rarely 5422)
  • 3NT (A) 15-17 BAL (5332, rarely 5422)
  • 2 - 6+card denies BAL and shows 11-13 HCP.
  • 3 - 6+card, 14+
  • new suit - 4+card 12-15 (including partner's suit)
  • new suit jump - 4+card 16+ (including partner's suit)
• 2: 7-9 HCP with 3card, constructive.
• 2: 6+card, 2-5 HCP, denies support.
• 3: (A) 2-5 HCP, 4fit (vzácně 3fit), blok
• 3NT (A) 12-15 HCP, 3fit s BAL bez dobré barvy vedle.
• 4: 0-7HCP, 5+fit, nemělo by být 5332. Vylučuje slam i proti maximu zahajitele.

1
5+ card, 12+ HCP:, upper limit is 19 BAL or 5 losers. Differences against 1 sequences:

• 2 (A,GF) 5+card, 12+ HCP
• 3 (Other major - maxisplinter - same as 3 after 1)
• In all other sequences behaves like a minor suit.

2
(F), (a) 20-21 BAL 5M possible, b) 4 losers with 5+M, c) 3 losers with anything unbalanced, d) diamond preempt (6+card, not good enough for 3) (b) is a hand that needs at least one Ace or King and a doubleton trump to be a good game. Also, this hand should promise a good defensive strength (4+ tricks).

• 2 - waiting (denies long very weak hands)
  • pass d)
  • 2NT a). See 2NT opening for further bidding
  • 2M b) or c), F
    • 2NT second negative (bad 0-3 HCP, no ruffing power). If opener now rebids his suit, responder may pass, anything else is GF!)
    • 3NT to play, usually doubleton in opener's suit.
    • new suit - positive, nat.
    • new suit jump - shortness with support.
    • 4 in opener's suit - to play.
  • 3m nat, GF
  • 3M GF, showing trump suit, asking for CB
  • 3NT, 4NT, 5NT nat.
  • 4M STOP
• 2, 0-4 bad HCP, 5+card.
  • pass a) with bad hand
  • 2 b) or c) with spades (answers - see 2NT second negative)
  • 2NT(A) a) with good hand (support, good honors). Asking for reserve. If the responder sees some chance for game, he bids his first EMPTY suit. Otherwise he bids 3/
  • 3 after 2 - b) with hearts. If responder has any valuable asset (spade honor, minor shortness and 3+trumps), he bids game, otherwise he passes.)
  • 3m c), NAT GF
  • 4M to play
• 2NT Feature ask - against d)
  • 3,, - A good diamond preempt with a side stopper in this suit (tj 9+HCP)
  • 3 - A weak diamond preempt
  • 3NT - A good diamond preempt with no big feature on the side (i.e. AKJxxx Qxx xx xx or AQJxxx Qxx Qx xx)
  • 4,,,,NT - nat, F do 6NT :-).
• 3 0-2 HCP, 6+card, no major 4card.
  • pass a) or b)
  • 3NT to play
  • anything else GF
• 3,4 preempt, 3+ diamonds, exactly 1/2 winners (so that the weak hand knows whether to double opps slam or not - and the strong hand knows whether to bid slam.) 4 faces the danger of having to play 4NT instead of 3NT.
  Any response is TO PLAY!

2
(A) multi - a) constructive! 8-11 DP with major 6+card, b) 24-25 BAL. Most following bids are (A)

• 2, 3, 4 (P/C) negative response, higher bids show support for both majors and preempt.
  • pass, 2 correct
  • 2NT b), see 2NT opening for further auction
• 2 (P/C) invit to game if opener has hearts
  • pass, 3, 4.
  • 3, - helpsuit for game
  • 2NT b), see 2NT opening for further auction
• 2NT strong asking bid
  • 3 a), maximum
    • 3 asking for transfer
      • 3 opener has spades
      • 3 opener has hearts
  • 3 a), minumum with , transfer
  • 3 a), minumum with , transfer
  • 3NT b), see 2NT opening for further auction.
• any other bid is F and natural.

2,
0-7 HCP 6+card, 3-8 HCP 5card, at 2#1 avoid 5332 shape

• 2 NT (A, F), roughly 18+ HCP, Ask-for-feature:
  • 3 in bid suit - minimum
  • 3 in new suit – maximum, stopper
  • 3 NT – maximum in bud suit only.
• any M raise is preempt or to play, further opener's bidding is encouraged only with good 55 or 64 hands.
• any other bid NF and natural

2, 4th place

2, 2suiters when vul.

