Glossary

Constructive 1NT

The 1NT response is constructive in 1♣ - 1NT or after an overcall. Such 1NT requires 7⁺–10 HCP, balanced distribution, and a stopper in the adverse suit if the overcall shows one suit. This response still denies a biddable major suit. See 1♣ openings and responder’s calls over an overcall.

Delayed raise

A delayed raise shows game-forcing values by intentional violation of contract seeking rules. Such a raise must be at least 3-level to leave 2-level raises as natural suit preference. If a delayed raise is under game in an already game-forcing auction, the raise starts a slam try. See slam bidding after 1♣♦.

• 1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - 3♣: This is a delayed raise. With an invitational hand, responder bids Roudy 2♣ instead.
• 1♣ - 1♥ - 2♣ - 3♣: This is a usual invitational raise because the fit may be newly found.
• 1♦ - 2♣ - 2NT - 3♦: This is a delayed raise showing slam interest.
• 1♦ - 2♣ - 2♦ - 4♦: This is a delayed raise showing slam interest.
• 1♠ - 2♣ - 2♠ - 4♠: This is a normal delayed raise showing real values, freeing 1♠ - 4♠ as a preempt.
• 1♠ - 2♣ - 2♠ - 3♠: This is a delayed raise showing slam interest because minimum is shown by 4♠.

Dustbin 1NT

The 1NT response in 1♦♥♠ - 1NT is dustbin, which shows a constructive 1NT or 6–10 points without another suitable call. It may hide a suit below the opening. See 1♦ openings and semiforcing 1NT.

Garbage Stayman

A legitimized psychic Stayman with a weak 3–4♠, 3–4♥, 4–5♦, 0–1♣. Responder passes opener’s most frequent rebids viz 2♦, 2♥, 2♠. See Stayman.

Lebensohl

Lebensohl is a conventional puppet bid 2NT after an intervened 1NT opening. This convention is also applied after a takeout double over an opponent weak 2. Usually the captain bids 3♣ relay and the puppet then rebids at 3-level.

Wbridge5’s Lebensohl over 1NT shows invitational values and may be a 4-card suit.

Puppet bid

A puppet bid is technically a relay but conceptually makes the bidder puppet instead of captain. The puppet forces or semiforces the captain to bid a relay.

If the captain has other options than the relay, the puppet bid is called a marionette. Examples are Lebensohl 2NT and the puppet special 2NT.

Relay

A relay is a conventional asking bid. The relayer, who bids the relay, becomes the captain. The captain provides little information and makes the final decision. The captain’s partner is the puppet, who describes hand when the captain asks. Examples are Stayman, RKCB and Roudy.

Roudy

Roudy (aka Roudi) is a club relay to ask notrump bidder’s strength and length of captain’s suit. The puppet answers artificially in short-long-long-short coding. This convention is in place of Checkback Stayman.

The short answers indicate the minimum length, 2 cards for opener’s notrump rebid, 3 cards for a puppet special 2NT.

Originally, this convention is 1x - 1y - 1NT - 2♣. Wbridge5 generalizes it to some auctions ending in 2NT - 3♣.

• 1x - y - 2NT - 3♣, where y is a new suit other than clubs
• 1M - 2NT - 3♣

See second responses, constructive rebids and forcing 2/1.

Semiforcing 1NT

The 1NT response to a major opening is semiforcing. The actual convention is opener’s 2♣, which is biddable with only 3 clubs if RHO did not overcall.

The 1NT is still semiforcing even if the major opening is intervened, i.e. such intervention only affects responder.

SJS

Strong jump shift.

Strong jump shift

Jump to a new suit over 1-of-a-suit opening in a constructive auction, showing 17+ points and 4+ cards. Wbridge5 SJS is more aggressive than Soloway jump shift. See slam bidding after 1♣♦.

Side suit restriction like Soloway only applies to 3♣♦ because 2/1 better handles the side suit. Bergen raise is also employed in Wbridge5, so the only Soloway-restricted jump shift is 1♦ - 3♣, but Soloway rebids are still never used.

Systems on

Wbridge5 reuses a structure wherever the auction resembles the one it was built for. An interference that leaves the needed space, or a rebid that shows the same hand as an opening, keeps the same continuations.

• 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT, 2♦ - 2♥ - 2NT and 2♦ - 2♠ - 2NT: as after a 2NT opening, with responder’s ranges shifted for opener’s extra strength.
• 2♦ (X): the ace-showing responses stand; Pass is new.
• 1NT - 2♣ (X), 1NT - 2♣ (2♦), 1NT - 2♠ (X) and 1NT - 3♣ (X): opener answers as if undisturbed, as far as the space allows.
• 1m (1x) X: opener rebids as if responder had bid the major the double shows.
• Weak 2♥ (X) and (2♠): raises, the 2NT ask and splinters keep their meanings.
• 4NT (X): RKCB answers as if undisturbed.
• (1y) 1NT, also in the balancing seat: advancer bids as over a 1NT opening, except where a transfer or Stayman would name the opponents’ suit. (1♥) 1NT (2♥) is as 1NT (2♥) without the cooperative double.
• (2♥) 2NT: advancer bids as over a 2NT opening.
• (1♣) 2♥ and other weak jump overcalls: advancer bids as over a weak two opening.
• (1y) X (XX) and (1y) P (P) X: advancer bids as after (1y) X (P); after the redouble, Pass is new.