Defensive bidding system
Welcome to Chen-Pang He (jdh8)'s defensive bidding system! We use the
distribution syntax and abbreviations provided by WBF.
http://www.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Guidetocompletion.pdf
This bidding system is based on
Good, Better, Best
by Jan Eric Larsson and my
improvisation.
Hand evaluation
-
High card points (HCP)
: the well-known Milton Work's 4321 count
-
Total points
: HCP + distribution points (void = 3, singleton = 2, doubleton
= 1, subtract 1 for each short suit with HCP)
-
Zar points (ZP)
: 6-4-2-1 + Zar distribution points (a + b + a - d, where the
letters are the number of cards from the longest to the shortest suit)
-
Fifths
: 4.0–2.8–1.8–1.0–0.4, adjusted HCP for notrump contracts
especially 3NT
-
BUM-RAP
: 4.5–3–1.5–0.75–0.25, adjusted HCP for suit contracts
-
NLTC
: Count 1.5–1.0–0.5 losers for each missing AKQ
NLTC is a good single hand evaluator but not very additive. It suits
preemptive initial actions but not for showing supports. I have a blog article
on that topic.
https://jdh8.org/nltc-a-good-single-hand-evaluator/
Stopper
We evaluate stopper quality as GIB does.
-
Partial stop
: length + HCP = 4
-
Likely stop
: length + HCP = 5
-
Stop
: A, QJx, or length + HCP at least 7
-
Two stops
: length + HCP at least 8
References
-
Thomas Andrews. [Thomas's Bridge Fantasia](https://bridge.thomasoandrews.com/valuations/)
-
Bridge Base. [GIB Bid Descriptions](https://www.bridgebase.com/doc/gib_descriptions.php)
Over natural (1X)
-
(1Y)
-
Dbl
|
T/O 25+ ZP (~11+ HCP) or any 33+ ZP (good 16+ HCP)
|
-
1Z
|
5+#, 21–32 ZP (9–17 points)
|
-
1NT
|
29–32 ZP (15–17 HCP) w/ likely stop
|
-
2X
|
5+#, 25–32 ZP (11–17 HCP)
|
-
2Z
|
6+#, 15–25 ZP (4–10 HCP)
|
-
2NT
|
!UNT, 55+ in lowest two unbid suits
|
-
3X
|
7+#, 21–25 ZP (5–9 HCP)
|
-
3Y
|
!Gambling, SOL 7+m, at most partial stop
|
-
3Z
|
7+#, 21–25 ZP (5–9 HCP)
|
-
3NT
|
!Gambling, SOL 7+m w/ likely stop
|
-
(1
♣
)
-
-
2
♦
|
!(R), equal preference
|
-
(1
♦
)
-
2
♦
|
!Michaels, 5+
♠
, 5+
♥
|
-
(1
♥
)
-
2
♥
|
!Michaels, 5+
♠
, 5+m
|
-
(1
♠
)
-
2
♠
|
!Michaels, 5+
♥
, 5+m
|
Due to insufficient strength, 1NT by passed hand becomes unusual.
-
(1X)
-
1NT
|
!UNT, 55+ in lowest two unbid suits
|
Balancing overcall
-
(1Y)-Pass
-
Dbl
|
T/O 21+ ZP (8+ HCP) or any 29+ ZP (15+ HCP)
|
-
1Z
|
4+#, 21–28 ZP (8–14 HCP)
|
-
2X
|
5+#, 21–28 ZP (8–14 HCP)
|
-
2Z
|
6+#, 21–25 ZP (8–11 HCP)
|
Notrump overcalls
Like a direct overcall, 1NT by passed hand is unusual.
-
(1X)-Pass
-
1NT
|
!UNT, 55+ in lowest two unbid suits
|
Advances to (1X)-1Y
Raises and the higher new suit are more suit-oriented, so we use evaluations
better for suit contracts. We use the jump cuebid as a mixed raise.
-
(1X)-1Y
-
1Z
|
F, 4+#, usually 21+ ZP (8+ HCP)
|
-
2Y
|
CONST, 21–24 ZP (8–11 HCP), 3+#
|
-
2Z
|
PRE, 8–20 ZP (0–7 HCP), 6+#
|
-
3X
|
!Mixed raise, 21–24 ZP (8–10 HCP), 4+Y
|
-
3Y
|
PRE, 8–20 ZP (0–7 HCP), 4+#
|
Notrump and the lower new suit are natural and non-forcing. Note that the lower
new suit is always a minor suit. We are more interested in 3NT than a minor
suit game. If you have a strong hand without a stopper, cuebid to ask for a
stopper.
