Preparatory Club

This treatment is popular in the Netherlands. The devaluation of the 1 opening bid has gone further. It can now be made on a doubleton, but only in one specific case. Because this is no longer considered "natural", your opponents may employ any defence they like. So what? If they want to be able to bid naturally, they lose the 2 cuebid.

Opening bids

Responses
1 12+ HCP, 3+ or 4 4 3 2 Responses to 1 (Natural)
1 12+ HCP, 4+ (Including 5 4, 11-15) Responses to 1 (Inverted Minor)
1 12+ HCP, 5+ Responses to 1/
1 12+ HCP, 5+ Responses to 1/
1NT 15 - 17 balanced 1NT complex
2 GF or 20-22 / 25-26 balanced or SemiGF in / Ryall Paradox responses
2 Multi: Weak two in / or SemiGF in / or 23-24 / 27-28 bal.
2 Muiderberg in
2 Muiderberg in
2NT Unusual: Weak / Strong with +

The 2 opening bid can also be combined with weak variants. Common treatments are to include a Weak Two in or Ekren. In both cases the responses are copied from the weak opening, ignoring the strong variants in the first round of bidding.

Responses to 1

1 denies a 5-card / and usually denies a 4-card (May contain a 4-card in the auction 1 - 1x - 2/). Bidding here concentrates on finding a fit in or . As we are almost sure that partner does not have a 4-card , the 1-response initially shows a 5-card suit. It can also show a GF hand without the majors. Balanced hands without a major and hands with 4 + 4M will bypass 1 and quicken the auction.
Responses
1 6+ HCP with 5+, or GF without 4-card /
1/ 6+ HCP, 4+card
1NT 6 - 10 balanced
2 6 - 9 HCP, 5+
2// 3 - 7 HCP, 6+card (Weak Jump Shift)
2NT 11 - 12 balanced
3 Invitational, 5+
3NT 13 - 15 balanced

It is also possible to include Transfer Walsh into the system. This means that the 1-over-1 responses are interchanged, putting more emphasis on the majors: 1 shows , 1 shows , and 1 shows .

Responses to 1

1 is a natural opening bid, showing at least a 4-card suit. This is an advantage over "best minor", and this should be reflected in the responses.
Responses
1/ 6+ HCP, 4+card
1NT 7 - 10 balanced
2 11+, 4+ (balanced or GF)
2 GF, 4+ (Inverted Minor)
2/ 3 - 7 HCP, 6+card (Weak Jump Shift)
2NT Invitational, 6+ or 4+
3 Bergen Raise: 7 - 9 FP, 5+
3 0 - 6 FP, 5+
3NT 13 - 15 balanced


2, the notorious trouble spot, is GF except if responder passes opener's negative rebid (2 or 2NT).
2NT shows an invite in either minor. It will rarely be passed although it is possible in matchpoints.
3 is a Bergen Raise of .

Responses to 1/1

1 and 1 are the standard 5-card major opening bids, and many response schemes have been proposed over the years. I will use a variant that is common in the Netherlands.
Responses
1 (over 1) 6+ HCP, 4+
1NT 6 - 9 balanced (may have -support)
2/ Invite or better, 4+card
2 (over 1) 10+ HCP, 5+
2M 6 - 9 FP, 3-card support
2 (over 1) 3 - 7 HCP, 6+ (Weak Jump Shift)
2NT Invite with 3-card support or Slam-going with 4-card support (opener now bids a singleton)
3 Bergen Raise: 7 - 9 FP, 4-card support
3 Bergen Raise: Invite, 4-card support
3 (over 1) Invite or better, 3-card , 4+ (fit jump)
3M 0 - 6 FP, 4-card support
3NT No splinter (12 - 15 balanced with fit)

2/1 is not game forcing, and specific rules should be set out to know when the GF sets in.

  • Over a non-forcing bid (rebidding the major and 2NT) any bid is game forcing.
  • If opener bids a new suit below the opening suit, responder has 3 negative bids: 2NT, 2 in opener's first suit and 3 in his own suit.
  • If opener raises responder's suit this is GF.

    Interference after 1/

    A double is ignored. After an overcall, we distinguish between game forcing and invitational hands with fit:
  • The cuebid shows a GF hand with fit
  • 2NT shows an invitational hand with fit
  • A jump in a new suit is a fit jump
  • The jump cuebid is a splinter