ACBL20 – Bidding: Natural Bids                  Ward Trumbull

                                                vs Convention Bids       May 10, 2010

                                                                                                                 Page 1 of 3

 

      Some bids are natural, such as, “1 Heart” meaning the opener has 5+ hearts.  However, other bids are conventional, such as, “2 Clubs” meaning the opener has a strong hand but not necessarily a club suit.  Finally, some bids are a bit of both, such as weak 2 bids.

 

OPENING BID - NATURAL vs CONVENTION

--------------------------------------------------------------

Opening Bids    Type      Description              Comment

------------------    --------     ----------------   ------------------------------------

1 club                    nat           Conv Minor      2+ clubs and 11+ HCP

1 diamond             nat           Conv Minor      4+ diamonds and 11+ HCP

1 heart                   nat                                   5+ hearts and 11+ HCP

1 spade                 nat                                   5+ spades and 11+ HCP

 

1 notrump              nat                                   15-18 HCP, no singletons,   

                                                                      no voids and no 5+ card

                                                                      major

2 clubs                   con          Trumbull          Strong hand: either

                                                                          19-21 HCP notrump, or

                                                                          distributional forcing to

                                                                          game

 

2 diamonds           both          Weak 2s         6 cards and 5-10 HCP

2 hearts                both           Weak 2s         6 cards and 5-10 HCP

2 spades               both          Weak 2s         6 cards and 5-10 HCP

 

2 notrump             nat                                   22-24 HCP and same

                                                                     distribution as 1 notrump

 

3 clubs                 nat             Preempt         7 cards (maybe 6) and

                                                                     0-9 HCP

3 diamonds          nat             Preempt         7 cards and 0-9 HCP

3 hearts               nat             Preempt         7 cards and 0-9 HCP

3 spades              nat             Preempt         7 cards and 0-9 HCP

              ACBL20 – Bidding: Natural Bids                      May 10, 2010

                                                            vs Convention Bids             Page 2 of 3

 

OPENING BID - NATURAL vs CONVENTION

--------------------------------------------------------------

Opening Bids    Type      Description                   Comment

------------------     -------     ----------------   ------------------------------------

3 notrump              nat                                  25-27 HCP and same

                                                                     distribution as 1 notrump

            or               con          Gambling        7+ card minor with an

                                                                     A,K,Q and outside A/Ks

 

4 clubs                   nat           Preempt         8+ cards and 0-9 HCP

4 diamonds            nat           Preempt         8+ cards and 0-9 HCP                           

4 hearts                 nat                 *                          *

4 spades                nat                *                           *

 

* This should be preemptive with 8+ cards.

 

       NOTE 1: It should not be a gamble on game with a long strong suit.

                      Partner’s hand may be good enough in support to make a

                      slam.

       

       NOTE 2: However, as an overcall, it could be a long-strong suit.

 

4 notrump              con           Blackwood      Immediately asking for

                                                                      aces

5 clubs                   nat           Preempt          9+ cards and 0-9 HCP

5 diamonds            nat           Preempt          9+ cards and 0-9 HCP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

              ACBL20 – Bidding: Natural Bids                      May 10, 2010

                                                            vs Convention Bids             Page 3 of 3

 

NOTRUMP RESPONSES - NATURAL vs CONVENTION

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Notrump Resp    Type      Description                 Comment  

-------------------     -------     ----------------    ----------------------------------

2 clubs                     con          Stayman         8+ HCP and at least one

                                                                       4 card major

2 diamonds              con          Transfer          5+ hearts and 0+ HCP

                                                                       Opener bids 2 hearts

2 hearts                   con          Transfer          5+ spades and 0+ HCP       

                                                                       Opener bids 2 spades

2 spades                 con          Transfer          6+ clubs and 0-7 HCP

                                                                      Opener bids 3 chubs

2 notrump                nat                                 8-9 HCP and no 4+ major

 

3 clubs                    con           Transfer         6+ diamonds and 0+ HCP    

                                                                      Opener bids 3 diamonds

3 diamonds             con           Transfer         5+ HCP and 5/5 majors

                                                                      Opener bids 3 hrts/spds              

3 hearts                  con           Transfer         15+ HCP and 5/5 minors

                                                                      Opener bids 4 clubs,

                                                                       4 diamonds or 3 notrump              

3 spades                 ?                  ?                 Non-standard bid

3 notrump               nat                                  10+ HCP and no 4+ card

                                                                      major

 

4 clubs                    con           Gerber           Asking aces

4 diamonds             con           Transfer         6+ hearts and 6+ HCP

                                                                      Opener bids 4 hearts

4 hearts                  con           Transfer         6+ spades and 6+ HCP

                                                                      Opener bids 4 spades

4 notrump                ?                  ?                Use Gerber instead of

                                                                      Blackwood over notrump