Protest Core System
May. 31st, 2007 03:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jl8eMore bridge esoterica.
I still need to clean up some of the formatting, but all the major points of the system are now here.
2. HAND EVALUATION
NOTRUMP BIDDING
The Milton Work 4-3-2-1 point count is not perfect for notrump bidding, but it is a lot more accurate than anything that is not much more complicated. Its main defect is its failure to take into account the strength of card combinations or the combining effect of points in long suits. Obviously,
S: AKxxxx H: Axxx D: xx C: x
is very much better than
S: xxxxxx H: Qxxx D: AK C: A
even though the second hand has the same distribution and two points more. Likewise,
S: AKQJx H: AKx D: Ax C: Qxx
is about three tricks better than
S: AQx H: AKQ D: AQx C: Qxxx
even though they are both 23 point notrump type hands. Still, if you make sensible adjustments for running suits, and remember to have stops in side suits, "25 points is game" is a reasonable notrump rule.
THE LOSING TRICK COUNT
The Losing Trick Count (LTC) is a hand evaluation method particularly suited for determining whether to go to game or not once a trump suit has been agreed. In its original form, it was a complete hand evaluation system for both notrump and suit contracts, but under the care of M. Harrison-Gray in particular, its true home has been found. A number of systems use it as being appropriate under certain conditions, including Blue Team Club, ROMEX, Roman Club, and Breakthrough Club. Its principles are as follows.
In a flat Yarborough, there are twelve losers if we can chose the trump suit—the long trump takes care of the other loser. In a suit of two cards or longer, each Ace or King takes care of one loser, and in a three card or longer suit, the Queen disposes of another loser provided it has something to support it. The Jack or a fourth card is probably enough to provide this support. You count at most three losers in a suit; if you have a doubleton, it counts as two losers unless it contains the Ace or King; a singleton is a loser unless it is the Ace.
You and your partner start with potentially 24 losers between you. If you have enough trumps, a ten trick contract needs you to be able to reduce that number to 14, an eleven trick contract to 13. The simple-minded rule is to add your losing trick count to your partner's, and subtract the total from eighteen to determine the level at which you should play.
A little experimenting will show you that a normal minimum opening hand has about seven losers. So, by the rules above, a minimum opener opposite a minimum opener should make a major suit game if a fit can be found. This conforms to normal expectations. Where the LTC really comes into its own is when one hand is light on points but has shape. Thus if partner opens 1H and you hold
S: Kxxxx H: Axxx D: xxx C: x
your LTC is eight. Added to partner's expected seven losers, you can perfectly reasonably make an invitational raise to 3H. Partner now knows that you have an eight loser hand, and will raise to 4H if he only has six losers. Try constructing a few normal 1H hands, decide if you would go to game opposite a limit raise, and then see how many tricks you would normally make with the above dummy.
S: Axx H: KJxxx D: KQxx C: x or
S: xxx H: KQxxx D: Ax C: AQx or
S: x H: KJxxxx D: AQxx C: xx
are all perfectly reasonable heart games (take note of that last one!). Who says you need 9-11 points to make a limit raise?
Needless to say, the basic LTC has problems. You should take something off for a shortage of Aces; if you might not be able to ruff often enough, you should add a second loser for your singleton. 4-4-4-1 hands in particular are dangerous in this regard. If you have a potential 4-3 fit, you should add a loser. However, there are compensating gains. A 5-5 fit missing the AKQ should only be counted for two losers; any nine card fit is worth a bonus. The trump Queen in a three-card suit disposes of a loser. A suit headed by the AJ10 should only be counted as one loser. An opponent's bid can promote or demote the value of your holding.
The LTC loses accuracy as you approach the six-level. The reasons are fairly obvious. The higher you get, the proportionately more important Aces become. Missing an important King at the seven level gives you about a 50% chance of making your contract. Missing the Ace reduces that chance to close to zero. A combined LTC of 11 is not enough if you are missing the trump Ace!
Whether a hand is worth opening or not can be related to the losing trick count. If you have a couple of defensive tricks (tricks you can expect to make if opponents choose trumps), then you can open all sorts of light hands with a LTC of seven. There is a caveat to this. If you have a misfit, your system must be able to brake abruptly. If you play 2-over-1 game forcing, you can not really open
S: AJ10xxx H: x D: Axxx C: xx
because you have no playable game if partner has something like a 1-5-3-4 minimum opener.
