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Negative 1♦

In our version of Polish Club, the 1♦ relay denies invitational values. This relay contains all hands without another suitable bid.

StrengthDistribution
0–6Any
7–90–3♠, 0–3♥, probably UNBAL
15–17(32)44

We swap the 2♦ and 2NT responses for better constructiveness by courtesy of Ting-Yu Ye (TpKotoba).

1♣-1♦0–9 or 15–17
1♥F, 12–19, 4+♥ or BAL MIN 3=♥
1♠F, 12–19, 4+♠ or BAL MIN 3=♠
1NTBAL, 18–20, 2–4♠, 2–4♥, 2–6♦, 2–6♣
2♣NF, 12–20, 5+♣
2♦!NF, 21–23, 1–4♠, 1–4♥, 0–5♦, 0–5♣
2♥FG, 20–23, 5+♥
2♠FG, 20–23, 5+♠
2NTFG, 24+
3♣FG, 21–23, 6+♣
3♦FG, 21–23, 6+♦
3♥!SPL, 21–23, 40(54)
3♠!SPL, 21–23, 04(54)
3NT!Gambling, SOL 7+♣, likely stops in two side suits
P-1♣-1♦0–9
PBAL MIN, 4=♦

1♣-1♦-1M

Given that Polish Club is a 5-card major system, the major suit left in 1♣-1♦-1M gets longer when stronger.

StrengthLength
12–144=# or occasional UNBAL 3=#
15–174=# or occasional 5+# 6+♣
18–195+# or UNBAL 4=#

I reuse 2NT for the most pesky hands in the range of 1♣-1♦.

1♣-1♦ 1M-12–19, usually 4+#
1NTBAL, 5–7
2♣♦NF, 5–9, 5+#
2MNF, 4–6, 4–5# or UNBAL 3=#
2NT!UNT, 7–9, usually 5+♦ 5+♣
3♣MAX, 7–9, 6+♣
3♦MAX, 7–9, 6+♦
3MNF, 4–6, 5+#
1♣-1♦ 1♥-12–19, usually 4+♥
1♠NF, 4–6, 4+♠
2♠NF, 4–6, 6+♠
3♠!S/T, 15–17, 3244
3NTS/T, 15–17, 2344
1♣-1♦ 1♠-12–19, usually 4+♠
2♥NF, 4–6, 5+♥
3♥!S/T, 15–17, 2344
3NTS/T, 15–17, 3244

1♣-1♦-1NT

1♣-1♦ 1NT-BAL 18–20
2♣!STAY, Garbage STAY, or INV 5=♠
2♦!TRF, 5+♥
2♥!TRF, 5+♠
2♠!INV or 6+♣. FG, 5+♣, 5+♦.
2NT!5+♦, 5+♣ or 6+♦
3♣INV, 6+♣
3♦!FG, (31)(54)
3♥!INV, 5+♠, 5+♥
3♠!Choice of games, 5+♠, 5+♥
4♣!Gerber BW
4♦!Texas TRF, 6+♥
4♥!Texas TRF, 6+♠

1♣-1♦-2♣

The 2♣ rebid is wide, but worry not. Lebensohl fits in this reverse-like auction.

1♣-1♦ 2♣-12–20, 5+♣
2♦NF, 5–9, 5+♦
2♥NF, 4–6, 5+♥
2♠NF, 4–6, 5+♠
2NT!LEB, 5–7, 3+♣ or 7+♦
3♣NF, 7–9, 4+♣
3♦NF, 7–9, good 6+♦
3NTS/T, 15–17, (32)44

1♣-1♦-2♦

The 2♦ rebid shows a nearly balanced hand with 21–23 HCP. If you can force to game, bid as if partner opened a natural 2NT. Otherwise, try to sign off at the 2-level.

1♣-1♦ 2♦-21–23, 1–4♠, 1–4♥
PTo play, usually 5+♦
2♥NF, 4+♥
2♠NF, 4+♠
2NTS/O
3♣!FG, STAY
3♦!TRF, 5+♥
3♥!TRF, 5+♠
3♠!S/T, usually 6+♣ or 5+ 4+ minors
3NTS/O
4♣!S/T, usually 6+♦

1♣-1♦-2NT

Opener forces to game single-handedly by rebidding 2NT. The shape of such a strong hand is predominantly balanced. I would treat it as a strong notrump that allows 5-card major.

1♣-1♦ 2NT-24+
3♣!Muppet STAY, 3+♠♥
3♦!Muppet TRF, 5+♥
3♥!TRF, 5+♠
3NTS/O
4♣!Gerber BW
4♦!Choice of games, 5+♠, 5+♥
4♥!!SPL, 0–1♥, 2–3♠, 4–5♦, 4–5♣
4♠!!SPL, 0–1♠, 2–3♥, 4–5♦, 4–5♣
4NTQUANT INV to 6NT

Muppet Stayman is an ambitious convention that tries to find both 5-3 and 4-4 major fits. It swaps 3♥ and 3NT steps from Puppet Stayman to find 3-5 spades. Note that responder rebids 3♠ to deny spades. This gadget, similar to Smolen, lets opener declare.

1♣-1♦ 2NT-3♣Muppet STAY
3♦!(R), 4=♠♥
3♥!NEG, 0–3♠, 0–3♥
3♥-3♠!(R), 0–4♠
3♥-3NT!TRF, 5+♠
3♠5+♠
3NT!TRF, 5+♥

Muppet Stayman also affects transfer to hearts to find 4-4 spade fit. Again, responder rebids 3♠ to deny spades.

Opener can reject the transfer with 3NT. Such entitlement is why I choose Muppet over Romex. Romex Stayman allows a garbage variant, but it is not very useful here because the auction is already game-forcing.

1♣-1♦ 2NT-3♦Muppet TRF
3♥2+♥
3♥-3♠!(R), 0–3♠
3♥-3NT!TRF, 4+♠
3♠5+♠
3NT0–1♥, 0–4♠