Our Precision with Transfers¶
This started from notes on "The Precision Bidding System in Bridge" by C.C. Wei (Edited by Alan Truscott), 2nd Edition, 1973. (ISBN 0-486-21171-1), then got a dusting of transfers in response to 1C.
Last Updated: 2025-01-05.
Strong Openings¶
1♣
16+HCP nothing about clubs sim
1♦
Negative 0-7 HCP, nothing about diamonds
1♥
8+ HCP, 5+S
1♠
Asking about S
1step
none of top three honors
2step
5♠ one of top three honors
3step
5♠ two of top three honors
4step
6♠ one of top three honors
5step
6♠ two of top three honors
6step
all three of top honors
NewSuit
asking about that suit
1step
no control (xxx)
2step
3rd round control (xx or Qxx)
3step
2nd round control (x or Kx)
4step
1st round control (void or A)
5step
AK or AQx
Rebid
Asking which?
1step
shortness (or AQx if 5step)
2step
strength (or AK if 5 step)
NewSuit
asking
1N
prefer 3N to 4S
2♠
6+S, 8-10
2♣♦♥
slam interest, cue bid
2N
11+, no shortness
3♠
6+S, 11+, no shortness,
3♣♦♥
shortness
3N
8-10
2N
asks for shortness
3♥
11+, no shortness
3♣♦♠
Shortness
3N
min, no shortness
2♣♦♥♠
Natural
1♠
8+ HCP. Balanced, or semi-balanced with strength outside longer suits (e.g. 5m4M22) (see below)
1N
8+HCP, 5+ clubs, unsuitable for NT
2♣
see 1C-1H
2♦♥♠
natural
2N
asks for shortness (must have, or NT would have been ok)
3♣
11+, no shortness, 6+C
3♦♥♠
Shortness
3N
min, no shortness, 6+C
3N
stop
2♣
8+HCP, 5+ diamonds
2♦
see 1C-1H
2♥♠
natural
2N
asks for shortness
3♦
11+, no shortness
3♣♥♠
Shortness
3N
min, no shortness
2♦
8+HCP, 5+H
2♥
see 1C-1H
2♠
natural
2N
asks for shortness
3♥
11+, no shortness
3♣♦♠
Shortness
3N
min, no shortness
2♥
4-7, 6♥ (like weak 2)
2♠
4-7, 6♠ (like weak 2)
2N
GF 3-suiter (4441, 5440 with bad 5)
3♣
Asking for short suit
3♦
0-1♦
3♥
0-1♥
3♠
0-1♠
3N
0-1♣
3N
to play. "That's nice, dear."
3♣♦♥♠
4-7 hcp, 7+ suit (like preempt) sim
3N
DO NOT BID THIS (could be 65+ minors, I guess?)
2N
22-23 hcp, balanced
3♣
stayman
3♦
→3♥
3♥
→3♠
3♠
Minor suit stayman
3N
stop
4♣
Gerber (ew. find something else)
4♦
→4♥ stop
4♥
→4♠ stop
Limited Openings¶
1♦
11-15, 2+♦, see SMP 1D Responses
1♥
11-15, 5+♥
1♠
8+ hcp, 4+♠
1N
8-12, balanced, semi-forcing one round, not 4♠
P
11-12, 5H 332
2♣♦
3+♣/♦ (often 3, sometimes 2)
2♥
rebid: 6+♥, min
2♠
reverse: max, 45xx
2N
don't bid this. Either you should have opened 1N, or pass here.
3♣♦
max, invites
3♥
max, 6+♥
2♥
6-9, 3♥
2N
Jacoby 2NT (see below)
3♥
10-11 total points usually 4♥, invites
3♠
splinter
3N
13-15 2♥
4♣♦
splinter
4♥
Either preempt or sub-slam strong hand
1♠
11-15, 5+♠
1N
8-12, balanced, semi-forcing one round
P
11-12, 5S 332
2♣♦
3+♣/♦ (often 3, sometimes 2)
2♥
4+♥
2♠
rebid: 6+♠, min
2N
don't bid this. Either you should have opened 1N, or pass here.
