Eastern Mysticism Outline
Last updated 2009 May 14 Eastern Mysticism home page
Flowchart Legend
- All point ranges are approximate; use best judgment. Count HCP with no fit and support points ("pts") after a fit is found.
- Slow arrival: jumping to a forced level shows minimum values.
- Click
to expand nested bids; click 
to collapse nested bids. - Opener's bids are black; Responder's bids are grey; Opponents' bids are orange.
- M = any major; m = any minor; X = any suit; OM = other major; om = other minor.
- F1 = forcing 1 round; FG = forcing to game; FO = forcing on Opener; FR = forcing on Responder.
- (Alert!) indicates an alertable bid.
- (Announce) indicates an announceable bid.
Openings: 1♣ | 1♦ | 1M | 1NT | 2♣ | 2♦ | 2M | 2NT | 3X/4X/5X | 3NT
Overcalls | Doubles | Conventions
Expand all nested bidsCollapse all nested bids
Openings and responses
1♣: 16+ HCP or 8+ tricks, any shape; F1 (Alert!)
- Pass
- 1♦: 0-7 HCP, no preemptive suit; F1 (Alert!)
- 1M: 4+ cards; F1
- 1♠ over 1♥: 4+ cards; F1
- 1NT: 0-4 HCP, no M fit (Alert!)
- 2m: 5-7 HCP, no M fit, better minor (Alert!)
- 2♥ over 1♠: 5-7 HCP, 5 cards
- 2 of the M: 0-5 pts, support
- 3 of the M: 6-7 pts, support; invitational
- After any of Responder's rebids:
- 3NT: 25-26 HCP, 1M may have been artificial
- 4NT: 27-28 HCP, 1M may have been artificial; Invitational to 6NT
- 5NT: 29-30 HCP, 1M may have been artificial; Invitational to 6NT or 7NT
- 1NT: 16-18 HCP, balanced
- 2♣: Extended Garbage Stayman; F1
- 2♦/2♥: Transfer; F1
- 2♠: Relay to 3♣; F1
- 2NT: Invitational
- 3m: Near-running minor; invitational to 3NT
- 2m: 16-19 HCP, 5+ cards, no M
- 2♦ over 2♣: 6-7 HCP; invitational
- 2M: 6-7 HCP, 5 cards; invitational
- 2NT: Invitational
- 2M: 20+ HCP, 5+ cards; FR
- 2NT: 19-21 HCP, balanced
- 3♣: Extended Garbage Stayman; F1
- 3♦/3M: Transfer; F1
- 3NT: To play
- 3m: 20+ HCP, 4+ cards; FR
- 3NT: 22-24 HCP, balanced
- 1M: 8-12 HCP, 4+ cards, may hide minor, ♠ denies ♥; FG (Alert!)
- 1♠ over 1♥: 4+ spades
- 1NT: 16+ HCP, balanced, no M fit
- 2X: Unbalanced hand
- 2NT: 16 HCP, no support
- Pass: Minimum, somewhat balanced
- 3X: Unbalanced
- 3NT: To play
- Raise: Minimum w/ support
- New suit: Slam try cuebid w/ support
- 3NT: 17-20 HCP, no support
- 2NT: 8 HCP; invitational
- 3NT: To play
- 2m: Unbalanced, no M fit
- 2♥ over 1♠: 5+ hearts
- Raise: Support; asks for cuebids
- Cheapest new suit: Maximum, cheapest 1st-round control
- 2NT: Maximum, no aces
- 3 of the M: Minimum
- 2NT: Jacoby
- Jump shift: 8-trick hand w/ long suit, < 16 HCP (Alert!)
- Double jump shift: X-Blackwood
- 1NT: 13+ HCP; FO (Alert!)
- 2m: better m, no 5-card M
- 2M: 5+ cards
- 3X: 8-trick hand w/ long suit, < 16 HCP (Alert!)
- 2m: 8-12 HCP, denies M; FG (Alert!)
