My current bridge system, as I play it with Daniel Hultgren.

The underlying system is called Modern Standard, and that is a rather natural system. Any error reports (especially in my English!) and other comments or questions are welcome to rod@lysator.liu.se.

Point counting

We use the standard 4-3-2-1 point count for high cards, and 3-2-1 for voids, singletons end doubletons respectively. We only count hcp for natural NT bids.

Opening bids

Bid Meaning Responses
1/// 13-21, 4+ cards, almost always the longest suit limit (inverted for /), Stenbergs 2NT
1NT 15-17, distributions 4333, 4432 and 5332 Stayman 2, transfers, 2 asking for minors, SAT, 4NT quantative
2 22+ any distribution 2 negative, any other bid positive (suit showing 5+ cards)
2 multi, either 20-21 NT or 6-9 with 6 card major 2 relay, 2NT 16+
2/ 10-12, 6 cards new suit forcing one round, 2NT inviting to 3NT
2NT 8-12, 5-5 in minors 3/5 minor is to play, 4 minor asking for control bids
3/// preemptive, <13, 7+ cards  
4/// preemptive, <13, 8+ cards  

Slam conventions

RKC-BW 1430, reduced RKC-BW, control bids, splinter

Other conventions

4th suit forcing, negative invitations, modern doubles (through 3), mini splinter

Defensive bidding

Bid Meaning Responses
1NT 15-17(18), stopper(s) in opponent's suit usual NT system
2NT 10-16, 5-5 in two lowest unbid suits  
cue bid 10-16, 5-5 in highest and another unbid suit closest bid and 2nt asking for other suit (2nt at least invitational)
simple overcall 10-16, 5+ cards new suit not forcing, 2NT invitational, cue bid forcing
jump overcall weak acording to 1-2-3  
against 1NT ASTRO
against weak 2's 2NT 13+ with stopper(s), X 13+ without stopper(s)
against preempt takeout (through 3)
against strong 1 Truscott

Leads

10-12 rule
Top of sequence and doubleton
Top of nothing (10-12 in partner's suit)

Signals

Schneider, Malmö, Lavinthal

General guidelines

1-over-1 is forcing for one round, if not already passed hand. It shows 6+ points.
1NT rebid shows 12-14 balanced hand, and 2NT shows 18-19 balanced.
Reverse and jump shows 19-21 points, and is game forcing.
Trump support on the 3 level for / is inviting to game.

A direct 1nt response to an opening bid is negative, showing 6-9 hcp and no higher suit. It is not forcing.
With the weak balanced hand (12-14) the opener passes, and with the strong balanced (18-19) he bids 2NT.
Reverse and jump shows 19-21 points, and is game forcing.
Trump support on the 3 level for / is inviting to game.

2-over-1 is forcing for one round, if not already passed hand. It shows 10+ points.
2NT rebid shows 12-14 balanced hand, and 3NT shows 18-19 balanced.
Reverse and jump shows 16-21 points, and is game forcing.
Bidding a lower suit than the responders suit on the 3 level is not reverse, and can be bid with a minimum hand. It is forcing for one round.
Trump support on the 3 level for / is game forcing, and inviting to slam.

A single jump directly on the opening bid (like 1-2 or 1-3) shows a good 6+ card suit and 13+ points. It is a game forcing bid, and natural bidding follows.

After 1NT opener, 1NT overcall, and 2-2-2NT the NT system is on. If opponents bid anything but double, the NT system is off.

Choice of opening suit

Always open with longest suit. With two equal suits of at least 5 cards, open with the highest ranking suit. With two 4 card suits, choose suit in the following order: , , better minor. Only deviate from these guidelines when you think you will have severe problems with your rebid.
However, with a marmic hand (4441), open with the following suit:
1 single
1 single /
1 single , 12-14/18-21 hcp
1 single , 15-17 hcp

Descriptions and Clarifications

Limit (inverted for /)

Limit means that a simple raise of openers suit shows 6-9 points and 4+ card support, and double raise promises 10-12 points and 4+ card support. That it is inverted for and means that double raise of minor suit opening shows 6-9 points, 4+ card support, and little interest in NT, while simple raise shows 10-14 points with 4+ card support. Both minor raises deny a 4 card major.