Conversely, it does not make much sense to open
S: AKxx H: Axxx D: xx C: xxx
without special methods, because responder will go to game with
S: Jxx H: Qxxx D: Kx C: AKxx
and your chances of making 4H are about as miserable as they can be.
PROTEST allows reasonably light openings, but it frowns upon opening junk 11 counts. You will open most 12 counts; you can open a 9-count that looks good enough. You do not open 4-3-3-3 hands with Ace-Ace-King. The simple rule is that if responder has a normal opening bid opposite, do you want to be in game? If you hold
S: Axx H: Kxxx D: KJx C: xxx
and hear partner open 1H, you probably will not bid more than 3H–your losing trick count is nine. That means that the above hand is not good enough to open. However, if you have
S: AJ10xxx H: Axxx D: xxx C: x
and hear partner open 1H, you are not going to stop short of game. Therefore, you have a legitimate opening
bid.
General guidelines for a 1-level opening bid should be:
a) any 13 or more point hand (almost) or
b) most 12 point hands that can be opened 1NT or have a sound rebid
c) 8 to 11 point hands that have a LTC of not more than seven, and have 2 defensive (honor) tricks, and have a rebid, and have points in long suits.
3. NOTRUMP SEQUENCES
THE RANGES OF NOTRUMP BIDS
(In the following sequences, opponents are well-mannered (silent). "Grapes" and "Plums" are indeterminate suits, with Plums being higher ranked than Grapes.)
ONE NOTRUMP AND RESPONSES
Balanced hands have special rules. 1NT* is reserved for 12 to bad 16 point balanced hands that have no 4-card major, unless the distribution is 4-3-3-3. Hands with a good 16 to 19 points that conform to the same rules are opened with one of a minor, with a notrump rebid, possibly a jump. Stronger balanced hands start with 2NT, 2C, or occasionally 1C*.
How do manage this wide a range 1NT*? One or two things have to change. We need 2C* as an inquiry as to both strength and shape; since our range of descriptive responses is extensive, 2C has to promise enough to go to game if opener has a maximum. To meet this requirement, what have we lost? The ability to respond 2C (Stayman) with 4-4-5-0 hands and a load of junk? Not too disastrous if you have some sort of escape sequence over a double. The bad result is still the -200 on a part score hand. Playing 2NT on a combined 22 count? It happens. It will happen if you play other systems, too, but admittedly less often. I contend that the advantages of playing the wider range Notrump (better exploration on slam hands or minor suit game hands, less information given to opponents on true part score hands, missing fewer 2H or 2S contracts) outweigh this loss.
Since 1NT* shows 12-16 points and a balanced hand and is not made with a 4-card major and a doubleton, we do not need 2C* as Stayman in its normal sense. We use it as a "Size Asking" bid, showing at least enough values to be going to game if opener has 15-16 points. The bid may be made on much stronger hands; but hands that want to invite game in a suit facing a 12-14 point notrump start out with a transfer.
Opener responds to 2C* as follows:
2D* shows 12 or a poor 13 points, with any distribution. It is bid with a hand that would pass an invitational 2NT if we were playing a "conventional" 12-14 point notrump.
e.g. S: KJxx H: Kxx D: Axx C: Jxx
or S: K84 H: QJ3 D: AK C: 87642
2H* shows a good 13 or 14 points, with exactly 3 hearts and 2 spades.
e.g. S: Kx H: Kxx D: AQxx C: Q10xx
or S: K9 H: J86 D: Q86 C: AQJ64
2S* shows the same strength with the major suits the other way round.
e.g. S: Kx H: Kxx D: AQxx C: Q10xx
or S: A86 H: K10 D:K1096 C: QJ64
2NT* promises the same strength, and at least 3 cards in each major.
e.g. S: Kxx H: Kxx D: AQxx C: Q10x
or S: KJ10 H: 1086 D: Qx C: AQJ64
3C* shows 15-16 points and a 5–3–3–2 distribution with either minor.
e.g. S: Kx H: Kxx D: AQx C: K10xxx
3D* shows 15-16 points and 4-4 in the minors.
e.g. S: Kx H: Kxx D: AQxx C: K10xx
or S: A42 H: KJ4 D: A865 C: A73
3H/S* show 15-16 points, and a 4-card major in a 4-3-3-3 hand.