- 2M: 5+ cards
- 2NT: 8 HCP, no support; invitational
- Pass: 16 HCP, balanced
- New suit: Unbalanced; FG
- 3 of the M: 6+ cards; FG
- 3NT: 17-24 HCP, balanced
- 4♣: Blackwood
- 3 of the M: Maximum, support
- Other M: Stopper; F1
- 3NT: 9-12 HCP, no support
- 4 of the M: Minimum, support
- 2NT: 16 HCP, balanced
- Pass: 8 HCP, balanced
- 3X: Unbalanced; FG
- 3NT: 9-12 HCP, balanced
- 3m: Unbalanced
- 3NT: 17-20 HCP, balanced
- 4om: Blackwood
- Double jump shift: X-Blackwood
- 2M/3m: Preemptive (Alert!)
- Double (natural or takeout)
- Pass: 0-7 HCP, no long suit
- Redouble: 13+ HCP
- 1♦: 8-12, 4+ cards [may have M]
- Jump in suit: Preemptive
- Other responses unchanged [don't bid 1NT]
- Double (Mathe)
- Pass: 0-7 HCP, no long suit
- Redouble: 13+ HCP, at least one M unstopped
- 1♦: 8-12 HCP, 4+ cards [may have M]
- 1M: 8-12 HCP, cheapest stopper; FG
- 1NT: 13+ HCP, both M's stopped; FG
- 2♣: 8-12 HCP, 4+ cards, no M stopper; FG
- Jump in suit: Preemptive
- 1X
- Pass: 0-7 HCP, no long suit
- Double: Negative, 8-12 HCP (over 1♦ shows M's, over 1♥ shows m's, over 1♠ shows ♥)
- Cheapest suit: 8-12 HCP, 5+ cards if 2M; FG
- 1NT: 13+ HCP, with stopper; FG
- Cuebid: 13+ HCP, no stopper; FG
- Jump in suit: Preemptive
- 1NT (Mathe)
- Pass: 0-7 HCP, no long suit
- Double: 8+ HCP, negative (at least 1 4-card M); FG
- 2m: 8+ HCP, cheapest stopper; FG
- 2M: 8+ HCP, 5+ cards; FG
- 2NT: 13+ HCP, m stoppers
- Jump in suit: Preemptive
- 1NT/2X/3X (natural)
- Pass: 0-7 HCP, no long suit
- Double of 1NT: Penalty
- Double of suit: Takeout; FG
- Cheapest suit: 8-12 HCP; FG
- 2NT: 8+ HCP, stopper; FG
- Jump in suit: Preemptive
- 3NT: To play
1♦: 11-15 HCP, no 5-card M (Announce: May be short)
- Pass
- Pass: Weak, no 4-card M (Alert!)
- 1M: Any strength, 4+ cards; F1 (Alert!)
- 1♠ over 1♥: 4 ♠'s, denies 4 ♥'s
- Pass: Weak, ♠ tolerance
- 1NT: Signoff
- 2♣: New Minor Forcing, invitational or better hand; F1 (Alert!)
- 2♦/2M: Signoff
- 2NT: Invitational
- 3♣: Weak; Signoff
- 3♦: FG
- 3M: Invitational
- 3NT: To play
- 4♣: Blackwood
- 4♦: Invitational
- 4M: To play
- 1NT: Balanced; denies 4-card support
- Pass: Balanced, weak
- 2♣: New Minor Forcing (Alert!)
- 2♦: Preference
- 2 of the M: 5+ cards; signoff
- 2♥ after 1♠: Weak; offers choice of suits
- 2♠ after 1♥: Invitational
- 2NT: Invitational
- 3♣: Weak, long clubs; Signoff
- 2NT: Invitational
- 3♦/3M: Invitational
- 3NT: To play
- 2m: Unbalanced, no support, suggests m single-suiter
- Pass: Weak
- 2♦ over 2♣: Weak
- 2 of the M: 6+ cards; signoff
- 2OM: New Major Forcing, invitational or better hand; F1 (Alert!)
- 2NT/3X: Invitational
- 3NT: To play
- Raise: Support (may be 3-card support w/ side singleton or void)
- Pass: Weak
- 2♠: Unbalanced; invitational
- 2NT/3X: Invitational
- 1NT: 6-9 HCP, balanced, no M; signoff
- 2m: 5+ cards, unbalanced
- 2♣: 10+ HCP, m single-suiter; F1 (Alert!)