Stenbergs 2NT

A 2NT response to an opening bid shows 4+ card support and is game forcing, promising 13+ points. This frees the direct raise to 4/, which is used for suited hands with about 10 points.
After Stenberg the rebid of 3 shows minimum (13-15), and other bids shows 16+. 3NT denys any singletons or voids, and 3 of a suit shows a singleton in that suit (3 of trump with single ). A bid on the 4 level shows 16+ and a void in the suit.
After the strong bids control bidding usually starts, but a direct game bid is warning for slam. After the weak 3 the still slam interested can bid a singleton or void of himself, or ask for opener singleton with 3 of trump (trump or NT denys).

Stayman 2

After 1NT-2 the rebid of 2 denys any 4 card majors, 2 is 4-5 , 2 is 4-5 , and 2NT is 4-4 in majors. After a 2// response 2NT is inviting to 3NT, and 3 / is game forcing and asking for extra length in suits.

Transfers

After 1NT, 2/ transfers to the suit directly above, promising at least 5 cards, but can be bid on very weak hands (0 points!). If he rebids 2NT or 3NT he has exactly 5 cards in the suit, and inviting or game strength repectively. 3 and 4 promises 6 cards, and inviting or game strength repectively.

2 asking for minors

After 1NT, 2 is asking for minor distribution. The asker must have one of
  • 0-8, one 6+ minor
  • 0-8, at least 5-5 in minors
  • 16+, one 6+ minor
  • 13+, at least 5-4 in minors, one single or void major

    • The NT opener bids 3 with better than , and otherwise 2NT. The asker then bids pass/3/3 with one of the weak hands. With the strong, one suited hand hand, he bids his suit on the 4-level, whereafter control bidding starts. With the last hand the short major is bid on the 3-level, and the NT opener can bid 3NT with at least two good stoppers in the suit, 4 (stronger, asking for control bids) or 5 (weaker) in a minor.

    South African Texas (SAT)

    1NT-4 transfers to with 11-15 points and 6+ cards, and 1NT-4 transfers to . The NT opener can let the responder become declarer by bidding the nearest bid instead of bidding the suit. He does so if he think it is better that the other hand becomes declarer.

    With a stronger hand (16+) and a 6+ card major the proper response to 1NT is 3 of the major, whereafter control bidding starts. 1NT-3/ shows 8-10 and a 6+ card suit, and is inviting to 3NT. (This is not SAT, but I added it to clarify things.)

    Quantative 4NT

    When no trump suit is agreed upon, and especially after a NT or 4th suit bid, 4NT is not RKC-BW, but instead quantative. That means that the partner should pass with minimum, and bid 6NT with extras. He can also answer with the number of aces as in Blackwood, but only with at least a half-positive hand. After quantative 4NT and ace showing, the rebid of 5NT is to play.

    Strong 2

    The opening bid of 2 is a round forcing opening bid. It shows 22+ points with any distribution. The only negative response is 2, and that denys having one ace and one king, or three kings. The opener then bids a five card suit, or NT without, with a jumping bid showing extra strength (forcing!). The responder can then pass, bid a five card suit of his own, bid NT, or raise partners suit with 3+ card support.
    Any other response to 2 is positive and game forcing, with a suit bid showing 5+ cards. The opener can then bid a five card suit of his own, bid NT, or raise partners suit with 3+ card support (a raise below game shows extra strength).

    2 multi

    With a weak (6-9) 6+ card major or a strong (20-21) NT hand you open with 2. With a strong hand (16+) the response is 2NT, which is forcing for one round, and rebids are natural. Other hands bid the relay bid 2, and the opening hand pass with weak , bids 2 with weak , and 2NT with the strong NT hand.
    After 2-2-2NT, 3 is Stayman (3 without, 3NT with both), and 3/ transfers to the suit above. SAT is also on.

