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GENERAL DESCRIPTION  OF bidding methods

Alan 444444

Chris 444444

BENJAMIN ACOL AND ALMOST 5CARD MAJORS - NO 4MAJORS BELOW 15

nt 12 to 14 openings and responses

Shape: no singleton  no 6suit Responses:

 

2Promissory Stayman(11-15) plus 23 for 55 (7+)

 

22Transfer #         to hearts/spadessolo(5+)      54/45types(11-15)

 

2 Probe(11) or  weak RELAY to a 6minor or Artifice(18+) 

>>> RESP 2N(12-13) or 3(14)

 

2NT(12)

 

3///= 5+suit and slam interest.

Opponents   double  PASS(F),  RDBL(minors via 2C response),   RST2C is weak rescue stayman      Opponents  overcall  LEBENSOHL 

two-level BENJI openings and responses

2

Strong major typ 8PTor 21-22NT  2 relay (after dbl  3-6)

2

Game forcing or 23+             2 negative 2NT(8+no suit or ♥s)

I/Fover 2♣ or 2♦ opening and I/Fover 2 or 2♥ relay/negative   

action by

opener     Pass(F) =NTrebid*, (RE)Dbl = TakeOut **

responder    (RE)DBL=0-2pt,  Pass(F)=+ve, Jump=+ve

22

Weak two 6card (6-9)            2NT OGUST

2NT

19–20 3♣=5card_Puppet, RSTs, 3=54♥, 4Gerber, 4=55

 

AFC TWEAKS

apply to the ranges specified otherwise suit order is modern ACOL

11

11-14 5          must be 5min

 

14+      3          card minor rebids allowed

 

15+      5(4)     4 CARD MAJORS ALLOWED RELUCANTLY

1NT

12-14  2          can be used with 5 card major if ugly 12 or 4(4)majors

1minor

12+      4          ‘preferred’ ahead of a 4 card major – ‘required’ below 15

1

11+                  2♥response(5) is forcing to 2NT

* responder solicited to double an active overcall

** other suit, overcall dependent

# breaking transfer 14 agrees suit  and cue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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conventions AND AGREEMENTS

Fourth suit forcing: solicitation to reveal 6suit, suppressed 4/5suit, or fragment detail. NT is nothing to say Note 1C’ - 1 - 1H’, 1S’ is natural and 2S’ is ‘fourth suit’

Unassuming cues –  after overcall by partner – good raise

LEBENSOHL after Level2 overcall@ of 1NT.  INBOARD response via 2NT3C’ relay IF Rank Above@-Invites Game  Below@-Signoff, Cue@=Other major(4)+Guard   OUTBOARD response: DBL 10+ ,  LVL2 NF, LVL3 FTG, Cue@-=Other no Guard

Agreements after opening of one of a suit and overcall by opponents

 

SPUTNIK 3rd place responsive double (10+) dislikes both suits implies other major. If major jump overcall  the SPUTNIK (can now be 8+) but has to be 4 of the other  major.

 

negative doubles apply up to 3♦     Cue = ½ Guard DAB or slam provenance    Jump raise pre-emptive

Agreements after opponents double suit (not NT) for takeout

 

Single raise=weak  Jump raise=Pre-emptive  2NT=Good raise

Redouble  9+ HCP    New suit and Jump in new suit  forcing

SLAM   DOPI ROPI SLIDING GERBER 04 1 2 3 after NT

RKCB 30 41 52 52Q 42+UsefulVoid;  31+ V; 31+ Vbelow 6 trumps

RKCB5NT kings 0 1 2 3

RKCBQt Cheapest Free Bid after 5c5d response: No Qt retire to 5level Qt held bid 6trumps or cue king Qt+K,Qt+K below 6 trumps Quantitative 4NT with combined minimum of 32 bid 6nt

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CARDING METHODS

On Partner's lead       Attitude on Honour else Count

(Exit Preference on Boss Cash– McKenney insuit)

On Declarer's lead     Nothing

(Exit Preference as Lead Gained– McKenney insuit )

When Discarding       Suit Preference – DODDS

(Attitude or BoldCard)

Attitude::high encouraging,low discouraging Count::high-low is even,upwards=odd

McKenney:: not current , not trumps [if NT: not lead suit] , high= Higher ranking suit, low= Lower ranking suit

DODDS:: even solicits, odd discourages with colour signal to indicate preference

BoldCard Honour Discard::  EXIT TO THIS SUIT or NOT THIS SUIT

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OPENING LEADS     

V suits

A K

A K x 

K Q 10

K Q x 

K J 10 

K 10 9

Q J10 

Q J x

J 10 x

10 x x

10 9 x

9 8 7 x

10xXx

H x

H x X x

Hx x

Hx x x x

x

x x x

x x x x 

V  NTs

A K x(x

A J 10 x 

K Q 10

K Q x

K J 10

K 10 9

Q J 10

Q J x

J 10 x

10 x x

10 9 x

9 8 7 x

10 xx x

H x x

Hx x

Hx x x

Hx x x

x x

x x x

x x x x  

Suit style uses peters for 2 and 4 card suits, MUD  and highest touching honour.  NT style is 4th highest, MUD becomes 2nd highest from 3, 4 or 5 rubbish, top of honour sequence and top of interior

