Litten Polish Club

Welcome to Litten Polish Club! Polish Club is a 5-card major small club bidding system, where the 1 ♣ opening is forcing but not necessarily strong. Notably, we swap the natural suits between 1 ♣ and 1 ♦ by courtesy of Ting-Yu Ye (TpKotoba). In other words, 1 ♦ shows clubs, and 1 ♣ has various options including a diamond suit.

This bidding system is also based on Polish Club 2020: Expert. Changes are made with Good, Better, Best and my improvisation.

We use the distribution syntax and abbreviations provided by WBF.

http://www.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Guidetocompletion.pdf

The ACBL convention card of this system is at

https://bridgewinners.com/convention-card/print/litten-polish-club/98013

Notable differences from Polish Club 2020: Expert

Constructive auctions

• The minor suit interchange: we open 1 ♦ for clubs!
• We use natural 2/1 after 1 ♥ and swapped 2/1 after 1 ♠ .
• After 1M, we have 4-card support step responses from 2NT to 3M.
• In our 3-way checkback over 1X-1M-1NT, the 2 ♣ relay contains 2-level signoffs like Gladiator.

Preempts

• We modified continuations after the 2X preempts.
• BTU Namyats replace natural 4m.

Slam try

• We use kickback RKCB 0314 for all suits.
• When we have found two fits X and Y, 4Y+1 is 7-key Blackwood (7KCB), RKCB in both suits with each trump Q regarded as half a keycard.
• New suits above RKCB are control asking RKCB. Return to 5X if you lack a control in that suit. Otherwise, use the other steps like RKCB.
• We also suggest using the non-serious 3NT, Optional Minorwood, and Last Train in slam tries.

References

• Krzysztof Jassem & Tomek Brus. Polish Club 2020: Expert. ISBN 978-1771402248
• Krzysztof Jassem & Tomek Brus. Polish Club 2020: Standard. ISBN 978-1771402231
• Jan Eric Larsson. Good, Better, Best: A comparison of bridge bidding systems and conventions by computer simulation. ISBN 978-1771402415
• Krzysztof Jassem. [Wspólny Język 2020 Standard](https://jassem.pl/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/wj2020-25-59.pdf)
• Piotr Cegielski. [Wspólny Język DUCE](https://iccs.pl/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Wspolny-Jezyk-DUCE-wersja-Q1.2021.pdf)
• Krzysztof Jassem. [Polish Club International 2010](https://jassem.pl/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Polish_Club-2010.html)
• Krzysztof Jassem. [Wspólny Język 2005 (Polish Standard)](https://par.cse.nsysu.edu.tw/~kbc/class/Polish_Club/WJ2005Full_original.pdf)

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)

Opening bids

We have the minor suit interchange here. This treatment fixes several problems such as rebidding clubs over 1 ♣ . This treatment also introduces lesser problems, but I believe they can be solved by further adjustments.

The notrump ladder

• 12–14 : 1 ♣ -1 ♦ -1M
• 15–17 : 1NT
• 18–20 : 1 ♣ -1 ♦ -1NT
• 21–23 : 1 ♣ -1 ♦ -2NT
• 24+ : 1 ♣ -1 ♦ -2 ♦ -2 ♥ -2NT

Polish 1 ♣ opening with the minor suit interchange

The minor suit interchange replaces the natural variant of Polish Club. The variants are as follows:

• 12–14 HCP, 2–4 ♠ , 2–4 ♥ , 2–4 ♦ , 2–4 ♣
• 11–17 HCP, 5+ ♦ or 4441
• 18+ HCP

This treatment makes the 1 ♦ negative relay non-forcing. We not only threaten to play 1 ♦ but also make 1 ♣ -1 ♦ -2 ♣ stronger and more constructive. In order to pass 1 ♦ easily, it must become a pure negative relay. We move invitational hands elsewhere.

Note that due to the minor suit interchange, rebidding clubs by the 1 ♣ opener often shows diamonds instead of clubs. Responder can then bid diamonds as negative or P/C. This is a significant change from the standard and fairly natural variant of Polish Club.

The 1 ♦ relay

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

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

The bidding structure at 1 ♣ -1 ♦ -1NT is similar to the 1NT opening. We don't need minor transfers here since we have already bid both minors. Therefore, we change 2 ♠ to a minor suit Multi/Stayman.

Positive 1M responses

Opener's 2 ♦ rebid is Odwrotka, a fit reverse showing a game-forcing 3+ card support. Moreover, opener's 2 ♣ rebid is a transfer to diamonds, which makes the whole structure similar to XYZ (turned 180 degrees).

The jump reverse of the other major shows a game-forcing minor two suiter to alleviate the burden on 2NT.

