General Rules of Bidding

1. The "HIGH FIVE" Rule: the HIGHER ranked suit first. S- Qxxxx H- AKJxx with 2 5+card suits, bid

D- Qx

C - x

Open 1S, not 1H, even though Hearts are stronger. EXCEPTION #1: With Clubs and Spades and a minimum opener, begin with 1C, not 1S. S- AQxxx Bid 1C NOW. H- xx D- x C- AQxxx

You may not get another chance!

EXCEPTION #2: If the lower ranked suit is LONGER and the hand is a maximum (17-21 if an Opener, 13+ if a Responder), then start with the 6+card lower ranked suit and bid & rebid the higher 5+card suit-even if this involves increasing the level of bidding. S- KQxxx H- AKQxxx D- void C- Kx

Open 1H and, over 1NT, rebid 2S. S- KQxxx H- KQxxxx D- x C- Kx

When partner opens 1D, respond 1H and, over a 1NT rebid by partner, "reverse" into 2S.

2. Always bid the LOWER/LOWEST of 2 or 3 4-card suits. The is called bidding the suits "up the line". S- Qxxx H- Qxxx D- Qxxx C- x

If partner opens 1C, respond 1D. This leaves Opener plenty of chance to show a 4-card major. EXCEPTION: and When opening with 4-4 in the minors

no 5-card major, open 1D and not 1C. S- KJx H- Jx D- Jxxx C- AKxx

Lacking the strength for 1NT, open 1D, not 1C. 3. A new suit by an unpassed Responder is forcing. 1D 2D 1S 2H - Forcing. - Forcing.

EXCEPTION: A natural new suit rebid by Responder after Opener has rebid 1NT is NOT forcing unless it is a jump. 1D 1NT forcing. 1S 2H - Forcing. - NOT forcing. 3H WOULD be

4. Except for conventional bids (e.g. Blackwood, Stayman, transfers, Grand Slam Force, etc.), a passed hand has NO forcing options. A jump shift by a passed hand is "all but forcing" and should only be passed if the 3rd seat opener is sub-minimal. -1D Pass 1S - NOT Forcing.

1NT -1D support. Pass

3H Pass 2S

- NOT forcing. - GOOD hand, often with Diamond - A sub-minimum.

5. Bids of a suit previously mentioned by the partnership are non-forcing. 1H 2D 2C 2S 3S force. 1S 3H 2D 2NT - Forcing. - NOT forcing. - Waiting. - No Spade support. - Not forcing. Cancels the game

EXCEPTION #1: If Responder's previous bid showed 10+ points a jump in a previously bid suit is forcing. 1H 2D game game bad 2C 3H - Forcing, 10+ points. - Forcing, 13+ points. If either player has started a

EXCEPTION #2:

forcing sequence, a raise to any level BELOW shows a good hand (while a jump to game shows a

hand according to the Principle of Fast Arrival). 2C a fit. 2S 2D 3S - Waiting. 2C is GF *if* there is Forcing.

- Stronger than 4S.

Compare this auction to 2C:2D:2S:2NT:3S (above) where 2C Opener is NOT guaranteed a fit. Only 2C OPENER can cancel the game force!

EXCEPTION #3: a

Any suit rebid--new or not--over

jump rebid of 2NT by Opener is forcing. 1D 2NT 1S 3S - 6+ points, 4+Spades. - 5+Spades, FORCING.

6. Except for conventional rebids (e.g. Blackwood, Grand Slam Force), 1-of-a-suit Opener has NO 100% forcing rebids. 1D 2H forcing. 1S - This STRONG "reverse" is NOT

EXCEPTION #1: If Responder has RAISED one of Opener's suits any suit rebid is forcing--at least until the pair returns to the agreed suit. 1S 3D 2S - 6-9 points, 3+Spades. - Forcing to at least 3S.

EXCEPTION #2: A jump shift in a new suit is forcing in the opinion of MOST experienced players. I do NOT consider them 100% forcing, and will pass with a bare minimum 6 points and a total misfit for partner. 1S 3H OPINION... S- x 1NT - 6-9 points, 0-2 Spades (else 2S). - Forcing IN MOST EXPERT'S D- QJxxx C-QJxxxx

H- x

...but bidding on with this hand is suicidal.

7. 3NT

If a MINOR suit is established as trumps, any new suit tends to show a guard for No Trump until is passed. 1D 2S 2D - 6-9 points, 5+ Diamonds - Spade stopper. No Heart stopper.

8. for

If a MAJOR suit is established as trumps, any new suit below 3-of-the-major is a game try, hoping

help in that suit. Any non-trump suit bid beyond that level is a cuebid of an Ace or void (or King or singleton, perhaps). 2S 3H 1S 3D 4C - 13-21 points, 5+Spades. - Forcing to 3S, looking for Diamond - A cuebid, looking for a Spade

help. SLAM.

9. A bid of 4-of-a-major can only be a cuebid if NEITHER partner has bid that major naturally. Otherwise, it is a natural sign-off. 1H 3S 1S 4H - 6+ points, 4+Spades. - Natural sign-off. NOT a cuebid.

10. Once partner opens, overcalls or responds, a cuebid of the enemy suit shows strength. FAILURE to make such a cuebid often limits one's hand. 1C going". 1H P 1S - NOT forcing. "Forward

EXCEPTION: Free suit bids by an unpassed Responder are forcing.

1C here.

1D

1S

- Forcing.

No need for 2D

12. Doubles followed by free rebids tend to show STRENGTH. 1D P Dble 2H P 1S - 0-8 points, Spades. - 16-19, too strong for With 20+, Doubler Dble 1NT P 1S - 19-21, too strong for immediately over 1D. 13. 1NT rebids show 13-14 if partner responds, 18-19 if partner does NOT respond. 1D 1NT 1D 1NT P 1S 1H P P P - 18-19 points, flat. - 13-14 points, flat.

1H.

cues 2D. 1D P

1NT

14. With 3-3 in the minors, 13-21 points and no 5+card major (i.e. 3-4-3-3 or 4-3-3-3), open 1C unless the hand qualifies for a 1NT (15-17) opening. S- Qxxx H- AJx D- AKx C- xxx

Open 1C, even though the Diamonds are stronger. 15. A 1D opening can be made on 3 Diamonds ONLY with 4-4-3-2 distribution and either 13-14 points or 18-19. With a flat 15-17 points, open 1NT. S- Qxxx Open 1D. H- AJxx D- xxx C- AK

16. The "New News" Rule (aka "The `Tell me Something I DON'T Know' Rule"): When choosing between two good alternatives in a constructive auction, make the bid which is most descriptive. S- KQxxxx H- KQxx D- Ax C- x

Over 1S:1NT rebid 2H and NOT 2S. 2S would locate SIX cards in your hand. 2H will locate NINE of your cards (i.e. 5 Spades and 4 Hearts) and is MUCH more likely to "strike gold" in partner's hand. EXCEPTION: Rebid a good 6-card major BEFORE showing a 4-card minor. S- KQxxxx H- Ax D- KQxx C- x

Over 1S:1NT rebid 2S, not 2D -- especially at MatchPoints.