We use Rubens advances, where calls from the direct cuebid to the suit below the single raise are transfers.
-
Transfer to a new suit
: 9+ HCP, 5+ cards in the new suit
-
Transfer support
: INV+, 3+ card support, opening strength (or 10+ HCP by PH)
The direct cuebid also asks for a stopper for the strong hands.
Advances to (1X)-1NT
-
(1m)-1NT
-
2
♣
|
!STAY, may be Garbage
|
-
-
-
-
-
-
Over artificial forcing (1
♣
)
Our defense was derived from Terrorist's Moscito. Note that we also use this
defense even when opponents' 1
♣
is not necessarily strong (e.g. Polish Club).
We pass strong hands since we are always given a chance to bid again. This is
arguably the only sane usage of coming out after a pass.
-
(1
♣
)
-
-
-
-
-
1NT
|
!PRE, 4+
♠
4+
♥
or 4+
♦
4+
♣
|
-
-
(1
♣
)-Dbl
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2NT
|
!TRF, FG 6+
♣
or PRE 7+
♣
|
-
3
♣
|
!TRF, FG 6+
♦
or PRE 7+
♦
|
-
3
♦
|
!TRF, mixed raise, UNBAL 4+
♥
|
-
-
(1
♣
)-1
♦
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2NT
|
!TRF, FG 6+
♣
or PRE 7+
♣
|
-
3
♣
|
!TRF, FG 6+
♦
or PRE 7+
♦
|
-
3
♦
|
!TRF, FG 6+
♥
or PRE 7+
♥
|
-
3
♥
|
!TRF, mixed raise, UNBAL 4+
♠
|
-
Over strong notrump
Good, Better, Best
recommends using conventional double over a strong
notrump. We play Woolsey in all seats. We consider a natural notrump opening
strong if at least half of the hands contain 15+ HCP. For instance, 14–16 is
considered strong but 13–15 is not.
-
(1NT)
-
-
-
2
♦
|
!Ask for the major suit
|
-
2
♣
|
!UNBAL PRE, 4+
♠
, 4+
♥
, usually (54)(xx)
|
-
-
-
Over weak notrump
We play Landy against a weak notrump. We consider a natural notrump opening
weak if more than half of the hands contain 14 or fewer HCP. This simple
defense undermines their
systems on
approach over (1NT)-2
♣
. Meanwhile, we
still threat to stop in our natural 2
♦
.
-
(1NT)
-
-
2
♣
|
!Landy, 4+
♠
, 4+
♥
, 12–17 HCP
|
-
By passed hand, we play Meckwell DONT as if against a strong notrump.
Over strong (2
♣
)
We simply play Mathe with follow-ups same as Landy over (2
♣
). The strong 2
♣
is already self-preemptive, so we don't need to worry about that.
-
(2
♣
)
-
Dbl
|
!Mathe/Landy, (54)+ in majors
|
-
-
Over natural (2X)
-
(2Y)
-
Dbl
|
T/O 26+ ZP (12+ HCP) or any 36+ ZP (19+ HCP)
|
-
2Z
|
5+#, 26–35 ZP (12–18 HCP)
|
-
2NT
|
30–35 ZP (16–18 HCP) w/ likely stop
|
-
3X
|
5+#, 26–35 ZP (12–18 HCP), FREQ 6+#
|
-
3Z
|
6+#, 30–35 ZP (15–18 HCP)
|
-
3NT
|
36+ ZP (20+ HCP) or trick-based w/ likely stop
|
-
(2m)
-
-
4m
|
!Leaping Michaels, 5+
♠
, 5+
♥
|
-
4om
|
!Leaping Michaels, 5+#, 5+M
|
-
(2M)
-
3M
|
!Leaping Michaels, 5+
♦
, 5+
♣
|
-
4m
|
!Leaping Michaels, 5+#, 5+oM
|
-
Reverse Lebensohl
Though usually treated the same, there is a significant difference between
(2X)-Dbl and 1NT-(2X): we cannot pass boring hands in the former situation!
After a long discussion, we came to a conclusion that reverse Lebensohl with
Rubens advances is a better alternative than transfer or standard counterparts.
As opposed to the standard/original Lebensohl, this 2NT relay handles
constructive hands (8+ HCP or 7+ HCP by passed hand) while directly bidding a
suit below 3X is weak. Since an in-shape takeout is short in the adverse suit,
advancer is more likely to have a stopper. Inviting with 2NT right-sides the
contract more often than not.
There are subtle differences among adverse suits. We adjust them case by
case.
Note that this structure also works for artificial (2m) openings without
further modification.