3♣♦♥
max, invites
3♠
max, 6+♠
2♠
6-9, 3♠
2N
Jacoby 2NT (see below)
3♠
10-11 total points usually 4♠, invite
3N
13-15 hcp 2♠
4♣♦♥
splinter
4♠
Either preempt or sub-slam strong hand
1N
13-15, balanced (see below)
2♣
2♦
11+ hcp, forcing one round sim
2♥♠
2N
14-15, 6+♣, two side suits stopped sim
3♣
11-13, 6+♣, usually one side suit stopped sim
3♦
xx56 sim
3♥♠
3N
14-15, 6+♣, solid sim
2♥♠
3♥♠
15 HCP, 4♥/♠
2N
~11 hcp, invites 3N sim
3♣
8-10 hcp, ♣ support sim
2♦
11-15 HCP. 4414ish. 3415, 4315, 4405 weak clubs. sim
2♥♠
To play
2N
3♣
To play
3♦
Relay to 3N
3♥
Invite to 4H, promises 5H
3♠
Invite to 4S, promises 5S
3N
To play
2♥♠
Weak: 6-10 HCP, 6+♥/♠
2N
Ogust
3♣
Weak Hand, Weak Suit
3♦
Weak Hand, Strong Suit
3♥
Strong Hand, Weak Suit
3♠
Strong Hand, Strong Suit
3N
AKQ in original pre-empt suit
3N
Gambling
1C-1S responses¶
1♠
8+ HCP. Balanced, or semi-balanced with strength outside longer suits (e.g. 5m4M22)
1N
asking info
2♣
8-11
2♦
Stayman
2♥
4S, may have 4H
2♠
4H, denies 4S
2N
Flat, no 4M, exactly 8, takes off game force
3♣
5C, no 4M
3♦
5D, no 4M
3♥
5H
3♠
5S
3N
Flat, 9-11
2♥♠
5 cards
2N
exactly 16, no 4M, takes off game force
2♦
12+, no 4M
2♥♠
4 cards
2N
Asks for cuebids
3♣♦♥♠
5 cards
3N
16-18 balanced
2♥
12+, 4♠, <4♥
2♠
12+, 4♥, <4♠
2N
12+, 4♥ and 4♠
3♣
12+, 5C good suit, otherwise prefer 2D
3♦
12+, 5D good suit, otherwise prefer 2D
3♥
12+, 5H
3♠
12+, 5S
2♣♦♥♠
Sets trump. Support-asking bid
1step
2-3 trump little (no honor)
2step
Doubleton with honor
3step
3 with honor
4step
3 with 2 honors
5step
4+
2N
5-4+ in the minors
3♣♦
3m
3♥♠
5M
3N
Major stoppers, minimum
3N
no 4M, 17-18
4♣
Gerber
4♣
Gerber
NT responses¶
1N
13-15, balanced
2♣
Puppet Stayman. Invite+, no 5+M, no 6+m, not 4441, not 5440, may not have 4M
2♦
1-2 4M, no 5M
2♥
4♠, <4♥
2♠
4♥, <4♠
2N
No 4M, min invite
3♣
Both, GF
3♦
Both, invite
3♥
4♠, <4♥ GF
3♠
4♥, <4♠ GF
3N
To play
2♥
5H
2♠
slam interest, control
2N
Invite 3N
3♣♦
slam interest, control
3♥
Invite to 4♥
3♠
splinter
3N
to play
4♣♦
splinter
4♥
to play
4N
RKC ♥
2♠
5S
2N
Invite 3N
3♣♦♥
slam interest, control
3♠
Invite
3N
to play
4♣♦♥
splinter
4♠
to play
4N
RKC ♠
2N
no 4M, min
3♣♦♥♠
slam interest, control
3N
to play
4♣
Gerber
3♣
5♣332, max
3♦
5♦332, max
3N
no 4M, no 5m, max
4♣
Gerber
2♦
→2♥
4N
quantitative
2♥
→2♠
4N
quantitative
2♠
6+♣, either to play or slam interest if bidding continues
2N
Two small clubs
3♣
STOP
*
See 3♣ responsese below
3♣
Average+ ♣ (at least Kx or xxx)
3♦♥♠
shortness in the bid suit. 6+c. Game force or better.
3N
to play
4♣
invite for 5♣
4♦♥♠
4+, slam try
4N
quantitative for 5♣/6♣/6N
5N
quantitative for 6♣/6N/7♣/7N
2N
6+♦, either to play or slam interest if bidding continues
3♣
two small ♦
3♦
STOP
*
See 3♦ responses below
3♦
Average+ ♦ (at least Kx or xxx)
3♥♠
shortness, game force
3N
to play
4♣
shortness, game force
4♦
invite to 5♦
4♥♠
4+, slam try
4N
quantitative for 5♦/6♦/6N
5N
quantitative for 6♦/6N/7♦/7N
3♣♦♥♠
splinter, game forcing
4shortSuit
Control-asking
3N
11+ balanced no slam
4♣
Gerber
4♦
0 or 4 aces
4♦
→4♥ 6+♥
4N
Blackwood
4♥
→4♠ 6+♠
4N
Blackwood
Jacoby 2NT¶
1♥♠-2N
Game forcing, slam interest, no singleton/void, usually 4 card support
3♣♦
(or other major) 0-1 of bid suit
3♥♠
(bid suit) 14-15, no shortness, no outside 5 card suit
3N
14-15, AKQ of suit
4♣♦
(or other major) 5+ cards in bid suit
4♥♠
(bid suit) 11-13, no shortness, no outside 5 card suit
2D-2N (forcing)¶
3♣
11-13
3♦
Shape?