    Roman Key-Card Blackwood 1430

    When a trump is agreed upon and a player is slam interested he can, often but not necessarily after control bidding, ask the partner about his key-cards. The key-cards are the four aces and the trump king. As an added bonus he can sometimes show or deny the trump queen.
    In the 1430 variant the two lowest responses are reversed in comparison to the normal RKC-BW, and we use 1430 when the trump is a major. With a minor trump we use the normal RKC-BW, with the exception that it is reduced. That means that you bid one step lower than you would normally have done. The answers to the 4NT question are:
    Bid / trump / trump
    5 1 or 4 aces 0, 1 or 4 aces
    5 0 or 3 aces 2 or 5 aces
    5 2 or 5 aces, without trump Q 3 aces, without trump Q
    5 2 or 5 aces, with trump Q 3 aces, with trump Q
    After 5/5 the asker can look for the trump Q with the closest non trump suit. Without the Q, trump is bid on the lowest level, and a new control bid or 5NT with the Q.

    After 4NT the asker can bid 5NT to show that all aces are covered, and that the Q of trump is localized. It shows interest for grand slam, and the responder shall show kings not shown (control bids), or directly accept the grand slam. With absolute minimum 6 trump is bid.

    Control bids

    When a trump suit is agreed upon, and a player have slam interest, he can start control bidding. With as trump the first control bid is 3, otherwise the first control bid is 4. The trump suit is never a control bid.
    A control bids shows first or second control in the suit, so with an A, K, singleton or void a control bid can be given.
    When control bidding starts, control bids are given by both players, from the lowest possible bid and upwards. A control bid not given denys control in the suit. As soon as a player sees that two suits are unstopped he bids trump at lowest possible level. Otherwise RKC-BW can be used, or the slam can be bid directly.

    4th suit forcing

    When we have bid three suits naturally, the 4th suit is unnatural, generally asking for more specific distribution, and specifically after stoppers in the 4th suit. With own stoppers NT is generally preferred.
    With stoppers NT is bid on the lowest level with a minimum hand, and jumping NT with extra strength. That could for example result in a quantative 4NT bid.
    Without stoppers extra length in another suit is shown.

    Negative invitations

    When a trump is agreed upon, a bid in a side suit that is not a control bid is a negative invitation. It shows a short suit, and a partner with all strength in the other suits should bid game, or go for slam if game force is already established. With strength in the suit, trump is bid on the lowest level.

    Splinter

    A double jump in a new suit shows
  • Support in partners suit
  • Void in the bid suit
  • Slam interest

    • Splinter is used when there are other alternative strong bids, but a spliter bid gives better information. For example

  • A double jump directly on the partners opening bid (you could bid Stenberg
  • A double jump after the partners 1-over-1 (you could raise to 4)
  • A single jump after the partners Stenberg (you could bid 3 of a suit or 3NT)
  • A double jump after the partners simple overcall on the 1 level (eg. (1)-1-(pass)-4 or (1)-1-(pass)-4).

    Mini splinter

    When your partner opens the bidding with 1 of a suit, and one of
  • you have previously passed
  • your right hand opponent bids a takeout double

    • is true, you can by a single jump in a new suit show
  • 10+ points
  • Support in partners suit
  • Void or singleton in the bid suit

    • ASTRO

    This NT defence is used against strong (ranging from 14-16 (or 13-17) to 16-19) balanced and semi-balanced 1NT openers.
    Bid Meaning Responses
    X 16-19 hcp, (semi)balanced hand pass with 5+ hcp, otherwise best suit
    2 5+ and a 5+ minor with support, closest bid looking for other suit, 2NT stronger and looking for other suit
    2 5+ and another 5+ card suit with support, closest bid looking for other suit, 2NT stronger and looking for other suit
    2NT 5-5 in minors minor at appropriate level
    other sensible overcalls with 6+ cards  
    With 20+ hcp and a (semi)balanced hand pass is the best bid.

