Cappelletti! (Capp) (also known as Hamilton or Ham) ( ! )

Used versus opponent's opening of 1NT

The Overcalls of 1NT are:

East	South	Shows
1NT	X!	Strong hand (penalty oriented)
	2!	1-suited hand Respond with 2! (Pass only if you have a good 6-card club suit). Partner can pass with diamonds or correct to his suit
	2!	At least 5/4 in the majors
	2!	hearts + a minor
	2!	spades + a minor
	2NT!	Both minors

Possible responses to Cappelletti!

Capp O/Call	North	Shows
X! Strong Penalty	Pass	Can stand the X
	2 x Suit	Weak takeout, can't stand the X
2 ! 1-Suited	2!	Relay asks Pd. to bid his suit – Pd will pass if suit is diamonds or correct .If Pd has 6x+4x, he can show this by bidding 2NT! over the 2! relay
	Pass	Poor hand with long decent clubs
	2-!	Good 5+-card major
	2NT!	11-13HCP balanced hand (invitational)
2! 5/4+majors	Pass	Poor major suit support with long good diamonds
	2-	Minimum response - major suit preference (NF)
	3!	Poor major suit support with long good clubs
	2NT! (force 1rnd)	Either a minor-suit hand or limit raise in 1 of the majors (if the latter the plan is to rebid 3- after pd has shown his better minor) (NF,invitational)
	3-!	Preemptive in accordance with " The Law of Total Tricks"*
2! hearts+minor (NF)	Pass	content to play in 2
	3!	Preemptive as * above
	2NT! (force 1rnd)	Asks Pard to bid his minor or shows a limit raise, eg.1NT-2!-P-2NT!-P-3-All Pass or, 1NT-2!-P-3-3(invitational, NF)**
2! spades+minor (NF)	Pass	content to play in 2
	3!	Preemptive as * above
	2NT! (force 1rnd)	Asks Pard to bid his minor or shows a limit raise as ** above but spades instead of hearts
2NT! both minors	3-!	Preferred minor
	3!	A good major suit of your own and 11+HCP (more likely vs wk NT)(NF)
	Pass/3NT!	11+HCP Balanced hand with good major stops (more likely vs wk NT)

Note 1: The above responses assume Opp2 passes. If Opp2 doubles the 2 overcall, then a redouble shows 7+HCP and support for all suits inviting the Overcaller to compete at the 3-level

Note 2: The Partnership may agree that in the "balancing position" a double would show a 4-card major+ a longer minor

Note 3: Capp may also be used over openings of 2/3NT (including Gambling 3NT)

Note 4: Further, the Partnership may also agree to use Capp after one partner has opened the bidding with 1/1 and opponent has overcalled 1NT. In this case, Partner2's Capp overcalls at the 2-level would have the same meaning as above and would indicate a weak hand of 8 or less Points, since with a stronger hand he would double for penalty

DONT! (Disturb Opponents NT)

The Overcalls of Opp's 1NT are:

East	South	Shows
1NT	X!	1-suited hand (if weak respond with 2! partner can pass with clubs or correct to his suit) *
	2!	clubs and a higher-ranking suit
	2!	diamonds and a major
	2!	both majors
	2!	spades and may be weak

Note: A response of 2NT! by North is forcing - see below

Possible Responses to DON’T Overcalls:

West	North	South Response Options assuming East Passes
1NT	X!	2! (artificial) asks Pard to bid his suit (see * above)
		If you have a v good suit of your own you can bid it
		If you have a balanced hand with 14+HCP you can pass for penalty
	2!	Pass is you have 3+
		Bid 2! (artificial) asks Pd to bid the other suit (if suit is pd will pass)
	2!	Pass if you have 3+
		Bid 2! (artificial) asks Pd to bid the other suit (if suit is pd will pass)
	2!	Pass with hearts or adjust to spades
	2!	Pass
		Raise if you have a strong hand and at least 2x. (Remember Pd may be weak)

Further 3-level bids by DONT overcaller after 2NT! (14+HCP) response:

