RainBow Series – Lesson I


Opening Bids


The Rainbow series will focus on three aspects of bridge learning:

  1.   Systemic Study – of the SAYC-OK method.
    (i.e., meanings of opening bids, responses, etc.)

  2. Orthodox Study – of common/integral practices not explicitly covered in the SAYC-OK notes.
    (i.e., 4th Suit force, 16+ for Jacoby 2NT, etc.)

  3. Stylistic Study – of recommended approaches without regard to orthodoxy (i.e., LOTUS, Maxi-Flex, etc.)
------------ Opening Bids ---------------

      Hands are categorized as either Balanced or UNBALANCED.  BALANCED or "flat" hands come in one of Three distribution types:
(1) 5-3-3-2 (with a 5-card Minor ?)
(2) 4-4-3-2,
(3) 4-3-3-3.
      Balanced hands, then, cannot have a Void, a Singleton, or a second Doubleton.  In other words, balanced hands cannot have 2 or more "short suit points" (void = 3, singleton = 2, doubleton = 1 "short suit point"). 

---------- Opening BALANCED Hands -----------
When evaluating a flat hand, we count Long-Suit POINTS:
  1 extra point for every card longer than four.
Hence, a truly flat hand can have, at most, 1 Long-Suit Point (in the case of the 5-3-3-2 type).  Remember: voids, singletons and doubletons will NOT help you take tricks in NoTrump !   Remember, also, that we do NOT generally open 1 or 1 without 5 cards in the bid major. 

      Flat hands define themselves in terms of points with either their first or their second bid.  These point ranges involve one of these approaches:

 25-27 points   3NT
 22-24 points   2 followed by 2NT
 20-21 points   2NT
 18-19 points   1-of-a-suit, jump rebid 2NT
 15-17 points   1NT
 13-14 points   1-of-a-suit, then 1NT

      Flat hands weaker than 13 points pass.

---- Opening BALANCED Hands with 1-of-a-Suit ----
Having decided to open in 1-of-a-suit, which suit do we open ?   With ...
5-3-3-2 type, open the 5-card suit. 
4-3-3-3 or 3-4-3-3 open 1 (even with stronger Diamonds).
3-2-4-4 or 2-3-4-4 open 1 (even with stronger Clubs).
4-4-3-2 open 1 (the ONLY time you open 1 with 3 cards).
4-4-2-3 open 1
      Hence, 1 shows 4+Clubs OR 3 Clubs with 4-4 or 4-3 in the majors. 
---- Opening 5-3-3-2 Hands with a 5-card MAJOR ----
5-3-3-2 hands with a 5-card Major *are* technically BALANCED, but many pairs will agree to Never open such a hand in NoTrump.  Others form partnership-specific agreements about flat hands with a 5-card major.  I suggest the following style:

25 - 27 points Open 2, rebid the major, then 3NT. 
22 - 24 points Open 2, rebid the major, pass 3NT.
18 - 21 points Open the major, jump in NT. 
17 points Open 1NT. 
16 points Open 1NT if the doubleton is Kx or AQ;
else open the major.
13-15 points Open the major

---------------    Questions    -----------------

      Question #1: If 1-of-a-suit followed by a 1NT rebid shows 13-14, and one of the three flat types, can a 1NT rebid also show an unbalanced type ?  Can I have a singleton ?   A void ?   Two doubletons ? 

      Question #2: I've seen experts open in NT with 6-3-2-2 and 5-4-2-2 type hands.  Isn't that wrong ? 

      Question #3a: What if I hold a 4-3-3-3 type, open 1, and hear partner respond in my 4-card major ?  Should I rebid 1NT or raise ? 

      Question #3b: What if I hold a 4-4-3-2 type, open in a minor and hear my partner respond in my 4-card major ?   Should I rebid 1NT or raise ? 

      Question #3c: What if I hold a 4-4-3-2 or 5-3-3-2 type hand and hear my partner respond in my 3-card suit ?   Should I rebid 1NT or raise ? 

      Question #4: How many Clubs does 1:1:1NT show ? 

      Question #5: How many Diamonds does 1:1:1NT show ? 

      Question #6: 4-3-3-3 is the worst distribution for suit play, since it allows no ruffing.  What is the worst distribution for NO trump play ? 

