Openings
One-of-a-suit and 1NT openings split the HCP scale into three zones, from strongest to weakest:
- Strong (16+): Open 1♣.
- Heavy (13–15): Always open: balanced hands in 1NT, unbalanced hands in a suit.
- Light (11–12): Open all eligible 12-counts. Select 11-counts with 5-card major or good playing strength.
Precision 2♣ takes 6+♣ in the limited zones since 1♠ promises diamonds. Continuations after 1♦♥♠ follow Moscito 2007 by Paul Marston.
The 2♦♥♠ openings handle the preemptive 4–10 zone separately. They are the same as in Strawberry Polish Club: Multi 2♦, Muiderberg 2♥♠, and unusual 2NT.
| 1♣! | STR ART, 16+ |
| 1♦! | NF TRF, 11–15, 4+♥, not 3433 |
| 1♥! | NF TRF, 11–15, 4+♠, not 4333 |
| 1♠! | NF TRF, 11–15, UNBAL 4+♦ |
| 1NT | 13–15, 2–5♠, 2–5♥, 2–6♦, 2–6♣ |
| 2♣ | NAT, 11–15, 6+♣ |
| 2♦! | PRE, 4–10, 6+♠♥ |
| 2♥! | PRE, 4–10, 5=♥, 4+♦♣ |
| 2♠! | PRE, 4–10, 5=♠, 4+♦♣ |
| 2NT! | UNT, 4–10, 5+♦, 5+♣ |
| 3x | PRE, 7+# |
| 3NT! | Gambling, SOL 7+♦♣, 0–1 outside A/K |
| 4♣! | PRE, S-SOL 8+♠♥, 0–1 outside A/K |
| 4♦! | PRE, SOL 8+♠♥, no outside A/K |
| 4♥♠ | PRE, 8+# |
| 4NT! | UNT, 6+♦, 6+♣ |
Choice between suits
Choice between major suits is similar to Transfer Walsh responses.
- Transfer to the longer major suit
- Transfer to spades with 5+♠ and 5+♥
- Transfer to hearts with 4=♠ and 4=♥
Pick a major suit over a minor suit most of the time, but open 1♠ for the minor suit when you have 6+ cards in a minor suit and only 4 cards in a major suit.
| 4=♠♥ | 5+♠♥ | |
|---|---|---|
| 5=♦♣ | 1♦♥ | 1♦♥ |
| 6+♦♣ | 1♠, 2♣ | 1♦♥ |
The notrump ladder
- 11–12: 1♦♥♠
- 13–15: 1NT
- 16–18: 1♣ - 1♦ - 1NT
- 19–21: 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥
- 22–24: 1♣ - 1♦ - 2NT
- Game-forcing: 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