3♥
3415
3♠
4315
3N
4414 or 4405 (both)
3♦
14-15, 4414
3♥
14-15, 3415
3♠
14-15, 4315
3N
14-15, 4405
After any of these, responder bidding ♦ is a Control-Asking Bid (responses).
Balanced Hands¶
Most of these are duplicates, but it's nice to have them all in one place.
1♦-1N
11-12
1N
13-15
1♣-1N
16-18
1♣-2N
19-21
2N
22-23
1♣-3N
24+ (good luck finding the right slam)
Interference¶
Partner-(RHO)-?
1N-(X)
Moscow escapes (only over PENALTY doubles. Systems on over artificial double. This is effectively DONT, the other direction.)
R
→2c one suited
2♣
♣ and a major
2♦
♦ and a major
2♥
♥ and ♠
2♠
5+♠, weaker than X-2C-2S
2N
♣ and ♦
1N-(X)
Not for penalty
XX
We're either going to play 3N or double them
other
Systems on
1N-(2♣)
No matter what it means
X
Stayman
*
Systems on
1N-(*)
Transefer Lebensohl with Tim
Good players who are prepared will often find an excuse to bid over 1C, even with puny hands.
1♣-(X)
Least-effective interference. Just gives us more room. Ignore the meaning of the double.
P
0-4, Systems on as if 1C-(P)-1D, but not forcing
XX
9+, any 4441 or 5440, GF
1N
(or 2N with 2X overcall) Where is shortness?
2♣♦♥♠
Short in bid suit
2N
Control-asking bid (A=2 controls, K=1), please bid past game if 4+ controls (because majors)
3♣
0-2 controls
3♦
3 controls
3♥
4 controls
3♠
5 controls
3N
6+ controls
*
Natural, sets trump
1♦
5-8, any shape (like a good 1D response to 1C), systems on as if 1C-(P)-1D
*
Everything else, systems on, but with 9+
1♣-(1♦)
No matter what 1D means
P
0-4, systems on as if 1C-(P)-1D, but not forcing
X
5-8, systems on as if 1C-(P)-1D (or 9-10 balanced no stopper, or 9+ 4441 impossible negative)
*
Systems on.
1C-(1H->2S
Effective interference!
P
0-4 hcp
D
5-8 hcp, no 5 card suit or 9+ balanced, no stopper
minX
5-8 hcp 5+X
jumpX
9+ hcp 5+X
minN
6-8, balanced, stopper
jumpN
9-11 balanced
2jumpN
12-14 balanced
2♣♦♥♠
(cuebid of implied suit) 9+, short in X
1C-(2N+
Unlikely this is their hand
D
penalty
3♣♦♥♠
5+ cards, game force
3N
9-12 and stopper in at least one of the implied suits
cuebid
strong takeout
Overcalls¶
DONT¶
I like bidding over 1N and strong 1♣ systems, particularly at the beginner to intermediate level. Many partnerships at that level haven't discussed what to do over any interference, including a double. At a higher level, there's lots of interference, so everyone has a plan. DONT may or may not be the right choice there, but it's a contender at least. Another choice would be to use a different overall system over weak 1NT.
Over 1♣, shift all of the responses down.
(1N)-D
single suited, at least KQ109xx
P
convert to penalty. I have entries and think I know what your suit is.
2♣
relay
P
♣
2♦♥
♦/♥
2♠
♠ (stronger than 2S directly)
2♦♥♠
strong 6 card suit of your own
(1N)-2♣
2-suited ♣-(♦/♥/♠) 5-5+, could be 5-4 with 15+
2♦
What's the other suit?
P
♦
2♥♠
♥, ♠
2N
strong game invite in second suit
2N
game invite, please name second suit (much more likely over weak NT)
3♣
support, continued disturbance
(1N)-2♦
2-suited ♦-(♥/♠) 5-5+
2♥
What's the other suit?
P
♥
2♠
♠
2N
strong game invite in spades
2N
game invite, please name second suit (much more likely over weak NT)
3♣
scrambling, long clubs
3♦
support, continued disturbance
(1N)-2♥
2-suited ♥♠ 5-5+
2♠
preference
2N
game invite
3♣♦
void
3♥
no thank you
3♠
preference, STOP
3♠
no thank you and my spade suit is a lot better. STOP.
(1N)-2♠
one-suited in spades, weaker than (1N)-D-2♣-2♠. Think weak 2.
(1N)-2N
Minors, weak
(1N)-3♣♦♥♠
pre-emptive, 7+X
Over interference with DONT:
(1N)-X-(XX)
This is usually either strong (with strong NT) or escape (with weak)
P
feel free to bid your suit next
X
Natural
(1N)-X-(2♣♦♥♠)
Usually systems-on
D
(of a natural bid) bid your suit (assuming it's not theirs), I'm balanced
D
(of an artificial bid) lead directing
X
Natural