West	North	South	North	North's possible responses
1NT	2!	2NT! (forcing)	3!	Bad hand with clubs and unknown other suit
			3!	Good hand with clubs and diamonds
			3!	Good hand with clubs and hearts
			3!	Good hand with clubs and spades
	2!	2NT! (forcing)	3!	Bad hand with diamonds and hearts
			3!	Bad hand with diamonds and spades
			3!	Good hand with diamonds and hearts
			3!	Good hand with diamonds and spades
	2!	2NT! (forcing)	3!	Bad hand with better hearts than spades
			3!	Bad hand with better spades than hearts
			3!	Good hand with better hearts than spades
			3!	Good hand with better spades than hearts

If DONT overcall is doubled, your possible responses are:
Pass	Indicates tolerance of bid suit
XX	Asks for Partner's 2nd suit
New Suit	Natural, non-forcing
If DONT overcall is in turn overcalled (2of a suit) your possible responses are:
Pass	Natural, non-forcing
X	Asks for Partner's 2nd suit
New Suit	Natural, non-forcing

Another use of DONT is when your side opens 1NT and Opp1 doubles; a rescue bid may be necessary, especially if playing weak NT

North	Opp1	South	Shows
1NT	X	XX!	1-suited hand (if wk respond with 2! Pd can pass with clubs or correct to his suit)
		2!	clubs and another suit
		2!	diamonds and a major
		2!	Both majors
		2!	spades

Drury ( ! )

Used for reponding to 3rd/4th seat major suit opening bids. A response of 2! is 100% forcing. (Drury, and all its variations, is off if the 1 of a major is overcalled). Opener continues as follows:

Call	2!	Artificial. Sub-minimum opener
	Rebid of suit!	Shows full opening hand

Reverse Drury (more commonly used) ( ! )

An improved version of Drury that "reverses" the meanings of opener's rebids. RDrury is an effective way to gauge the strength of partner's 3rd/4th seat 1 of a major opener. 2! by responder shows 10-12 points with at least 3 card support for the bid suit.

Opener	Responder	Opener	Shows
1-	2!	2!	Artificial, showing full opening hand
		2-!	Rebid of suit=subminimum hand, responder should pass
1	2!	2!	At least 5/4 spades/hearts, does not promise opening strength. Responder can pass with 4x or return opener to spades
1	2!	3-!	Good 5 card minor. Does promise opening strength. (forcing)

Note: If responder really wants to show a long good minor he needs to bid 3/ over 1/

Two Way Rdrury ( ! ) (Recommended)

Show a limit raise with three-card trump support for partner’s major suit opener by bidding 2! and four-card support with 2! Responses are the same as for RDrury above except after 2! you lose the “2! artificial full opening hand”. A clear advantage of 2-way RDrury is that opener can now identify the combined trump fit and that extra trump may be invaluable in partner's decision to bid game. 2-way RDrury allows responder, a passed hand, to tell partner that he has a limit raise with either 3 or 4-card support for Opener’s major suit opener. This form of Drury is highly recommended since opener is made aware of the combined trump total, in keeping with the “Law of Total Tricks”.

Flannery ( ! )

Instead of a weak 2, an opening bid of 2! is used to show 5 hearts and 4 spades and 11-15HCP. Responder may:

1. Sign off in 2 of a major
2. Jump to 3 of a major to invite game
3. Bid 2NT as a forcing enquiry

Over 2NT Response, Opener Rebids in the Following Manner:

Responder	Opener	Shows
2NT!	3/3!	3 cards in bid minor
	3!	Minimum hand with 2/2 in the minors
	3!	Maximum hand with 2/2 in the minors
	3NT!	Max hand with 2/2 in the minors + an honour in both minors
	4/4!	4 cards in the bid minor

Note: 2 is sometimes used instead of 2 (reserving 2 for some other purpose) - the responses are the same, except that responder passes to sign off in hearts

1. 10-12HCP and a 7-card solid minor, no void or small singleton, open 3NT! (The hand must have no outside Ace or King). If responder has stops in the other 3 suits and no minor void (and no slam interest), he can pass. If he does not have the required stops and entry, he must bid 4 which opener can adjust to 4 if necessary.

