Natural 1♦-1M

The responses 1♦-1♥♠ show 4+ cards just like any 5-card major system. Responder has 6+ points most of the time, but sometimes responder bids with a freaky hand, especially with a long major suit and short diamonds.

1♦-1♥-4+♥
1♠12–17, 4+♠, 5+♦
1NTBAL 12–14, 5=♦
2♣12–17, 4+♣, 5+♦
2♦12–17, 6+♦
2♥12–14, 4+♥
2♠!ART REV, 15–17, 6+♦, 3=♥
2NT18–20, 0–2♥
3♣15–17, 5+♣, 5+♦
3♦15–17, 6+♦, 0–2♥
3♥INV, 15–17, 4+♥
3♠!FG, 18–20, 3=♥
3NTSOL 7+♦, partial stops in ♠ and ♣
1♦-1♠-4+♠
1NT12–14, 4–5♦
2♣12–17, 4+♣
2♦12–17, 6+♦
2♥!REV, 15–17, 4+♥ or 6+♦ 3=♠
2♠12–14, 4+♠ or 3451
2NT18–20, 0–2♠
3♣15–17, 5+♣
3♦15–17, 6+♦, 0–2♠
3♥!FG, 18–20, 3=♠
3♠INV, 15–17, 4+♠
3NTSOL 7+♦, partial stops in ♥ and ♣

BTU 3-way checkback

We use BTU-style 3-way checkback to an XYZ auction. There are 3 artificial relays in the 3-way checkback:

  • 2♣: several variants:
    • to play 2X
    • strongly shaped invitation
    • balanced invitation or choice of games
  • 2♦: game-forcing checkback, usually a choice of games
  • 2NT: transfer to clubs

As a corollary, natural 2X are wide-range invitations and 3X become slam tries.

1♦-1♥-1♠

1♦-1♥-1♠-12–17, 4+♠
1NTMIN, 0–3♠, 4–5♥, 0–3♦
2♣!BTU CB, F1
2♦!FG CB
2♥INV, 5+♥
2♠INV, 4+♠
2NT!TRF, PRE or FG, 6+♣
3♣S/T, 5+♣, 5+♥
3♦S/T, 4+♦, 5+♥
3♥S/T, 6+♥
3♠S/T, 4+♠
1♦-1♥; 1♠-1NTNAT MIN
2♣NF, 4=♣
2♦NF, 6+♦
2♥INV, 3=♥
2♠INV, 5+♠, 6+♦
2NTNAT INV
3♣FG, 4=♣
3♦FG, 6+♦
3♥FG, 3=♥
1♦-1♥; 1♠-2♣BTU CB
2♦MIN
2♥MAX, 3=♥
2♠MAX, at most partial stop in ♣
2NTMAX, likely stop in ♣
3♣MAX, 4054
3♦MAX, 6+♦
1♦-1♥; 1♠-2♣; 2♦-MIN
2♥S/O, UNBAL 5+♥
2♠S/O, 4+♠
2NTBAL INV
3♣INV, 6+♣
3♦INV, 4+♦
3♥INV, S-SOL 6+♥
3♠INV, 4+♠, 5+♥

1♦-1♥-1NT

1♦-1♥-1NT-BAL MIN
2♣!BTU CB, F1
2♣-2♦P/C
2♣-2♥MAX, 3=♥
2♦!FG CB
2♥INV, 5+♥
2♠INV, 4+♠
2NT!TRF, PRE or FG, 6+♣
3♣S/T, 5+♣, 5+♥
3♦S/T, 4+♦, 5+♥
3♥S/T, 6+♥
3♠!SPL, 0–1♠, 6+♥
4♣!SPL, 0–1♣, 6+♥
4♦FG, 4+♦, 6+♥
1♦-1♥; 1NT-2♣; 2♦-P/C
2♥S/O, 5+♥
2♠INV, 4+♠, 6+♥
2NTBAL INV
3♣INV, 6+♣
3♦INV, 4+♦
3♥INV, S-SOL 6+♥

1♦-1♠-1NT

1♦-1♠-1NT-BAL MIN
2♣!BTU CB, F1
2♣-2♦P/C
2♣-2♥MAX, 4+♥
2♣-2♠MAX, 3=♠
2♦!FG CB
2♥INV, 4+♥, 5+♠
2♠INV, 5+♠
2NTTRF, PRE or FG, 6+♣
3♣S/T, 5+♣, 5+♠
3♦S/T, 5+♦, 5+♠
3♥S/T, 5+♥, 5+♠
3♠S/T, 6+♠
3NT12–15, 4=♠
4♣!SPL, 0–1♣, 6+♠
4♦FG, 4+♦, 6+♠
4♥!SPL, 0–1♥, 6+♠
1♦-1♠; 1NT-2♣; 2♦-P/C
2♥MIN, 4+♥, 5+♠
2♠S/O, 5+♠
2NTBAL INV
3♣INV, 6+♣
3♦INV, 6+♦
3♥INV, 5+♥, 5+♠
3♠INV, S-SOL 6+♠

Reverses and Lebensohl

For a precise game try, we sacrifice 2NT as Lebensohl to park minimum hands.

1♦-1♥-2♠-INV, 3=♥, 6+♦
2NT!LEB, MIN
3♣!“4SFG”, ask for 3=♠ or stopper
3♦FG, 2+♦
3♥FG, 6+♥
3♠FG, 6+♠
1♦-1♠-2♥-INV, 4+♥ or 3=♠ 6+♦
2♠NF, 5+♠
2NT!LEB, MIN
2NT-3♣!4+♥
2NT-3♦6+♦, 3=♠
3♣!4SFG
3♣-3♦6+♦, 3=♠
3♣-3♥4+♥
3♦FG, 3+♦
3♥FG, 4+♥
3♠FG, 6+♠