Overcalls: when the opponents have opened the bidding Suit overcalls promise a 5+ card suit with good honour cards

1. Stayman: When partner opens 1 NT and you have a 4-card major With one or both 4-card majors and 8+ points, bid 2♣ - this is Stayman, asking partner to bid a 4-card major suit - it says nothing at all about Clubs! Notrump bidder’s response to Stayman: Bid a 4-card major suit at the 2-level (with both majors, bid ♥ first) Without a 4-card major, bid 2♦ (remember – Diamonds Denies) Responder’s second bid, after opener has shown or denied a major: If opener’s suit matches yours, invite to game with 8-9 pts by bidding 3, and just bid game with 10+ points. If 2♦ bid or non-fit: invite to game (bid 2NT) with 8-9 pts; bid 3NT with 10+ Remember: Count Dummy points if you have found a major suit fit Transfers: When ptnr opens 1 NT and you have a 5+ card major Bid the suit BELOW your major, even with ZERO points! Don’t pass! If you have 5+ ♥, bid2♦. If you have 5+ ♠, bid2♥. NT opener MUST respond with next higher suit, i.e. yours. (2♥ or 2♠), completing the transfer! Responder then will: Pass with fewer than 8 points. If you have exactly 5 cards in your major: 8-9 points bid 2NT; 10+ points 3NT Partner will pass if he has a doubleton in your major, or return to it with 3+. With 6+ in your major and 8-9 points bid 3♥/♠. With 10+ points bid 4♥/♠. Note – with 5 of one major and 4 of the other, use Stayman, not transfers. Learn to Play BridgeA New Players GuidePartners Bridge Club416-422-CLUB (2582)www.partnersbridge.compartnersbridge@sympatico.caBridge for New PlayersTuesday Afternoons at 12:15Improving PlayersWednesday Mornings - 9:15 amThursday Evenings - 7 pmFriday Mornings - 9:15 amSaturday Afternoons - 1 pm Overcalls: when the opponents have opened the bidding Suit overcalls promise a 5+ card suit with goodhonour cards & 8-17 pts With 17+ pts, double first, then bid your best suit or raise partner’s with a fit You need 10-17 points to overcall at the 2-level, 12-17 for the 3-level. You can also overcall 1NT with a balanced hand, 15-18 pts, and a stopper in opponent’s suit. Cue-Bids (bidding the opponent’s suit) When partner has opened and an opponent has overcalled, OR when an opponent has opened and your partner has overcalled: If you have support for partner’s suit and 10+ HCP, bid the opponent’s suit! Examples: PtnrOpp You OR OppPtnrOpp You 1 ♠ 2 ♦ 3 ♦ 1 ♦ 1 ♠ Pass2 ♦ In both cases you have support for partner’s spades and 10+ HCP. 3-card support is OK at the 2-level. 4-card support is needed at the 3-level. Audrey Grant’s “Bridge at a Glance” for Your Next Step! 

