Bid
Choose a convention, look at your hand and the bidding so far, and make your bid. Each time, you'll see the right bid and the reason for it.
After a 1NT opening
- The Stayman ConventionStayman is the 2♣ response to 1NT that asks for a four-card major.
- Puppet StaymanPuppet Stayman is the 3♣ ask over 2NT that finds a five-card major as well as a four-card one.
- Jacoby TransfersJacoby transfers let responder show a five-card major after 1NT: 2♦ transfers to ♥, 2♥ to ♠.
- The Texas TransferThe Texas transfer jumps to 4♦ or 4♥ over 1NT with a six-card major and game values.
- Smolen conventionHow the Smolen convention works after 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦: the jump in the four-card major, opener's rebids, 5-5 and 6-4 hands, Smolen over 2NT and worked hands.
Raising partner
- Jacoby 2NTJacoby 2NT is the game-forcing raise of a one-major opening with four-card support.
- Bergen RaisesBergen raises use 3♣ and 3♦ over a one-major opening to show four-card support with constructive or limit values.
- Splinter BidsA splinter is a double jump in a new suit showing a singleton or void there, four-card support and game values.
- Inverted MinorsInverted minors swap the raises of a one-minor opening: the single raise is strong and forcing, the jump raise is weak.
- The Drury ConventionDrury is the passed hand's 2♣ response to a third- or fourth-seat major opening, showing a limit raise.
- Reverse DruryReverse Drury flips the original: opener's rebid of the major is now the weak sign-off and 2♦ shows a real opening.
- Limit raisesA limit raise in bridge is a jump raise of partner's suit showing 10 to 12 points.
- Help suit game triesHow help suit game tries work after a single raise of a major: when opener tries, which suit to bid, how responder answers, with worked hands.
Rebids and checkback
- New Minor ForcingNew minor forcing is responder's bid of the unbid minor after opener rebids 1NT, asking for three-card support or a four-card major.
- Fourth Suit ForcingFourth suit forcing makes the bid of the fourth suit artificial and forcing, asking opener to describe their hand.
- The XYZ ConventionXYZ applies after any three one-level bids: 2♣ is a relay to 2♦ for invitational hands, 2♦ is game forcing.
- Reverse Bids in BridgeA reverse is opener's rebid in a higher-ranking suit at the two level, showing 17 or more points and longer first suit.
Slam bidding
- The Blackwood ConventionBlackwood is the 4NT bid that asks partner how many aces they hold.
- Roman Key Card BlackwoodRKCB counts the trump king as a fifth ace.
- The Gerber ConventionGerber is the jump to 4♣ over a notrump bid that asks for aces.
- DOPI, ROPI and DEPOWhen the opponents double or overcall your Blackwood 4NT, DOPI, ROPI and DEPO tell partner how many aces you hold without losing a level.
- Exclusion BlackwoodExclusion Blackwood is a jump to five in your void suit that asks for key cards outside it.
Doubles and overcalls
- The Negative DoubleThe negative double is responder's takeout double of an overcall, showing the unbid suits.
- The Takeout DoubleA takeout double asks partner to bid a suit after an opponent opens.
- The Responsive DoubleA responsive double is a double by the partner of a takeout doubler or overcaller after the opponents raise.
- The Michaels Cue BidA Michaels cue bid is a direct overcall in the opponents' suit showing a two-suited hand: both majors over a minor, the other major and a minor over a major.
- Cue Bids in BridgeWhat a cue bid means in bridge: bidding the opponents' suit to show a strong raise or ask for a stopper, and the control cue bid that shows an ace or king on the way to slam, with example auctions.
- The Unusual 2NTThe unusual 2NT is a jump overcall of 2NT showing the two lowest unbid suits, usually both minors over a major.
- Support DoublesSupport doubles in bridge: opener's double shows exactly three cards in partner's major, a raise shows four.
- The Maximal DoubleThe maximal double turns a double into a game try when the opponents compete in the suit just below your major.
- Overcalls in BridgeHow to overcall in bridge: one and two-level overcalls, suit quality, the 1NT overcall, weak jump overcalls and advancing partner's overcall.
Two-level openings
- Weak Two BidsA weak two opening shows a six-card suit and 5 to 10 points.
- The Ogust ConventionOgust is the 2NT response to a weak two bid asking about suit quality and strength.
- The Flannery ConventionFlannery is an opening of 2♦ showing exactly four ♠ and five ♥ with 11 to 15 points.
- The Strong 2 Club OpeningThe strong 2♣ opening shows 22+ balanced or a hand close to game.
Defending against 1NT
- The Cappelletti ConventionCappelletti (Hamilton) is a defense to 1NT: 2♣ shows a one-suiter, 2♦ both majors, 2 of a major that major and a minor, 2NT both minors.
- The DONT ConventionDONT is Marty Bergen's defense to 1NT: a double shows a one-suiter, 2♣ ♣ and a higher suit, 2♦ ♦ and a major, 2♥ both majors, 2♠ ♠.
- The Landy ConventionLandy is the 2♣ overcall of 1NT showing both majors.
- The Lebensohl ConventionLebensohl uses a 2NT relay to 3♣ after the opponents overcall partner's 1NT, separating weak from invitational and game-forcing hands.
- The Meckwell ConventionMeckwell defense to 1NT: double for a long minor or both majors, 2♣ or 2♦ for that minor and a major, natural 2♥ and 2♠.
Bidding systems
- Two Over One Game ForceIn 2/1 game force a two-level response to a one-level suit opening forces to game.
- Standard American Yellow CardSAYC is the ACBL's standard system: five-card majors, 15 to 17 notrump, strong 2♣, weak twos.
- Bridge Bidding Cheat SheetA one-page bridge bidding cheat sheet: point counts, opening bids, responses, rebids, notrump ranges, doubles and the common conventions, in Standard American.
- Preemptive BidsA preemptive bid starts the auction at a high level with a weak hand and one long suit.