Three-way checkback for 1 ♣ -1 ♥ -1 ♠

There are 3 artificial relays in the three-way checkback:

• 2 ♣ : minimum 5+ ♦ , any invitation, or a choice of games of 44(32)
• 2 ♦ : game-forcing 5+ ♥ or a slam try (maybe balanced)
• 2NT : transfer to clubs

As a corollary, 3X become shaped slam tries.

Three-way checkback for 1 ♣ -1 ♥ ♠ -1NT

We use BTU-style 3-way checkback to a 1NT rebid. The 2 ♣ response is a Gladiator-like relay because it puppets to 2 ♦ anyway. The contents of 2 ♣ by further responses are:

• Pass and 2M : signoff
• 2NT : balanced invitation
• 3NT : choice of games with 5M(332)
• Other suit bids : strong invitations

Odwrotka with the strong 2 ♥ relay

We use the relay structure in Polish Club 2020: Expert. The 2 ♥ response to Odwrotka is a slam try with 11+ HCP or a certain fit and <= 8.0 NLTC.

Balanced positive responses

Balanced positive responses are pretty descriptive, so opener's rebids are mostly natural except the minor suit interchange.

Game-forcing 2m responses

Here come the exceptions where opener's club rebids are natural.

Like over 2/1 responses, opener jumps with extra values to utilize higher steps to send information. This avoids an awkward situation Bridge World calls "two temporizers and zero describers".

Reverse Flannery 2 ♥

The 2 ♥ response shows a minimum positive with 5+ spades and 4+ hearts.

Unbalanced invitational 2 ♠

The 2 ♠ response shows an invitation with (54) or more in the minor suits.

The 1 ♦ opening showing clubs

As we swap the minor suits, this opening now shows 11–17 HCP, 5+ ♣ or (441)4.

The 1M responses

The precedence with 15–17 HCP is 4-card support > 4-card side suit > 3-card support. Therefore, the reverse in the other major showing 3-card support promises either 6+ ♣ .

Three-way checkback for 1 ♦ -1 ♥ -1 ♠

There are 3 artificial relays in the three-way checkback:

• 2 ♣ : constructive 6+ ♦ , any invitation, or a choice of games of 44(32)
• 2 ♦ : game-forcing 5+ ♥ or a slam try (maybe balanced)
• 2NT : transfer to clubs

As a corollary, 3X become shaped slam tries. Note that the variant of minimum diamonds becomes constructive (~8–9 HCP and 6+ ♦ ) because we could have passed 1 ♦ with weaker hands.

Three-way checkback for 1 ♦ -1 ♥ ♠ -1NT

We use BTU-style 3-way checkback to a 1NT rebid. The 2 ♣ response is a Gladiator-like relay because it puppets to 2 ♦ anyway. The contents of 2 ♣ by further responses are:

• 2M or below : signoff
• 2NT : balanced invitation
• 3NT : choice of games with 5=M and a singleton club
• Other suit bids : strong invitations

The 1NT response

The 1NT response promises 4+ ♦ according to the pigeonhole principle. We use this fact to park minimum opening hands with 4+ ♦ .

Major suit openings

We swap 2 ♣ and 2 ♥ over 1 ♠ , inspired by Twisted 2/1 by Ting-Yu Ye (TpKotoba).

https://hackmd.io/@TpKotoba/refx

When there are 5 hearts in 1 ♠ -1NT, it must be an invitation without a spade fit.

Note that we use difference 4-card raising structures for 1 ♥ and 1 ♠ . Our spade raises cover all mini-Splinters and a mixed raise. On the other hand, we use reverse Bergen raises for hearts for several reasons:

1. We have more preemptive uses for 1 ♥ -2 ♠ such as invitational both minors or a weak jump shift.
2. As a corollary, we don't have enough room to discriminate all mini-Splinters.
3. We need 1 ♥ -3 ♥ to preempt a potential spade fit while 1 ♠ -2 ♠ is usually enough for a heart fit.

Natural invitational 2/1 by passed hand

We don't play Drury here. For a 3-card limit raise without a 5-card side suit, 1NT is decent.

Competitive bidding

We play transfers over 1M-(Dbl) as suggested by Polish Club 2020: Expert.

• From 1NT to 2M-1 : transfers
• Simple raise : constructive raise
• Other bids : same as uncontested

Strong notrump opening

We use the French-style 4-way transfers to preserve the natural invitation. We invite naturally rather than via Stayman because 2NT hides information of the declarer.

The responder tries to show a major first always (MAFIA). The only exception is not to bid Stayman with (4333), a hand so flat that playing notrump is a better idea.

Stayman

Excluding opener's 5-card majors, the Stayman has its traditional meaning or a Garbage Stayman.

• INV+, unspecified 4+M
• WK, 4= ♠ , 4= ♥ , 4–5 ♦ , 0–1 ♣

The Garbage Stayman takes advantage of that opener will eventually rebid within 2 ♠ ♥ ♦ , so we can bid 2 ♣ as a weak takeout of clubs and pass in the next round.