e.g. S: Kxx H: Kxxx D: AQx C: K10x
or S: A432 H: KJ4 D: A86 C: A75
3NT* shows 15-16 points, and a 4-card minor in a 4-3-3-3 hand.
e.g. S: Kxx H: Kxx D: AQxx C: K10x
or S: A43 H: KJ4 D: A86 C: A754
After any of the 2-level rebids, a pass is (obviously) to play, as is a minimum rebid in a major or notrump. If responder bids 3C* on the second round, she is asking about distribution. Opener bids 3D* with five cards in either minor (3H* now asks which, to which 3S shows clubs and 3NT shows diamonds); a four card major; or 3NT otherwise. The catalog of sequences is:
1NT 2C "Describe"
2H/S 3C "Describe further"
3M (3–card suit) 4–4 minors, good three-card, bad two–card majors
3M (2–card suit) 4–4 minors, good stop in doubleton (Ax, Kx)
3NT Qx or Jx doubleton
2NT 3C "Describe further"
3H 4 hearts (hence 3-4-3-3)
3S 4 spades (hence 4-3-3-3)
3NT 4 card minor (hence 3-3-4-3 o 3-3-3-4)
Bids at the 3-level that have not been covered so far are game forcing. If opener has not specifically defined the majors, then 3C* can be used to ask for major suit definition. So
1NT* 2C*; 2NT* 3C*; 3S 4S
If the bidding goes
1NT* 2C*; 2D* 3H (or 3S )
opener is expected to bid a 4-card major if possible. Remember, opener can not be 4-2 in the majors, so responder can correct if she does not have 5-4 in the majors. Opener only rebids 3NT with the wrong 3-2 in the majors. So, for example
Over 2H* or 2S*, showing 3-2 in the majors, we do not need the inquiry bids in this form. They take on meanings intended to avoid 3NT with the short suit exposed. So, a raise of the 3-card suit shows a fairly good 4-card holding, and is suggesting an alternative to 3NT. Opener can now bid 3NT with both minors; bid a minor at the 4-level with a 5-card suit; or with supporting values in the major, bid game directly. The bidding can otherwise stop in 4C or 4D.
The sequence
1NT* 2C*; 2S* 3H;
is to play, for instance on
but the other 3-level sequences are free for alternative uses.
1NT* 2C*; 2H/S* 3D*;
is used as an inquiry about the short major. Opener bid 3NT with Kx or better in the major; bids 3NT with Qx or Jx in the minor, or rebids the 3-card major. This allows responder to play in 3NT with something like Kxx opposite Qx, or if a 6-card suit is solidified by the high honor. The sequence could, of course, also be the start of better things.
The sequences
1NT* 2C*; 2H* 3S;
or 1NT* 2C*; 2NT* 3D;
or 1NT* 2C*; 2D* 3D;
have no meaning—yet!
Sequences where opener rebids at the 3-level are game forcing. Since opener has given both shape and strength fairly precisely, any non-game bid by responder is some slam try. Opener should now bid suits with values.
TRANSFER RESPONSES
PROTEST uses 4-way transfers: 2D* and 2H* are more or less normal transfers to hearts and spades; and 2S* and 2NT* are transfers to clubs and diamonds. We don't need minor suit Stayman or an invitational 2NT, as both these hand-types are covered by 2C* Size-Asking.
2C* Size-Asking also affects some of the 2D/H transfer sequences. We have no need to transfer with game forcing hands containing 5-4 in the majors, as again the 2C* sequences provide the mechanisms for those hands. Also, the NT structure means that we do not need an invitational sequence for the hand with 5 spades and 4 hearts. The sequence
1NT* 2H*; 2S 2NT;
may conceal 4 hearts, but we know that if opener has 4 hearts, he must have 3 spades, and so can bid 3H or 4H to suggest a 4-4 heart contract instead of the 5-3 spade equivalent. For instance
For "invitational" purposes, we always assume that opener has 12-14 points. If opener needs 15-16 points to justify our game ambitions, then we should start with a 2C response. Thus, a sequence
1NT* 2D*; 2H 2NT;
shows the usual 11-12 point hand with 5 hearts.
