LD Precision Club - Lesson 2 Talking Points
Review
HCP: A-4, K-3, Q-2, J-1
Opener – no adjustment for distribution.
Distribution Points Responder – with 3 card support (doubleton-1, singleton-2, void-3) Responder – with 4+ card support (doubleton-1, singleton-3, void-5)
Responder runnable side suit (AKQxx, KQJxx) 3 points
Using estimate of combined partnership points
Trick capability – NT: 1 (for being declarer) + HCP/3 Trick capability – suit: (HCP+DP-2)/3 + (Trumps-6)
75% probability of making contract
Opening bids:
Strong bids (16+): 1C, 2NT Intermediate bids (11-15): 1D, 1H, 1S, 1NT, 2C, 2D Weak bids (6-10): 2H, 2S, 3C, 3D Very weak bids (<6): 3H, 3S Gambling NT Distributional: 4C, 4D, 4H, 4S, 5C, 5D
Bidding Ladder: 22-24, balanced: 2NT 16+: 1C 11-15, 5 card major: 1M 11-15, balanced: 1NT 11-15, 6C or 5C4M: 2C 11-15, 4414 (singleton D): 2D 11-15, 4+D: 1D 6-10, 6+ major, 2/5 top honors: 2M 6-10, 7+ minor, 2/5 top honors, 3m <6, 7+ major: 3M Highly Distributional hand: 3NT, 4X, 5m, your judgment Pass
With 11+ HCP there is always a bid. You should make that bid!
Practice opening bids
Opening Bid: 1NT
30+% of opening bids. Balanced hand, no 5 card major, often 5 card minor. 11-15 HCP.
Preemptive. Prefer over opening 1D with balanced hand and 5D (1D invites overcalls).
DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!
Opening 1NT on 11 HCP is risky. Partner may have nothing.
If opponents do not double, partner may pass with weak (<10 HCP) hand.
If opponents double and do not otherwise bid, partner must escape from 1NT doubled. Basic version of escape requires that partner bids longest suit regardless of points. If opponents then bid, shut up! You have escaped.
Recent hand, partner bid 1NT, everyone passes. Partner took 2 tricks. Down 250 points. Opponents had game. Positive result, 3 IMPs.
Personal record is down 1400 points.
Advanced version of system has better escape method.
Practice escape bidding
If opponents double and partner has 10+ HCP, partner redoubles.
If partner has <10 HCP and 5+M, partner uses Jacoby Transfer to transfer opener to major, then passes.
Otherwise, if partner has <10 HCP, partner passes.
Partner has 10+ HCP, constructive bidding.
Basic version uses Std Amer conventions: Stayman, Jacoby Transfers, Minor Suit Stayman.
Bidding is the same as Std Amer, adjusting for the difference in point count. We need 24+ HCP to make 3NT, about the same for a major suit contract.
Minor Suit Stayman (1NT-2S) indicates that Responder has 10+ HCP and 5/4 in the minors. Asks opener to bid 3m with a 4+ card minor or rebid 2NT without.
Responder with balanced hand and 10-12 HCP bids 2NT to invite to game. Opener bids 3NT with 13+ HCP. Responder with balanced hand and 13+ HCP bids 3NT.
Responder with 5 card major and 10-12 HCP transfers Opener to the major. With balanced hand Responder rebids 2NT. With unbalanced hand, Responder rebids 3 of 4+ card side suit. Opener chooses final contract.
Responder with 6+ card major and 10-12 HCP transfers Opener to major and then rebids major.
Responder with 13+ HCP is more aggressive. Responder with 5 card major transfers Opener to major and then bids 3NT with a balanced hand, bids the side suit one level higher with an unbalanced hand. Opener chooses the final contract.
Responder with 13+ HCP and 6+ major can simply bid game in the major.
Remember, Opener is limited to 15 HCP and is a balanced hand, so unless Responder has 16+ HCP slam is highly unlikely.
Practice 1NT bidding
Opening 1H, 1S bids
5+ cards in suit, 11-15 HCP. Basic version responses same as Std Amer.
Opening 1D bid
Unbalanced hand, no 5 card major, no 6+C, 4+D. Basic version responses same as Std Amer.
Practice 1S, 1H, 1D bidding