2. Acol 3NT Opening (Recommended)
16-21HCP, a solid or semi-solid minor suit of at least 6 (usually 7) cards, and outside stops in at least 2 (often all 3) suits, no void or small singleton
Note: Responder must never rescue partner: if slam is out of the question, responder should pass.

Inverted Minors ( ! ) (invm)

A single minor raise is forcing and a jump minor raise is weak, thus "inverting" the standard meaning of the two bids. When responder has a weak minor raise (eg. 1-2) he is unlikely to "buy" the contract so he may as well bid 3. Conversely if responder has a good minor raise, he wants to keep the bidding as low as possible to allow careful exploration for game, or slam. No hand is too strong for a single minor raise. For example:

Responses over an Opening of 1 of a minor

North	South	Shows
1/1	1NT	6-10HCP balanced hand.Denies 4-card major. Does not deny 4 of bid minor (NF)
1/1	2/2!	Min 10 Points (no upper limit) and 4+trumps, denies 4-card major (forcing)
1/1	3/3!	Weak hand with 5 trumps or 4 good trumps

After the single minor raise, opener must bid again, (except if responder is a passed hand, or if opener's RHO intervenes with a bid or a double).

Opener's Possible Rebids

North	South	North	Shows
1/1	2/2!	2NT!	Min response suggests NT as final contract
		3/3!	Min response hand unsuitable for NT
		2/2!	Extra strength, 4+ of the bid minor + 3/4-card major
		3NT!	18-19HCP (if playing 15-17NT), balanced hand

After a single minor raise responder is compelled to bid again only if opener rebids in a new suit. Otherwise, responder has the option of passing if he feels the proper contract has been reached.

Responder's Possible Rebids

North	South	South's Rebid Shows
1/1	2/2!	Natural showing 2 raise as minimum
2/2!	2NT!
1/1	2/2!	Minimum single raise (unsuitable for NT)
2/2!	3/3!
1/1	2/2!	Strength in the other minor: may help to enable 3NT
3/3!	3/3!
1/1	2/2!	3 good hearts/spades (South denied 4 with the single minor raise)
2/2!	3/3!
1/1	2/2!	Stops in the 2 unbid suits
2/2!	3NT!

After responder's rebid, any further bidding is governed by the following principle: "After a single minor raise, if either partner returns to 3 or 4 of the agreed minor or 2NT, this is not forcing (except if either partner has bid 3NT prior to a return to 4 of the minor) and indicates minimum values for his previous bidding. Hence, any other bid that does not complete game is forcing.". In competition, the forcing single minor raise is "on" after a single suit overcall or t/oX

Jacoby Transfer to minors (J4xf) ( ! )

Use if responder has a long minor, less than 8HCP, limited entry making a NT contract undesirable.

1. The simple SAYC method:
After a 1NT opener, a 2! response is a transfer to 3, which can be passed with clubs or responder can rebid 3 if his suit is diamonds.

2. The better method which keeps Opener as declarer:
After a 1NT opener, 2! is a transfer to clubs and a 2NT! call is a transfer to diamonds

Note 1: Jacoby Transfer to minors is "off" altogether if the 1NT opening is overcalled.
Note 2: Although this is an SA-YC treatment, another way is to use 2 to Xfer to Clubs and 2NT to Xfer to Diamonds thereby keeping the contract in the strong hand.

Landy and Revised Landy (rlandy)( ! )

A simple defense over opponent's 1NT opener. An overcall of 2! is artificial and asks for takeout in either of the majors. All other overcalls are natural, unless you use Revised Landy which additionally uses 2! to show both minors.

Laventhal Discards (Lav)

Discard of a low card of either remaining suit (ie. excluding trumps), asks for the lower suit
Example: If, say, hearts are trumps and you are discarding on clubs, then a low spade or diamond asks for a diamond.