- 2♦: Minimum, no M stopper
- Pass: Minimum, 5+ ♦'s
- 2♥: Asks about m's; F1
- 2♠: Long ♦'s
- 2NT/3m: To play
- 3M: FG
- 3NT: To play
- 4♣: Blackwood
- 2NT: Both m's
- Pass/3m: To play
- 3M: FG
- 3NT: To play
- 4♣: Blackwood
- 3
: Long ♣'s
- Pass/3♦: To play
- 3M: FG
- 3NT: To play
- 4♣: Invitational
- 4♦: Kickback Blackwood
- 2♠: FG
- 2NT/3m: To play
- 3NT: To play
- 2♠: Cuebid; slam try
- 2NT: To play
- 3m: Signoff
- 3♥: Cuebid; slam try
- 3NT: To play
- 4m: Invitational
- 5m: To play
- 2M: Minimum, cheapest M stopper
- 2NT: Minimum, both M's stopped
- 3m: Maximum, no M stopper, cheapest m stopper
- 3M: Maximum, cheapest M stopper
- 3NT: Maximum, both M's stopped
- 2♦: 10+ HCP, no 4-card M, both m's; F1 (Alert!)
- 2M: Minimum, cheapest M stopper
- 2NT: Minimum, both M's stopped
- 3♣: Minimum, no M stopper
- 3♦: Maximum, no M stopper
- 3M: Maximum, cheapest M stopper
- 3NT: Maximum, both M's stopped
- 2♥: Weak 2-suiter with 4+ ♥s, 5+ ♠s (Alert!)
- 2♠: Weak 2-suiter with 5+ ♣s, 5+ ♦s (Alert!)
- 2NT: 10-12 HCP, no M, balanced; invitational
- 3X: Preemptive
- 3NT: To play
- Double/1M/2X
- Pass: 0-5, no preemptive suit
- Double: Negative OR invitational values; new suit or NT rebid invites
- Redouble: Invitational or better values
- Cheapest suit: Not forcing (Alert! if over suit bid)
- NT bids: Unchanged values, stopper
- Jump in suit: Preemptive
- Cuebid: FG
- 1NT (natural and strong)
1M: 11-15 HCP, 5+ cards
- Pass
- Pass: 0-7 HCP, no support, no preemptive suit
- 1♠ over 1♥: 8-12 HCP; F1
- 1NT: Minimum, balanced
- 2♣: Checkback Stayman
- 2♦: Preference
- 2M: Signoff
- 2NT: Invitational
- 3♣: Signoff
- 3♦/3M: Invitational
- 3NT: To play
- 2m/2♥: Minimum, unbalanced
- Raise: Minimum w/ support
- 2NT: Maximum, balanced; Invitational
- 3m: Maximum, unbalanced; Invitational
- 3♥: Maximum, 6+ cards; invitational
- Jump raise: Maximum w/ support; Invitational
- 1NT: 8-12 HCP, may be unbalanced and may have support; F1 (Announce: Forcing)
- 2m: Minimum, better minor
- 2 of the M: Minimum, 6+ cards
- 2NT: Maximum, balanced; Invitational
- 3X: Maximum, unbalanced; Invitational
- (1NT by passed hand: 6-10 HCP; semiforcing (Announce: Semiforcing))
- 2X: Game force; 4+ cards for m, 5+ cards for M; FG
- (2m by passed hand: Drury (Alert!))
- Raise: 0-9 HCP, 3 trumps
- 2NT: Jacoby; FG (Alert!)
- Jump shift: Preemptive (Alert!)
- 3 of the M: 0-9 HCP, 4 trumps (Alert!)
- 3NT: 13-15 HCP, flat, 3 trumps (Alert!)
- 4♣: Blackwood
- Double jump shift: X-Blackwood (Alert! 3♠ over 1♥)
- 4 of the M: To play
- Double/1X/2X
- Pass: 0-7, no good suit
- Double: Competitive values [treat as forcing 1NT] (Alert!)
- Redouble: Invitational or better values; tends to deny support
- Cheapest suit: Not forcing (Alert!)
