Defensive carding – UDCA 90% of defense is pure logic problem, and 10% of the time you need partner's help. You will get better at projecting cards in partner’s hand, declarer’s hand and counting everything that can be counted. I suggest Kantar's “Basic Bridge Defense” (in the library) for a thorough treatment on defnsive carding. You can count: points, distribution, tricks. You must to be a serious bridge player, and you will notice that advanced players seem to be able to see through the back of your cards … it is because they are counting what needs to be counted. Warning: Upside down count and attitude is technically superior, but non- standard – you will need to flip your signals when playing with grandma! Win a trick with the cheapest card possible (ie you have AKQxxx, play the Q – the K denies the Q or Q from KQxx) Lead top of a sequence vs suits (K from KQxx) Lead fourth best from your longest and strongest suit against no trump Second hand plays low (unless it is wrong) Third hand plays high (unless it is wrong) When partner leads a suit, unless you are playing third hand high, you signal attitude – a low spot card encourages, and a high spot card discourages When declarer leads to a trick, give partner count (so play low-high if you have a doubleton and want a ruff) When attitude and count are irrelevant, cards are suit preference – a low card suggests the lowest relevant suit Whenever a card could be suit preference, it is.

Natural vs Artificial bids Natural bids show the suit that is bid (eg 1C/1D/1H/1S/1NT, …). Unless a bid is defined as artificial, assume it is natural. Most bids are natural – you look down at your hand and bid what you see in it. The more you have, the more times you get to bid them. Artificial bids are pre-arranged coded messages to convey a specific message. (eg 2C to show a monster hand) – Agree them with your partner before the game by filling out a convention card – Sometimes replace bids that have no useful/sensible meaning – More often evolve to use bidding space more efficiently

Responding to partners NT (First think level: Partscore, game or slam) Partner bids 1NT and you are balanced Bids to play: 3NT (26), 6NT (33), 7NT (37) Bids to invite: 2NT->3, 4NT->6, 5NT->7 As responder you know how high you should be: – I have: We have: Limit:Bid: – PartscorePass – Game3NT – Small Slam6NT – Grand Slam7NT – maybe game2NT – maybe small slam4NT – maybe grand slam5NT

Responding to partners NT (Next think strain: Major suit or NT) Partner bids 1NT and you have 4+ cards in a major 8 card major suit fits generally play better than NT You can show 5 and 6 card major suits using Jacoby and Texas Transfers Transfers “right-side” the contract by forcing the strong hand to bid the suit first, and create bidding space to allow a complete description of responder’s hand. After a NT opener, responder bids one under the major suit, requiring opener to complete the transfer. – 1N p 2D(!) p1N p 2H(!) p – 2H <- forced2S <- forced – Responder has shown a 5 card major suit.

Jacoby Transfers cont. Partner bids 1NT and you have transferred to a 5 card major You know level, and opener will know strain Bids to offer choice of strain: 3NT (26) Bids to invite and offer choice: 2NT->3NT or 4M, 4NT->6N or 6M, 5NT->7N or 7M As responder you know how high you should be: – I have: We have: Limit:Xfer then bid: – PartscorePass – Game3NT – Small Slam6NT – Grand Slam7NT – maybe game2NT – maybe small slam4NT – maybe grand slam5NT With 3 card support for your 5 card suit, opener should correct to the known 8 card fit, and accept or refuse any invitations based on point count. With 2 card support, opener typically chooses the NT contract.

Jacoby and Texas Transfers cont. Partner bids 1NT and you have a 6+ card major, you have a choice of Jacoby transfers 2D to 2H, and 2H to 2S, showing 5 cards, or Texas transfers 4D to 4H and 4H to 4S to show 6 cards. Responder tries to determine level and strain Contracts to play: 4H (26), 6H (33), 7H (37) Bids after the transfer to invite level and confirm strain: 3H->4H As responder you know how high you should be: – I have: We have: Limit:Xfer then bid: – Partscore2DPass – Game4D4H – Small Slam2D6H – Grand Slam2D7H – maybe game2D 3H – maybe small slam2D4H With 2 card support for your 6 card suit, opener plays in the known 8 card fit, and accepts or refuses any invitations based on point count. Texas (transfers at the 4 level) can be used preemptively with very weak hands.

Stayman Convention You can ask about 4 card majors using Stayman by bidding 2C over 1NT Opener (the 1NT bidder) responds – 2S with 4 spades and fewer than 4 hearts, – 2H with 4 hearts (does not deny 4 spades) – 2D to deny both hearts and spades After Stayman, responder establishes level and strain – responder passes with less than game interest – responder bids 2N, 3H, or 3S with invitational values – responder bids 3N, 4H or 4S with game forcing values – responder bids 4N with slam invitational values and no fit – responder bids slam with slam values Opener passes, accepts the invitation or corrects the final contract based on all information – 1N2C – 2H2N – 4S

Recap – NT openers All NT opening bids have known narrow point range Responder generally determines strain and level Jacoby transfers show 5 card majors Texas transfers show 6 card majors Stayman finds 4-4 major suit fits Responder uses these tools to find the optimal contract based on 8 card major suit fits, and either places the contract based on point count, or makes an invitational bid, allowing opener to place the contract.

