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The Beginner's Bridge Hangout

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Bridge Bidding Guide

This page is designed as a "reference" page. After perusing the Tutorials page and the Books page, this Bidding page provides further elaboration upon a number of bidding topics. I have organized the bidding page into two components: 1) top-level general categories that link to 2) more detailed entries below. Click on a general category to find more links to specific websites discussing the topic of interest. Buttons are provided to return you to the top of the page.

Links to Common Bidding Systems
A Roadmap to Designing Your Own Bidding System
Standard American (and SAYC)
Two Over One Game Force
Precision Club (Advanced)

Links to No Trump Conventions
Stayman Jacoby and Texas Transfers Smolen
Links to Suit Conventions
Limit Raises Jacoby Two No Trump Tips and Rules of Thumb
Strong Two Club Opening Weak Two Bids Preemptive Bids
Forcing 1 No Trump Strong Jump Shift Response Reverses
Fourth Suit Forcing Inverted Minor Reverse Drury
Bergen Raises New Minor Forcing Weak Jump Shift Response
Links to Bidding in Competition
Takeout Doubles Negative Doubles Michaels and Unusual 2NT
Responsive Doubles Support Doubles Cuebid of Opponent's Suit
Links to Defensive Bidding
Overcalls Cappelletti and DONT Balancing
Links to Slam Conventions
Blackwood (including RKC) Gerber Cue-bidding Aces
Grand Slam Force DEPO, DOPI, and ROPI Splinter Bids

A Roadmap to Designing Your Own Bidding System

Although the Two Over One Game Force system is currently the most popular bridge bidding system among tournament (duplicate) players, the Standard American system is perfectly acceptable for social bridge and for most levels of tournament play. Indeed, Two Over One is primarily a variation of the Standard American system.

You may stick with the Standard American system or transition to the Two Over One system. The Books link on the menu bar and the links below give references to books and websites to enhance your abilities with each system.

But after picking an initial system, each tournament player (and some social players) will want to add more bidding conventions to augment the base system. A good place to start is Barbara Seagram's "25 More Bridge Conventions You Should Know", listed on the Books page. Many of those and other conventions are listed on the current page. Return to the top of the current page and browse through them. Even more conventions may be found online via browser searches.

My general recommendation is to consider adding conventions to meet specific needs. Add them slowly to your reportoire to avoid overwhelming your partner (or yourself). Reject any convention that doesn't match your overall bridge bidding philosophy. I'll assume for this exercise that you are a relatively new player with a basic Standard American 5-card Major system in place. Standard American Yellow Card (SAYC) players may already have filled many of these needs. I have included a number of choices in each category in (more or less) increasing usefulness/difficulty order.

  • Finding a major (or minor) fit after a NT opening:
    • Stayman convention - find a major suit fit
    • Jacoby transfers and Texas transfers - force opener to bid a specific 5-card suit and either pass (weak) or continue (stronger)
    • Some form of transfer to a minor suit: either with 2S transferring to clubs and 2NT transferring to diamonds; or 2S transferring to clubs with partner correction to diamonds. In each case 6 clubs (or diamonds) are expected.
    • Smolen - specify 5-4 or 4-5 in majors after a negative Stayman response
  • Special raises of a major suit
    • Jacoby 2NT - 4-card major support plus 12+ strength
    • Splinter bids - show voids after trump agreement to explore slam
    • Bergen raises - in place of limit jump raises
  • Additional preempt methods
    • Weak two bids - preempts with 6-card suit
    • RONF response to partner's weak two bid - scheme for showing strength or weakness after an opening weak two bid
  • Competition over 1NT
    • DONT - most useful over a strong 1NT opening (most popular in club tournaments)
    • Cappelletti - most useful over a weak 1NT opening (more popular in national tournaments)
  • Competition over 1-level suit bids
    • Michaels - show 5 - 5 in two suits
    • Unusual 2NT - show 5 - 5 in lowest two unbid suits
    • Balancing - when opponents show weakness in their opening bids, compete in an unbid suit
  • Slam bidding
    • Roman Keycard Blackwood (1430 or 0314) - slam preparation to find out if two keycards (aces, trump king) are missing
    • Cue-bidding aces - slam preparation to find specific aces and kings
    • Grand Slam Force - slam preparation exploring a grand slam
    • DOPI, ROPI, and DEPO - when opponents compete during Blackwood
  • Artificial Doubles
    • Takeout doubles - with an opening hand, ask partner to bid longest unbid suit
    • Negative doubles - after two suit bids, specify some support in other two suits
    • Supportive doubles - in competition, show support for partner's suit
    • Responsive doubles - in competition, similar to a negative double after opponents bid and raise a suit
  • Responses to light 3rd and 4th suit bids with support
    • Reverse Drury - show 10+ points and trump support, while asking whether opener is light
  • Forcing bids in searches for a fit
    • Fourth suit forcing - artificial bid of 4th suit to ask partner to continue (sometimes forced to game)
    • New minor forcing - artificially bid the unbid minor to show an invitational hand