- 1NT: 6-9, stopper
- Raises/2NT: Unchanged
- Jump in suit: Preemptive
- Cuebid: FG, no support
- 3NT: To play
1NT (1st/2nd seat): 11-13 HCP, balanced (Announce: 11-13)1NT (3rd/4th seat): 13-15 HCP, balanced (Announce: 13-15)
- Pass
- Pass: 0-11 HCP, no 5-card M or 6-card m
- 2♣: Extended Garbage Stayman; F1
- 2♦/2♥/2♠: Transfer; F1
- Cheapest bid: completes the transfer
- 4X: X-Blackwood
- Jump in suit: Super-accept (maximum, doubleton, 4 trump)
- 4X: X-Blackwood
- 2NT: Invitational, no M
- 3X: Blackwood
- 4X: X-Blackwood
- Double
- 2♣
- Double: Responder would have bid 2♣
- Other bids unchanged
- 2♦/2M:
- lebensohl (Alert!)
2♣: 11-15 HCP, 5-4 or longer in m's, no 4-card M (Alert!)
- Pass: Signoff
- 2♦: Invitational+, asks Opener to describe hand; F1
- 2M: Minimum, 3 cards in the M
- 2NT: Minimum, no 3-card M, minors are roughly equal
- 3♣: Minimum, 6+ clubs
- 3♦: Minimum, 6+ diamonds
- 3M: Maximum, 3 cards in the M
- 3NT: Maximum, no 3-card M
- 4m: Maximum, no 3-card M, 6+ cards, limited outside entries
- 2M: To play; 5+ cards in the bid suit
- 2NT: Invitational
- 3m: Preemptive
- 3M: 6+ cards; FG
- Cheapest OM: "Splinter" (3-card support, singleton or void in OM)
- 3NT: No support for the M, m's are roughly equal
- 4m: No support for the M, 6+ cards, limited outside entries
- 4 of the M: 2-card support for the M
- 3NT: To play
- 4m: Invitational
- 4M/5m: To play
2♦: Semi-preemptive weak 2 bid (5-10 HCP); 5-6 cards
- New suit: Not forcing (Alert!)
- 2NT: Feature-asking; F1
- 3♦: Minimum; Discouraging
- New suit: Maximum hand w/ top honor in bid suit
- 3♦/4♦: Preemptive
- 4♣: Blackwood
- 5♦: To play
2M: Semi-preemptive weak 2 bid (5-10 HCP); 5-6 cards
2NT: Unusual; 5-4 or better in m's, 5-10 HCP (Alert!)
- Pass
- 3m: Signoff
3X/4X/5X: Preemptive
- New suit: Not forcing (Alert!)
- 4♣ over 3♦/3M: Blackwood
- Next highest suit over 3♣/4X: Kickback Blackwood
3NT: Gambling (running minor, no outside stoppers) (Alert!)
- 4♣: Moscow escape
- 5♣: Moscow escape to game
Overcalls
of 1X:
- Cheapest suit: 5+ cards
- New suit: Not forcing
- Cuebid: Opening hand or better; F1
- 1NT over 1♦: Balanced with stopper
- 1NT over 1M: 8-12 HCP, forcing (may be unbalanced and may have support); F1 (Announce: Forcing)
- Direct raises: Competitive based on trump length
- 2NT over 2m: promises good stopper, invitational to 3NT
- 2NT over 2M: Jacoby; F1
- Double: Takeout; 12+ points, strength in unbid suits or rockcrusher; F1
- Cheapest suit or NT: Minimum
- Jump in suit: Invitational
- Cuebid: F1
- Jump in suit: Invitational
- Cuebid: FG
- Direct 1NT: Light (optional) takeout; 12-15, at least ½-stop (Alert!)
- Front of card
- Sandwich NT (Alert!)
- Cuebid: Michael's; F1 (Alert! if cuebidding 2m)
- Jump to 2M: Weak 2
- 2NT over 2M: Ogust
- 2NT: Unusual (5+ cards in two lowest unbid suits, weak or strong hand); F1
- Jump to 3X/4X/5X: Preemptive
of 1NT:
- DONT over strong 1NT
- Cappelletti over weak 1NT
- Jump to 3X/4X: Preemptive
of a weak 2:
- Double: Takeout
- lebensohl (Alert!)
