Symmetric Relays 2.1 ==================== Main Sequence ------------- Responses to 2C of 2NT and above are part of the 'main sequence' and show exact distribution. This same sequence appears when rebids of 2D and 2H are inserted. The 2D/H bids are transfers if they can be, explicitly: a) 1L - 2C; 2NT... - opener's second-longest is clubs or, if he opened 1C, diamonds b) 1L - 2C; 2D - 2H; 2NT... - hearts second-longest or, if he opened 1H, diamonds c) 1L - 2C; 2H - 2S; 2NT... - spades second-longest or, if he opened 1S, diamonds 2NT = lower shortage 3C = 5-4-2-2 OR 6-5-1-1 OR 7-4-1-1 {3D? 5-4-2-2; 6-5-1-1; 7-4-1-1} 3D*= 5-5-2-1 OR 5-5-3-0 {3H? 5-5-2-1; 5-5-3-0} 3H = 5-4-3-1 3S = 6-4-2-1 3NT = 6-4-3-0 4C = 6-5-2-0 4D = 7-4-2-0 4H = 7-5-1-0 4S = 6-6-1-0 * = When 5-5 in the indicated two suits is impossible, 3D = MAX 5-4-3-1. Single-suited ------------- Single-suiters respond 2S to 2C. Responder relays with 2NT. 1any - 2C 2S - 2NT 3C = 6+ cards any singleton (not void) {3D? NGF as 3H below} 3D = "5-6-7-6" no shortage {3H? 17-19 5-3-3-2; 6-3-2-2 MIN; 7-2-2-2; 6-3-2-2 MAX} 3H/S/NT = Min, 7+ void NGF 4C/D/H = MAX. 7+ void NGF It is not possible to identify opener's 3 card suits when, a) he might be 6-3-3-1 or 7-3-2-1 (both respond 3C) b) he is 6-3-2-2 1any - 2C 2S - 2NT 3D - 3H Good hand, no fit (3S fit resp-m mild try, 3NT min, 4C/D strong slam try) 3S Deadwood for opener's minor 3NT Min 4m Invites control-bidding 4om Deadwood for responder's minor Suit-setting ------------ After shape is out, responder can agree suits and make a Deadwood ask. Length Rules: LR1: any proven 3+ length in opener's hand is a possible suit. LR2: order suit by opener's longest to shortest. LR3: length-ties are broken by cheaper game (H/S/C/D) If 4C is available then: A) 3NT is always natural B) 4D is the end-signal, a puppet to 4H C) Remaining bids are Deadwood, cheapest is opener's longest by LR2 & LR3. If opener's shape-showing response is 4C or higher: X) Any playable 4-major or 5-minor is natural and NF Y) 4D is Deadwood in opener's longest suit Z) Remaining bids are Deadwood as (C) above Breaking an End-Signal ---------------------- Where opener has enough to make a slam try opposite minimum 2C response he may decline to bid 4D; typically this will be about 17 HCPs. 1) 'Soft' - to a NF 4S when 4H was not playable (opener has <3) showing great spades and modest extras 2) 'Hard' - show key cards with respect to longest suit by not bidding 4H 3) 'Wait and see' - where (1) was possible, bidding 4H and showing key-cards over responder's choice of strain. (We don't have an agreement for immediately bidding above 4S when 4H not playable) Breaking Relays --------------- Relay breaks are natural with the exception of 1any - 2C; 2D - 2S. Responder's choices depend on opener's suit. The most attractive break is with a minimum 3-card raise of opener's major. After 1 Major ------------- 1M - 2C 2D = Transfer (to own suit = diamonds) OR 3-suited [5-4-4-0] OR MIN 5-3-3-2 (Weak NT) 2H = Transfer (to own suit = diamonds) 2S = single-suited 2NT.. = Main sequence Relay-Breaks ------------ If responder has sufficiently good clubs to envisage playing that strain without 3-card support, he must not relay after his first response. 1M - 2C; 2D - 3M = min balanced 3CR 1M - 2C; 2D - 2S = ART, 3CR with clubs, possible shortage (2NT waiting) 1M - 2C; 2D - 3C = clubs, single-suited 1M - 2C; 2D - 3D = clubs and diamonds 1M - 2C; 2D - 3OM = clubs and other-major 1M - 2C; 2D - 2NT = Clubs, no shortage Of course you don't have to show a 3CR raise immediately - but that's what the calls mean if you do. Presumably, because this will wrongside no-trumps opposite a weak NT, responder won't have any tenaces to protect. 