Australian Bridge Standard

The system used in Bidding Forum

Longer minor: With 4-4, 5-5 or 6-6 in minors, open 1.

With 3-3, open 1.

Responses:

Four-card suits up the line.

No suit quality required for a suit response.

Limit raises – normally showing five of the suit.

1 minor – 1NT: 8-10 over 1,  7-9 over 1.

1 minor – two of the same minor: inverted, 11+ HCP.

1 minor – 2NT: 11-12, no major.

1 minor – 2 of a major: weak jump shift, 4-6 HCP.

1 minor – 3, 3: splinter.

1 minor – 3NT: (12) 13-15, balanced raise, 4+ card support.

Fit-showing jumps.

Majors

Five-card suits in first or second seat, may be strong four-card suits in third or fourth position.

Responses:

Limit raises.

Long-suit trial bids by opener.

Splinters.

1 major – 1NT: 6-9, non-forcing.

1 major – 2NT: Jacoby.

Fit-showing jumps.

1 major – 3NT: (12) 13-15, balanced raise, 4+ card support.

1NT: 15-17

Responses:

Simple Stayman.

Transfers to majors.

2: transfer to clubs; 2NT super-accept.

2NT: transfer to diamonds; 3 super-accept.

3 any: slam invitational.

2: Game Force or 23-24 balanced.

Responses:

2: less than 3 controls (A=2, K=1).

2, 2, 2: Weak Twos

Responses:

Ogust.

2NT: 21-22 balanced.

Responses:

3: Simple Stayman.

3, 3: Transfers.

3: 5 spades, 4 hearts.

4, 4: natural, slam tries.

3 and higher:

Normal preempts. 3NT: Gambling.

Shows any solid seven-card suit, with less than a king outside suit.

Responding and rebidding style:

Reverses forcing for one round. Fast arrival applies.

New suit over two-level response forcing; promises another bid, e.g. 1 – 2 – 2.

Raising responder’s two-over-one response to three shows a minimum, non-forcing.

Double jump rebid by responder splinter (e.g. 1 – 1; 4).

Jump rebids by responder in a bid suit or to 2NT non-forcing (e.g. 1 – 1; 1 – 2NT).

Fourth-suit forcing to game.

After opener’s 1NT rebid, two-level bids are droppable, three-level rebids of responder’s original suit are invitational, and new suits at the three-level force to game.

Slam bidding methods:

4NT: RKCB (1430)

Normal (first round) control bids.

When a suit is agreed, the next notrump bid is a pivot (e.g. 1 – 2NT; 3 – 3NT denies A or A).

Competitive bidding:

2 over their 1NT is takeout for the majors – responder’s 2 shows equal length.

Other bids over their 1NT are natural.

Negative doubles to 4.

Responsive doubles to 4.

Lebensohl after doubles of weak twos.

2NT scramble over takeout double when both opponents are bidding.

Weak jump overcalls.

Support doubles.

1NT overcall 15-18: same methods used as over a 1NT opening.

1NT balancing: 10-14, shows stopper in the suit opened.

Takeout doubles after interference to our notrump.

Takeout doubles over weak twos, preempts to 4.

Change of suit after overcall forcing, 2NT bid droppable.

Preemptive jump raises of overcalls.

Cue raises.

In response to partner’s takeout double, 2NT is droppable, a bid of the enemy suit is forcing to suit agreement.