System Notes 7G49 by Richard Pavlicek

Pavlicek System (short version)

General Approach

Strong forcing opening: 2 

Notrump Opening Bids

2  = Stayman. Then if followed by:
   2  = weak; at least 4-4 majors or 3=4=1=5
   2  over 2  = sign-off
   2  over 2  = exactly 4 spades (checkback); F
   2 NT = invitational; no major-suit interest
   3  or 3  = game forcing
   3 M over 2  = Smolen (also after 2 NT)
   3 other major over 2 M = artificial slam try with fit
   4 X over 2 M = splinter

Jacoby transfer

2  = minor-suit Stayman (at least invitational)

Minor-suit transfers (2 NT = clubs; 3  = diamonds)
   Must be one-suited hand (weak or GF)
   New suit rebid = splinter

3  = 5-5 majors; GF (opener sets strain)

3  or 3  = splinter (3-suiter); slam try

Texas transfer (also in competition thru 3 )

After a double: System on; rdbl forces 2  to rescue

Lebensohl (direct denies)

Negative double at 3 level (also after 2 NT)

2 NT = 20 to 22 HCP
   Jacoby; Texas; 3  = both minors slam try

3 NT = good preempt; 8 1/2+ tricks; 11-15 HCP; F
   4  = waiting (denies 2+ aces); F
   4  = 2 aces; F
   4  or 4  = natural; NF
   4 NT = 3 aces; F to slam
   Over a double:
      Rdbl = good hand without 2 aces
      4  = 1 ace (other bids same)
   Over a bid:
      Pass = nondescript (opener must bid 4, may at 5)
      Double = penalty (trump stack)
      Cheapest suit = competitive in opener’s suit
      4 NT = slam try; 2+ aces; F

Major Openings

1 NT = 6 to 14 (forcing)

Two-over-one GF unless responder rebids same suit

2 NT = 15+ natural (11-12 in competition)

Double raise = limit (also after overcall)

3 NT = forcing raise; no splinter; max of 14 HCP

Splinter bids (in competition must be a jump cue)

Reverse Drury (does not promise fit)
   Opener must bid 2  with normal opening, then:
      3  = natural, NF
      Other = natural, promises fit

Preemptive reraises

Relay game try (2  or 2 NT) then dummy bids:
   New suit = secondary values in suit bid (2 NT = )
      Opener may relay again, then:
         3 of major = minimum
   3 of major = minimum; no side secondary values
   Raise of relay = maximum; flat; suggests 3 NT
   4 of major = maximum; no side secondary values

All game tries must begin with the relay, so a new suit at 3 level (including a jump to 3 ) is a natural slam try. Relay game try applies any time we raise a major from 1 to 2 (unless an opponent bids after our raise).

Minor Openings

Inverted minor raises (also in competition)

1 NT = 6 to 10

2 NT = 15+ (11-12 in competition)

3 NT = 13 to 14

2  over 1  = 11+ points, then:
   2  = artificial; any minimum, then:
      2 NT or 3  = natural; NF
      Other = natural; GF
   Other = natural; GF

After a 1 NT overcall, raise = artif.; weak major T/O

Two-Club Opening

2  = 0-7 HCP; may be waiting with awkward hand

Other responses = 8+ HCP; suit bids at least Qxxxx

Cheaper minor (3  or 3 ) second negative

All doubles by opener or responder are penalty (2 or 3 level must be trump stack)

Weak Two-Bids

New suit response = NF (usually constructive)
   Opener should bid again with a useful hand

2 NT only force; then
(after 2 ):
   3  = 5 card diamond suit
   3  = minimum hand
   3 M = maximum; stopper in major bid
   3 NT = maximum; no major stopper
(after 2 M):
   3  = 5 cards in major bid, then:
      3  = artificial relay, then:
         3 M = minimum; 3 NT = maximum
   3  = average or maximum hand, then
      3 M = invitational
   3 M = worst hand (implies others would not open)
   3 other major = natural (4 cards)
   3 NT = AKQ or AKJ

Other Conventional Calls

Immediate cue-bid shows forcing 2 NT response with a stopper (opener bids notrump if he would raise 2 NT to 3 NT or pass 3 NT).

Invisible cue-bid (cheaper = raise; higher = 4th suit)

Responder’s 2nd-round jumps and raises to 3 of a minor are forcing by an unpassed hand (unless enemy has bid, then invitational).

New minor, 4th suit or 3rd suit forcing = 11+ points

After 1  1 ; 1 NT, 2  = NMF. After 1  1 ; 1 NT, either minor is NMF (bid longer or better)

After NMF, FSF or TSF, if opener bids 2 NT, a previously bid suit below 2 NT, or the same suit three times, he explicitly rejects game invitation and responder may pass. Responder’s third bid sets strain and if nonjump shows invitational values (NF).

After the sequence: 1  1 ; 2  3 , opener must rebid 3  on any minimum without 3 card spade support (this does not show 5-5 as it sounds); then responder will pass if he is inviting in diamonds.

