Dick and Robin – System Notes: 2/1 with weak no-trumps

In: 4SF, DONT (but Capp over wknt), 4-suit transfers; Two-way trial bids; Kickback; UDCA; Rusinow; Namyats; CraSH over strong openers; Weak jump shifts always; [major suit openers can be light but not very light?]; Resp, Supp, Max, Comp X

Out: Bergen, Smolen, Drury [still out?].

♠ ♣ ♥ ♦

NT Openings:

1NT is 12-14 (all seats, conditions);
4-suit transfers with pre-accepts (in-between suit is encouraging).
Texas transfers (on if call is a jump);
3-level responses are artificial (alert):

3♥, 3♠ show 5-5 maj (weak/str respec.)
3♣, 3♦ show 5-5 min (weak/str respec.)

After 1NT—X:

Two-suiters (at least 4-4): 2♣: clubs/major (2♦ asks which major); 2♦: D+H; 2♥: H+S; 2♠: S+D (better diamonds);
One-suiters (5 cds): XX which is a relay to 2♣, and then responder places contract;
Any other hand (strong hand, minor two-suiter, S+D with better spades): Pass which forces XX. Pass for penalty or bid suits up line;
These responses are in effect even if their X is normally requesting a 2♣ response by advancer (advancer may decide to convert to penalty).

After 1NT—overcall:

X is penalty-oriented if doubler is sitting over overcaller; else negative. X of two-suited overcall shows it’s our hand and cards in at least one of their suits;
Otherwise, Lebensohl applies (“slow shows”). Cuebid is Stayman; if showing known two suits then cheapest cuebid is negative double for other two suits [check]!

Any XX after we open 1NT is SOS (except when forced by pass of X).
2NT is 21-22. JxF and TxF apply. 3♠ is Minor-suit Stayman. 3♣ is Puppet Stayman (alertable). If opener has a 5cd major he bids it else 3♦. Responder continues 3 major he doesn’t hold, else 3NT to show both majors, else 4 minor to show slam interest in the minor.
2♣ followed by 2NT is 23-24 balanced. Same responses apply as for 2NT direct.
2♣ followed by 3NT is 25-26 balanced. JxF responses. [Other bids natural?]
3NT is preempt in minor (Namyats). Responder bids 4♣ unless he thinks game is on.

Major Suit Openings:

Bergen and Rev. Drury are both off, at least for now.
2NT is Jacoby (4-level by opener shows 5cd suit, rebidding shortness shows a void). Double jumps are splinters.
1NT is forcing by unpassed hand. [Semi-forcing otherwise?].
1-2-3-stop;
Jump raise is limit (10+ to 13-) promising four pieces;
Two-way trial bids:

Short-suit tries: 1^st step requests 2^nd step, then 3/4^th steps show short-suits; agreed suit shows shortness in cheapest suit;
Mixed tries: 2^nd step requests 3^rd step, then agreed suit is power try and 4^th step shows length in cheapest suit;
Long suit tries: Steps 3 and 4 are long suit game tries in that suit;

Maximal doubles (when both opps have acted and there is no room for any game try);

4♥, 4♠ are purely preemptive; 4♣, 4♦ are transfers to H/S and show long major suit with defensive strength (Namyats).

Minor Suit Openings:

Shows either a balanced 15-17 count or a distributional hand with a rebid (OK to rebid 5-cd minor);
Inverted minors except when opps compete: single raise now shows a mild weak raise, while 2NT (Truscott/Jordan) or cuebid show limit raise hand;
Frequently bypass 4+ diamonds (need strength to reverse if show diamonds ahead of four-card major);
1NT/1♣, shows 6-10 and tolerance for clubs by inference
Resp jump to 2NT shows 13-15, jump to 3NT is tactical (16-17 x 3334 with bad clubs);
New Minor Forcing (for one round);

Weak Twos:

2NT is the only forcing response and asks for a feature (or rebid if weak);
Range is 5-10.
Opening two bids (or three) bids in fourth seat show a good suit (expect 6+) and expectation of going plus (maximum of 14 HCP).