Discard of a high card of either remaining suit, asks for the higher suit
Example: If, say, diamonds are trumps and you are discarding on spades, then a high heart or club asks for a heart

A method of contending with the opposition suit overcall of partner's 1NT opening bid. Essentially it involves an artificial response of 2NT. which demands that opener bids 3! as a "relay" bid. Responder may then pass (with clubs) or sign off in his real suit. After a 2-level overcall by the opponents, a response of 3 of a new suit is natural and forcing, e.g., 1NT-(2)-3! (This also applies if it is a jump bid over opp's 2-level overcall: e.g. 1NT-(2)-3!).

If responder, after the Lebensohl 2NT bid, bids a suit that is higher ranking than overcaller's suit, it is invitational to game e.g., 1NT-(2)-2NT!-(P)-3!-(P)-3!). The logic behind this is that if the responder had wished to sign off, he could have bid two immediately after the overcall, which would be weak, just as in standard bidding (e.g., 1NT-(2)-2).

A common problem after an overcall of the 1NT opening is determining whether a stopper is held in the opponent's suit. 3NT is often reached with each partner hoping the other has a stopper, but in fact neither has. This problem can be solved through another application of the Lebensohl convention. Here's how (assume West passes):

e.g.	North	East	South	South's Rebid Shows
A	1NT	2	2NT!	Confirms a heart stop - partner should pass
	3!	Pass	3NT!
B	1NT	2	2NT!	Cuebid is Stayman showing 4 spades and confirms a heart stop
	3!	Pass	3!
C	1NT	2	3NT!	Denies heart stop. Partner must have a heart stop to Pass
D	1NT	2	3!	Denies heart stop but shows 4 spades. Partner must have a heart stop to bid 3NT

After a 2-suited overcall (eg. when opps are using conventions such as Brozel, Astro and Landy) and the overcall is artificial, it is still possible to employ Lebensohl, but with certain modifications as follows:

1. After a 2-suited artificial overcall of 1NT opening, the suit bid is still an "unbid" suit.
2. The agreements re the stop in opp's suit (see above) are "off"
3. After a 2-level artificial overcall, a double is for penalty but the doubler does not promise specific values in the artifical suit but defensive strength (approx 7+HCP) and usually suggests length in one or both of the opp's suits.

Note : After a natural 3-level suit overcall a double is for takeout

A further application of the Lebensohl convention is used after partner has made a takeout double of opponent's weak 2-bid opener. A response of 2NT! (if you are weak and have a long suit) requires the doubler to bid 3! (unless he is v strong and can pass or bid 3NT), then you may pass (with clubs) or sign off in your suit.

East	South	West	North	North's Rebid Shows
2	X	Pass	2NT!	Less than 7HCP with 5+cards in the bid suit
Pass	3! (relay)		Pass (with clubs)/3!

Note 1: The failure to engage the Lebensohl 2NT bid gives a constructive meaning to 3-level suit responses to partner's takeout double
Note 2: If the suit bid at the 3 level, after engaging the Leb 2NT is a higher ranking suit than the opp suit, then it is invitational, e.g., 2-X-2N!-3!-P-3!.

A form of lead-directing double made over a voluntarily bid slam contract. Its purpose is to request an unusual lead, never a suit bid by your own side. In the majority of cases the Lightner Double is based on a void, often in one of the opponents' suits, usually in a side-suit bid by dummy.

Note: The Lightner Double only applies against voluntarily bid slams so the double of an opponent's sacrifice bid is not lead-directing but penalty.

Minor Suit Stayman (mss) ( ! )

Over partner's 1NT opener, 2! shows at least 5/4 in the minors, denies a 4-card major and shows game interest. If the 1NT opener responds 3! or 3!, it shows a minimum for his NT and 4 cards in the minor bid.

Note 1: MSS (like Jacoby Transfers) is "off" altogether if the 1NT opening is overcalled. Also over openers of 2NT and 3NT.