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OPPONENTS OPEN A NATURAL ONE OF A SUIT

Doubles(13+) NTs(9+) or jump(9+) with good suit. Resp must bid: a L2 4major avoided with a semi-bust: If stuck minor fragment. Compete with (7+)

Simple overcall one or two Losers overweight but 5card► UCueBid

Jump overcall  Tactical 8-11  6-card suit► UcueBid

Cue bid 2-suited 55 hand the other or both majors  10-15

 1NT 

Direct:             16-18

Protective       11-14

}

As for 1NT opening but natural if any interference

2NT

Unusual 10-15 lowest two unbid suits

 

Protective 20-22 balanced   Limit of preferred suit  As 2NT opener

OPPONENTS OPEN WITH

Strong 1

X = both majors; 1NT both minors     

Short 1/1

Natural                         

1NT    

Double = hi +1 may be converted to penalty

Ripstra

Defense to 1NT -2♣2 playable in bid minor, and the majors.  Assumes 4h,4s,3m shape but 3 hons in one major can suffice. 22♠ natural.

Weak 2 and 3

Double = take out, but 3NT X is penalty        

4 bids 

Double = take out

Multi 2

X= 13-15 bal or v strong; 2NT = 16-18 bal

 

 

 

 

 

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OPENING BIDS

Suit choice modified by AFC – refer to tweaks. Rule20 applies.

1

11-19  (4)

1NT response =6-9

 

1

11-19  (4)

2NT response =10-12

 

1

11-14  (5)       

3NT response =13+

 

1

15-19  (4}

Limit raises & Splinter bids

 

OPENER’S NT REBIDS:  1NT = 15-16, 2NT = 17-18 no singleton

See nt chain

3 bids/4 bids

6-10    7/8       Pre-emptive    

WEAK TWOS

22  

6-9       6          Weak 6+ card solo suited.

OGUST

2NT weaktwo quality inquiry 3 levels bad(1of 3), good(2of3), setupsuit. Use 33 3NT but if 67pts use 33

STRONG TWOS

22(2)

5          Acol strong two bid – 8 or more playing tricks with 2 or more as outside tricks. The 2 relay is mandatory.

22(3)

7          SETSUIT  StrongTwo  with responses: Cue an ace/void 3nt no ace some kings Sign- off in game

2  GAME FORCE

23+ Or less (20+) if distributional 5 loser     2LT 1½  DTs  (222N) LT 2pts can be passed.  ALL other sequences MUST go to game or beyond.  2NT(8+ nosuit)    Subsidiary negatives (2NT 3 NT)

22 MAJOR REBIDS

55 majors or better always bid spades then hearts 2222N3 ALERT because  spades  may be shorter

223

 (might  be able to support spades) 3N(to play)

223

 (spades only  no hearts! ) 3N(to play)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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NOTRUMP CHAIN

After 1NT opening  or any immediate NT rebid then 4 is always GERBER & 4N is QUANTITATIVE

1NT 12-14      1NT REBID 15-16     2NT REBID 17-18     2NT 19-20

22  (2NT)

21-22  1          2 relay            see 2NT opening

22♥ (2NT)    

23-24  1-2pts pass     see 2NT opening

22♥ (3NT)    

25+      Gerber & 4NQ

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Benji 2 in full

negatives     22 is immediate neg  2N 3N are subsidiary negs

major rebids after 2negative and 2N subneg

2222N

2♠ does not exclude a longer ♥ suit

2222N3

openers hearts may be longer ALERT!

2223

no heart interest by responder

223

might have support for responder with spades

223

no support for responder with hearts 3N(to play)

raise openers suit rebid

After the rebid responder may bid a subsidiary negative 2N 3N OR

Raise 23

on 3 trumps 4pts with no heart interest!( else temporise – 2NT

Raise 34

on 3 trumps 6 pts if no ace or void,  cue(king) if partner does

Raise 24

on 3 trumps 6 pts if no ace or void,  cue(king) if partner does

Raise  3minor to 5

with 4 trumps  7 pts if no ace or void bid own 5card raisable suit    

nt rebids include 5card majors    all 2NT continuations apply

22[2N ]         

PASS LT 2PTS only part score escape

22[3N ]         

responder can go to long major

long solid suit(opener) after neg

22[44 ]    

cuebid an ace with 67pts, the L4 majors are passable

positives

with BS   2[2 33] (2N instead of 3)  positive responses defined as an ace and a king and a Biddable Suit OR a BS of 1½ hon. Tricks OR any 9pt hand with a BS

without BS or with Hearts   2[2N

with long solid suit(responder)   2[3344]  responder immediate jump rebid shows a positive response and a LSS with ace in suit

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Benji Intervention Protocol      Opener bids 2c or 2d

