Contested 1♣
The free bids follow the uncontested transfers:
- 1♦ or (1♦) X: transfer, 4+♥
- 1♥ or (1♥) X: transfer, 4+♠
- 1♠: transfer to 1NT, partly ask for stopper
- 2♣: transfer, 5+♦
- 2♠: transfer, 5+♣
Opener’s rebids change because the free bids are constructive:
- 1NT is a balanced minimum, 12–14, with a stopper. The balanced 18–20 bids 2NT, also with a stopper.
- The cuebid 2♦ is an artificial 18–20 raise rather than a reverse.
- 3NT still promises solid clubs. Other 18–20 hands with 6+♣ bid 2NT with a stopper, or cuebid without.
Over (X)
Natural notrump is not very useful after a double, so let’s also use it for transfers. Then 1♠ takes care of diamonds, the only suit left over. With 0–5, responder passes or preempts.
| 1♣ (X) | |
|---|---|
| XX | 10+, 0–3♠, 0–3♥ |
| 1♦! | TRF, 6+, 4+♥ |
| 1♥! | TRF, 6+, 4+♠ |
| 1♠! | TRF, 6+, 5+♦ |
| 1NT! | TRF, 6+, 5+♣ |
| 2♣ | PRE, 0–7, 5+♣ |
| 2x | PRE, 0–7, 6+# |
| 2NT! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♣) or (FG, 6+♣) |
| 3♣! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♦) or (FG, 6+♦) |
| 3♦! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♥) or (FG, 6+♥) |
| 3♥! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♠) or (FG, 6+♠) |
Over (1♦)
Transferring to diamonds is not very useful, so 2♣ falls back to a single raise.
| 1♣ (1♦) | |
|---|---|
| X! | TRF, 6+, 4+♥ |
| 1♥! | TRF, 6+, 4+♠ |
| 1♠! | TRF to 1NT, 8+, 0–3♠, 0–3♥ |
| 1NT | NAT, 8–10 |
| 2♣ | NF, 5–9, 5+♣ |
| 2♦! | TRF, 6+♥ |
| 2♥! | TRF, 6+♠ |
| 2♠! | TRF, 10+, 5+♣ |
| 2NT | NAT INV, 10–11 |
| 3♣ | PRE, 6+♣ |
| 3♦! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♥) or (FG, 6+♥) |
| 3♥! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♠) or (FG, 6+♠) |
Over (1♥)
Transferring to hearts is not very useful, so 2♦ falls back to a negative free bid.
| 1♣ (1♥) | |
|---|---|
| X! | TRF, 6+, 4+♠ |
| 1♠! | TRF to 1NT, 8+, 0–3♠ |
| 1NT | NAT, 8–10 |
| 2♣! | TRF, 10+, 5+♦ |
| 2♦ | NF, 5–9, 6+♦ |
| 2♥! | TRF, 6+♠ |
| 2♠! | TRF, 10+, 5+♣ |
| 2NT | NAT INV, 10–11 |
| 3♣ | PRE, 6+♣ |
| 3♦ | PRE, 7+♦ |
| 3♥! | TRF, (PRE, 7+♠) or (FG, 6+♠) |
Over (1♠)
Transferring to spades is not very useful, so 2♥ falls back to a negative free bid.
| 1♣ (1♠) | |
|---|---|
| X | NEG, 6+, 4–5♥ or BAL FG |
| 1NT | NAT, 8–10 |
| 2♣! | TRF, 10+, 5+♦ |
| 2♦! | TRF, 10+, 5+♥ |
| 2♥ | NF, 5–9, usually 6+♥ |
| 2♠! | TRF, 10+, 5+♣ |
| 2NT | NAT INV, 10–11 |
| 3♣ | PRE, 6+♣ |
| 3♦♥ | PRE, 7+# |
Over (1NT)
The overcall is a strong notrump, so responder bids naturally.
| 1♣ (1NT) | |
|---|---|
| X | PEN, 9+ |
| 2♣ | NF, 5+♣ |
| 2♦♥♠ | NF, 5+# |
Over (2♣+)
Double is negative. New suits are natural and forcing, and 2NT is natural and invitational with a stopper.
