Thursday, January 18, 2007 2:23 AM

Bidding Philosophy

PITBULLS:

Know it or not , every Bridge player subscribes to a bidding philosophy. Some Bridge players are so dogmatic about certain Bridge ideas that classifying their beliefs as a religion , is pretty accurate. Here are the more common beliefs that define bidding philosophy. Right hand column is the belief system to which we subscribe:

· 2/1 forcing to game 2/1 forcing to game except when suit rebid

· Up the line bidding Balanced distribution shown first by bidding NT

· Strong 2 suiters at one level Opened with 2♣ - relays sort things out

· Most jumps are splinters Some jumps splinters , suits are more important

· Opening bids are HCP’s Need quick tricks for an opening bid

· Colour is for kids Vulnerable bids are more sound

· Undisciplined pre-empts Respect vulnerability & suit requirements

· Undisciplined overcalls Suit requirements for overcalls

· 5 card major rebid after 2/1 NT bid with 5-4-3-1 after 2/1

· Stoppers are bid in 2/1 auctions NT rebid with all balanced hands

· Q bidding shows extra Q bids are done as a courtesy if partner unlimited

· Q bid shows 1^st round control Q bids show either 1^st or 2^nd round control

· Strict adherence to 5 card major Will open 4 card majors if bad alternatives

· Suit bids do not show values “Show where you live” with suit bids

· Jump to game strong “Fast arrival” shows distribution not HCP’s

· 8 or 9 card suits bid at 1 level Opened at 4 level or higher

· Relays too complicated Use relays to escape from auctions

· 2NT in competition natural Natural only if re-opening or they pre-empt

· Overcall rather than T/O double Equal level conversion – T/O double with defense

· Trump stack dbl’s in competition Competitive doubles in competition

· Do not understand forcing passes Forcing passes very important

· Responders jump rebid invitational They recover the strong jump shift ( forcing )

· 2NT by responder can be passed 2NT by responder one round force

· 3 bids at one level 4^th suit theory XYZ triggered by 3 suits at one level

· NMF 2 way NMF

· 2NT by responder invitational 2NT by responder after a minor 13-15

· 1NT response to a minor Jumps show no extra , 2 level bids invitational

jumps are invitational

· 4NT is KCB 4NT is Lebensohl , 2 suiters , quantitative , to play,

KCB after a major

· 2NT rebids – NMF Use Wolffe relay

· 3♣ strong jump shift natural Multi purpose 3♣ - relay to 3♦

· Weak jump shifts – passed hand Fit showing jumps as passed hand

· Forcing 1NT – jumps are suits Jumps by forcing 1NT bidder are fit showing

· Controls after 2♣ 2♦ waiting virtually forced & relays

· Transfers only after NT openers Rubensohl instead of Lebensohl , transfers after T/O dbl of major

· Jump shift reverses are splinters They show a 6-5 ( 10-15 HCP)

· Jumps at 4 level are splinters 4 level jumps after major is Exclusion KCB

· Jump raise in major limit Shows 4 trump with simple raise values

· Simple major raise (3 or 4 trump) Simple raise shows 3 trump

· Splinters at 3 level after a major Splinters are “masked” . 3♦ shows stiff in other major. 3♣ shows minor splinter

· 3NT to play with major fit 3NT is a Q bid showing serious slam interest

· 2/1 in competition 10+ HCP Forcing to game unless suit rebid

· Jacoby 2NT forcing to game Limit raise or better

· Inverted minors game force Limit raise or better

· 2NT – 3♣ Stayman Puppet Stayman after 2NT

· Clubs after Stayman natural Re-Stayman plse show distribution

· Michael’s or Unusual 2NT (0-40) Either weak or strong

· 3 level doubles negative Negative or THRUMP dbl’s at 3 level

· Sandwich NT – 2 suits Natural vul vrs nv ( 16 -18 )

· Minor fit – 4 level Q bid Minor fit – 4 level Kickback KCB

· Get opponents at all costs Bridge is a partnership game