Opening 1H (or 1S) 5 card majors points Prefer to open 1N or 2N with or with only 5 cards Goal – uncover 8 card major suit fit

Responding with support to 1M (H or S) Eight card major suit support determines strain Nine card is better Level – 26/33/37 – 1S (F) = spades (L=unclear) – 1NT = 6+ “none of the above or below” (see 1NT forcing) (L= <=game) – 2C = (GF) 13+, natural 2/1 bid (L=game+) – 2D = (GF) 13+, natural 2/1 bid (L=game+) – 2H = 7-10 (L=<=game) – 2NT = (GF) 4+ support, Jacoby 2NT (L=game) – 3H = card limit raise (L=<=game) – 3S/4C/4D = splinters (!) (L=game+) – 4H = weak 5 card raise (duh!)

Jacoby 2NT Open 1H, and partner has 4 card support and game going values 1H-p-2NT-p-? – Bid at the 3 level with shortness – Bid at the 4 level with another 5 card suit – Signoff in game (4H) with a minimum – Bid 3NT with extras based on points – Bid 3H with extras based on shape

2/1 is game forcing 2/1 auctions – a bid of a cheaper suit at the 2 level is unconditionally game forcing: – 1D-2C (GF) – 1H-2C (GF) – 1H-2D (GF) – 1S-2C (GF) – 1S-2D (GF) – 1S-2H (GF) Unconditionally game forcing – both partners continue to bid as naturally as possible until a game contract (3NT/4H/4S/5C/5D) is reached, or until the opponents are doubled.

1NT-forcing With 6 points you *must* respond to opener’s bid of 1 of a suit 1NT shows 6-12 points, does not specify any shape – denies the ability to make a more descriptive bid It is forcing – opener must bid again With 6-9 points, you will probably pass, correct to opener’s first bid suit, or bid your own suit (5+ cards) at the 2 level: – 1H-1N(!)-2C-P (I prefer clubs to hearts) – 1H-1N(!)-2C-2H (I prefer hearts to clubs) – 1H-1N(!)-2C-2D (I have diamonds) With points, you can bid your suit at the 3 level, invite to game in opener’s first suit, bid 2NT, or raise opener’s second suit – 1H-1N(!)-2D-3C (I have 5+ clubs and 10-12) – 1H-1N(!)-2D-3H (I have 3 hearts and – a 3 card “limit raise”) – 1H-1N(!)-2D-2N (balanced, 10-12) – 1H-1N(!)-2D-2S (the impossible spade raise – a “limit raise”)

1H opener bids again … Partner responds 1S or 1N (both forcing, showing 6+ points) – 1H-1S-2S/3S/4S (4 card sp support) – 1H-1N-2C (min hand 12-18, pref 4 clubs) – 1H-1N-2D (min hand 12-18, pref 4 diamonds) – 1H-1N-2H (min hand 12-15, 6 hearts) – 1H-1N-2S (reverse 17+, 4 spades, forcing one round) – 1H-1N-3C/3D (strong jump shift, 19+, game force) – 1H-1N-3H (inv hand 16-18, 6 hearts) – 1H-1N-4H (gf – your 6 points were all I need to make game)

Responding to 1C or 1D openings Show your longest or cheapest 4+ card major if you have one – 1C-1H (f, 6+ points, 4 hearts) – 1C-1D (f, 6+ points, probably denies 4 H or S) Bidding NT shows a point range, and denies a 4 card major – 1D-1NT = 6-9 points (nf) – 1D-2NT = points (nf) – 1D-3NT = points (nf)

Opener’s rebid after 1C/1D Responder has shown a 4 card major, support immediately when possible: – 1D-1H-2H = nf, 13-15, 4 card support – 1D-1H-3H = nf, 16-18, 4 card support – 1D-1H-4H = nf, 19+, 4 card support Bid a new 4 card major – 1D-1H-1S = nf, 13-18, 4 spades, denies 4H – 1D-1H-2S = gf, 19+, 4 spades, denies 4H Rebid NT with a balanced hand – 1D-1H-1N = 13-14, balanced, denies 4H – 1D-1H-2N = 18-19, balanced, denies 4H Rebid your own suit with more of them – 1D-1H-2D = – 1D-1H-3D = Rebid a new suit – 1D-1H-2C = – 1D-1H-3C = 19+ (game force)

3NT/4H/4S=26 points, 6?=33 points, 7?=37points NT openings and rebids show specific point ranges, and balanced distributions Major suit opening bids (H/S) show 5 cards Responding in a major shows 4 cards Bidding is designed to uncover 8 card suit major fits You should open the bidding with any 13 point hand, and respond to an opening bid with any 6 point hand if the opponents pass Reevaluate the auction as it proceeds – each bid narrows the description of your hand. – What have I shown already? – Do I have to bid? Did partner make a forcing bid? – Do I have anything else I want to show? Don't bid your hand twice. When you don't know what to do after a minute, look at your hand and bid what you think you are supposed to bid. It is better to make a fast bid that is wrong than a slow bid that is right (**unless you are good enough to know that 7 minutes of analysis will get you to the right answer, which the author of these notes is not).