1M - 2C; 2H - much as above 1M - 2C; 2S - 3C is most club hands (opener is single-suited) 1M - 2C; 2NT - now opener is showing clubs so responder can relay with club hands. 3-suited or Weak NT (4CM) ------------------------- 1M - 2C 2D - 2H 2S - 2NT 3C = weak NT [5-3-3-2 or 4CM] 3D = 5-4-4-0, void diamond 3H = 5-4-4-0, void NGF (if M = H then clubs) 3S = 5-4-4-0, void NGF (if M = S then clubs) After 1 Minor ------------- 2C is FG, balanced or other minor. That is, 1D - 2C is clubs if not balanced, 1C - 2C is diamonds. When opener has a distributional hand, long in the suit he opened, immediate higher bids that show shape (2NT+) imply the other minor (the one responder might hold). In the Weak NT path there is no major-suit alternative to unravel so opener simply raises to 3NT. The 3C response is used for 4-4-4-1s. There is a (slightly uncomfortable path) for the MAX-NT (17-19) for both minor-openers. These are control-showing responses When opener shows a single-suiter (2S) responder clarifies strength, rather than asks for more shape definition (so it's always possible to stop in 3NT). Single-Suiters -------------- When opener has a long minor there is less space as 4M is not a default resting place. The responses to the second relay are unchanged but when opener does not have a shortage, responder clarifies his strength. Now 3H over 3D (no shortage) announces a good hand without conviction that 5m is safe. Responder may bid a NF 3NT or set opener's minor with 3S - if opener doesn't like his hand, responder can pass 3NT. 1m - 2C 2S - 2NT 3C = 6+ cards any singleton (not void) {3D? NGF as 3H below} 3D = 6+ no shortage 3H = 7+ void NGF 3S = 7+ void NGF 3NT = 7+ void other-minor (min) 4C = 7+ void other-minor (MAX) 4D = "my suit is trumps" 1m - 2C 2S - 2NT 3D - 3H Good hand, no fit (3S fit om mild try, 3NT min, 4C/D strong slam try) 3S Deadwood for opener's minor 3NT Min 4m Invites control-bidding 4om Deadwood for responder's minor Relay-Breaks ------------ 1m - 2C; 2D - 2S = ART distributional with other minor 1m - 2C; 2D - 3om = other minor, single-suited, balanced, stopper worries 1m - 2C; 2D - 3m = both minors (fit for opener), stopper worries 1m - 2C; 2D - 3M = other minor and major, pure 1m - 2C; 2D - 2NT = Minimum balanced, unlikely to have hearts (opener's most likely side-suit) 1m - 2C; 2H - much as above (except 2S!) 1m - 2C; 2S - again, as above 1m - 2C; 2NT - now opener is showing other-minor and responder can relay. After 1 Diamond --------------- 1D - 2C 2D = Hearts (transfer) OR 3-suited [5-4-4-0 / 4-4-4-1] OR Weak NT OR MAX-NT 2H = Spades (transfer) 2S = Single-suited 2NT.. = Main sequence Patterns as 1M, 2NT and above without 2D/H implies club length. After 2D/H showing a major side-suit, 3D = MAX 5-4-3-1 1D - 2C 2D - 2H 2S - 2NT 3C = 4-4-4-1 {3D? NGF 3NT = 4=4=4=1 MIN, 4C = 4=4=4=1 MAX} 3D = 5-4-4-0, void club 3H = 5-4-4-0, void heart 3S = 5-4-4-0, void spade 3NT = Weak NT 4C = MAX-NT 0-5 controls 4D = MAX-NT 6 controls 4H = MAX-NT 7 controls etc. After 1 Club ------------ 1C - 2C 2D = Hearts (transfer) OR 3-suited [5-4-4-0 / 4-4-4-1] OR Weak NT OR MAX-NT 2H = Spades (transfer) 2S = single-suited 2NT.. = Main sequence Patterns as 1D/M, 2NT and above without 2D/H implies diamond length. There are no 5-5s; 3D = MAX 5-4-3-1 1C - 2C 2D - 2H 2S - 2NT 3C = 4-4-4-1 {3D? NGF 3NT = 4=4=1=4 MIN, 4C = 4=4=1=4 MAX} 3D = 5-4-4-0, void diamond 3H = 5-4-4-0, void heart 3S = 5-4-4-0, void spade 3NT... as after 1D