There are some sequences left over. We do not need
1NT* 2H*; 2S 3H*;
for invitational 5-4 hands; we use it to show 5-5 invitational hands.
1NT* 2D*; 2H 3S*;
shows the same shape but is game forcing.
Transfers to the minors can be any strength. So that we can sort out the hands where responder wants to make a 3NT try based on a 6-card minor needing a filler, opener bids 2NT* over 2S* (or 3C* over 2NT*) if he does NOT want to accept the invitation if offered. A direct bid of the intended minor says he would accept that invitation. Responder now settles in 3 of the minor, shows a second suit, or bids 3NT depending on her original intentions.
Jumps to the three-level are one-suited slam tries. So
1NT* 3D*; 3H
would be showing a heart control, while agreeing to investigate a diamond slam.
An immediate 4C is Gerber; a transfer followed by 4C is Roman Key Card Gerber; 4C in almost any sequence is Gerber if it is the second or fourth bid. The only exception is in the set of sequences
1NT* 2C*; 3H*/3S*/3NT*
where 4C is now a natural bid, at least game forcing.
1NT* 2C*; 3NT* 4C; 4D
shows a 4-card diamond suit; responder could still be looking for a 4-4 minor fit. [4NT in any of these sequences is natural, expressing no further slam investigative interest.]
On any sequence where 4C is Gerber, 4NT is quantitative. Since it will almost always be preceded by 2C* Size-Asking, opener should decide whether to go on based on the nature of controls held. If he decides to bid on, he should show suits; responder may still be interested in 4-4 or 5-4 fits.
TWO NOTRUMPS
PROTEST naturally has a special set of responses to 2NT. However, 2NT sequences are comparatively rare, so for the moment we will ignore such luxuries. 2NT is 21-22, responses are as in "Standard".
SAMPLE HANDS
4. OPENING BIDS AT THE 2-LEVEL
PROTEST has special uses for 2-bids other than 2 Clubs. Actually, even 2 Clubs is a bit diferent, but for basic PROTEST you can use any structure that has 2 Clubs almost forcing to game.
2D*, 2H*, and 2S* are adapted from the Roman System. They show minimum openers with specific hand patterns.
2 DIAMONDS*
shows any 4–4–4–1 hand with 11–15 points, with some special rules about counting points in the short suit. You discount short suit points by two, so an Ace is worth 2 HCP, and a Queen is worth nothing. If responder does not have values to try for game, he bids his cheapest suit with four or more cards. So, with
S: Q10xx H: Axx D: — C: Qxxxxx
the response is 2S, not 3C.
Opener will now pass unless she is short in the suit bid, when she will bid the next suit up (2NT over 2S with 14–15 points, as an option to play there). Responder now passes or places the contract. If opener is maximum and really likes responder's 2H or 2S bid, she may raise.
If responder is prepared to play in diamonds opposite a singleton, he may pass 2D. It is obviously sensible to try to make 2D rather than anything else if you hold
S: x H: Qx D: Q10xxxxx C: Qxx
If responder wants to try for game, he bids 2NT asking about opener's singleton. Opener bids the suit below the singleton. If responder now bids four of a minor, opener may pass with about 11–12 points, but otherwise you play in game after a 2NT response. A jump to 4NT on the second round by responder is straight Blackwood. Responder does have another asking bid available, namely a bid of the singleton suit. We use this to ask opener how many honor (quick) tricks she has, with the first step being 1.5 honor tricks, the second being 2, and so on in half-quick tricks. (Honor (Quick) tricks are defined as being tricks you expect to take on defense with little danger of being trumped. The complete list of possible contributions to your honor trick count is
AK=2
AQ=1.5
A=1
KQ=1
Kx=0.5
Responder is often able to work out from knowledge of the short suit, his own hand, and the honor trick count, just where the contract should be placed, provided he has enough to be thinking about slam. In cases of doubt, he can ask for Aces using the cheaper of a repeat "singleton" bid or 4NT; or ask for responder's lowest ranked good suit (one or more honor tricks) using the more expensive of the two. However, both 3NT and a jump in the short suit are to play.
WARNING: This scheme of responses to 2D is volatile and likely to change. We are experimenting with transfers, losing trick count responses, and top trick responses, as well as asking bids in specific suits.
Anything may happen!
Responder should remember that 4–4–4–1 hands frequently do not play well, and be conservative in game tries.
