System Notes

These are the various systems that I play with regular partners. I've put them here because I'm fed up with not knowing where the official version is. Only the first, 'The Methods' is currently active.

All documents are PDFs. If you want editable versions (whether you're impressed with the layout or the content), get in touch.

All the system cards are EBU20a unless otherwise indicated. Probably the best system card ever, and still tolerated although superseded in name by the strangely annoying EBU20b.

System Cards

Including…

  • Standard Cards for current partnerships (CJG, PJS) and those I find easiest to play with in ad hoc arrangements ('5CM Strong NT')
  • The 'Little Heart' (2007), the supremacy of the heart suit, as played (at club-level only) with PG.

But not those more-fleshed-out systems below.

'The Methods'

4-Card majors, strongish no-trump, transfers after 1. Transfers are 'complete with weak no-trump' as opposed to 'complete with 3-card support'. Further more, because of 4-card majors, distinct to the earlier outlines below where 1 is clubs-or-any-balanced as opposed to 4+clubs-or-strong-balanced here.

Zebra Club

Much elaborated. Originally 'Zebra' described only the expression of two no-trump ranges (typically 11-13 and 17-19) without going past 1NT. There were also 5-card major responses to 1, major fit-finding after a 1 relay and various artificial continuations.

Later the principle of relaying with the cheapest response and others showing 5+ of unbid majors was extended to 1//. Also included are choices for 2-level openings, defensive moves etc.

1 with transfer responses

The Gemmell/Sutcliffe/Gobert/Chambers take on the Italianate methods after a clubs-or-balanced 1 dating from early 2008. Note that the transfers after were 'complete with fit', without the Italian use of a 2-level opening to look after the (17)18-19 notrump.

Suffolk Swede

As played (in many versions) with Ed Lockhart. Also contains the experimental 'Spadelet' where 1 and 1 were swapped (so 1 promised either three or four).