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Standard American (and SAYC)

Most social bridge players and a modest number of tournament bridge players use some form of the Standard American 5-card major system. The Standard American Yellow Card (SAYC) variation was baselined in the 1980's for specific tournaments, but that system has come to represent the archetypical Standard American system in online tournaments. Other Standard American players add various conventions to handle special cases.

  • The Richmond Bridge Association compiled a basic set of Standard American bridge lessons, targeted toward beginning duplicate players. However, it has a lot of good info for the social bridge player as well.
  • James Sundstrom at Princeton University compiled a set of Beginner Bridge Lessons. The lessons use the Standard American system, but also discuss more advanced topics (clearly marked).
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Two Over One Game Force

A majority of tournament bridge players use some form of the Two Over One system. Indeed, Two Over One is a variant of Standard American, so it is fairly easy to learn the basics if you already know Standard American. Although the system is fairly straightforward, there are many tweaks and philosophical differences between various approaches. Find an approach that works for you and find materials to match. Also, please review the Book page on the menu bar for other literature. Even if you decide to stick with the Standard American system, it is worth your while to read some basic descriptions of the Two Over One system so that you know the meanings of the bids when playing with others.

  • Bridgehands.com put together a basic but informative guide to the Two Over One system.
  • Karen Walker has a large library of great bridge articles. Her Two Over One Bidding System introduces the major choices and bids for the Two Over One system. Also check out the separate 1NT Forcing Convention for a summary of the bids related to the Forcing One Notrump convention, a fundamental part of Two Over One.
  • The Two Over One Bidding Intro provides a very basic introduction to the 2/1 game force system. Two included articles discuss Bergen Raises/Jacoby 2NT plus Reverse Drury, which are more advanced treatments.
  • The ACBL teaching manual contains a section on Two Over One with teaching materials, examples, and answered exercises. Although it's written for a bridge teacher, it gives a good roadmap to the basics of Two Over One.
  • Learnbridge.nyc has written and video materials that introduce the Two Over One system.
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Precision Club (Advanced)

The Precision Club system has been used by top players for fifty years. There are many variations of the Precision Club, some of which are extraordinarily complex. However, there are simplified versions of the system that are playable by an experienced intermediate duplicate player.

  • Usabridge has compiled a set of tutorials from O. K. Johnson on the Precision Club bidding system. Precision is actually fairly straight-forward to learn but involves many artificial bids. The system is played by many top bridge teams.
  • John Timm has generate a relatively complex description of the Precision Club Simplified system. This tutorial is aimed at the Two Over One duplicate player who wants to transition to the Precision Club.
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Stayman

The Stayman convention (2 clubs over 1NT, 3 clubs over 2NT) is used to find an 8-card major fit. In many (but not all) cases a suit contract is easier to play than a no trump contract.

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Jacoby and Texas Transfers

Jacoby transfers over 1NT (or 2NT) require the opener to artifically transfer to a specific major suit at the two level. Texas transfers over 1NT (or 2NT) require the opener to artifically transfer to a specific major suit at the four level. Jacoby transfers are used for hands that are weak (which will pass the bid suit), that have game intentions, or that have slam intentions. Texas transfers are specifically for stopping at game at the four level.

