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
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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
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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