-------- Opening UNBALANCED Hands ----------
An unbalanced hand is defined as any hand with has more than one Short Suit Point.  When considering opening an unbalanced hand, we count short-suit points:
3 for a void, 2 for a singleton, 1 for a doubleton.
An unbalanced hand, then, is defined as any holding which has more than one such Short Suit Point.  Another definition would be any hand which is NOT flat (NOT 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2 or 5-3-3-2 type).  We categorize these hands as
   1-Suiters will open:
13-21 pts – Open the long suit. 
22+ pts – Open 2 and rebid the suit. 
   5-4-4-0  3-suiters will open:
13-21 pts – The 5-card suit. 
22+ points – Open 2 and rebid the 5-carder. 
   4-4-4-1  3-suiters will open:
13-21 pts – 1 unless 4-4-1-4 (open that 1). 
22+ points – Open 2 & rebid cheapest suit. 
   6-5   2-suiters will open:
13-21 pts – The 6-card suit. 
22+ points – 2 & rebid the 6-card suit. 
   5-6   2-suiters will open:
13-15 pts – The Higher ranked 5-card suit. 
16-21 pts – The Lower ranked 6-card suit. 
22+ points – 2 & rebid the 6-card suit. 
   5-6 Black 2-suiters will open:
13-21 pts – 1
22+ points – 2 & rebid 3
   5-5  Black 2-suiters will open:
13-15 pts – 1
16-21 pts – 1
22+ points – 2, then 2
   ALL Other 5-5   2-suiters will open:
13-21 pts – The Higher ranked suit. 
22+ points – 2, then the Higher ranked suit. 
   5-4 and 6-4   2-suiters will open:
13-21 pts – The longer suit. 
22+ points – 2, then the longer suit. 
---------- Minor Canape ------------
      The one exception to opening your longer suit with a 4-5 two-suiter is a hand with 13-16 points (not strong enough for a reverse), 4 decent Diamonds and 5 Clubs.  In order to have a convenient rebid (2) we prefer to open 1Some partnerships will even open 1 with 4-5 in the reds so as to have a convenient rebid (2) over an anticipated 1 or 1NT response.  This, however, is NOT as orthodox as the 1 opening on 4-5 in the minors, since it violates the 5-card major assumption for 1 opening bids. 

  x   A x x   K Q x x   A J 10 x x  
      Most would open this 1

  x   K Q x x   A J 10 x x   A x x  
      Most would open this 1, the systemic bid, but some would start with 1, "fudging" on the 5-card major tendency of SAYC. The "rule of anticipation" states that we should always expect partner to respond in our shortest suit.  In the above two examples, always assume partner will reply 1.  Bearing in mind that we cannot rebid 1NT with a singleton, if we open 1 with the 1st hand we are committed to a 2 rebid. 
      Partner may pass 2 with:

    K x x x x     J x x     Q 10 x x     x
...simply because a 2 rebid would be Forcing (new suit bids by Responder tend to be FORCING).  This explains the need for a 1 opening bid with 4-5 in the minors. 
------------ Questions -------------

      Question #1: Why are Black 5-5 and 5-6 two-suiters treated differently from all other such 2-suiters ? 

      Question #2: How much length will I promise, if I open a minor and rebid it over a 1-level response ?   How many Diamonds does 1:1:2 promise ?   1:1:2

--------------   Opening 2   ----------------
      An opening bid of 2 is unique in that opener retains "captaincy" until he or she relinquishes it by rebidding in NoTrump or a suit that he or she has previously bid. 
The requirements for an opening bid of 2 are:
      1.  A flat hand in the 22-24 or 28+ point range; OR
      2.  An unbalanced game strong enough to force game — at least if a fit is found. 

      Balanced 2 Openers will rebid 2NT (22-24), 4NT (28-30), or higher.
22
22NT
3
22
23
22
22
3

      Unbalanced 2 openers will rebid in their longest suit.  Rebidding that long suit without hearing support or strength-showing bids from Responder (e.g., 2:2: 2:2NT:3) will cancel any game-forcing implications that 2 may have had.  2:2:2:3 and   2:2: 2:2:3, then, are both forcing, since a fit has been found. 

------------------ Quiz ------------------------
      1.  What do you open with the following hands ? 
(a) J 10 x x x   A K Q x x   K x   x  
(b) A Q   K x x   A J 10 9 x   10 x x  
(c) A K Q J x x x   A K x   x x   x  
(d) Q x x   K x   Q x x x   A Q 10 x  
(e) A K J x x   x   Q x   Q J x x x  
(f) K Q 10 x x   A Q x x x x   A   x  
(g) K x x   A J 10 x x   Q x x   A Q  
(h) A Q x x   A x x   A K Q   x x x  
(i) x x   A x   K 10 x x   A Q x x x  
(j) A J 10 x   A K x x   A 10 x x x  

      2.  When opening a non-pre-emptive bid (not 2 or higher suit bids) in 1st or 2nd seat, does vulnerability play a factor ?


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