Double Club System
Responder's strategy following a 1NT opening bid
After a 1NT opening bid we play a 5-card Stayman and four suit transfer system.
Part-score values
- With a 5-card major, make a transfer and pass the response.
- With a 6-card minor, make a transfer (bid 2
or 2NT) and pass the response.
- With a hand that can sensibly pass any Stayman response, bid 2
and then pass.
- Otherwise pass 1NT.
Invitational values
- With both major suits, except when having 5 hearts and only 4 spades
(when you should use Stayman as described next), bid 2
as a transfer to hearts (even if only having 4 hearts). After opener completes
the transfer, bid 2, showing invitational values
with at least 4 hearts and a spade suit that is as long or longer.
A minimum opener can pass with 3-card support,
bid 3
with 4-card hearts,
otherwise 2NT. After 2NT, a 5-5 responder can demand a choice
by continuing with 3.
- With one 5-card major, bid 2 (Stayman).
If opener bids your 5-card major you will raise to game.
If opener shows 5 cards in the other major and you have 3-card support,
raise opener's suit invitationally.
Otherwise you can bid 2, if able,
showing a 4-card or 5-card suit and invitational values, or 2NT.
Finally, if opener bids 2, bid your major suit
at the two-level. With a minimum, opener can pass with 3-card support, otherwise bid 2NT.
- With one 4-card major, bid 2 (Stayman).
Over a 2 response you bid your major suit.
A minimum opener with 3-card support will pass this and a 4-3 fit
is likely to be safer than the alternative of 2NT.
With only 2-card support and a minimum, opener can bid 2NT
(or 2 over 2
to show a 4-card spade suit).
If opener has a maximum then he makes a natural bid above the level of 2NT.
- With a 6-card minor that you hope may be running,
bid 2 (transfer to clubs) or 2NT (transfer to diamonds).
Your hcp plus opener's minimum should add to 21 at least,
and your suit should contain two of the top three honours
(or one top honour if opener has shown 20+ hcp).
With this information, opener can judge whether 3NT is viable.
If he judges that 3NT is viable, if you have that hand, he breaks the transfer by making the intermediate bid,
which you will convert to 3NT.
Otherwise he accepts the transfer, which you will pass.
- With any other invitational hand, bid 2 (Stayman)
and follow up with 2NT, inviting game.
Game values or more
- With a 5-card major and exactly 3 cards in the other major,
bid 2 (Stayman).
If opener bids either major you will raise to game or, if interested in slam,
bid three of the other major as an artificial confirmation of the trump suit
and a request to start cue bidding.
If opener bids 2,
you can now transfer to your major suit by bidding 3
or 2, and continue in the natural way.
- Otherwise with a 5-card major (or both), start with a transfer and continue naturally.
- With a 4-card major (or both), bid 2 (Stayman).
If opener bids a 5-card major that you can support, continue as above.
If opener bids a 5-card major that you cannot support, bid 3NT (he will not also have a 4-card major.
Otherwise continue with 3 (4-card Stayman)
to see if opener has a 4-card major.
- With a minor-suit oriented hand that is not in the slam zone, just bid 3NT.
- With a 5-card minor and slam-invitational values,
make a transfer and continue naturally over the response.
- With a 5-card minor and a 4-card major,
transfer to your minor and then bid your major.
Do not use Stayman.
- You will very rarely want to jump to 3NT with a balanced hand unless 4-3-3-3,
since it is sensible to find out first if opener has a 5-card major
opposite your 3-card holding(s).
Balanced hands in the slam zone
With a balanced hand and looking for a 5-3 or 4-4 fit
in any suit for slam purposes, minor suits become almost as important as major suits.
The procedure is always to start with Stayman and continue as follows:
- If opener shows a 5-card major and you have 3-card support or better,
your problem is solved. Agree the suit by bidding three of the other major
(see above) and take it from there.
- If opener bids 2,
you should continue with 3 (4-card Stayman)
whether or not you are interested in a 4-card major.
You will bid four of a minor over opener's response.
Opener will understand that you are looking for a 4-4 minor suit fit
and will bid suits up the line. You can stop in 4NT if no fit is found.
Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club