ACBL04J – Notrump: Systems On Ward Trumbull
Mar 26, 2011
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The Problem
A 2-level overcall of a standard opening one notrump (15-17 or
15-18 HCP) should be 8-14 HCP. Thus, a double of that notrump
should be 15+ HCP. The problem is whether or not the responder
should use Stayman and/or transfers. If not, any response would
indicate a natural 4+ card suit. This partnership decision is called
“Systems On” or “Systems Off”. There is a box on the ACBL
convention card to mark when a pair is playing Systems On.
Doubling Hand
The doubler’s hand with 15+ HCP can be a balanced notump
hand or it may be distributional hand. On distributional hands, it is
more important to inform your partner of your 15+ HCP by doubling
than to overcall a 5+ card suit with HCP unknown.
Response HCP Problem
With few exceptions, the responder to a notrump double MUST bid.
So any responder bid at the 2-level would indicate zero HCP. If your
pair is playing Systems On, a Stayman 2 clubs bid would also require
no HCP. Likewise, a 2 notrump response would indicate no HCP.
However, for Systems On transfer bids it makes no difference
because responder can transfer with no HCP.
Systems On - Stayman (note: must be alerted)
1. Doubler Has a Balanced Hand (15+ HCP)
He/she should bid the standard Stayman replies:
a. at the 2-level with 15-17 HCP
b. at the 3-level with 18+ HCP
ACBL04J – Notrump: Systems On Mar 26, 2011
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Systems On - Stayman (continued)
2. Doubler Has a Distributional Hand (15+ HCP)
He/she should ignore the Stayman request and just bid his/her long
suit. A 2-level major suit bid or a 3-level minor suit bid should
indicate 15-17 HCP hand. A level higher bid in those suits should
indicate 18+ HCP.
Systems On - Jacoby Major Suit Transfer
1. Doubler Has a Balanced Hand (15+ HCP)
He/she should bid responder’s major at the 2-level, regardless of the
doubler’s HCP. That’s just in case the responder has a bust hand.
2. Doubler Has a Distributional Hand (15+ HCP)
He/she has two options:
a. With 3+ cards in responder’s major transfer suit, bid that suit at
the 2 level with 15-17 HCP or 3 level with 18+ HCP. Declaring
in the responder’s suit will mean entries for sure to the
dummy.
b. Without 3+ cards in responder’s transfer suit, ignore partner’s
transfer suit and bid your long suit at the 2, 3 or 4 level per the
HCP rules above.
Systems On - Minor Suit Transfer
1. Doubler Has a Balanced Hand (15+ HCP)
He/she should bid responder’s minor suit at the 3-level. Responder
is in control and will probably pass (Drop Dead).
ACBL04J – Notrump: Systems On Mar 26, 2011
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Systems On - Minor Suit Transfer (continued)
2. Doubler Has a Distributional Hand (15+ HCP)
He/she has these options:
1. If the transfer minor is your long suit minor, he/she should bid
that minor at the 4-level. Remember responder has less
than 8 HCP.
2. If you have high card strength and length (3+) in that minor,
take a shot at 3 notrump.
3. If you have length in the other minor and a singleton or void
in responder’s minor, bid 3 diamonds or 4 clubs. But with 2+
cards in responder’s minor, take the transfer. Responder
has less than 8 HCP.
4. If your long suit is a major, take the transfer with 2+ cards
in responder’s minor suit. With a singleton or void in
responder’s minor suit:
a. If responder bid 2 spades (transfer to 3 clubs), and
your long suit is spades, pass.
b. Otherwise, bid hearts or spades at the 3 level.
Systems On - 5/5 Major Transfer
Remember, if responder makes the 5/5 Major Transfer by bidding
3 diamonds, he/she still is not indicating any HCP. Balanced or
distributional, if the doubler has 3+ cards in a major, bid 3 of that
major.
ACBL04J – Notrump: Systems On Mar 26, 2011
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Systems On - 5/5 Major Transfer (continued)
Without a 3+ card major, the options are:
1. Take a gamble by bidding 3 notrump.
2. Bid the distributional minor at the 4 level.
Systems On - 5/5 Minor Transfer
It isn’t gonna happen because the opponent has 15+ HCP, the
doubler has 15+ HCP and responder would need 15 HCP. With a
5/5 minor suit hand, the responder should just bid 2/3 notrump. Note
again that the 8 HCP requirement for 2 notrump is not applicable.
A 3 notrump bid indicates 8+ HCP.
Systems On - 5/5 Texas Transfer
Note that responder must have 6+ HCP for a Texas Transfer.
The options are:
1. If you have a balanced hand, bid the transfer major.
2. If it’s a distributional hand:
a. With 1+ hearts, take a 4 hearts transfer.
With no hearts, pass 4 diams, bid 4 spades or 5 clubs.
b. With 1+ spades, take a 4 spades transfer.
With no spades, pass 4 hearts, bid 5 clubs or diams.
Final Note
System On works pretty well whether the doubler’s hand is
balanced or distributional as long as partner’s response is no higher
than 2 notrump. With higher response bids for the 5/5 Major and
Texas Transfers it gets a little sticky. But it is still far better than
Systems Off where responder just names a 4+ card suit.