After FSF, if opener rebids 2  when his second bid was 1 , this shows 4 spades and a 5 card minor (not 5-6 as it sounds).

Special Doubles

Responsive thru 4  (enemy bid must be a raise, except after our overcall of 1 of a suit applies also to a new suit bid at 1 or 2 level or 1 NT).

Competitive thru 3  (only if both opponents acted and a fit is shown or implied)

Maximal (only if both opponents acted and no game trial bid is available)

Notrump Overcalls

2 NT nonjump = 16 to 19 (14 to 17 in passout)
   Respond as to 2 NT opening

2 NT jump = unusual for two lower unbid suits
   Except in passout = 19-21 (system on)

3 NT = natural; may be unbalanced with long minor
   All responses natural (except a cue-bid)

Simple Overcall

Jump raise = weak

Cue-bid = 1-round force (does not promise fit)

Jump cue = limit raise; 4+ trumps

Vs. All NT Openings

Astro (all positions):
   2  = hearts + either minor
   2  = spades + any other suit
   2 , 2 , 3 , 3  = natural; 1-suiter
   2 NT = both minors

Jump Overcall

Respond as to same opening (weak two-bid structure applies).

In passout (or over enemy weak opening) shows good hand, 1 trick shy of bid

Over Opp’s T/O Dbl

2 NT after major = limit raise

2 NT after minor = natural with fit; invitational
   (Note that inverted minors still apply)

Redouble implies no fit

Opening Preempts

Vs. Enemy Preempts

Double of 4 , 4 , 5  or 5  = optional

4 NT over 4  = all suit takeout

4 NT over any other major bid = minors

Jump to 4  = clubs + highest unbid

Jump to 4  = diamonds + highest unbid (except over 2  shows majors)

Responsive doubles apply thru 4  after our double or overcall provided enemy raises

Psychics

Direct Cue-bid

Strong 1-suiter at 3 level. Responses:
   3 NT = stopper in enemy suit
   Cheaper minor = artificial; weak (NF)
   Higher minor = artificial; at least an ace and a king
   Major = natural; good 6+ cards; GF

Slam Conventions

D-0-P-I over Blackwood interference

If we have bid notrump naturally, 4 NT is always natural unless a major suit is agreed.

Gerber 4 /5  (must be a jump after we bid NT).

Opening Leads vs. Suits

Other honor leads standard

3rd best even, low odd

Low from three small

Opening Leads vs. NT

Queen from K-Q-10-9-x (partner must unblock jack)

Other honor leads standard

4th best (optionally 2nd best from bad four cards)

High from three small (except in partner’s suit lead low if you have not raised)

Subsequent Leads

Signals

Discards (9 or below) show count and tend to be negative attitude

Honor discards (10 or above) are standard

Suit preference applies after count

If count not shown on 1st round, next lead or discard is present count (suit preference if just following)

Additional Notes

Ambiguous 4NT bids

West 1

North 4

East 4 NT (takeout)

South

West 1

North 4

East 4 NT (BW)

South

West 1

North 2

East 4

South 4NT (takeout)

West 1

North 1

East 4

South 4NT (BW)

West 1 4 NT (BW)

North 2

East Dbl

South 4

Blackwood Key Suit

West 1

North 2 NT

East 4

South 4NT (diamonds key)

West 1

North Dbl

East 4

South 4NT (spades key)

Both are Blackwood (per previous rule) so the key-suit role goes to the higher of simultaneously shown (or implied) suits. This is practical because Blackwood is often useless for the lower suit (especially clubs).

Michaels and Unusual NT

Responsive Doubles

West 1 3

North Pass Dbl (penalty)

East 2

South Dbl

West 1 2

North Pass Dbl (penalty)

East 1

South Dbl

Belated Doubles

West 1 Pass

North Pass Dbl (takeout)

East 1 NT

South Pass

West 1 Pass

North Pass Dbl (penalty)

East 1 NT

South Pass

West 1 1 NT

North Pass Pass

East 1 Pass

South Pass Dbl (penalty)

After passing, a direct double of a suit bid as our first action is for takeout through 2  (if unraised) or 4  (if raised); otherwise, penalty.

West 1 2

North Pass Dbl (takeout)

East 1

South Pass

West 1 2

North Pass Dbl (penalty)

East 1

South Pass

Two Notrump Bids

West 2

North Dbl

East Pass

South 2 NT (natural)

West 1 Pass

North Pass Dbl

East 2 Pass

South Pass 2 NT (natural)

West 1 2

North 2 2 NT (natural)

East Pass

South Pass

Exception: Lebensohl applies after our 1 NT overcall (just like after a 1 NT opening).

Fourth Suit Bids in General

West 1 2 3 (ace or shortness)

East 1 3 (forcing)

Some play 3  as groping without a heart stopper, but I bid what I have. With two or three low hearts, I might bid 3  with five good diamonds or 3  with a strong doubleton.