Opener’s rebids
After XX
The key feature of XX is to start penalty process. Our further doubles are penalty rather than takeout.
| 1♣ (X) XX - | |
|---|---|
| P | 5+♣ |
| 1♦♥♠ | NAT, 4+# |
| 1NT | BAL 12–14, 2–3♣ |
| 2♣ | 11–14, 6+♣ |
| 2♦♥♠ | REV, 16–20, 4+#, 5+♣ |
| 2NT | BAL 18–20 |
| 3♣ | 15–17, 6+♣ |
| 3NT | 18–20, SOL 6+♣ |
After a transfer to 1M
One step below 1M, including the stolen X, is a transfer to 1M. Bid as if 1♣ - 1R most of the time, with the changes in the chapter and above. Over (1♥), opener gets two cuebids: 2♦ stays the raise, and 2♥ takes the 18–20 hands with neither support nor a stopper. Over (1♦), the 2♦ raise takes those too.
| 1♣ (1♦) X - | |
|---|---|
| 1♥ | 11–17, 3=♥ |
| 1♠ | 11–17, 4+♠, 0–2♥ |
| 1NT | BAL 12–14, 0–2♥, stop |
| 2♣ | 11–17, 5+♣, 0–3♠, 0–2♥ |
| 2♦! | 18–20, 3+♥ or no stop |
| 2♥ | 11–14, 4+♥ |
| 2♠ | 18–20, 4+♠, 5+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 2NT | 18–20, 0–2♥, stop |
| 3♣ | 15–17, 6+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 3♥ | 15–17, 4+♥ |
| 3NT | 18–20, SOL 6+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 1♣ (1♥) X - | |
|---|---|
| 1♠ | 11–17, 3=♠ |
| 1NT | BAL 12–14, 0–2♠, stop |
| 2♣ | 11–17, 5+♣, 0–2♠ |
| 2♦! | 18–20, 3+♠ |
| 2♥! | 18–20, 0–2♠, no stop |
| 2♠ | 11–14, 4+♠ |
| 2NT | 18–20, 0–2♠, stop |
| 3♣ | 15–17, 6+♣, 0–2♠ |
| 3♠ | 15–17, 4+♠ |
| 3NT | 18–20, SOL 6+♣, 0–2♠ |
Over the 2♦ raise, responder describes as in Odwrotka with the roles swapped: opener made the fit reverse, so responder describes. The free bid promised 6+, so there is no weak signoff. The 6+M rows show 8+, since weaker hands bid the suit directly.
| 1♣ (1x) TRF - 2♦ - | M = TRF + 1 |
|---|---|
| 2♠! | 6+, 4=M, no 5+ side suit |
| 2NT! | 6+, UNBAL 5=M |
| 3♣♦ | 6+, 5+#, 4=M |
| 3M | 6+, BAL 5=M |
| 3NT! | 8+, 6+M, no SPL |
| 3OM!, 4♣♦! | 8+, SPL, 0–1#, 6+M |
After the completion or 1NT, responder rebids by Checkback Gladiator as after the uncontested completion, since opener is minimum either way. The cuebid 2♦ is still the game-forcing checkback.
After the negative double
This is the only 1-level X response not a stolen transfer. It is more urgent to find 4-4 heart fits than to transfer to 1NT. There is no 1-level completion, so the 2♥ raise takes the 3-card support.
| 1♣ (1♠) X - | |
|---|---|
| 1NT | BAL 12–14, 0–2♥, stop |
| 2♣ | 11–17, 5+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 2♦! | 18–20, 3+♥ |
| 2♥ | (11–17, 3=♥) or (11–14, 4+♥) |
| 2♠! | 18–20, 0–2♥, no stop |
| 2NT | 18–20, 0–2♥, stop |
| 3♣ | 15–17, 6+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 3♥ | 15–17, 4+♥ |
| 3NT | 18–20, SOL 6+♣, 0–2♥ |
After minor suit transfers over (X)
Only after (X) 1♠, the transfer to diamonds, is opener’s 2♦ natural.
| 1♣ (X) 1♠! - | |
|---|---|
| 1NT | BAL 12–14 |
| 2♣ | 11–17, 5+♣, 0–2♦ |
| 2♦ | 11–17, 3+♦ |
| 2NT | BAL 18–20 |
| 3♦ | 18–20, 4+♦ |
| 1♣ (X) 1NT! - | |
|---|---|
| 2♣ | 11–17 |
| 2♦! | UNBAL 18–20 |
| 2NT | BAL 18–20 |
After a transfer to 1NT
Opener bids 1NT with a stopper and 12–14, or otherwise rebids as over the uncontested 1♠. The cuebid replaces 2NT with 18–20 but no stopper.