Note 2: The use of MSS over a 2 or 3NT opener always shows slam interest. If a minor suit has been agreed, then a later bid of 4NT is Blackwood

Note 3: This simple form of MSS is not recommended since it eliminates the use of (MST which combines both Jacoby Transfers to minors and minor Suit Stayman)

Minor Suit Transfer Bids ( ! )

Recommended treatment whereby Jacoby Xfers to minors and MSS are used as a combined convention. The Minor Suit Transfer Bid must always show a "one-suited" hand, since all "two-suited" hands are adequately catered for with the use of Stayman, Jxfers to majors, or MSS. MST uses 2NT! as the transfer to clubs and 3! as the transfer to diamonds.

Example A

No.	North	South	South's Rebid Shows
1.	1NT	2NT!	At least 5 (usually 6) clubs and a "bust"
	3!	Pass
2.	1NT	3!	At least 5 (usually 6) diamonds and a "bust"
	3!	Pass

Example B: further bidding by the Xfer bidder

No.	North	South	South's Rebid Shows
1.	1NT	2NT/3!	Singleton or void in the "new" suit, at least 6 of the known minor. Game force, suggests slam interest
	3/3!	3/3!
2.	1NT	2NT/3!	No singleton or void, Game Force, possible slam interest. Opener should pass if min with min support in the known minor
	3/3!	3NT!
3.	1NT	2NT/3!	6+ of the known minor. highly distributional, Game invitational. Opener should pass or continue to 5/5
	3/3!	4/4!
4.	1NT	2NT/3!	This is quantitative not Blackwood but South has shown 5+ of the known minor
	3/3!	4NT!
5.	1NT	2NT/3!	Signing off in the known minor. highly distributional, very few HCP
	3/3!	5/5!

Since 2NT is used as a Transfer, Responder must use Stayman to invite to game in NT if he has a balanced hand and 8/9 HCP. This works as follows:

No.	North	South	South's Rebid Shows
1.	1NT	2!	8+HCP may/may not have a 4-card major - invitational to 3NT
	2!	2NT!
2.	1NT	2!	8+HCP, denies a 4-card major and invites to game in 3NT
	2	2NT!
3.	1NT	2!	8+HCP with exactly 4 hearts - invites to game in 3NT or 4
	2	3
4.	1NT	2!	"check-back Stayman" (in case opener has a 4-card suit as well as 4x) Force 1 rnd, 8+HCP, denies 4x but shows exactly 4x - opener now rebids logically
	2	2

Note 1: Minor-Suit Xfer Bids may only be used after a 1NT opening bid and are "off" if the 1NT opener is overcalled or doubled.

Note 2: If the Minor-Suit Xfer Bid is overcalled or doubled, opener may:

1. Bid with a good fit for responder's minor
2. X for penalty
3. Pass

Note 5: An addition to Minor-Suit Xfer Bids is the use of 3/3/3! to show a 3-suited hand with a singleton or void in the suit bid (Splinter Response). This would be game forcing and would show slam interest. If the shortage is in clubs, then use Stayman and bid normally. Splinter Responses are "off" after interference by the opposition

The use of a bid in an unbid minor suit by responder as an artificial convenient forcing bid after a 1NT rebid by the opening bidder. Much like "4th Suit Forcing (4sf)". It promises about 11+HCP and is most frequently used when responder has a 5-card major suit as a means of enquiring about 3-card support. With a choice of "new minor" bid the longer and stronger to suggest a stopper.

NMF is also effective when responder has 5/4 spades/hearts (after a minor-suit opening). It asks opener for a 4-card heart suit, as well as for 3-card spade support.

NMF may also be used as a temporising bid when responder wishes to invite game in his own suit, or in opener's suit. This is the only means of describing such hands of invitational strength, assuming that responder's 2nd-round jump bids are forcing.

After the NMF forcing bid, opener must further describe his distribution, in order to help responder locate the best contract. In most cases, opener may also indicate whether he holds minimum or maximum strength for his 1NT rebid.

Note: In competition if either opponent has bid, the NMF convention is "off": responder's rebid in a new minor after opener's 1NT shows a real suit and is not forcing.