2 HEARTS*
is modified Roman (weaker than the original), showing 10–14 HCP, 5 or 6 hearts, and 4 or 5 clubs.
Typical examples are:
S: Qx H: AQxxx D: x C: Kxxx
S: AKQ H: Kxxxx D: x C: Jxxx
Responses: Responder often knows where to place the contract. Contrary to original Roman procedures, 2S and 3D are not forcing, but are to play despite opener's warning. A bid of 3C is correction and expected to be passed. A raise of hearts is invitational, and a raise to 4H is pre-emptive or expecting to make. Responder should take note of the position of honor cards when deciding to raise or pass. Cards in clubs and heartts are far more valuable than in the other suits. For instance,
S: xxxx H: Q10xx D: xxx C: KQ
is worth a raise to 3H, because the well placed honor cards cover three of opener's presumed six or seven losers on the LTC.
Any time responder wants to force, he has to jump in diamonds or spades, or bid 2NT. 2NT asks opener to define his shape according to the following schedule:
3C = 2-5-2-4
3D = 1-5-3-4
3H = 6 hearts (club rebid shows 5)
3S = 3-5-1-4
3NT = 2-5-1-5 or 1-5-2-5
4C = 3-5-0-5
4D = 0-5-3-5
Responder should now be well able to judge the final contract. For instance, with
S: AQxxx H: xx D: KQx C: Axx
after
2H–2NT; 3C–3NT
2H–2NT; 3D–3NT
2H–2NT; 3H–4H
2H–2NT; 3S–4S
2H–2NT; 3NT–4C (invitational)
2H–2NT; 4C–4S
2H–2NT; 4D–5C
2 SPADES*
shows a similar hand with Spades. The responses are similar, with obvious transpositions of hearts and spades.
SAMPLE HANDS
5. MAJOR SUIT OPENINGS
There are two convincing sounding arguments for using a 5-card major style. First, it is more risky to bid in a major; responder has less of the one-level to try to find a fit if a misfit threatens. Obviously, if you open the higher level 1H or 1S only if you have a 5-card suit, the danger of a total misfit is much less. However, the argument is much weaker if you consider that in "Standard" American, responder keeps the bidding open on next to nothing, anyway; and in modern bidding style there is a much greater appreciation of the need to keep opponents out of the auction. If you open 5-card majors, you lose the pre-emptive effect of 1 spade on a 4-card suit.
Second, according to the 5-card major school, responder often needs to know whether opener has 4 or 5 cards in an opened major suit. In traditional style, where you open your longest suit first, you tend to open one of a major on a 4-card suit only if you have spade-heart or heart-diamond hands. It costs little, the argument goes, to make a conventional treatment out of the tendency to have 5 cards in a bid major, and it makes life so much easier for responder. The whole argument makes some sense if you play a 12-14 point NT, so that most of your 4-4 hands you start with a pre-emptive 1NT anyway (Kaplan and Sheinwold's reason), but if you play a strong notrump, there isn't much sense at all to making life easy for opponents as well as for partner.
PROTEST takes the view that it is more pre-emptive to opponents to open the more common 4-card major, and equally helpful to partner to know that you do NOT have a 5-card suit if you open 1H* or 1S*. It resolves the should-I-raise-on-three dilemma just as clearly as if you insist on having five; if you open one of a minor; responder can make opener's life easier because he need not show a major shorter than 5; and if opponents insist on joining in over 1D* or 1C*, it is much easier to introduce a second suit if there are 5 of it; and it is easier to produce a negative double if you only need 3-card suits. Besides, opponents may step in to an unannounced 5-card suit, and that can be profitable!
The PROTEST principle is that you almost always open a 4-card major suit if you have one in a biddable hand; you "never" open a major with exactly 5 cards. (You can with a fairly weak opening with a good suit, but you have to be prepared to pretend that the suit is 6 carded. Don't do it!)
There are naturally exceptions to the "rule". You do not, or need not, open a 4-card major under the following circumstances:
6-CARD SUITS
In general, any suit that is bid and rebid has 6 cards. The exception is clubs; a rebid could be made with 5 clubs and 4 diamonds.
Some sample sequences:
1H*—1S; 2D*—2NT; 3D tends to show 4 hearts and 6 diamonds.
1H*—1S; 2H shows a 6-card heart suit.
