opening bid is forcing
(since it may be very strong and balanced, or very strong with a club suit).
Any hand that is not worth a natural bid should bid 1
.
Some stronger hands will also bid 1,
so it is not always a negative, more of a waiting bid.
All hands with 6+ hcp must make their best available response. Weaker hands will usually pass but have the discretion to bid when they have good hopes of improving the contract.
The 1 opening bid is forcing
(since it may be very strong and balanced, or very strong with a club suit).
Any hand that is not worth a natural bid should bid 1.
Some stronger hands will also bid 1,
so it is not always a negative, more of a waiting bid.
Nominally shows 6+ hcp,
but may be made with a weaker hand where responder hopes to locate a better contract.
A major suit response to 1
shows a 5-card suit (or 12+ hcp).
With only a 4-card major suit and less than 12+ hcp
you temporise by first bidding 1:
opener will next bid a major suit if he has one, so the fit will not be missed
(and a negative double is available on the next round if an opponent bids the other major).
)
Responder is not allowed to bypass a 4-card major to bid 1NT, no matter how weak the suit.
The 1NT response nominally shows 6-12 hcp, but may be made with any weaker hand where responder hopes to locate a better contract. Over one of a major, 1NT is forcing when bid by an unpassed hand, and responder may use the forcing 1NT with some balanced hands that have game values (especially strong hands with 3-card support).
A two-over-one response shows 12+ hcp and is therefore game forcing in principle, though the game force can be cancelled if opener shows that his hand is light or weak.
, 2)
A jump bid of two of a new suit by responder is a strong game force, as in standard bidding. The System requires that a game-forcing jump takeout response conforms to the Proper Use of the Game-Forcing Jump Takeout.
A jump bid of a lower-ranking new suit by responder at the three level shows a good 6-card or longer suit and invitational values (about 10-12 hcp). It is non-forcing.
A double-jump bid of a new suit by responder is a splinter in support of opener's suit. Since we can force to game in a higher suit with a jump takeout and in a lower suit by making a two-over-one response, we do not need a double-jump bid as a forcing measure. In the Double Club System, any unnecessary jump bid in an uncontested aution is a splinter raise.
When responder has 12+ hcp, the partnership has game values unless opener is light or weak. All responding hands of 12+ hcp should bid naturally, usually longest suit first. A two-over-one response is possible with 12+ hcp, if the natural suit to choose is lower-ranking than opener's.
But responding hands with less than 12 hcp are bid more cautiously. In particular, the Double Club System requires 12+ hcp for a two-over-one response in a new suit, so that the 1NT response is used for hands of 6-11 hcp that are unable to bid a 4-card or longer suit at the one level. The 1NT response is forcing after a major suit opening bid.
Responding hands of 6-9 hcp are worth one free bid. After that they will not bid again unless invited to.
Responding hands of 10-12 hcp that have a long suit that is lower-ranking than opener's can make a non-forcing jump bid at the three level.
Other responding hands of 10-12 hcp must start with a one level bid, one of a higher-ranking suit or 1NT, but are worth a second free bid, so should make one further effort over a weak rebid by opener.
Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club