3rd Round Bids Available to Opener

Priority	North	South	North's 3rd Rnd bid Shows
1	1	1	Shows 4 hearts by bidding the unbid major. Does not deny 3xspades
	1NT	2!
	2!	?
2	1	1	Show 3 hearts and min/max 1NT rebid
	1NT	2!
	2/3!	?
3	1	1	Denies 3 spades, shows club stop and min/max 1NT rebid
	1NT	2!
	2NT/3NT!	?
4	1	1	Denies 3 spades, no diamond stop and min 1NT rebid
	1NT	2!
	2!	?
5	1	1	Denies 3 hearts no spade stop, does not agree clubs but shows 4 of them
	1NT	2!
	3!	?

Responder's 3rd Round Available Bids
Pass	If opener's 3rd round bid is the logical contract
Any Minimum Bid	Natural (agreeing suit/NT) (if below game invitational)
Any Jump Bid	Natural (agreeing suit) (if below game forcing)
After 2 3rd rnd bid by pard (showing 4x), with 5x and less than 4x, bid 2	Asks if pard has 3 spades (forcing for 1 rnd)

If the NMF convention is adopted, responder must know the proper methods of describing 2-suited hands (at least 5/5 shape) after opener's 1NT rebid:

1. With a weak 2-suiter, responder may (a) rebid a reasonably good 5-card major or (b) pass. Do not bid a new minor suit. (With 5/5 majors, responder is able to bid both suits).

2. With an invitational 2-suiter, responder should bid a new minor, even when holding both majors. Then on the next round, responder may bid his 2nd suit (unless opener's 3rd bid has indicated an obvious final contract).

3. With a game-forcing 2-suiter, responder should jump in his 2nd suit.

1. An odd discard encourages that suit.

2. A low even discard discourages that suit and asks for the lower of the remaining side suits (discount trumps)

3. A high even discard discourages that suit and asks for the higher of the remaining side suits (discount trumps).

Note 1: Usually applies on first discard only
Note 2: Can be extended to encourage/discourage lead, eg., play odd to encourage continuation or hi/lo even to discourage continuation and ask for hi/lo of the side suits.

Ogust ( ! )

A method of rebidding after a forcing 2NT! response to a weak 2 bid. The weak 2 bidder decribes both the strength of his hand and the number of top honours in the long suit (top honours are A, K, & Q. Do not count the Jack).

Responses are as follows
3!	Min hand with 1 top honour in suit
3!	Min hand with 2 top honours in suit
3!	Max hand with 1 top honour in suit
3!	Max hand with 2 top honours in suit
3NT!	Max hand with 3 top honours in suit

Memory Aid: "minors are minimum, 1-2-1-2-3" where the numbers refer to the top honours held for each of the 5 possible replies.

Note: Where opener is between minimum (6HCP) and maximum (10/11HCP), treat

Losers: There are 3 possible losers in each suit - AKQ missing . However an unsupported Q counts as half a loser and a small singleton would only count as 1 loser, a small dblton as 2 losers, so a hand of, say, AJxxxx, xx, xx, Qxx, would have 8 and a half losers but if you change the Qxx to QJx the hand would have 8 losers (both would be minimum with one top honour=3!)

Puppet Stayman ( ! )

A variation of Stayman where the 2! response to partner's 1NT opener, forces opener to rebid 2! if he has no 5-card major.

Responder continues as follows:

1. 2! shows a 4-card spade suit
2. 2! shows a 4-card heart suit
3. 2NT! shows both 4-card majors and invitational strength
4. 3! shows 4 hearts and 4 or 5 spades, game force
5. 3! shows 4 spades and 5 hearts, game force
6. 3NT! no 4-card major and game going strength

The advantage of this treatment is that it allows opener to be declarer without divulging any information about his hand. A similar treatment can be used over 2NT openers.

Roman Key Card Blackwood (RKC)

The answers to RKC include the King of trumps as an extra control card (ie. 5 control cards: 4 Aces and King of trumps). There are 2 main versions played on OKbridge, 0314/3014 and 1430.