- Cheapest suit: 11-15, good 5+ cards
- 2NT: 15-18 balanced, stopper(s)
- Jump to 3M: 15-17, 6+ cards; invitational
- Cuebid: Gambling, with solid m
- 3NT: Promises stopper
- 4m over 2M: Leaping Michaels; strong hand, 5-5 or 5-6 in other M and that m
of 3X:
- Double: Cooperative
- Cheapest suit: 13-18, good 5+ cards
- New suit: F1
- 3NT: To play
- Cuebid: Takeout
of 4X:
- Double: Takeout
- 4NT: 2-suiter
of 5X:
- Double: Cooperative
of 6X/7X:
- Double: Lead-directing
Doubles
Competitive: Over 1X-2X, double shows general strength primarily for takeout.
Responsive: After LHO opens, partner bids, and RHO raises (not preemptively), double shows strength in the unbid suits and no support for partner's suit, if any.
After 1m + ♦ + raise, double shows both M's
After 1m + 1M + raise, double shows the 2 unbid suits and no support
After 1M + Other M + raise, double shows m's and no support
Snapdragon: After 3 suits have been bid, double shows 5+ in the 4th suit and tolerance for partner's suit.
1♣ + 1♥ + 1♠ + Double = 5+ diamonds, ~2 hearts
Support: After 1X + Pass + 1M + Overcall (below 2 of the M), double or redouble shows 3-card support for Responder's major.
Conventions
Blackwood: Asks for aces and the trump king, if any (5 key cards if trump suit, 4 if notrump).
Mystic uses 1430 Roman Keycard Odd-Even responses (with kickback and Voidwood for trump suits). With notrump or a suit agreement other than clubs, 4♣ is Blackwood. If 4♣ is unavailable or natural, 4 of the suit above trump is Blackwood (kickback). Blackwood structure is recursive: After any response, Blackwood bidder can place the contract in the trump suit or slide to ask about the next honor.
The basic 1430/Odd-Even step structure, used after NT or a slide, is:
- 1 step: 1 or 4 of the top honor
- Slide asks about next honor
- 1430/Odd-Even step responses
- 2 steps: 0 or 3 of the top honor
- Slide asks about next honor
- 1430/Odd-Even step responses
- 3 steps: 2 of the top honor, odd number of next honor
- Slide asks about next honor
- 1 step: 1 of the honor, odd number of next lowest honor
- 2 steps: 1 of the honor, even number of next lowest honor
- 3 steps: 3 of the honor, odd number of next lowest honor
- 4 steps: 3 of the honor, even number of next lowest honor
- 4 steps: 2 of the top honor, even number of next honor
- Slide asks about next honor
- 1 step: 0 or 4 of the honor, odd number of next lowest honor
- 2 steps: 0 or 4 of the honor, even number of next lowest honor
- 3 steps: 2 of the honor, odd number of next lowest honor
- 4 steps: 2 of the honor, even number of next lowest honor
Because of the trump honors and possible void, steps after a suit bid are:
- 1 step: 1 or 4 key cards
- Slide asks about trump Q and outside kings
- Return to trump suit: Denies Q
- 1430/Odd-Even steps: promises Q, shows outside kings
- Skip slide asks about outside kings
- 1430/Odd-Even steps: shows outside kings
- 2 steps: 0 or 3 key cards
- Slide asks about trump Q and outside kings
- Return to trump suit: Denies Q
- 1430/Odd-Even steps: shows outside kings
- Skip slide asks about outside kings
- 1430/Odd-Even steps: shows outside kings
- 3 steps: 2 key cards, no trump queen
- Slide asks about outside kings
- 1430/Odd-Even steps: shows outside kings
- 4 steps: 2 key cards, with trump queen
- Slide asks about outside kings
- 1430/Odd-Even steps: shows outside kings
- 5 steps: 2 key cards, with a void
- Slide asks about void
- 1 step: void in lowest outside suit
- 2 steps: void in middle outside suit
- 3 steps: void in highest outside suit
- 6 steps: 1 key card, void in lowest outside suit
- 7 steps: 1 key card, void in middle outside suit
- 8 steps: 1 key card, void in highest outside suit
Because of opener's limited values, steps after a preempt are:
- 1 step: 0 key cards
- 2 steps: 1 key card, no trump Q
- 3 steps: 1 key card, with trump Q
- 4 steps: 2 key cards, no trump queen
- 5 steps: 2 key cards, with trump queen
PODI (Pass = 1 step, double = 2 steps) over interference through 4NT; DEPO (double = even number of key cards, pass = odd) over interference at 5-level.
