LD Precision Club

Strong Bids

In this Bidding System there are 2 strong bids: 2NT and 1C. The 2NT bid handles a specific strong hand pattern and 1C handles all of the other strong hands.

2NT: 22-24 HCP, balanced

The 2NT handles this specific pattern. As you will see later, other ranges of HCP and balanced hands are handled via an opening 1C and a rebid of NT. Responses to 2NT follow the same pattern as other NT type hands.

Now, the namesake bid, the strong 1C

1C: 16+ HCP, any distribution, forcing one round

This bid is highly conventionalized. It is like a stylized dance, each step has specific meaning and if you screw it up you are probably in trouble already! The opening 1C says nothing about suits or distribution, or anything other than the opener has 16+ HCP. This bid is forcing for one round, so Responder does not have the option of passing.

Let’s talk about the responses individually. Later on we will talk about the opener’s rebids.

1D ; <8 HCP, any distribution, forcing 1 round

This is the bid the Responder makes with a weak hand. The assumption is that if Responder has 8+ HCP opposite and opening 1C, the partnership should be in a game contract in NT or a major if appropriate. This response says nothing about Diamonds, it simply says that Responder has less than 8 HCP so a part score contract is most likely. However, after opener rebids, Responder may find that their re-evaluated hand actually can support a game contract. Since this is an artificial bid it is forcing for 1 round so that opener does not leave you in a 1D contract.

1H: 8-11 HCP, any distribution, forcing 1 round

This is the most common positive response that occurs after opening 1C. This bid simply tells opener that Responder has 8-11 HCP. The bid says nothing about the Heart suit. However the partnership is guaranteed to have 24+ HCP, generally enough for a game in NT or a major. So this bid is forcing to 3NT+, meaning that nobody passes until at least 3NT is reached. This allows for everyone to relax and investigate slams, side suits, etc., with the assurance that the bidding will not be passed out until reaching 3NT or better. This bid is not game forcing, since if your fit is in a minor suit the partnership may not have enough points to make a minor suit game. Therefore a 4C or 4D bid can be passed.

1S, 2C, 2D, 2H: 12+ HCP and 5+ cards in named suit

This is a strong response to an opening 1C. With 12+ HCP the partnership is guaranteed 28+HCP, This is the beginning of slam territory. With additional HCP or good distribution slams are achievable. So these bids are forcing to game, including minor suit games. After finding a fit, slam should be investigated. Bidding is natural from this point on.

1NT: 12+ HCP, balanced hand

This is another strong response, but with a balanced hand. All of the standard NT sequences apply, Australian Stayman, Transfers, Minor Suit Stayman, Gerber, With this bid slam is probably not achievable unless opener has additional HCP.

2S: 12+ HCP, 4441 distribution

This is another strong response, but relatively rare. This bid handles the occasional case of a 4441 distribution. All of the other strong suit responses require a 5+ card suit. So when you don’t have a 5+ card suit you have no response bid without lying. And lying in this system is guaranteed to have bad results. The opener can ask you which suit is your singleton by rebidding 2NT. You rebid your singleton suit at the 3 level. This is not a problem, the partnership has 28+ HCP and the opener now knows the exact distribution of your hand.

3x: <8 HCP and 7+ card suit

This is a preemptive bid to shut out the opponents. And with a 7+ card suit, opener may be able to take it to game. But faced with a long trump suit in one hand and 16+ HCP in the other hand, opponents would probably be foolish to intervene.

Opener’s rebids

After a 1D response, opener is looking for a safe part score normally. Unless opener has 20+ HCP. Then opener can make a jump bid in a suit, inviting Responder to continue bidding. If opener has a NT type hand, then opener bids 1NT with 16-18, 2NT with 19-21, and 3NT with 25+ (remember that 22-24 is covered by opening 2NT initially). Occasionally opener may rebid 1H or 1S with a 4 card suit if opener has the 4441 distribution. Responder is not expected to make another bid unless Responder’s hand increases in value due to the addition of Distribution Points.

After a 1H response, a force is on to 3N+. NT type hands are handled as above. 1S, 2C, 2D, 2H rebids indicate a 5+ card suit. A jump to 2S shows the 4441 type hand and Responder asks for the singleton with a 2NT bid. Normally the partnership should arrive at some game level contract. Slam is unlikely but not impossible.

After a 1S, 1NT, 2C, 2D, or 2H response, partnership should be considering slam. After establishing a trump suit, partnership may use cue bidding to locate controls, or any of the other slam bidding conventions.

NoTrump responses

The standard pattern of NoTrump responses/rebids is used after any of the NT response bids are made to a 1C open, both by Responder or by opener’s rebids. For example:

1C-1H-1NT-2C starts an Australian Stayman sequence. 1C-1D-1NT-2D starts a Jacoby Transfer to Hearts 1C-1NT-2S starts a Minor Suit Stayman sequence

Re-evaluation hands

Since the first rounds of bidding after a 1C open are artificial or conventional, Responder’s hand may increase in value when the first natural suit bid is made. Subsequent bidding should adjust for that.

Slam investigation

Any of the traditional slam investigation conventions may be used. To start with traditional Blackwood is suggested for suit contracts and Gerber for NoTrump contracts.