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Jack's Convention Card

Jack's convention card for Toronto 2001
Basic system

  • fivecard major

  • 15-17 NT

Table of contents

  1. 1NT opening and responses
  2. 2NT opening and responses
  3. 3NT opening and responses
  4. NT rebids
  5. 1M opening and responses without competition
  6. 1M in competition
  7. 1m opening and responses without competition
  8. 1m in competition
  9. 2 level openings
  10. 3 level and higher openings
  11. Competitive bidding
  12. Doubles
  13. Defence to 1NT
  14. Defence to preemptive openings
  15. Slemconventions
  16. Other conventions
  17. Opening leads and signals

1. 1NT opening and responses

GENERAL REMARKS
Strength 15-17 HCP
Depending on vulnerability No
Fivecard major possible Yes, any fivecard is allowed
Sixcard minor possible No
Two doubletons possible No

RESPONSES TO 1NT
2C Stayman
does not promise a fourcard major; does not promise any HCP
2D Transfer to 2H, guarantees 5+ hearts
2H Transfer to 2S, guarantees 5+ spades
2S Transfer to 3C; opener bids 2NT with clubsupport
2NT Transfer to 3D; opener bids 3C with diamondsupport
3C Threesuiter with short clubs; 4441/4450
3D Threesuiter with short diamonds; 4414/4405
3H Threesuiter with short hearts; 3145/3154
3S Threesuiter with short spades; 1345/1354
3NT To play
4C Gerber
4D Transfer to 4H; to play
4H Transfer to 4S; to play
4S Minors
4NT Quantitative

2. 2NT opening and responses

GENERAL REMARKS
Strength 20-22 HCP
Depending on vulnerability No
Fivecard major possible Yes, any fivecard is allowed
Sixcard minor possible Yes
Two doubletons possible Yes
4441 possible Yes, but only singleton ace or king

RESPONSES TO 2NT
3C Puppet Stayman: Responses
3D at least one fourcard major
3H fivecard hearts
3S fivecard spades
3NT neither fourcard nor fivecard major
3D Transfer to 3H, guarantees 5+ hearts
3H Transfer to 3S, guarantees 5+ spades
3S Transfer to 4C; opener bids 3NT without clubsupport
3NT Five spades and four hearts; nonforcing
4C Transfer to 3D; opener bids 4NT without diamondsupport
4D Transfer to 4H; to play
4H Transfer to 4S; to play
4S Minors
4NT Five spades and four hearts; nonforcing but stronger than 3NT
4NT Five spades and four hearts; forcing

3. 3NT opening and responses

GENERAL REMARKS
Strength Solid minor
Outside strength No more than one queen

4. NT-rebids

GENERAL REMARKS
1X - 1Y - 1NT 12-14 HCP if balanced; 12-15 if 4441
1X - 1Y - 2NT 18-19 HCP and always balanced; does not deny fourcard major (support)
1X - 1Y - 3NT 18+ HCP with long X
1X - 2Y (non-jump) - 2NT 12-14 HCP if balanced; 12-15 if 4441
1X - 2Y (non-jump) - 3NT 15-19 HCP

5. 1M opening and responses

1H and 1S always show at least a fivecard.

RESPONSES TO 1MAJOR IN AN UNCONTESTED AUCTION
1NT 6-9 HCP; nonforcing
2m Natural and forcing (even with a passed hand); not forcing to game
2M 6-9 HCP with threecard support
3M Preemptive raise; 2-6 HCP and 4+ support
4M Preemptive raise; 3-7 HCP and 5+ support
2NT Gameforcing with 4+ support; highly conventional!!
3C Bergen raise: 7-9 HCP and 4+ support
3D Bergen raise: 10-12 HCP and 4 support or 8-12 HCP and 5+ support
1H - 2S Strong and natural
1H - 3S 12-15 HCP; any splinter
1H - 3NT/4C/4D 12-15 HCP and void S/C/D
1S - 3NT 12-15 HCP; any splinter
1S - 4C/4D/4H 12-15 HCP and void C/D/H

6. 1M in competition

RESPONSES TO 1MAJOR IN A CONTESTED AUCTION
3M Preemptive raise
cuebid 10+ HCP and threecard support
2NT 8+ HCP and 4+ support
Jump in other suit Fitjump
Double Take out
AFTER TAKE OUT DOUBLE
1H - DBL - 1S 8+ HCP and threecard support
1S - DBL - 2H 8+ HCP and threecard support
1M - DBL - 2m 8-11 HCP and nonforcing
1M - DBL - 2NT 10+ HCP and 4+ support
1M - DBL - 3C 7-9 HCP and 4+ support
Other jumps Fitjump

7. 1m opening and responses

1C shows two or more clubs. 1D shows four of more diamonds.