Exclusion Blackwood: As above, except that Responder ignores honors in the bid suit.
Cappelletti over weak NT (low end ≤ 13 HCP)
- Double: Optional (strong, balanced hand)
- 2♣: 1-suited hand
- Pass: 7+ ♣, weak hand
- 2♦: Transfer to find Opener's suit
- Pass: Weak hand with ♦
- 2M: Weak hand
- Jump in suit: F1
- 2M: 6+ cards
- 2♦: Both M's
- 2♥: ♥ + m
- 2♠: ♠ + m
- 2NT: Both m's
DONT over strong NT (low end ≥ 14 HCP)
- Double: One-suited hand
- 2♣: Transfer to find Opener's suit
- 2♦/2M: 6+ cards
- 2m/2♥: That suit and a higher suit
- Cheapest suit: Opener should pass or correct to other suit
- 2♠: Weak hand with ♠
Drury: Support response by a passed hand to 1M
- 2♣: 8–10 HCP, 3- or 4-card support
- 2♦: Asks for more information
- 2 of the M: 3 trumps, no singleton or void
- 2 of the OM: 3 trumps, singleton somewhere
- 2NT: Asks about singleton; F1
- 3♣: ♣ singleton; F1
- 3♦: ♦ singleton; F1
- 3♥: OM singleton; F1
- 2NT: Asks about singleton; F1
- 2NT: 4 trumps, no singleton or void
- 3 of new suit: 4 trumps, singleton in bid suit
- 3 of the M: ?
- 3NT (when ♥ are trump): 3-4 trumps, spade void
- 4 of new suit below the M: 3-4 trumps, void in bid suit
- 2 of the M: No interest in game (light opening)
- 4 of the M: Signoff
Jacoby/Jordan 2NT: Forcing raise of a M
- 2NT with no interference: Slam-invitational raise of partner's M, tends to deny singleton or void; FG
2NT if opponents have bid: Limit raise or better; invitational- 3m: Minimum (3♣) or maximum (3♦) w/ singleton; FG
- Cheapest new suit: Asks about singleton; F1
- 1 step: ♣ singleton; F1
- 2 steps: ♦ singleton; F1
- 3 steps: OM singleton; F1
- 3 of the M (with no interference): Asks for cuebids
- 3 of the M (if opponents have bid): Minimal hand; signoff
- 3OM: Asks about second suit
- 1 step: ♣
- 2 steps: ♦
- 3 steps: OM
- 4 steps: Extra trump, no second suit
- 3NT: Choice of game
- 4♣: Blackwood
- 4 of the M: Signoff
- 3 of the M: Minimum, no singleton or void
- 3OM: Void; FG
- Cheapest bid: Asks about void
- 1 step: ♣ void
- 2 steps: ♦ void
- 3 steps: OM void
- 4♣: Blackwood
- 4 of the M: Signoff
- 3NT: Flat maximum
- 4♣: Maximum, good second suit; FG
- 4♦: Maximum, extra trump, no singleton or void; FG
- 4 of the M: Minimum, extra trump, no singleton or void
Lead-directing support bid: Responder's unnatural competitive bid below raise of Opener's suit shows a raise and lead suggestion.
Examples:
3♥ + X (takeout) + 4♣ (willing to play 4♥, requests ♣ lead)
1♥ + 1♠ + 2♥ + 2♠ + 3♦ (willing to play 3♥, requests ♦ lead)
Mathe: Shows M or m 2-suiter after a strong 1♣ opening
- Double: Shows M's
- 1NT: Shows m's
- Other bids unchanged
New Minor/Major Forcing (NMF): Artifical bid of a new suit to show invitational or better hand and ask Opener to describe his hand.
- 2♣: NMF; F1 (Alert!)