    On rare occations 2 and 2 can be bid with only 5-4, with either suit the shorter one.

    Truscott

    This is a defence against unambiguous strong 1 showing 16+ or 17+ with any distribution. The bids through 2 are artificial, and shows two distinct 5+ card suits. Other bids are preemptive according to 1-2-3.
    Bid Suits
    X and
    1 and
    1 and
    1 and
    1NT and
    2 and

    Weak jump overcalls according to 1-2-3

    Jump overcalls are preemptive with a a 6+ card suit. The level of the jump is based on the number of probable tricks on the preempt hand, and the zone conditions. Count the probable tricks and add
    +1 - zone
    +2 = zone
    +3 + zone
    and subtract six. This is the recommended trick level to bid. Eg. with seven probable tricks in a contract in = zone, jump to 7+2-6=3.

    Overcalls

    A simple overcall can be made with a 5+ card suit and 10-16 points. After overcall on the 1 level the partner can bid
    Bid Meaning
    simple raise 6-9, 3 card support
    double raise 6-9, 4+ card support
    jumping cue bid to 3 level 10-12, 4+ card support
    1nt 8-11 hcp, stopper(s) in opponents suit
    2nt 12-13 hcp, stopper(s) in opponents suit
    3nt 14+ hcp, stopper(s) in opponents suit
    new suit 7-12 hcp, preferably 5+ or 6+ cards, especially with a weak hand, NOT forcing
    jumping new suit 13+ hcp, 6+ cards
    double jump in new suit or cue bid splinter
    cue bid Strength showing bid, usually one of:
    10+, rather balanced hand with 3 card support
    12+ hcp, balanced without stopper in opponents suit
    13+ hcp, no 6 card suit
    The overcaller then bids low bids with 10-13 points, and high bids or cue bid with 14-16 points.

    If the overcall was made at the 2 level a fiew bids are modified:
    Bid Meaning
    simple raise 6-9, 3+ card support
    2nt 9-11 hcp, stopper(s) in opponents suit, good fit OR
    12-13 hcp, stopper(s) in opponents suit
    3nt 14+ hcp, stopper(s) in opponents suit
    new suit 9-12 hcp, preferably 5+ or 6+ cards, especially with a weak hand, NOT forcing
    jumping new suit 13+ hcp, 6+ cards
    cue bid Strength showing bid, usually one of:
    10+, rather balanced hand with 3+ card support
    12+ hcp, balanced without stopper in opponents suit
    13+ hcp, no 6 card suit

    Modern doubles

    Double is rarely for penalty below 3NT. Over 3 it is always penalty, unless it is lead asking.

    The doubles can have the following meaning:

  • Takeout
  • Negative
  • Responsive
  • Balancing
  • Lead asking
  • Penalty

    • A double is takeout when the oponents have bid no higher than 3, the partner has bid nothing but pass, and you have bid nothing at all, not even pass. It shows one of

  • 13+, at least 3 cards in each unbid suit
  • 17+, one good 5+ card suit
  • 18+ hcp, balanced hand

    • With the weaker hand he bids pass on the partners bid, or raises the partners suit with extra strength. With the stronger hand he bids his own suit, jumping if even stronger. With the strong balanced hand he bids NT on the lowest level with 18-20 hcp, and jumping if stronger.
    The takeout double is a round forcing bid, and the partner has to bid even with a very weak hand. The only time he may pass is when he has at least five cards in opponent's suit.
    The bids he can use are
    Bid Meaning
    suit at lowest level 0-10, 4+ cards
    suit, jump to 2 level 8-10, 4+ cards
    suit, jump to 3 level 10-12, 4+ cards (preferably 5+)
    suit, jump to 4 level 12-15, 5+ cards
    1NT 6-9 hcp, balanced with stopper(s) in opponent's suit
    2NT 10-12 hcp, balanced with stopper(s) in opponent's suit
    3NT 12-15 hcp, balanced with stopper(s) in opponent's suit
    cue bid 10+ hcp, rather balanced hand
    After the cue bid no player may pass after bids in a new suit. Raising a suit, 2NT and game bids cancels the force.

