Symmetric Relays 2.1 ==================== Responder can relay for shape and set suits artificially. Deadwood Suit-setting --------------------- Artificial setting of suits and 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) Two-suiters ----------- With a side suit of 4+ cards, opener uses the 'main sequence' to show exact pattern, starting at 2NT. This same sequence appears when first-rebids of 2D and 2H are inserted. The 2D/H bids are pseudo-transfers, that is, transfers if they can be. Responder's minor: is clubs after 1D/H/S and diamonds after 1C. Opener's immediate bids of 2NT and above show responders minor (rm). Explicitly: a) 1L - 2C; 2D - 2H; 2NT... - hearts second-longest or, if opener was 1H, diamonds b) 1L - 2C; 2H - 2S; 2NT... - spades second-longest or, if opener was 1S, diamonds c) 1L - 2C; 2NT... - opener's second-longest is clubs or, if opener was 1C, diamonds Main Sequence: 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 min; 5-5-3-0 MAX} 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. Slam tools: DSS (Deadwood Suit-setting) and End-signal Single-suiters -------------- 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 = 6+ no shortage 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 Slam tools: when shortage shown Step-1 (not 3NT or long suit) is DSS, other bids are controls. No End-signal. When opener does not have a shortage, responder indicates his disposition. 1any - 2C 2S - 2NT 3D - 3H Good hand, no fit (3S fit rm mild try, 3NT min, 4C/D strong slam try) 3S Deadwood for opener's minor 3NT Min 4rm Deadwood for responder's minor 4m Invites control-bidding Three-suiters ------------- Three-suiters (4-4-4-1 after 1-minor or 5-4-4-0) rebid 2D then 2S then 3C (4-4-4-1), 3D/H/S. 1any - 2C 2D - 2H 2S - 2NT 3D/H/S = 5-4-4-0, void NGF 1m - 2C 2D - 2H 2S - 2NT 3C = 4-4-4-1 (3D? 3M = SPL, 3NT = min short om, 4C = Max om) 3D/H/S = 5-4-4-0, void NGF Slam tools: DSS and End-signal. Balanced -------- Balanced types (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, 5-3-3-2) rebid 2D then 2S then 3C (majors), 3NT or 4-level. Two ranges, Weak-NT = 11-13, MAX-NT = 17-19. Higher range shows 2-1-controls at 4-level. 1any - 2C 2D - 2H 2S - 2NT 3NT = 'Uninteresting weak NT' 4C = MAX-NT, 0-5 controls 4D = MAX-NT, 6 controls etc. Breaking Relays --------------- Relay breaks are natural with the exception of 1any - 2C; 2D - 2S. All breaks deny strength to continue relaying; that is, when responder relays two or more times, he implies sound values. After 1 Major ------------- 2C is FG balanced or clubs 9-11, 6+ or FG. 1M - 2C 2D = Transfer (to own suit = diamonds) OR 3-suited [5-4-4-0] OR NT-type (weak or MAX) 2H = Transfer (to own suit = diamonds) 2S = single-suited, 6+ 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 INV NF 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. 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 responder's minor. 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. MAX-NT (17-19) use control-showing responses. 1m - 2C 2D = Hearts (transfer) OR 3-suited [5-4-4-0] OR NT-type (weak or MAX) 2H = Spades (transfer) 2S = single-suited, 6+ 2NT.. = Main sequence 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.