4-4 IN THE MAJORS
The standard PROTEST way to bid these hands is to open 1H*, allowing responder to show a 4-card spade suit at the one level. This is the only 1-level ambiguous sequence–opener does not know whether responder has 4 spades or more. If partner bids at the 2-level, we have sequences available to find a lurking 4-4 spade fit. We will get into those later, when we consider opener's rebid. The exception to opening 1H is when the hand is a minimum opener not particularly suited to notrumps, with a very good heart suit. Here, it may be better to treat the hand as 4-5 in the majors. For example, with
S: KJxx H: AKJ10 D: xx C: xxx
you should open 1S and rebid 2H after a 2-level response.
NORMAL RESPONSES
The rules for simple (non-jump) responses are easy. A 2-level response is expected either to have at least 10 points or a good line of argument for the post-mortem. 1NT is not forcing, but it will only be passed if opener has 4-4-3-2 and 12-15+ points. It should therefore show a normal 6-9 points. Of course, if you positively hate partner's 4-card major, you can bid 1NT on somewhat less, hoping that partner shows a second suit. If you do, of course by simple application of Murphy's law, opener will now raise notrumps, so be careful! 1S over 1H* shows at least a 4-card suit. It can be made on 4 cards since opener normally opens 1H with 4-4 in the majors.
LIMIT RAISES
We play standard limit raises over 1H* or 1S*; remember that you need 4-card support to do it! You get plenty of chance to find Moysian fits later.
We tend to use the losing trick count to determine whether to raise to two or to three.
A direct raise to four of the major is made on distributional rather than high card values. As with any other pre-emptive bid, the direct raise should deny two first round controls.
2-LEVEL RESPONSES
Since a 2-level response shows 10 or more points, it promises another bid under normal circumstances. If opener raises responder's suit, or jumps to the 3-level in his own suit, or bids game, then responder may pass with a minimum (see the next section on opener's rebids). The first two of these are systemic, showing specific minimum hands. The third type is obvious–opener is bidding what he thinks he can make.
OPENER'S REBIDS
If opener can and does rebid 1NT*, then he shows a balanced hand with four hearts and a 4-card minor. His point range is the same as the opening 1NT bid, 12-16. This sounds too wide for comfort, but we have a specific tool to handle the range.
Eric Crowhurst came up with this solution for some problems in Acol sequences where it was convenient to bid 1NT with quite a wide range of values. His solution was to use an artificial 2C bid to ask about the range of opener's bid if responder had enough to invite game. For the sequence
1H*—1S; 1NT*
we need the same tool; our responses are naturally different.
After 1H*—1S; 1NT*—2C* (inquiry), opener bids as follows:
One fly in the ointment. Responder may have had a junk hand with four spades and six clubs. He could not stand 1NT, so he wants to play in clubs, at as low a level as possible. Unfortunately, the level becomes the 3-level because of the convention. Therefore, opener must never go beyond 3C, and responder is allowed to bid or pass 3C to play there. Apart from this offbeat case, all of opener's rebids of 2S or higher are game forcing.
If responder bids 1NT, opener normally rebids a 5-card suit. At the 2-level, this can be passed (it won't be if responder is maximum), so opener must jump with 18 points or so. Even the strong sounding sequence
1H*-1NT; 2S*
is made on minimum values; responder will often pass.
If opener has a balanced 12-16 hand, he will pass 1NT. Beware of the 16 point hand; even if responder has nine points, you need a pretty good 16 to be in a reasonable game. Both hands are probably balanced.
We would like to be able to distinguish between strongly invitational and game forcing jumps to the three level, particularly when opener is 5–4 in the majors. After a little experimenting, we believe that having all jumps to the three level by opener should show the suit above, and be strongly invitational to game at least. Responder will only make a minimum rebid if he is unprepared to play in game in the denomination implied. For instance, the sequence
1H*–1NT; 3H*–3S; pass
is possible; therefore responder must be careful to avoid accepting the transfer if he wants to play in game with a 17 point hand opposite.
Two points to note with these transfers.
a) A transfer to the original major shows a 6-card suit, and can now be made on a hand that is going to game opposite any minimum, but wants to suggest 3NT as an alternative contract.
e.g. 1H*–1NT; 3D*–3H; 3NT.
b) A transfer to a minor should be very good. 3S* (transfer to clubs) allows responder to suggest 3NT below the second suit; therefore 3NT is always a possible contract after a rebid at the 3–level.