Strong Opener:

2♣
responses: 2♦ is negative (not waiting); 2NT shows 7-9 balanced [check]

Competitive Bidding:

1NT overcall shows 16-18 direct and 10-14 balance (all systems are on);
2NT (unusual NT) is for two lowest unbid;
Cue-bid is Michaels (2 maj or maj/min two-suiter);
DONT vs. strong no-trump (all seats);
Cappelletti vs. weak no-trump (13 in range) (all seats);
CRASH vs. strong 2♣ or strong 1♣ (or when either is followed by a diamond response):

X for colored two suiter;
First step for ranked two suiter;
NT for shaped two suiter.
Major suit overcalls (if available) are natural
Advancer bids thus: jump as high as willing in the better suit of the worse pair of suits shown. If correction needed, overcaller will now bid the cheaper suit of the actual pair. Advancer should bid as normal even over X.

Over opp’s takeout X: new suit forcing at one level only, jump shift weak, XX implies no fit, Truscott (2NT) for limit raise.
X is takeout over preempts through 4♥ (else NT for takeout).
Negative and Responsive X through 4♦.
Support and Competitive X through 2♥/2♠.
Maximal X.
Overcalls are Lawrence style. >=8 HCP; cuebid is one-round force; jump-raise is weak; new suit is not forcing but shows good hand if in lower ranking suit.
Jump overcalls weak;
After their two-suited overcall (if both suits known) then cheaper cuebid is for fourth suit; more expensive cuebid is LR+ (un vs. un or invisible cuebids);

Slam Bidding:

RKCB 1430.
Gerber only over opening NT bids;
Kickback (after NT opener or inv. Min. sequence where minor strain is known, next step up is RKCB);
DOPI/DEPO/REPO [check]

Carding:

UDCA: Any time count would be shown, low is even number; anytime attitude shown, low is encouraging;
UDCA applies to NT contracts as well as in the trump suit;
Rusinow leads vs. suit contracts;
Coded T9s vs. NT (J denies higher; T or 9 shows 0 or 2 higher).

Questions:

(from “Forgive Me, Partner!” by the Granovetters)

1NT (p) 2C (X) ?: p: XX: 2H: 2S:
1NT (p) 2C (p) 2D (p) 2H:
1NT (p) 2D (X) ?: p: XX: 2H: 2S:
1NT (p) 2D (p) 2H (p) 2S:
1NT (p) 2D (p) 2H (p) 4NT:

1NT (p) 4D (p) 4H (p) ?: 4NT: 5C: 5D: 4S:

1NT (3D) 4H:
1NT (2S) X: penalty?

1NT (p) p (2S) X: takeout?

Lebensohl (show shows)
1NT (X)
(1NT) p (2C) X:
2NT puppet
…
3NT (p) 4D:
1D (p) 2C: non-game-forcing
1S (p) 2C/D (p) 3H:
1S (p) 2H (p) 4H:
1S (p) 2D (p) 3NT:
1S (p) 2NT (p) 4D: 5 diamonds
1S (p) 1NT (p) 2NT (p) ?: is ? forcing?
advancer or responder cuebid: LR+
NMF
NMF/checkback after 2NT opener?
jumps to 2NT or 3NT after minor operning
1C (p) 1H (p) 1S (p) jump: forcing or not? 2NT: 3C: 3H: 3S:
4SF to game;
1C (p) 1H (p) 1S (p) 3D:
1C (p) 1S (p) ?: 4C: 4D: 4H: 4S:
Inverted minors: stopping short of game? After 2^nd seat overcalls? off; by passed hand?: on.
minor LRs
After a reverse. Rebid promised? Yes; when can responder pass next time? If he responds 2NT, fourth suit, or rebids suit after the reverse.
etc.