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Smolen

Smolen is an extension to the Stayman convention when the Stayman bidder has 4 - 5 in the majors.

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Limit Raises

Limit raises (e.g., 1H - pass - 3H) are a fundamental method in the Standard American system to show trump support and an invitational hand (10+ points). Contrast this approach with Bergen raises mentioned elsewhere on this page.

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Jacoby Two No Trump

The Jacoby 2NT bid over one of a major (1 heart, 1 spade) indicates stong trump support and game interest. This is the "missing bid", where 1H - pass - 2H shows weak support and 1H - pass - 3H (limit raise) shows invitational support.

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Tips and Rules of Thumb

This section lists miscellaneous bridge tips, rules of thumb, and other mnemonics.

  • The wikipedia page on bridge maxims is worth a quick read.
  • Karen Walker also provides a set of bridge tips worth reading.
  • Larry Cohen compiled two articles on the Rule of 20, the Rule of 15, and other tips:
  • Hamilton Bridge also provides two article on the Rule of 20 and the Rule of 15.
  • Bidandmade describes the logic behind the Rule of 20 in first and second seat.
  • Bridge-tips provides a quick overview of the Rule of 15.
  • Bridgebum summarizes the Rule of 11, used when leading 4th best from a suit.
  • Bridge4u.org gives a longer summary with examples for the Rule of 11.
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Strong Two Club Opening

In the modern style, the artificial two clubs opening bid is the primary means of showing a very strong (22+ points) hand.

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Weak Two Bids

Weak two bids are used in preemptive fashion to raise the level of bidding to the two level with a relatively weak hand (5 - 11 points) and 6 in the bid suit. The purpose of such a bid is to make the opponents, who often have stronger hands, work harder to find a fit.

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Preemptive Bids

Opening bids at the three level are used in preemptive fashion to raise the level of bidding with a relatively weak hand (less than 12 points) and 7 cards in the bid suit. Opening bids at the four level are similarly preemptive and with similar strength but with 8 cards in the suit.

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Forcing 1 No Trump

The forcing 1NT bid is a standard part of the Two Over One system. The bid indicates 6 - 11 points and no 4-card major suit. The bid is forcing for one round and may include hands with a long minor suit (that the 1NT bidder will subsequently bid).

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Strong Jump Shift Response

A strong jump shift by responder (e.g., 1C - pass - 2H) shows a strong hand (17+ points) plus a strong suit (e.g., hearts). Differentiate this bidding approach with "weak jump shifts", discussed elsewhere on this page. Note: A majority of tournament (duplicate) players use weak jump shifts these days. But the use of the strong jump shift also has admirers. Dave Legrow speaks of this conflict in an article below.

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Reverses

Reverse bids by the opener (e.g., 1C - pass - 1S - pass - 2H) indicate a strong hand (16+). The 2H bid is a "reverse" because it forces the responder to rebid the original suit (e.g, clubs) at the 3 level, which requires opener to have a stronger hand. In addition, responder skipped over second suit (in this case, they didn't bid 1H). The first bid suit is always longer than the second suit.

Reverse bids may also be made by the responder (e.g., 1C - pass - 1D - pass - 1NT - pass - 2H) and indicates a strong responding hand (13+). The bid is a "reverse" because it forces the opener to rebid the original responder suit (e.g, diamonds) at the 3 level, which requires responder to have a stronger hand. In addition, opener skipped over second suit (in this case, they didn't bid 1H). The first suit bid by responder is always longer than the second suit. Indeed, the second suit may be short (3 cards). In most cases, the responder reverse is somewhat artificial and merely shows strength and uncertainty where the final contract lies. Again, the bid is forcing (to game, because opener has 12+ as well). Responder reverses are a more advanced topic but are worth exploring as your bridge improves.

Fourth Suit Forcing

The fourth suit forcing convention is an artificial bid of the fourth, unbid suit to ask opener to continue to describe their hand. The bid (e.g., 1D - pass - 1H - pass - 2C - pass - 2S) shows nothing about the fourth suit but is forcing for at least one round (many play it as "forcing to game").

