1. Bridge Lessons - Intermediate NYU Bridge and Spades Club

2. Lesson 13 Conventions for Competitive Auctions

3. General Introduction So far, we’ve only learnt what to do when opponents are silent throughout the auction. This is rather uncommon especially with modern day bridge gadgets such as pre-empts and takeout doubles. Also, most new players are confused by multi-suited hands. This lesson will teach you how to deal with these issues.

4. Bidding after Opponent’s Takeout Double - Introduction Revision: the takeout double shows an opening hand with support for all other suits First, notice that a takeout double does not remove any options you would’ve had if your opponent had passed. However, the takeout double has two implications: You can redouble. As efficient bridge players, we should strive to make every bid useful. If you pass here, chances are you’ll get to bid again later. This is not as likely if your opponent had passed

5. Bidding after Opponent’s Takeout Double Recall that 1x – 1NT is the catch-all bid for a hand that is not strong enough to bid at the 2-level and has the wrong distribution for any other bid. After the takeout X, however, you have no need to bid 1NT unless you want to. In general 1x – X – 1NT shows 7-10 points and a balanced hand, denying 4-card majors. Also, you have no need to bid your suit if you have a minimum responding hand (6 points) and a weak 4-card suit. You would have had to if opponent didn’t double but you don’t have to in this case. Basically, ask yourself this question: am I happy playing this contract if partner passes me out or raises me? If the answer is “no”, you have the option of passing here without too many repercussions

6. Bidding after Opponent’s Takeout Double Option to redouble Redoubling a takeout double shows any hand with 10+ points. This sends the message that your partnership has more than half the HCP and either you are playing the contract or you can probably double opponents down. If opener doesn’t have a good defensive hand e.g. low HCPs, one very long suit which he opened, he has to bid 2x before you have the chance to double opponent’s contract

7. Bidding after Opponent’s Takeout Double Bidding own suit at 1-level Bidding your own suit at the 1-level has exactly the same meaning as if opponent had passed. However, as detailed before, you have the option to redouble or to pass instead In general, if you have a strong 5-card suit, even with >10 points, it may be better to bid the suit instead of redoubling Balanced hands, especially those that lack strong support for partner’s suit are generally the best hands with which to redouble

8. Bidding after Opponent’s Takeout Double Bidding own suit at the 2-level (not jumpshift) This shows about 6-9 points and a strong 5-card suit or 6+ card suit Jumpshifts after takeout double should be pre-emptive instead, describing a hand with 4-6 points and 6+ cards in the suit bid. If you have a GF hand (very rare), redouble first and plan to jump bid in your long suit at the next opportunity

9. Bidding after Opponent’s Takeout Double Simple raise of partner’s suit Same meaning as normal raise except that the point range is now 5-9 points instead of 6-9 – after takeout double, it has become more important for your partnership to take a level of bidding away from the opponents Bidding 2NT on top of takeout double (Jordan 2NT) 2NT after a takeout double shows 10+ points with 4+ card support (if opener bid a major) or 5+ card support (if opener bid a minor) If you have only 3-card support for a major or 4-card support for a minor, redouble first then support partner’s suit later So what happens to the original limit raise (1x-3x)? The original limit raise now becomes pre-emptive, showing the same number of cards in support as 2NT but with 2-7 points With 5+ card support for opener’s major and a void/singleton in a side suit, up to game with 2-7 points

10. 2-Suited Hands – An Introduction Bidding becomes a problem when you’re holding 2 5-card suits. As efficient bridge players once again, we’ll put some as yet useless bids to use. Michael’s cuebid – bidding opponent’s suit Sandwich NT – bidding NT after both opponents have bid or cue-bidding one of their suits Unusual 2NT – bidding 2NT after opponent’s opening bid

11. Showing 2-Suited Hands – Michael’s Cuebid Bidding 2x over opponent’s 1x is Michael’s cuebid This shows 8+ points and two 5-card suits Specifically, if opponent opened a major, Michael’s shows the other major and an unspecified minor Partner can bid 2NT to ask you which minor you have If opponent opened a minor, Michael’s shows both majors Partner jumps to game with 11+ points and a 3-card fit for majors or 14+ points and a 3-card fit for minors NB: Only use Michael’s with most of your points concentrated in your two long suits. This will carry through all the other bids in this section

12. Showing 2-Suited Hands – Sandwich NT When the opposition has opened and responded in 2 different suits, it is often right to compete with 5/5 in the other 2 suits You have 3 choices – 1NT or cue bid either of the two suits opponents have bid The cheapest bid shows 5-10 points, the next cheapest bid shows 11-14 points, the last bid shows 15+ points

13. Showing 2-Suited Hands – Unusual 2NT Bidding 2NT over a 1x opener by opponent used to mean 20-21 points. However, this occurs extremely rarely. Thus, modern bridge players have come up with an alternative use for it The Unusual 2NT shows 5-5 in the two lowest unbid suits E.g. 1C – 2NT shows 5 diamonds and 5 hearts

14. Additional Conventions

15. Showing 2-Suited Hands – Leaping Michael’s This is used to show a 5-5 hand over opponent’s pre-emptive openers 2M – 4m shows m and the other major 2D or 3D – 4D shows both majors 3C – 4D shows diamonds and an unspecified major Partner bids 4H as “pass or correct” i.e. you may choose to pass 4H or correct to 4S 2D – 3D shows 4-4 or better in the majors 2M – 3M is the Western cuebid, asking partner to bid 3NT with a stopper in M

16. Showing 2-Suited Hands - Minorwood After opponent opens 1M, 4NT shows a good hand with 5-5 or better in minors and asks partner to choose a spot to play in