- 2♦: no support for M, minimum unbalanced hand with ♦'s
- 2 of M: 3-card support, minimum hand
- 2♥ after 1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣: no support, unbalanced minimum with ♥'s
- 2♠ after 1♦ - 1♥ - 1X - 2♣: no support, unbalanced minimum with ♣'s (Alert!)
- 2NT: no support, balanced minimum
- 3 of M: 3-card support and maximum hand
- 3 of new suit: no support, unbalanced maximum
- 3NT: no support, balanced maximum
Ogust: 2NT over partner's weak 2M asks for clarification
- 3♣: Bad suit, bad hand
- 3♦: Bad suit, good hand
- 3♥: Good suit, bad hand
- 3♠: Good suit, good hand
- 3NT: AKQxxx
Sandwich NT: After LHO opens 1X, partner passes, and RHO respondes 1X, 1NT is for takeout in the unbid suits; implies less distribution than double.
Stayman: Asks NT bidder about 4-card M's.
Responder bids cheapest ♣ to learn about NT bidder's M-suit distribution. Responder may have any strength with both M's, invitational or better with at least one M, or weak with long ♦'s. Example here is shown after 1NT; all levels are 1 higher after 2NT.
- 2♣: Extended Garbage Stayman
- 2♦: No 4-card M; F1
- Pass: Responder actually had long ♦'s
- 2M: Weak; NT bidder should pass or correct 2♥ to 2♠
- 2NT: No M fit; invitational to 3NT
- 3♣: Responder has at least one 5-card M; F1
- 3♦: 33 in M's
- 3M: Invites game
- 3NT: 5422 or 4522; offers choice of game
- 4m: 5 cards; implies doubleton in om
- 4M: To play
- 4♣: Blackwood
- 4♦: Opener should bid better M
- 4M: To play
- 3♥: 23 in M's
- Pass: Weak hand
- 3♠: Invites game
- 3NT: To play
- 4♣: Blackwood
- 4M: To play
- 3♠: 32 in M's
- Pass: Weak hand
- 3NT: To play
- 4♣: Blackwood
- 4M: To play
- 3♦: Preemptive
- 3M: Smolen. Shows 4 cards in the bid M and 5+ in OM; invitational
- 3NT: To play
- 4♣: Blackwood
- 4M: To play
- 2M: Shows 4-card M (with both, bid ♥'s)
- 2♠ over 2♥: Asking
- 2NT: No ♠ support, minimal hand
- Pass: Minimal hand
- 3M: Shows choice of game; FG
- 3NT: To play
- 4♣: Blackwood
- 3♠: ♠ support, minimal hand
- 3NT: No ♠ support, maximal hand
- 4♠: ♠ support, maximal hand
- 2NT: Invites 3NT
- Raise: Invites game in the M
- 3♣: Transfer to ♦; F1
- 3♦: FG
- 3♥ over 2♠: Shows 5 ♥'s; invites game
- 3NT: To play
- 4♣: Blackwood
Transfer lebensohl (Slow Shows, Direct Denies) after overcall of 1NT or double of partner's weak 2
- Pass: No information
- Double: Penalty
- 2X: To play
- 2NT: Relay; F1
- 3♣: Forced bid
- Pass/new suit: to play
- 3NT: Promises stopper; to play
- Cuebid: Stayman, with stopper; FG
- 3X: 5+ cards in next highest nonovercalled suit; Invitational or better
- Cheapest of transfer suit: Minimum hand
- Other bids: Maximum hand FG
- Cuebid: Stayman, no stopper; FG
- 3NT: Values for 3NT, no interest in M-suit game, no stopper
- Opener must have stopper to pass
Unusual over unusual: After a 2-suited overcall (e.g., Michaels or Unusual 2NT), Responder can cuebid to show one of the other suits.
- When both overcalled suits are known, the cheaper cuebid shows the lower outside suit; the higher cuebid shows the higher outside suit. When cuebidding support for Opener's suit, Responder promises invitational or better values. When introducing a new suit, Responder forces to game.
- When only one overcalled suit is known, a cuebid of this suit promises a limit raise or better for Opener's suit.
- Other suit bids are to play, 2NT and 3NT are natural, and a double suggests invitational or better strength but no support or other clear action.
- See Defense Against Two-Suited Overcalls from Karen's Bridge Library.