RKC 0314/3014 asking for Controls			RKC 1430 asking for Controls
4NT	5	0 or 3 controls	1 or 4 controls
	5	1 or 4 controls	3 or 0 controls
	5	2 or 5 controls without Q Trumps	2 or 5 controls without Q Trumps
	5	2 or 5 controls with Q Trumps	2 or 5 controls with Q Trumps

After the reply to 4NT, 5 of the trump suit is a signoff. If the reply is 5 or 5, the cheapest relay asks for the trump Queen, and the next cheapest relay is used to ask for Kings. If the reply is 5 (denying the trump Queen) or 5 (showing the trump Queen), then the cheapest relay is used to ask for side suit Kings.

Note 1 (with patnership understanding):

1. A 5NT response to 4NT can show an 0 or 2 controls with a working void
2. 6 of any suit below the trump suit can show 1 or 3 controls with void in the bid suit
3. 6 of the agreed trump suit can show 1 or 3 controls with a void in a higher ranking suit

Note 2:

1. A 5NT rebid by the RKC bidder, when it is not a 1st or 2nd relay, asks for the cheapest King. With the club King, for example, responder would bid 6.
2. Many players expect that asking for the trump Queen or for Kings is a grand slam try that guarantees that all keycards are held by the partnership. If so, then either partner is entitled to go to the 7 level when their unshown holdings are judged to be "the right stuff".
3. The relays re Q of trumps and asking re Kings are based on "agreed trump suit" - if no trump suit has been agreed (eg., 1-P-1-P-4NT), you should assume the last bid suit is the trump suit, ie., spades
4. Relays exclude the agreed trump suit which would be used to signoff.
5. If an Ace/Control is missing be aware that to ask about Kings may take you over 6 of the agreed suit.
6. Some players show Zero Kings by bidding 6 of the agreed suit and specific Kings by bidding the cheapest suit in which a King is held. Some players bid 5NT to show a King in a suit above the trump suit. If you are in any doubt as to what any of the replies mean, ask the RKC bidder.

RKC Asking for Side Suit Kings & Q of Trumps

North (RKC ? Aces)	South (RKC ? Aces Reply)	Agreed Trump Suit	North	South	Shows
4NT	5	clubs	5 ? trump Q	5	No trump Q
				5	Trump Q
			5 ? Kings	5	0
				5NT	1
				6	2
				6	3
		diamonds	5 ? trump Q	5	No trump Q
				5NT	Trump Q
			5 ? Kings	5NT	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
		hearts	5 ? trump Q	5	No trump Q
				5	Trump Q
			5 ? Kings	5NT	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
		spades	5 ? trump Q	5	No trump Q
				5	Trump Q
			5 ? Kings	5	0
				5NT	1
				6	2
				6	3
4NT	5	clubs or diamonds	5 ? trump Q	5	No trump Q
				5NT	Trump Q
			5 ? Kings	5NT	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
		hearts	5 ? trump Q	5NT	No trump Q
				6	Trump Q
			5NT ? Kings	6	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
		spades	5 ? trump Q	5	No trump Q
				5NT	Trump Q
			5NT ? Kings	6	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
4NT	5	clubs, diamonds or hearts	5 ? Kings	5NT	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
		spades	5NT ? Kings	6	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3
4NT	5	clubs diamonds hearts spades	5NT ? Kings	6	0
				6	1
				6	2
				6	3

Smolen Transfer Bids (Smolen) ( ! )

An adjunct to Stayman and Jacoby Transfers, where, after a 2 reply to Stayman, responder holding 5/4 or 6/4 in the majors, jumps to 3 of his 4-card major, allowing opener to become declarer in responder's long major.

Example

Opener	Responder	Responder Shows
1NT 2	2 3!	5 spades and 4 hearts
1NT 2	2 3!	5 hearts and 4 spades

Opener can raise responder's long major with 3 trumps or rebid 3NT with only 2. In the latter case, with 6 of his long major, responder can bid 4 of the suit immediately below his 6-card major as a further transfer.

