Poimer's Fantasy

Strong Forcing Opening: 4C or 4D (NAMYATS).

Notrump Opening Bids

• 1NT = 16-18 points
• 2NT = 21-22 points
• 3NT = 9-10 tricks

Stayman

A 2C response forces to at least 2NT.

• Transfers
  • Texas Transfers, on over overcalls thru 3C. If using a Texas Transfer, responder either has a specific slam invitational hand, or intends to rebid 4NT, RKC Blackwood with a strong hand.
  • Jacoby Transfers, 4 suits, on over doubles (2S xfer to 3C, 2NT xfer to 3D). A transfer to a major, followed by a new suit, is not forcing, except: xfer to 2H followed by 2S is an artificial game force, as is xfer to 2S followed by 2NT. A transfer to a major and then jump to game in the major denies slam interest.
  • 3D is xfer to Hearts with a strong 2-suiter
  • 3H is xfer to Spades with a strong 2-suiter
• Other Responses
  • 3C is weak with both minors
  • 3S is Minor Suit Stayman. At least 5-4 in the minors and at least 12 HCP. Slam interest.
  • 4C is Gerber
  • 4NT is quantitative
• After Interference
  • Texas xfers are on over calls thru 3C
  • Jacoby xfers are on over double
  • Lebensohl is used after a suit overcall if responder has not passed the 1NT bid already.
  • Doubles by us are specific.
    • If the doubler is behind the bidder = penalty (except doubles behind preemptive jump overcalls at the 3-level are for takeout)
    • If the doubler is in front of the bidder = takeout (but responder promises two in case opener wants to convert)
    • Redouble by responder is semi-positive (5-7 HCP, balanced)

Major Openings

• Double raise is forcing (4-card support and 13-15 HCP)
• In competition, double raise is to play.
• Conventional Raise: 3C (4-card support and 16+, or 14+ with shortness)
• Jump to 3D is invitational (4-card support and 10-12 HCP balanced)
• Single raise is forcing, often to game, except by a passed hand.
• 1NT is a one-round force.
• 2/suit is at least 10 HCP, a 5-card suit is expected. (Opener's rebid of major does not promise extra length, it shows a bad hand and is not forcing)
• 2NT is natural, 13-15 HCP. (rarely, 18+ HCP)

• Single Raise is constructive
• 1NT response semi-forcing, tends to deny support
• 2/suit denies support.
• Conventional raises above are off, instead, 3 level bids show good 5-card suits, 4-card support and invitational values. (Flower Bids)
• 2NT shows just under an opening bid.

Minor Suit Openings

• Double Raise is forcing
• Double Raise in competition is to play.
• 1NT response to 1C = 6-9 HCP
• 1D over 1C = up the line
• 2NT = 13-15 bal.
• 3NT = 16-17 bal.
• Jump shift (2-level) = 4+ card support and 10-12 HCP, at most one card.
• Jump to 3-level = 4+ card support and 13-15 HCP, at most one card.
• Raise to 4-level = invitational if vul/preempt if non-vul.
• Jump to 4 of other minor = RKC for opener's minor (1430 responses)
• A passed hand 1D response to 1C is forcing.

Opening 2C

• 2NT = Forcing (asks for feature)
• 2D = Forcing
• 2M = Non-forcing

Alternate 2C Opening

Opening 2D

• 2NT = Forcing (asks for feature)
• 2M = Non-forcing
• 3C = Forcing

Alternate 2D Opening

Opening 2H

• 2NT = Forcing
• Raise only non-forcing

Opening 2S

• 2NT = Forcing
• Raise only non-forcing

Other Conventional Calls

• 1NT sandwich overcall = 5-4 distribution either way in other two suits, with 8+ HCP.
• Overcalls of Artificial Strong opening bids are transfers. Used to suggest a sacrifice, or to begin showing a two-suiter.
• OBARBIDS (Opponents Bid And Raise, Bid In Direct Seat)
• Jump overcall: 1st two suits = 2-suiter; other = intermediate (general)
• Defense to unusual overcalls: Clubs is tied to hearts, and Diamonds is tied to spades. Direct raises are to play.