If we're white, see above. If we're red, promises 10 cards in two suits, 2 denies spades, point range 4-11 (64,55,73 if the 7 is not good enough for 3rd level). 2NT asks, weaker hands show 4+suit if it contains values, 3NT shows maximum with values in the major, 4 in new suit shows maximum with the values in this suit as well. Example: With AQJxxx Qxxxx rebid 3NT, with xxxxx KJxxx bid the 2nd suit, with KQxxx KQxxx bid the 2nd suit jump

higher preempts - natural
3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5 - follow the agreed losers count (321, 4322, 5332).

• new minor is F1 and either promises support and seeks extras or is to play (later rebid)
• new major - to play
• any raise - to play. Bid again only if your hand is upgraded by opps bidding.
• 3NT to play

3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 5 - follow the agreed losers count (321, 4322, 5332). See 3NT with Namyats above for 4th level minor preempts.

• new minor is F1 and either promises support and seeks extras or is to play (later rebid)
• new major - to play
• any raise - to play. Bid again only if your hand is upgraded by opps bidding.
• 3NT to play

4, 4: (A) Namyats 4-4.5 losers with a long major - =, =. Denies 4 defensive tricks!

• any new suit is CB
• 4NT RKCB
• any jump is Exclusion RKCB

Bidding when opponents open
Over 1 of a suit

• suit overcall - 8-17 HCP, 5+card with some honors. On 2nd level 6card or good 10 HCP needed. On 1st level, 4card possible. Generally the suit should start with Q at least. If partner leads king from Kx and it costs a trick, the overcaller carries the blame.
  • 1NT, 2NT, 3NT nat.
  • nearest CB: generic force, does not guarantee support. Response priority: Stopper, 2nd suit, extras. With absolute minimum (8-9), deny the stopper.
  • jump CB to 3rd level BELOW overcall suit - good support, limit raise
  • jump CB to 4th level BELOW overcall suit - good hand, good support, splinter
  • direct raise - competitive. Raise to 2nd level may be very minimal and is almost a must.
  • jump raise - preempt
• double - 12(11)+ HCP with at least 3card support for unbid suits (100% sure for majors) OR 17+FB one-suiter OR strong NT (16-18) or 19+ anything.
  • 1NT shows 5-10HCP with opener's suit stopped.
  • A new suit shows up to 8HCP, usually 4card, but may be 3card. The weaker the responder is, the more likely his partner will force him to bid again, so with bad hands, responder should choose the higher of equal suits to give partner same level preference. This holds esp. for minors. Examples: 1-x-p-1 3card is enough, 1-x-p-2 should be 4card. If I don't have a 4card and can't bid 1NT, bid 2 if I have 33 in minors.
    After this forced bid, a new suit by the doubling hand shows 17+, but is not stricly forcing - use CB if you want to bid game on your own. When the doubling hand bid the takeout double TWICE, a new suit IS forcing.
  • A new suit jump shows 9+FB, quite often only 4card.
  If RHO speaks, the responder is given extra room. His forced bid range has been now halved. Follow this guideline: The length of your two best suits (not bid by opponents) AND your total HCP is over 12, bid freely. (Example: 1-x-1-2 would come with as little as xxx-x-Kxxxx-Jxxx. With 6+HCP and this shape, double 1. With 9+HCP jump, but only if you're interested in your suit only.) Natural NT 1NT 15-18 BAL. Responder bids as against strong NT with the following exception: Transfer to the opening suit is used as invitation AND stopper check. Major transfers:
  • Accept transfer - minimum, bad stopper (0.5-1)
  • 2NT minimum and good stopper (1.5+)
  • 3NT maximum and good stopper (1.5+)
  Minor transfer (2 after 1m opening)
  • 2NT minimum, bad stopper (0.5-1)
  • 3 in a suit: natural, lowest 4card, minimum and good stopper (1.5+)
  • 3NT maximum and good stopper (1.5+)
  Polish NT
  1NT (A) Polish NT - promises minor 5card and major 4card (in unbid suits) with the regular overcall strength, maybe a little better lower limit. Played over natural or seminatural openings and on Polish club (where it is totally ambiguous):
  • pass - willing to play undoubled 1NT (usually cca 10 HCP, length in opening suit)
  • promised suit - nat. support, NF
  • promised suit jump - invitational
  • CB of opening suit - strong, asking for the unspecified suit
  • unknown suit (lower from the rank) - P/C
  • unknown suit (higher from the rank) - nat, NF
  • unknown suit jump F, good own suit
  • 2,3NT nat.
  • Over an opening that does not promise at least 3card, 2NT is used as CB, lower suits in rank P/C, higher suits in rank nat.
• Michaels - Shows 5+5+, either preempt or strong hands (4 or less losers). Generally speaking, your hand should be either so weak or so strong that against a well-fitting partner with opening values, you want to either sacrifice or play slam.
  • CB - highest and any remaining suit
  • 2NT - both lowest remaining suits
  Responses:
  • Cuebid - F, ask for half-stopper (unlikely but possible, usually with 5422 and wanting to upgrade your own holding of opening suit, i.e. KJxx)
  • Promised suit - to play.
  • Unknown suit - P/C
  • Promised suit jump - preempt
• Any suit jumps - preempts
• CB jump to 3rd level - asking for stoppers in opener's suit. Promises source of tricks to 3NT, usually a solid minor. Partner, lacking stopper, starts offering 3cards up the line.