We only employ Smolen transfers at the 3-level. The 2-level invitations are natrual so that we have a chance to stop at 2 ♥ .

The step of 1NT-2 ♣ -2 ♥ -2 ♠ allows us to always choose the better major fit. This is why the opener rebids 2 ♥ with 44 majors.

Jacoby transfer

The opener always accepts Jacoby transfers. We super-accept with maximum and 4 trumps. We hide the doubleton just below the trump to avoid retransferring problems like 1NT-2 ♦ -3 ♦ !-3 ♥ ?.

Seeking a major fit

There are apparent overlaps between major fit seeking conventions, especially Jacoby transfers with Stayman or Texas transfers. This section describes how to pick the best response.

Major two suiter, (54)+

To find the better fit, we consider the length difference between majors in our partnership. The opener's difference is at most 2, so our basic strategy is

• Same lengths : let partner decide
• Difference 1–2 : proactive negotiation
• Difference > 2 : ignore the shorter suit

However, with a weak hand, it is more important to keep the bidding low. We transfer to our longer major and then pass.

Same lengths, 55+

We choose the hearts from a weak two suiter for a chance to run out to 2 ♠ unless spades are sufficiently better.

• Weak = 2 ♦ (→ ♥ ); then pass
• Invitational = 2 ♦ (→ ♥ ); then 2 ♠
• Choice of games = 3 ♠
• Forcing to game = 2 ♥ (→ ♠ ); then 3 ♥

Difference 1–2, (54)+

• Weak = transfer to the longer major
• Invitational+ = Stayman

Major single suiter, 6+

• Weak = Jacoby; then pass
• Invitational = Jacoby; then 3M
• Game but no slam = Texas; then pass
• Mild slam interest = Jacoby; then 4M
• Strong slam try = Texas; keep bidding

Minor transfer

With an invitation or a game force without slam interest, we only show minor suits with a singleton or void.

We use fragment bids instead of Splinters here to avoid lead-directing doubles.

Competitive bidding

Competition does not affect auctions at 3NT and above.

Over (Dbl)

We keep things simple over a strong double (10+ HCP). Everything is natural.

Over (2 ♣ )

We play systems on over 1NT-(2 ♣ ). Most bids keep the same meaning. This is because 2 ♣ is so low that we can treat it as (mirrored) (1 ♣ )-1NT.

• If there is no anchor suit, we completely ignore the 2 ♣ bid.
• With one anchor suit X, we treat it as (1X)-1NT, where systems on also applies.
• With a major and a minor anchor suits, we ignore the minor suit.

We recommend Leaping Michaels over a sole anchor suit. Take natural clubs for example.

The real headache is when (2 ♣ ) shows both majors e.g. Landy. We recommend reverse unusual vs. unusual.

Note that we pass when we can penalize both majors. A delayed double is for penalty since a takeout can usually penalize the other major.

Over (2 ♦ ♥ ♠ )

We play Transfer Lebensohl against overcalls 2 ♦ ♥ ♠ .

Over (2NT)

We have a special unusual vs. unusual structure over 1NT-(2NT) because we have not yet shown a suit.

Ekren 2 ♣

Ekren is an artificial preempt showing 4+ cards in each major. This preempt is not only frequent (5–6%) but also frees major preempts from the other major. Ekren is slightly less frequent than a wild 5-card natural preempt (6–7%) but much more frequent than a traditional 6-card preempt (2.2–2.7%).

Ekren is originally at 2 ♦ . We move it to 2 ♣ to fill in the removed Precision and leave space for Multi.

Unlike natural preempts, we have 2NT as a nonforcing natural invitation. Since Ekren hands can be fairly balanced, 2NT can be the sweet spot on misfit.

Multi 2 ♦

Our Multi 2 ♦ shows a 6-card weak two of either major.

Muiderberg twos

Weak twos in this bidding system show exactly 5 cards in the bid major and 4+ cards in an unspecified minor. Multi 2 ♦ already takes care of 6+ cards.

Non-jump new suits are non-forcing because sometimes we need to escape from a certain misfit. With a strong misfit and a lower-ranking suit, we tend to buy 3NT with a minor suit. Otherwise, we go through 2NT and try to introduce hearts in the next round.

Unusual 2NT opening

The unusual 2NT opening is a preempt with 55+ in minors.

We advise against opening 2NT for (30)55 in the first two seats.

BTU 4-level preempts

In National Taiwan University Bridge Club (BTU), we use a 4X scheme that conveys approximately 0.58 more bits than traditional or Meckwell Namyats.

• 4 ♣ : solid major suit without any outside A/K
• 4 ♦ : semi-solid major suit with 0–1 outside A/K
• 4M : non-solid (1.5+ NLTC) major suit