Structure 7G70 by Richard Pavlicek

Relay Major-Suit Game Try

In a Nutshell

A serious problem with long-suit or help-suit game tries is that information is revealed about the closed hand, which often aids the defense. Much better is for the declaring hand to make nondescript relay bids, and for the dummy to describe. A further advantage is that a new-suit rebid at the three-level becomes a natural slam-try.

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Details

The following structure applies any time a major suit is raised from one to two. This can be a raise of a major-suit opening, a one-level response, a one-level rebid or a one-level overcall. It also applies after a Drury 2

response, a 2

rebid and a 2 M rebid by Drury bidder.

It also applies in competition provided there is no enemy bid after the raise to two.

West
1 M
?
1 X
2 M
North
any
(or)
any
P*
(etc.) East
2 M

1 M
? South
P*

any
*or Double

•

•

Call
Cheapest bid
2 NT over 2
3 M
3 other suit*

4 new suit Meaning
relay; game or slam try
balanced; I
preemptive; no game interest
4+ cards; slam try; alternate strain is
possible
splinter; slam try
*Note that a jump to 3 is natural, not a splinter.

After the “cheapest bid” relay:

West
1 M
Rel

North
P
P

East
2 M
?

South
P

•

• Call
2 NT
3 new suit
3 M
4 M
Raise relay Meaning
secondary values* in spades
secondary values* in suit bid
minimum; scattered values
maximum; scattered values
maximum; 4-3-3-3 shape
*Typically at least 3 cards including the king or queen

When secondary values are shown, it is still unknown whether the raise was minimum or maximum. Continuations:

West
1 M
Rel
? North
P
P East
2 M
Val South
P
P

•

• Call
3 M*
Cheapest suit

3 NT
4 M
Other suit
Jump new suit Meaning
turned off by values; NF
relay; asks if min or max (return to
trump suit = min)
choice of games; NF
sign-off
control-bid; slam try
splinter; slam try
*If no relay is available below 3 of major, this is the only available invitation, so responder should continue to game if maximum.

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