Rubber Bridge Bidding

[relknes]

When playing rubber bridge, my partner and I play a very simple system. It is a fairly sound opening version of Standard American, but we modify it to be much more aggressive when we have a leg on.

 

1♣/1♦ = 13-21, 3+

1♥1♠ = 13-21, 5+

1N = 16-18 balanced (13-18 with a 60+ leg on)

2♣ = 22+ points

2♦ = 8-12, 6+ (5+ with a 60+ leg on)

2♥/2♠ = 8-12, 6+ (5+ with a 40+ leg on)

2N = 21-22 balanced

 

The only conventions we use are Stayman and Jacoby transfers (both off when we have a 60+ leg on), splinters, and Blackwood. To show slam interest with a leg on, a voluntary jump past game is used (so with a 40 leg on, 1♥-3♥ would show slam interest), and a double jump past game is forcing to a small slam and thinking about a grand (so with a 40 leg on, 1♥-4♥ would be forcing to 6♥ and thinking about 7♥).

 

Two questions: (1) Are these modifications with a leg on wise? (2) Is there a good source of information on rubber bridge bidding?

[Vampyr]

When playing rubber bridge, my partner and I play a very simple system. It is a fairly sound opening version of Standard American, but we modify it to be much more aggressive when we have a leg on.

 

1♣/1♦ = 13-21, 3+

1♥1♠ = 13-21, 5+

1N = 16-18 balanced (13-18 with a 60+ leg on)

2♣ = 22+ points

2♦ = 8-12, 6+ (5+ with a 60+ leg on)

2♥/2♠ = 8-12, 6+ (5+ with a 40+ leg on)

2N = 21-22 balanced

 

The only conventions we use are Stayman and Jacoby transfers (both off when we have a 60+ leg on), splinters, and Blackwood. To show slam interest with a leg on, a voluntary jump past game is used (so with a 40 leg on, 1♥-3♥ would show slam interest), and a double jump past game is forcing to a small slam and thinking about a grand (so with a 40 leg on, 1♥-4♥ would be forcing to 6♥ and thinking about 7♥).

 

Two questions: (1) Are these modifications with a leg on wise?

 

Really the better question is whether these methods are working for you. You could perhaps put slam force hands into hands with slaminterest and make your double-jumps past game show more specific hands.

 

 

(2) Is there a good source of information on rubber bridge bidding?

 

Most rubber bridge clubs will have their convention rules available. Your club is much more liberal than usual.

[barmar]

It's pretty standard that any unforced bid beyond completing the partial implies slam interest. In a competitive auction, I'd suggest that a cue bid would serve this purpose, since jumps should be preemptive.