Bidding when opponents overcall
Opps double our 1major opener:

• redouble - (A) denies support. 9+ HCP with penalty double for 2 suits or own good suit
• 1 after 1SRDCE - no change (F, 4+card, 5+HCP. May have 3card support if interested in opener's hand)
• 1NT, 2NT - (A) constructive major raise to the next level. Opener bids a game-try suit if interested. Should not contain 4card support - use system raise instead!
• 3NT - to play (denies support, denies interest in penalties on low levels and does not want to describe hands to defense. Usually red vs. white, where opps partscore unlikely to burn for 800)
• opener's raise (A) preempt, generally according to trump length (LOTT) with some adjustment due to vulnerability
• 2m - a good 5+card, NF (5-8 HCP), denies support
• 3rd level and above bids - system raises

• double - card-showing, should not be used with less than 3 trumps.
• 2NT (A) relay to 3. After 3:
  • 3 in a new suit 5+card, invit. (By agreement, possible to play as competitive, not invit.)
  • CB - 4cards in unbid majors, DENIES stopper in opps. suit.
  • 3NT - no unbid majors, no stopper, no penalty double. (Looks like 44+ in minors, so if opener does not have stopper, he bids 4 unless his are 2+ longer.)
• 2 in a suit 5+card, STOP
• 3 in a suit 5+card, GF
• CB - 4cards in unbid majors, promises a stopper
• 3NT - nat., promises a stopper.

Similar mechanism is used against opps. weak twos - 3rd level directly is F, 2nd level directyl is weak, 3rd level through LEB is invit/NF.
Exceptions:
If opps double our 1NT opening conventionally, immediate rdbl is for business. (I don't care what we could make, I want to double any contract they try.)
If opps double our 1NT opening for penalties, immediate rdbl shows 6+HCP, pass denies 5card and 6HCP any suit bid is 5card. If partner wants to run against a pass, he bids 5card or redbls (asking me for lowest 4card).
If opps overcall 2, double is Stayman and all systems on, we do NOT employ Lebensohl.
If opps overcall with artifical bid (2 and higher) that promises the bid suit (and something else), we employ Lebensohl.
If opps overcall with artifical bid that does not promise the bid suit and guarantees that the bidding does not stop, we use double to show invitation in the artifically bid suit. Penalty double will be used when the real opponents suit is bid.

Gadgets and conventions
x-y-1NT Checkback Stayman

• x-y-1NT: 1NT rebid may contain majors. Therefore:
  • In sequences 1x-pass-1y-pass-1NT)-pas, 2x and 2y by responder is STOP, if it is a major suit. Note that 1-1-1NT-2M is GF with 5+ and 4+major!
  • 2 - (A) Either invitational hand WITH some shape OR a weak hand with 5, opener rebids 2!
    • 2y - invit with 5card
    • 2 in other major - invit with 44 (if 1y was ) or 54 (if 1y was )
    • 2NT - invit with support to openers first suit
  • 2 - (A) GF asking for further description. Again should promise some shape.
    • 2y - invit with 5card
    • 2 in other major - invit with 44 (if 1y was ) or 54 (if 1y was )
    • 2NT - invit with support to openers first suit
  • 2NT - (A) plain invitation - denies 5y, denies 4 in other major, denies support to x
  • 3NT - to play, denies any interest...