Example

Sequence	Responder	Responder Shows
1NT-2-2-3!-3NT	4!	6 spades and 4 hearts
1NT-2-2-3!-3NT	4!	6 hearts and 4 spades

Splinters ( ! )

The use of an unusual jump bid to show a singleton or void in the suit bid and excellent trump support for partner's last bid suit. This is forcing to game and shows slam interest.

North	South	Shows
1	3!	13-16HCP, agrees hearts, singleton or void spade (forcing) With no slam interest partner may sign off in 4
1/1	4/4!	As above but with club/diamond void or singleton
1	4!	As above but with heart void or singleton Note: Some players prefer that any game call is to play and not a splinter

Note 1: In competition after opponent's takeout double, splinter bids are still "on"

Note 2: In non-competitive auctions, Splinter bids may be extended to areas of rebidding, by both opener and responder. In this respect the "rule of thumb" is if a particular new-suit bid would be forcing, then one level higher in that same suit is a splinter bid.

Texas Transfers ( ! )

Jump responses of 4/4 over opener of 1NT/2NT to transfer to 4/4 when responder wants to be in game but has no slam interest

Opener	Responder	Opener
1NT/2NT	4!	4
	4!	4

The idea behind this convention is similar to that behind Jacoby Transfers - it is better for opener to be declarer, since his high cards won't be exposed to the defenders.

Using both transfer conventions, responding to both 1NT and 2NT, Root/Pavlicek recommend the following understandings:

1. Texas, then pass is signoff in game, therefore:
2. Jacoby, then raise to game is mild slam try (not forcing but opener is invited to bid again with maximum).
3. Jacoby, then 4NT is defined as quantitative slam invitation, therefore:
4. Texas, then 4NT is Blackwood.

Opener	Responder	Opener	Responder	Using both JXfer and Texas, Shows
1NT	2-!	2-	4-	Suggests slam interest
	2-!	2-	4NT	Quantitative slam invitation
	4-!	4-	Pass	Signoff in game, no slam interest
	4-!	4-	4NT	Blackwood, not quantitative

Texas Transfers are "on" in competition through 3

Opener	Opp1	Responder	Shows
1NT	2-3	4!	Xfer to 4
	2	4!	Xfer to 4
	3	4	Natural, not an Xfer

Unusual Over Unusual ( ! )

A defence of Opponent's Unusual NT overcall of Opener's 1 of a major opening.

After a 2NT overcall of Opener's 1-, resonses of 3 and 3 are artificial showing hearts and spades respectively: e.g., If partner opened 1:

1. 3! shows a heart suit with enough strength to force
2. 3! shows a limit raise (or better) in spades
3. 3! shows a heart suit but is not forcing
4. 3! shows a spade fit, but less than a limit raise

Voluntary Bid of Five in a major Suit

A voluntary bid of five in an agreed major suit, is a slam invitation which is also a form of "asking bid". It asks partner to proceed to slam if he has 1st or 2nd round control of the enemy suit or, if your side has bid all but one suit, then 1st or 2nd round control in the unbid suit.

The Responses to Control Showing Enquiry
re Enemy Suit or Unbid Suit are:

Bid	Shows
Pass	No controls in specified suit (2 quick losers)
Bid 6	1st round control (eg. Ax)
Bid 6	with 2nd round control (eg.singleton)
5NT (rare)	Guarded King giving partner the option of 6NT

Note: If opps have bid a suit and there is also an unbid suit, a cuebid of the unbid suit shows 1st round control in both.

When the above is illogical, eg. 1-5 or if there is no unbid suit and no enemy bid, the voluntary bid of 5 of the agreed trump suit asks about the trump quality.

Responses to Trump Suit Enquiry are:

Call	Pass	If you feel there are 2 trump losers
	6	If only 1 trump loser
	7	If trumps are solid

Note 1: Since there is no logical reason to jump to 5 of a major suit, a voluntary such bid must be a slam try, you should be able to recognise it when used.

Note 2: If partner has pre-empted in a competitive auction, a raise to 5 of his major is not a slam try, even if voluntary. This is an "advance sacrifice".

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September, 1996:
last updated 10th March,2003
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