D20 STRONG BIDS

BY OPENER

1. OPENING BIDS OF 2 (See D8 notes)

a) Opening Bid of 2NT, shows 20 -22 points balanced.

b) Opening Bids of 2¨, 2©, 2ª.

Shows 8 playing tricks and a strong 6 card suit with no more than 2 losers in the trump suit. With less than 8 points, responder bids 2NT negative. A 2 opener is forcing for one round and forcing to game after a positive response.Change of suit after negative is forcing for 1 round.

c) Opening Bid of 2§

Shows 23 or more points, or a guarantee of game in hand. Respond 2¨ with less than 8 points All sequences must lead to game except, 2§ 2¨ 2NT (showing balanced 23 to 24)

Having opened with a bid of 2, relax and bid your hand economically in the knowledge that partner knows you have a huge hand with lots of tricks. Do not jump the auction unnecessarily unless you have extra assets that you have not already shown with the powerful opening bid.

2. STRONG HANDS NOT WORTH AN OPENING 2 BID

Open 1 of your best suit then;

a) Rebid in No trumps.
Shows strong balanced handNot forcing

See NT ladder, D1 e.g 1§ 1¨ 2NT

b) Reverse after 1 level response
.Shows 16 points, 5/4 distribution (or longer)e.g 1§ 1ª 2© . Not forcing

c) Reverse after 2 level response
Shows 16 points, 5/4 distribution (or longer)e.g. 1© 2§ 2ª .Forcing to game

d) Bid second suit at 3 level after 1 level response
Shows about 19 points and 5/4.(or longer)
e.g. 1© 1ª 3¨ .Forcing to game

e) Bid second suit at 3 level after 2 level response
Shows about 17 points and 5/4.(or longer). Forcing to game
e.g. 1 © 2§ 3¨ or 1© 2¨ 3§

BY RESPONDER

3. RESPONDER'S JUMP IN A NEW SUIT (THE 'JUMP SHIFT')

If you jump bid in a new suit after partner's 1 level opener, e.g.1 ª 3§, you show game values, (at least 14 points) and a good club suit. The auction then proceeds normally until game or slam is reached. Some partnerships insist on 16 points.

The modern approach, which I recommend, is use this bid to show only one of 2 hand types;

a) A very powerful self supporting suit with overall game values ,at least 14 points,

orb) A useful suit and 4 card support for opener's suit, too strong (more than 15 points)to support with a bid of 4. Examples below of a bid of 3 ¨ bid over partner's opening bid of 1ª.

Hand 1		Hand 2		Hand 3		Hand4
ª K 10 8 7		ª J 3		ª A 3 2		ª J 9 6 5 4
© A K 3		© A 10 3		© K 3		© K 3
¨ A Q 5 4		¨ K Q J 10 9 3		¨ A K Q 10 9 8		¨ K Q 5 4
§ J 10		§ A K		§ 10 2		§ A K

4. RESPONDER'S STRONG HANDS NOT WORTH AN IMMEDIATE JUMP

Respond in your best suit then;

a) Change of suit at 2 level
Shows at least 11 pointsForcing one round 4/4 shape or longere.g. 1 ¨ 1ª 2¨ 2©

b) New suit at the 3 level.
Shows at least 14 pointsForcing to game 4/4 shape or longere.g. 1 ª 2¨ 2ª 3§

Reminder ; remember that jump support of partner's suit is a non forcing limit bid so sequences such as 1ª 3ª or 1§ 1¨ 1© 3§ or 1§ 1¨ 3¨ are not forcing.