Bidding Guide 2Z16 Main

Strong Opening Bids

by Richard Pavlicek

Opening bids of 2 , 2 NT and 3 NT

Responses to Two Notrump (21-22 HCP)
Partner
2 NT You
?

Responses to Two Notrump (21-22 HCP)	Partner 2 NT	You ?

With a 4 card major (not 4-3-3-3 shape)

4+ points bid 3 Stayman F

With a 6+ card major or 7+ card minor

4-9 points bid 4 , 4 , 5 or 5 S

With a 5+ card major

4+ points bid 3 or 3 F

With a 5+ card minor

10+ points bid 3 or 3 F

With any other hand

0-3 points pass
4-10 points bid 3 NT S

Since 3 is Stayman you must bid 4 at your next turn.

Responses to Three Notrump (25-26 HCP)
Partner
3 NT You
?

Responses to Three Notrump (25-26 HCP)	Partner 3 NT	You ?

With a 4 card major (not 4-3-3-3 shape)

7+ points bid 4 Stayman F

With a 6+ card major or 7+ card minor

2-6 points bid 4 , 4 , 5 or 5 S

With a 5+ card suit

7+ points bid 4 or 4 F

With any other hand

0-6 points pass

Since 4 is Stayman you must bid your real suit (clubs, hearts or spades) at your next turn (forcing).

Bidding Guide 2Z16 Main Top Strong Opening Bids

Responses to Two Clubs (23+ points)
Partner
2 You
?

Responses to Two Clubs (23+ points)	Partner 2	You ?

With any hand

0-7 HCP bid 2 (negative) F

With a 5+ card suit

8+ HCP bid 2 , 2 , 3 or 3 F

With a balanced hand

8+ HCP bid 2 NT F

With 4-4-4-1 shape there is no prescribed response. You may bid a good 4 card suit, or 2 NT with a singleton ace or king.

Rebids by Opener after Negative Response You
2
? Partner
2

Rebids by Opener after Negative Response	You 2 ?	Partner 2

With a balanced hand

23-24 HCP bid 2 NT N
27-28 HCP bid 3 NT N

With a 5+ card suit

23+ points bid 2 , 2 , 3 or 3 F

With 4-4-4-1 shape there is no prescribed rebid. You may bid a strong 4 card suit, or notrump with a singleton ace or king.

Rebids by Negative Responder after Suit Rebid Partner
2
2 You
2
?

Rebids by Negative Responder after Suit Rebid	Partner 2 2	You 2 ?

General guidelines

You must bid again, even with no points. You may raise partner’s suit with 3+ trumps, bid a 5+ card suit of your own, or bid notrump with a balanced hand.

Rebids by Negative Responder after Notrump Rebid Partner
2
2 NT You
2
?

Rebids by Negative Responder after Notrump Rebid	Partner 2 2 NT	You 2 ?

General guidelines

Respond as you would to an opening bid of 2 NT or 3 NT (see previous tables) except all point ranges are lowered by 2 points to compensate for the fact that partner’s range is 2 points greater.

Bidding Guide 2Z16 Main Top Strong Opening Bids