Double Club System

1NT Response System

After a 1NT opening bid we play a 5-card Stayman system (following Ron Klinger's "5-Card Major Stayman" book) and a four suit transfer system.

The same system applies after any bidding sequence where 1NT is bid by our side and no natural suit bid has yet been made. Specifically, these are the sequences after which our 1NT response system applies:

Note: We do not use our 1NT response system after we have made a 1NT overcall. In that case we use a cue bid as Stayman and all other bids as natural, which allows an exit into a two-level contract in any suit when responder is weak. However, other partnerships may decide to use the 1NT response system following a 1NT overcall, if that is their preference.

Responder's Strategy

With a 3-card or longer major and invitational strength or more (even if having 5 cards in the other major), responder should use 5-card Stayman unless he is 4-3-3-3.

If interested in a 4-card major fit, with game values responder can continue the enquiry with 3, asking for 4-card majors, while with invitational values responder can make a natural bid a major suit or 2NT over opener's 2 or 2 response.

With two 4-card or longer majors and invitational values, responder should use 5-card Stayman if he has 5 hearts, but with only 4 hearts he should use the transfer to hearts followed by an invitational spade rebid.

Responder's strategy is given in full at this link.

Continuations by Responder

2
5-card Stayman, or a game-invitational hand. Used when responder has a hand wanting to find a 5-card or 4-card major fit with opener, or a hand that wishes to invite game.
Note: The only way to invite game with hands that cannot make a transfer is to bid 2. Any subsequent bid by responder at the two-level is natural and game-invitational.
2
Transfer to hearts. Promises 5 cards except when responder rebids 2. That sequence shows invitational values and possibly only 4 hearts, but promises that the spade suit is at least as long as the heart suit.
2
Transfer to spades. Promises 5 cards.
2
Transfer to clubs. Used with (a) a hand wanting to play in a club part score; (b) a hand with invitational values and a long club suit, hoping that opener's club holding will enable the suit to run; (c) a hand wanting to explore possibilities of a club game or slam, possibly with a side 4-card major.
2NT
Transfer to diamonds. Used with (a) a hand wanting to play in a diamond part score; (b) a hand with invitational values and a long diamond suit, hoping that opener's diamond holding will enable the suit to run; (c) a hand wanting to explore possibilities of a diamond game or slam, possibly with a side 4-card major.
3NT
To play.

If the opponents compete

LHO doubles (for penalty or as an artificial manoeuvre)

All systems are off and all bids are natural. Redouble is to play, and with the intention of penalizing the opponents if they run.

LHO overcalls (natural or artificial)

All systems are off and all bids are natural. Two-level bids are competetive and to play, three-level bids are forcing unless arrived at via Lebensohl. Double shows a reasonable holding in (one of) LHO's suit(s) and shows the intention of penalizing the opponents if possible.

RHO doubles (for penalty or as an artificial manoeuvre)

Opener should usually pass and let responder take action as above. However, over a penalty double, opener may bid a 5-card of his own. This is usually a good idea when opener's suit is a minor, especially clubs, since it is less likely to prevent responder from bidding an escape suit of his own. It is risky when opener's suit is a major, since it may prevent responder from escaping into a minor when he has a 5-card minor suit.

RHO overcalls (natural or artificial)

Opener may double if having a worthless doubleton in RHO's suit (or the prime suit shown if the bid is artifical). This is a competitive double, asking responder to compete.

If opener passes and the bid comes round to responder, he can take the same action as over RHO's overcall.

Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club