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Inverted Minor

The inverted minor convention allows a responder to raise a minor suit opening (e.g., 1D - pass - 2D) to show an invitational or better hand with trump support. The jump sequence (e.g., 1D - pass - 3D) is then used preemptively with a weak hand and trump support.

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Reverse Drury

Reverse Drury is used over a 3rd hand or 4th hand opening bid to show trump support and an invitational hand, while confirming that the opener's bid was not "light".

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Bergen Raises

Bergen raises (e.g., 1H - pass - 3C or 1H - pass - 3D) are used to show 4-card trump support and a weaker hand (3C) or invitational hand (3D). Contrast this approach with limit raises mentioned elsewhere on this page.

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New Minor Forcing

The new minor forcing convention is a responder bid of two of the unbid minor (artificial) to show an invitational hand and usually a 5-card major. The bid occurs in sequences like 1C - 1H - 1NT - 2D, where the 2D bid indicates 10+ points and a 5-card heart suit.

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Weak Jump Shift Response

Weak jump shifts are used by responder to show a weak hand with a long suit (the weak jump shift suit). The bid is used preemptively to make the opponents' bids more difficult. Contrast this approach with strong jump shifts mentioned elsewhere on this page.

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Takeout Doubles

Takeout doubles of an opener's (or responder's) bid are a fundamental component of all bidding systems. They are used to show an opening hand and strength in the other suits, particularly an unbid major.

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Negative Doubles

Negative doubles over opponents' suit bids are used to show support in the two unbid suits.

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Michaels and Unusual 2NT

The Michaels cuebid and the Unusual 2NT both show 5 - 5 distribution in specific suits. They may be played as weak or as "minimax" - weak or strong, where the strength will be shown by subsequent bidding (or lack thereof).

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Responsive Doubles

Responsive doubles occur after your partner doubles an opening bid and the responder raises that bid. The double shows support in two other suits, similar to negative doubles.

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Support Doubles

Support doubles are used by opener to show support for responder's suit when there was an intervening bid by the opponents.

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Cuebid of Opponent's Suit

Cue bid of an oppenent's suit shows an invitational hand and support for partner's suit. An example is 1C - 1H - pass - 2C, where 2C indicates an invitational hand with support for hearts. If partner is weaker, they will rebid 2H to allow the bidding to complete at a lower level.

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Overcalls

Overcall bids are part of standard competitive bidding after opponents open the bidding. The overcall may be made with a relatively weak hand (as few as 9 points) but could be much stronger, especially if the hand is not appropriate for a takeout double.

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Cappelletti and DONT

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Balancing

Balancing occurs when defenders believe that the opening bidder and responder have weaker hands. The defender "balances" by bidding an unbid suit with expectation of competing for a contract. An example is 1H - pass - 2H - 2S, where 2S is the balancing bid in the unbid major.

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Blackwood (including RKC)

Blackwood (and Roman Keycard Blackwood) offer the ability to check for two missing aces during slam exploration. The Blackwood conventions are generally deployed over suit bids using 4NT as the ace-asking bid.

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Gerber

The Gerber convention is used to check for two missing aces during slam exploration. Gerber is generally deployed directly over NT bids (either an opening 1NT/2NT, or over a sequence like 1D - pass - 1H - pass - 2NT) using 4C as the ace-asking bid.

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Cue-bidding Aces

Cue-bidding to determine specific aces (and kings) is a standard slam exploration tool.

  • Bidandmade provides a concise summary of cue-bidding used to show controls during slam exploration.
  • La Jolla Bridge provides a more detailed description of cue-bidding used to show controls during slam exploration.
  • Bridgetips provides a more advanced description of cue-bidding used to show controls during slam exploration.
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Grand Slam Force

The Grand Slam Force is used to explore whether one's partner has two of the top three trumps during slam exploration. The contract will end at the six level or the seven level depending on the answer made by partner.

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DEPO, DOPI, and ROPI

The DEPO, DOPI, ROPI, and other similar conventions are used during a Blackwood slam exploration, when opponents insert a competing bid.

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Splinter Bids

Splinter bids are a means to show a void after a trump suit is agreed. Splinter bids are one means to start slam exploration without passing a four-level suit game.

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