1-1-2-2 GF

Since partner has already shown six hearts, it is unlikely he would be interested in a better partscore in spades. Therefore, 2 in this case will be totally artifical GF. Weak hand with spades is bid by 2 directly, invit with 6+ spades via 1 and then 3. If we dont have a nice 5card minor to use as forcing, we use artifical 2. Opener will describe his hand in transfers. Game bids of responder are to play, rest described below:

• 2NT - (A,F) 4+
  • 3 - (F) support
  • 3 - so far undefined. Might be used to let declarer show a doubleton spade.
  • 3 - slam try in
  • 3 - pushing spades as trump
  • 3NT,4,4 - STOP
• 3 - (A,F) 4+
  • 3 - (F) support
  • 3 - slam try in
  • 3 - pushing spades as trump
• 3 - (A,F) All other hands without minor 4card, 7 or 3 (1-6-3-3, 2-6-2-3 a 2-6-3-2)
  • 3 - slam try in
  • 3 - pushing spades as trump
• 3 - (A,F) exactly 3 spades
  • 3 - slam try in
  • 4m - CB for slam in
• 3,4m - (A,F) 7+card and singleton in this suit (minor may show a void as well, 2-8-0-3, 2-8-3-0)
• 3NT (A,F) 2-7-2-2 with some extras
• 4 (A,F) 2-7-2-2 minimum
  Responses to 3, 3NT a 4:
  • 4m CB for slam in
  • 4M STOP
  • 4NT RKCB for .

Limit raises when partner opens 1M in 3rd/4th seat. This allows lighter openers safely. Raise to 2M is natural, but limit raises are shown via 2 and 2 (3card and 4card support, respectively. Responses to 2:

• 2 - a regular opener, denies balanced hand, asks partner to explore game tries.
• 2 - a weak opener (if I opened 1, shows 5+4+-x-x)
• 2 - after 1 opener, shows weak variant. After 1 opener, shows slam try with 4card.
• new suit up the line- 4+card slam try
• new suit jump - void and slam try. (with singleton, bid a side suit)
• 2NT - a regular opener, promises balanced hand, asks partner to explore game tries.
• jump in opening suit - slam try with a good and long suit without void or side 4card (shapes like 6322, 6331, 7321, 7222, 8221. Responder uses 3NT to seek the singleton)
• any game bid (3NT, 4M) to play

After 2, the only difference is merging balanced and unbalanced regular openers into the 2NT rebid.

TWRD can be applied over doubles and any overcall that does not steal the bid. Suggested treatment: after 2 overcall, use double and 2 for Drury. After 2 overcall, use double for either variant. After any higher overcall, bid naturally.

Lebensohl po after opener's reverse, also called structured reverse. Example: 1-1-2-:

• 2 - exactly 5card, 6-8HCP. Tells partner to expect no cooperation, typically with empty 3-4card in the unbid suit and 2-2 in opener's suits.
• 2NT (A) relay to 3. (Opener may refuse to bid 3, showing GF against minimum). Following responder's rebids:
  • pass/3 A weak hand with long other minor. Not very frequent.
  • 3card support to at least one suit of opener (Either pass 3 or bid the suit you can tolerate).
  • 3NT Any hand that is worth MORE than direct 3NT, promises good stoppers in the unbid suit.
  • Invit with 6card in my suit.
• Most other bids are natural AND GF(i.e. fourth suit asking for stopper without support to partner)
• 3 - 6+card, GF
• any game bid to play
• 4, - splinter for .

The auction should be similar in all possible reverse cases. There are a few general rules:

• When opener reverses, any direct response over 2NT guaranteesGF!
• Since we play weak jumpshifts, immediate rebid of responder's suit shows 6-8HCP, exactly 5card and bad shape
• With 6-8HCP and 6card, bid the suit after Lebensohl, not directly. (It will be a bit safer than the other way round)

Defense against 2 multi

Defense against strong 1/ opener:

Credits: Petr Jelinek for his 2 scheme with 20-21 NT and diamond preempt. Miron Tegze, Jirka Braza, Honza Martynek, Zdenek Frabsa for lots of comments and suggestions. Honza Hlavac and Petr Nohac for the same AND a lot of testing and patience.