Special Doubles

• Positive Double, shows a balanced 9+ HCP
• Responsive Double, thru 3S when we overcall.
• Action Doubles; in competition, low-level doubles are for takeout, except when either partner has shown a limited balanced hand, and even then, MAY be for takeout. See discussion after 1NT opening for treatments.
• Support Doubles are used after a 1-level response AND after a 1-level overcall.
• Maximal Overcall Doubles; In competition, when there is no room to make a game-try, a double does that.
• A double of a weak Notrump opening bid (12-14) shows 14+, balanced.

Direct Notrump Overcalls

Simple Overcall

• 1NT by advancer is forcing 1 round
• A raise by advancer is to play
• New suit by advancer at 1-level is non-forcing.
• Bids by advancer at 2-level are raises.

Defense to 1NT Opening

• 2C = Clubs + one higher suit
• 2D = Diamonds + one higher suit
• 2H = both majors
• 2S = Natural and preemptive
• X = A single-suited hand (if spades, a better hand than a direct 2S)
• Advancer's only strong call is 2NT

In balancing seat, vs. a strong NT:
Same as in direct seat. See above.

In balancing seat, vs. a weak NT:
Balanced 14+ and is takeout oriented.

Jump Overcall

Over Opps Takeout Double

• A new suit is forcing at the 1-level
• A jump shift is a raise, with a good 5-card suit and 4-card support.
• A XX implies no fit
• 2NT is an invitational (+) raise

Opening Preempts

Defense to Opening Preempts

• Doubles of weak two's are for takeout
• Advancer uses Lebensohl after a weak-two double
• Doubles of 3 and 4-bids are for takeout thru 4H
• Double of 4S preempt is for penalty
• 4NT over 4S preempt is a 3-suited takeout

Direct Cuebid

Shows spades and another suit. A cuebid of spades shows hearts and clubs. See the discussion under Jump Overcall.

Slam Conventions

• Gerber over 1st and Last NT
• 4NT is Roman Keycard w/1430 responses
• Interference over ace asking: X = even, and Pass = odd (DEPO). Zero is considered even for this use.

Leads

• low from 2
• 3rd and 5th from length
• K fr AK and odd # in suit
• A fr AK and even # in suit
• K fr KQ doubleton
• K fr KQJ(x)
• Lower of two touching honors down to, and including, the 8.

• top fr 2 small
• 3rd and 5th from length
• Honor leads show 1 higher or two lower touching or nearly touching, down to, and including, the 9.

• high from 2
• middle fr J, T, or 9 third
• low fr Q or better third
• top of touching honors down to, and including, the 9

• low from 2, except Ax, Kx, sometimes Qx.
• low from Qxx or better.
• middle fr Jxx, Txx, or 9xx
• top of touching honors down to, and including, the 9
• top of 3 small
• 3rd best from length

• Lead high honor from three or less
• low from 2
• 2nd best from length with no high cards
• top of touching honors (EXCEPT: when leading up to a worthless holding in dummy, the lead of the Jack denies other strength)
• middle from JTx, Jxx, Txx, or 9xx
• High from 3 small
• With 4 and a high honor, ignore the honor and lead accordingly. (example: fr KJ85, lead the 8) (example: fr Q852, lead the 8)

Defensive Carding

• Standard count, infrequent signals
• Upside down attitude usually used on opening lead, using principle of obvious shift.
• Standard Suit Preference, used often when following suit.
• FIRST DISCARD: Odd = like this suit; Even = standard suit preference for another suit.
• Defending NT contracts, Foster Leads will be made by opening leader's partner when returning the suit, or when breaking a new suit in which dummy has no high honors. A Foster lead shows one card higher or two cards lower.

Defense Summary

• Length lead vs. suits: 3rd and 5th
• Discards vs. suits: 1st discard: ODD/even. Later: Standard attitude
• Length lead vs. NT: 3rd and 5th
• Discards vs. NT: 1st discard: ODD/even. Later: Standard attitude