RESPONSES TO 1MINOR IN AN UNCONTESTED AUCTION
1NT 6-9 HCP; nonforcing and denies fourcard higher than the suit opened
2m Inverted minor; 10+ HCP
2NT Fit, denies fourcard major; 6-9 HCP and bad suit
3m Inverted minor; 6-9 HCP and good suit
Jump Strong and natural
Double jump Splinter and 12+ HCP
3NT 12-15 HCP with fourcard support and 4333

8. 1m in competition

RESPONSES TO 1MINOR IN A CONTESTED AUCTION
2m/3m Preemptive raise
cuebid 10+ HCP and 4+ support
2NT Natural, 10-11 HCP
Jump in other suit
 Below 3m: fitjump
Between 3m and 3NT: 6-9 HCP and long suit
1C - 1D - DBL DENIES fourcard major
1C - 1H - DBL DENIES four spades
1D - 1H - DBL DENIES four spades
1D - 2C - DBL Shows 4+ hearts
1D - 2C - 2D Shows 4+ spades
AFTER TAKE OUT DOUBLE
1m - DBL - 2m/3m Preemptive raise
1m - DBL - 1X 8+ HCP and threecard support
1m - DBL - 2NT 10+ HCP and 4+ support
1D - DBL - 2C 8-11 HCP and nonforcing
Jumps Fitjump

9. 2 level openings and responses

GENERAL REMARKS
2C Acol 2C; almost forcing to game;
2D is relay; other bids are natural and promise 8+ HCP
2D Flannery; 11-15 HCP with 5 hearts and 4 spades
2M Weak two; 6-11 HCP and sixcard; denies fourcard in other major
2NT is relay and asks for range and suit quality
minor at threelevel: natural with good suit, threecard fit and invitational
other major: no fit, nonforcing

10. 3 level and higher openings

GENERAL REMARKS
Style Never a bad suit; at least Queen-Jack
3X Preemptive; could be sixcard; does not deny fourcard major
4C Good preemptive 4H opening; 8-13 HCP and 7+ card
4D Good preemptive 4S opening; 8-13 HCP and 7+ card
4H Preemtive; 7+ card, but weaker than 4C
4S Preemtive; 7+ card, but weaker than 4D

11. Competitive bidding

GENERAL REMARKS
Simple overcall Garantees fivecard
Jump overcall Weak; at least sixcard and never a bad suit; does not deny fourcard major
Preemptive overcall At least sixcard and never a bad suit; does not deny fourcard major
Two-suiters Ghestem (constructive); 2NT shows lowest, 3C shows highest and cuebid shows extreme
BUT 1D - 3C is preemptive and 1D - 3D shows majors
1NT-overcall 15-17 HCP and 'systems are on'
Sandwich-position Double and 1NT show 8+ HCP and 5-4 in the other suits (DBL if lowest is longer)

12. Doubles

GENERAL REMARKS
Negative Up to 4H
SPECIAL: 1C - (1D) - DBL denies major;
1D - (1H) - DBL denies four spades
Responsive Up to 4H
Other competitive doubles Up to 4H
Support double/redouble Up to 2M
Bidding after opponents take out double
New suit at one level Forcing, unlimited
But 1H - (DBL) - 1S = 3crd H and 8+ HCP
New suit at two level 8-11 HCP, nonforcing
But 1S- (DBL) - 2H = 3crd S and 8+ HCP
2NT Fit and limit raise or better
Jump in new suit Fitjump
BUT 1M - (DBL) - 3C is still Bergen (7-9 HCP and 4card fit)
Raises Preemptive (Inverted minor is off)

13. Defence to 1NT

GENERAL REMARKS
IN SECOND AND FOURTH POSITION
DBL 8-15 HCP; 4card major and 5+card minor
2C 8-15 HCP; 5+/4+ majors (Landy)
2D 8-15 HCP; 6+card major
2H 8-15 HCP; 5card heart and 4+card minor
2S 8-15 HCP; 5card spade and 4+card minor
2N 10-15 HCP; 5+/5+ minors
3X 10-15 HCP; 7+card X

14. Defence to preemptive openings

GENERAL REMARKS
IN SECOND AND FOURTH POSITION
DBL Take out; if possible 2NT is BAD and 3X is GOOD
2 and 3 level overcall Normal
Jump overcall 12-17 HCP; 6+card
Minorsuit overcall at 4level always shows twosuiter
If they show a minor cuebid=majors; other minor=that minor plus unknown major
If they show a major cuebid=minors; minor=that minor plus other major

15. Slemconventions

Mixed cues Gerber
Roman Keycard Blackwood; 1430 variation Splinters

16. Other conventions

Lebensohl  
Unusual NT  
Sandwich 1NT  
Checkback Stayman  
Fourth suit forcing (not GF at 2level) 1C - 1D - 1H - 1S = FSF
Fitjumps DBL of 1NT opening shows 4M and 5+m
No Walsh after 1C any fourcard is allowed
DOPI-ROPI  
No negative free bids so 1D - (1S) - 2H = 10+HCP and forcing

17. Opening leads and signals

General style 3rd/5th; Zero leads (J, T and 9 promise two or no higher)
Difference between NT and suit? No
Signals Primary count: low - high = EVEN
Discards Primary count: low - high = EVEN