    Negative and responsive doubles are really the same thing, they are only used in different situations. Both shows 8-11 points and interest in unbid suits. Possibly can he have only one of the unbid suits and a 3 card support in the partner's suit. The double is called negative when the partner has opened, and the opponent after has made an overcall (eg. 1-(2)-X shows 8-11 and interest in and , maybe only one of the suits and a 3 card ). It is called responsive when one opponent has raised the other's suit, and your partner has bid something but pass (eg. (1)-2-(2)-X shows 8-11 and interest in and , maybe only one of the suits and a 3 card ).
    If a partner to a negative or responsive doubler has good cards he can jump in a suit, bid 3NT, or a cue bid. The cue bid is a round forcing bid, asking the doubler to show his distribution and strength.

    The balancing double is used when the opponents have ended up in a low contract, at most 2, and the bidding would end if you passed. It shows 8+ points with fit in all unbid suits.

    This double is used when the opponents bid a suit that doesn't promise any length in the suit, and you would like your partner to lead that suit if he would get to lead. Eg. (1NT)-pass-(2)-X shows a good 5+ card , and asks your partner to lead that suit.

    After our or opponents NT opener or overcall, double is always for penalty, but the partner has the right to bid if he so wish.
    It is also for penalty when we have agreed on a trump, and the opponents continue to bid.
    A double below 3NT that you are uncertain about the meaning should generally be considered negative. A double above 3 that you are uncertain about the meaning should generally be considered for penalty.

    10-12 rule

    The 10-12 rule is used both in the opening lead and in later leads during the play. It tells you to lead the 5th card from the top of the suit. If you have fiewer that five cards, the 3rd highest card is lead. From a doubleton or a sequence the 10-12 rule is not used, instead the highest card is played.

    The partner to a 10-12 leading player can look at his own hand and the dummy and try and figure out if his partner has five or fiewer cards in that suit. If he think his partner has at least five cards, he counts the number of cards he and the dummy have together that is higher than the card lead, and then calculates 12-"card value"-"number of cards higher", and what he gets is the number of cards the declarer has that is higher than the card lead. If the card is lead from a 5+ card suit, the card value and number of higher cards should be subtracted from 10 instead of 12.

    Eg. In a contract the partner leads 7. The dummy has J86 and you Q94 in . The declarer has not bid spades, so it's almost certainly not from a singleton or doubleton. The 7 looks like too high to be his lowest card, so he probably has 4. You and the dummy have 4 higher than the 7, so the number of cards higher that 7 that the declarer has must be 12-7-4=1. Since the partner usually don't lead a small card when he has the ace, the declarer must have 3 with the ace as the only card higher than 7.
    The dummy plays the 8, and you can play the 9, certain that you and your partner will get at least two sticks in the suit, unless the declarer can later discard a on another suit.

    Schneider

    Schneider is an attitude showing signal, used when the partner leads a suit, or when you are forced to discard. When you play a low card in a suit, later followed by a higher, you show interest in continuing playing the suit. Playing a higher card followed by a lower tells your partner you cannot help him with that suit, generally asking him to lead another suit. When you have the opportunity to use Schneider during a discard you can either discard a low card in a suit you would like your partner to play, or a high card in a suit you do not want you partner to play, and thereby asking him to lead one of the other suits.

    Malmö

    This signal tells your partner the length of your suit that the declarer leads. A low card followed by a higher shows an even number of cards, and a higher followed by a lower shows an odd number of cards.

    Lavinthal

    The Lavinthal signal doesn't say anything about the suit just being played, but instead shows interest for one of the other suits (trump suit not counted). A low card shows interest in a lower suit, and a high card shows interest in a higher suit. It is primarily used when returning a suit for the partner to ruff. It asks the partner to return the suit indicated, hoping to be able to give him another ruff, or being able to ruff yourself, or any other good reason. It is also used when a Schneider signal is unnecessary, for example when the dummy has AKQ in the suit.