Red transfers 1♦♥
Opener completes the transfer with any balanced minimum, even with a doubleton, and with 3-card support up to 17. Completion is a free support double: bypassing it denies 3-card support, except with 18–20, or with 15–17 and 6+♣. Unbalanced 18–20 hands reverse or raise. Balanced ones rebid 1NT, as in the notrump ladder. Molenaar–Verbeek play the same ladder. After the completion or 1NT, responder rebids by Checkback Gladiator.
2NT is invitational or better, 15–20, with 3-card support and 6+♣. Without 3-card support, 18–20 hands with 6+♣ bid 3NT unless they suit 1NT.
Raises promise 4-card support: 2M with 11–14, 3M with 15–17, and 4M with 18–20. Splinters below 3M are invitational, 15–17, and those above 3M are 18–20.
The 2♣ rebid stops at 15: a 16–17 hand with 5+♣ and no support either reverses, jumps to 3♣, or is 5332 and opened 1NT. Reverses stay 16–20 because they are forcing.
| 1♣ - 1♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 1♥ | (BAL 12–14, 2–3♥) or (UNBAL 11–17, 3=♥) |
| 1♠ | UNBAL 11–17, 4+♠, 5+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 1NT | BAL 18–20, 2–3♥ |
| 2♣ | UNBAL 11–15, 5+♣, 0–3♠, 0–2♥ |
| 2♦ | REV, 16–20, 4+♦, 5+♣, 0–3♥ |
| 2♥ | 11–14, 4+♥ |
| 2♠ | FG, 18–20, 4+♠, 5+♣, 0–3♥ |
| 2NT! | 15–20, 3=♥, 6+♣ |
| 3♣ | 15–17, 6+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 3♦! | SPL, 15–17, 0–1♦, 4+♥ |
| 3♥ | 15–17, 4+♥, 2+♦ |
| 3♠! | SPL, 18–20, 0–1♠, 4+♥ |
| 3NT | 18–20, 6+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 4♦! | SPL, 18–20, 0–1♦, 4+♥ |
| 4♥ | 18–20, 4+♥, no SPL |
| 1♣ - 1♥ - | |
|---|---|
| 1♠ | (BAL 12–14, 2–3♠) or (UNBAL 11–17, 3=♠) |
| 1NT | BAL 18–20, 2–3♠ |
| 2♣ | UNBAL 11–15, 5+♣, 0–2♠ |
| 2♦ | REV, 16–20, 4+♦, 5+♣, 0–3♠ |
| 2♥ | REV, 16–20, 4+♥, 5+♣, 0–3♠ |
| 2♠ | 11–14, 4+♠ |
| 2NT! | 15–20, 3=♠, 6+♣ |
| 3♣ | 15–17, 6+♣, 0–2♠ |
| 3♦♥! | SPL, 15–17, 0–1#, 4+♠ |
| 3♠ | 15–17, 4+♠, no SPL |
| 3NT | 18–20, 6+♣, 0–2♠ |
| 4♦♥! | SPL, 18–20, 0–1#, 4+♠ |
| 4♠ | 18–20, 4+♠, no SPL |
After 2NT
Over 2NT, a weak responder signs off in 3♣, or in 3M with a 5-card major. 3♦ is a relay with 6+: opener bids 3M with 15–17, and responder passes with 6–8. Other rebids show 18–20 and force to game.
| 1♣ - 1R - 2NT - | M = R + 1 |
|---|---|
| 3♣ | S/O, 0–5 |
| 3♦! | (R), 6+ |
| 3M | S/O, 0–5, 5=M |
| 3NT | S/O |
| 4M | S/O |
After a reverse
Responder plays Blackout as after 1♠. LEB is the next step even when it is responder’s major, as opener holds 3-card support only with 18–20. Other bids are natural and game-forcing.
| 1♣ - 1R - 2♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♥! | LEB, 4–7 |
| 3NT | S/O |
| 1♣ - 1♥ - 2♥ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♠! | LEB, 4–7 |
| 3NT | S/O |