ruleof15

Here is the reason for top pairs to have a meaning for bids up to the 5 level. In this case a 3s rebid by responder would be minor suit Stayman, but a 4s bid would be a transfer to c and a 5c bid would be a transfer to d. Some may wonder why waste a bid. Tell me what else one might use the bids.

A good thing to know is how successful are your slam bids. I have made a study for the past 30 years. I have found that a slam initiated by opener will fail to come to fruition 85% of the time. Maybe you would like to keep track for your information.

Bidding 2NT in response to a major suit opening should show 12+ points and 4+card support if you only open 13+HCP hands or 13+ if you open 12 point hands. It also denies holding a singleton or void. This is how the convention is described by ACBL. Should you have a singleton or void, a splinter bid is used. Responder's points are figured with allowance for shortage and length. Playing differently requires an alert. A splinter bid shows about 12 points.

I am a firm believer of all new suits are forcing. After the 2S raise, a 3C bid is forcing. So, responder can bid 3S or even if bids 4S opener can bid 5D.This should elicit a 6S bid by responder after the 2 pushes. Especially with doubleton K in clubs.

Put eiyher a letter or number in the spaces.

Responsibilities of bidders: Opening bidder is to describe their hand as to HCP and distribution in as few bids as possible, normally two. Responder is to allow opener to describe their hand, not crowd the auction and either place the contract or invite to a contract. As far as North opening that hand, for me never! Opening a hand with a singleton spade invites overcalls by the opposition with hands which would have been passed.

Bridge is a game of percentages laced with ability. Some players can make 3NT with 24HCP balanced between the hands 85% of the time and others can't make 3NT with 26HCP 50% of the time. If you ability to play the hand is the former, then open the hand 2C and rebid 2NT if you play Puppet Stayman. If you don't play Puppet, then bid 2S. With the distribution the hand would play better in a suit than NT. Unbalanced distribution of HCP makes playing NT difficult sometimes.

I play Lavinthal Carding or known by it's other name "Suit Preference". I have modernized Lavinthal to make it more accurate. It is a very simple system. A high card is for the high suit, low card for the low suit and second low for continuation. This is when in a suit contract. At NT use dummy's long suit as the anchor suit and signal along. I have been playing this for 30 years. It is devastating.

I open all 15-17 HCP balanced (4-3-3-3 w/1 card moved)1NT. There is no other way to inform partner of this holding in HCP. As for this hand, I don't want to rebid the heart suit. Opener's only job in an auction is to describe their hand as quickly as possible so responder can place the contract. Having any concern about what responder will do is inconsequential.