2. Opening Bids High Card Points + Length Points Opener’s Second Bid Trump Fit = 8+ cards with you & partner! Describe the strength and shape of your hand! If partner raises your major suit to the 2-level:1. Pass with minimum (13-15)2. Raise to 3-level with medium (16-18) 3. Bid game (4♥, 4♠ ) with maximum (19-21)Without support from partner, and Unbalanced 1. Rebid a 6-card suit at the 2-level with a minimum, or at the 3-level with a medium hand 2. Support partner’s suit with 4+ cards3. Bid at the 2-level with 4+ cards in a suit that is lower ranking than your first bid suit with < 17 points (Reverse = 17+ points &2nd bid suit is higher ranking and shorter than 1st bid suit, forcing for one round) Without support from partner, and Balanced 1NT = 13-14 points; or 2NT = 18-19 points Have Fun! Say Hello! Every hand is an adventure! Smile!  Laugh Out Loud! Responder’s Ranges 0-5 points = pass 6-9 points = Minimum 10-11 points = Medium 12+ points = Maximum Responding to an Opening Bid Add Dummy Points with support for partner’s suit! (instead of length points) Void = 5 points Singleton = 3 points Doubleton = 1 point Opening the Bidding ….. In order of priority1. 1NT = 15-17 HCP only & balanced hand (i.e. no voids, no singletons, at most one doubleton)Major & Minor Suit OpeningsRange 13-21 total points (HCP + length)2. Open 1♠ or 1♥ with a 5+ card suit With two 5-card suits, bid the higher ranking suit first 3. 1♦ or 1♣ = bid your longest minor or With 4 cards in each minor, open 1♦ With 3 cards in each minor, open 1♣ • Responder (you must bid with 6+ points) • When Partner opens a Major suit (♥/♠): • With support (3+) raise partner’s major suit • With 6-9 raise to 2 of his suit, with 10-11 to 3 • With 12+ bid a new suit, then bid game (or more) • 2. When partner opens 1♥, bid 1♠ with 4+ spades • 3. Bid 1 NT with any other minimum hand • 4. Bid a new suit at the 2-level – you need 10+ points • When partner opens a Minor suit (♦/♣): • Bid a 4+ card major suit at the 1-level • (with both 4 card majors, bid ♥’sfirst) • 2. Bid 1NT with a minimum and no 4-card major • 3. Bid a new suit at the 2-level – you need 10+ pts • 4. Raise partner’s minor suit with 5-card support • and a minimum hand • When partner opens 1NT: • Bid 2♣ ‘Stayman’ (see over) • 2. Use transfers (see over) • 3. With no 4+ card major, bid 2NT with 8-9 points, • 3NT with 10+ points Count, Count, Count! Responder’s Second Bid Combined Points Required for Game 25 points: 4♥, 4♠, 3NT 29 points: 5♦, 5♣ 33 points: Small slam 37 points Grand Slam • Opener has described the strength and shape of their hand • Do you have a fit?...Do you want to be in game or a part score? • With a major suit fit, 8 cards in the suit together, Play There! • Without a major suit fit, play in No Trump • With a minor suit fit, consider No Trump • If opener has shown a minimum hand • Responder with a Minimum hand (6-9 points) = pass • Responder with a Medium hand (10-11 points), invite game • Raise partner’s major to 3-level • Bid a new suit - forcing • Rebid your original suit at the 3-level - you need 6+ cards in it! • Responder with a Maximum hand (12+ points) – You Must Get to Game! • Bid game in a major suit with a fit • Bid a new suit..forcing! Or bid 3NT without a fit. OtherOpening Bids Opener’s Ranges 13-15 points = Minimum 16-18 points = Medium 19-21 points = Maximum Strong hands (22+ points): Open 2♣ (artificial). Responder bids 2♦ (just waiting) 2NT 20-21 HCP’s & Balanced With 18 or 19 HCP and Balanced Open 1 of a suit and rebid 2NT, or 3 of partner’s suit with a 4+ fit Preemptive Hands Weak hands (5-9 points with a good long suit and very little else!) 6-card suit (not ♣):open 2♦/ 2♥/2♠ (a raise of your suit by partner is not forcing or invitational! Pass!) Bid a new suit or 2NT Feature=Forcing Any 7-card suit: open at the 3-level Any 8-card suit: open at the 4-level Opening Leads Top of a Sequence is usually best – 2 cards in suit, 3 in NT Lead the suit Partner has bid! Usually your lowest card. 4th Best from Longest & Strongest is great against NT. Take Out Doubles Shape and Strength! When an opponent has opened the bidding and you are short in the opponent’s suit with support for all the unbid suits….especially 4 cards in the unbid major suits…value your hand including dummy points….if you have an opening hand …make a take out double….this asks partner to bid his longest suit! Partner must bid, even with zero points, unless the next opponent bids, ….with 8+ pts, partner should bid anyway. After you make a take out double, you pass next. If you double and then bid again, with a new suit or NT, you’re showing 17+ points! Playing the Hand Count winners in No Trump Count losers with a Trump Fit