OPENERS LHO INTERFERES

Responder’s PASS  IS POSITIVE AND FORCING for one round

     Then Opener’s DOUBLE of LHO is PENALTY or if

Opener makes 3/4LEVEL REBID then responder cues or RKCB

Responder’s DOUBLE (OR REDOUBLE) becomes a BUST BID

Responder’s NT is a maximum negative

Responder jump is positive but 2level suit limited

 

OPENERS RHO INTERFERES AFTER RELAY OR NEGATIVE

Opener’s DOUBLE OF RHO OVERCALL is TAKEOUT

for the other suit

If 2C then a setsuit in other major

If 2D then a goodsuit in other major or goodsuit in other minor

but with both majors bid 4D not dbl       

Opener’s REDOUBLE IS BOTH MAJORS

63 majors(2C only  Both majors(2D only)

Opener’s FORCING PASS is for PENALTIES (ALERT ) and  encompasses the NT REBID. When the bidding loops round after a third position overcall and PASS(F),  responder tactically DOUBLES as (stretch negative up to 5pts). After a third position Double and Pass(F}, responder’s REDOUBLE is a BUST.  In either situation  Responder’s other bids  are

2/3level suit(5card+) as trump probe moderate values

2/3NTs are moderate values.

Opener then discloses a own suppressed distribution( responder R2G with support),supports responder’s suit, goes for the penalties, Bids 3NT or (2NT)

After interference the normal 2NT rebid is considered a  devalued holding but 3NT is upper range NB RSTs and PPT cancelled.

Opener’s  2MAJOR as standard 

If 2C 3major is always setsuit

If 2D L3 is always good suit

 


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Benji 2Major

22(2)20+ pts (5) 8 or more playing tricks      

no setsuit, can be passed with a bust  If the 8 playing tricks are speculative then HCP should be 20+.

Typical 5.5loser with at least 20pts or 4 loser no 22pts

If poor trumps add loser wait for raise 

Rz to 3

Inverted 7loser Slam Suggestion Forcing

2NT

Response based on 2-5pts and not 3 trumps

3NT

Response based on 6-10 pts and not 3 trumps

Rz to G

8loser sign off

4NT

RKCB

Nu suit

nu game location proposition – Forcing but reduce opener to 6 loser

 

 

 

 

AGREEMENTS

[1]

 Unassuming competitive Cue Bid of opponents’ suit  after our overcall is just support

 

__ Control Cue Bid of opponents suit after suit agreement can show a void/singleton and solicits declaration of  remaining true A|K controls

 

__ Control Cue Bid of opponents suit before suit agreement is the half guard DAB or Slam Provenance

 

__ Control Cue jump bid after suit agreement( or implicit) is control showing. The first Control Cue expresses a preference for partner to show a control in the suit above. Show a 2nd round control here before the usual cheapest 1st round control.

[2]

RCKB applies without explicit agreement if

 

(1)  Strong two followed by 4NT

 

(2)  One three followed by 4NT

 

(3)  A weak two followed by 4NT

 

(4)  RST transfer followed by 4NT.

 

__ Standard Blackwood applies if

 

(1)  direct 4nt over 1level partner!!

 

(2)  Squabbles (1H 1S 2H 2S)

 

(3)  events overtaken by aggressive opposition bidding and converted penalty doubles

 

and  then any  NOT WRONG suit at level 6 should be passed.

[3]

2 aces avoid direct game raise

[4]

Principle of Abandonment

 

If partner overcalls don’t bid your suit unless you are prepared to be abandoned.

 

 

 

 

[5]

If 4♣ means Gerber then  a natural 4 raise must be bid indirectly

 

continued

[6]

NT protocols

 

1NT-2  Promissory Stayman and extensions -  intermediate strength only (11/15), lesser 4card mjr(s) are passed. After 2 responder bids 3 with 55mjrs at all strengths

 

Remember after our 1N 16-18 overcall, transfers and stayman only apply if uncontested including opposition double (normally for penalty) so you can bid 2C natural weak

 

2NT-3 5card Puppet Stayman with two denial bids – 3 cards only to ask, opener replies 3 with only 4card major(s) or makes 3NT denial.

 

Remember a 5Card major does not preclude opening 2NT or 2C/2NT else why play 5card Stayman(3cards to ask)

 

Transfers over 1NT solo 5+ card major at all strengths or 54/45 with intermediate strength (11/15):  with 55 use stayman

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multi 2diamonds reference              

Three way multi: 1.a weak two in hearts and spades 2.a strong 2 bid in clubs and diamonds 3.a balanced 19-20pts            so after resp of

2h

Pass is weak 2heart, 2s is weak 2spade   

 

2nt is 20pt and 3c/ 3d strong 2 bids

2nt

9-10 with 3 card in both majors

 

3c wk 2 in hearts upper  3d wk 2 in spades upper

 

3h and 3s wk 2 lower

 

3nt 20-22, 4c strong 2c, 4d strong 2d

2s

(nothing to do with spades)  

 

pass is weak 2 in spades

 

3h wk 2 in hearts

 

4h weak 2 in hearts upper range     

Reese

dbl 13-17 flat 18+ any shape

defense

2h 13-17 with hearts but doubleton spade

 

2s as above

 

2nt 17-19 with a stop in both majors