Now for the second major innovation of the system (no 5-card majors was the first). We must have a method to distinguish between minimum and game going hands opposite a 10-count. This is a problem peculiar to Canapé systems, but "Standard" American has some problems here.
In "Standard", a responder who bids a new suit at the 2-level is expected to bid again, so he must really have better than a 10-count. (Hence two-over-one game forcing, but I believe that distorts too many sequences too much - but that is a different argument!)
In PROTEST, a non-reverse bid by opener after a 2-level response shows the obvious pattern. Responder must bid again, so opener's simple rebid can have a wide range. So
1H*—2C; 2D*
shows 4 hearts, 5 or more diamonds, and more or less any strength that has not been eliminated by the failure to open 2C.
If opener has to reverse to show shape, we have a different problem. We really do not want to distort responder's requirements for a 2-bid any more than we have to, so we need to be able to distinguish between minimum 4 spade, 5 club hands and good ones.
A simple observation is necessary here. Opener with a weak hand and 6 spades can not play in 2 spades after a 2 over 1 response! Once we get that statement out of the way, we have no reason for opener to have to bid 2S to show such a hand - he can jump to 3S. In the history of PROTEST, we have tried a number of options, including making opener's rebid of 2NT forcing and artificial. However, the most efficient structure is to make all bids from a rebid of opener's suit to the denomination below responder's suit transfers. The complete catalog of transfers is:
1S* - 2C : Transfers are 2S* => 2NT; 2NT* => 3C
1S* - 2D : 2S* => 2NT; 2NT* => 3C; 3C* => 3D
1S* - 2H : 2S* => 2NT; 2NT* => 3C; 3C* => 3D; 3D* => 3H
1H* - 2C : 2H* => 2S; 2S* => 2NT; 2NT* => 3C
1H* - 2D : 2H* => 2S; 2S* => 2NT; 2NT* => 3C; 3C* => 3D
This leaves three other bids. A direct jump to 3 of opener's major* shows a generally weak hand with a 6-card suit and no reasonable support for responder's suit. A direct raise of responder's suit* shows the same sort of hand with 3-card support for partner. A jump in the intermediate suit* (e.g. 1H*—2C; 3D*) shows 6 cards in the major, 4 cards in the suit just bid, and too good a hand to want to let the bidding die in a part score.
The transfers themselves need some explaining. First, since opener is allowed to pass responder's acceptance of the transfer if he has a minimum hand, responder must bid something else with more values. Since responder might not have extra values and might hate the transfer denomination, the following rebids also show no extra values:
- A rebid of 2NT
- A rebid of responder's suit
- A raise of opener's first suit
(e.g. 1S* – 2H; 3C* – 3S with S: Kxx H: AKxxx D: x C: xxxx)
A transfer to 2NT, followed by a rebid of either 3NT or opener's suit shows 17 or more points.
A transfer to 2NT, followed by a rebid in some other suit (including responder's) shows 15-16 points, a generally balanced hand, and some sort of concern about 3NT (usually a weakness in an unbid suit).
A transfer to another suit, followed by a rebid of 3NT, shows the same sort of hand with 17 or more points.
A transfer to another suit, followed by a rebid of opener's major, shows 15-16 points, a 6-card suit, and values (not necessarily length) in the implied suit.
The sequence
1H*—2C/D; 2H*—2S; 2NT*
shows 12-14 points with 4-4 in the majors. Responder with a 10-point hand can now choose between 2NT, 3S, or 3 of the minor.
1H/S*—2 new suit; 2S*
can be 12-14 balanced, as well as the various strong meanings already described. So
1S*—2D; 2S*—2NT;
Pass is weak
3C* or 3D* shows 15-16 with support or values in the suit bid
3S* shows 17+ with 6 spades
3NT* shows 17+ balanced without support
STRONG RESPONSES
We use a fairly normal set of strong responses to opening major suit bids. We don't demand a super rock-crusher to make a jump shift, but we do have rules about what is not allowed. We use Jacoby 2NT for the game forcing raise with a balanced hand - responses are not quite standard, because of the Canapé sequences, but are clearly recognizable. A direct jump to 3NT shows a 3-3-3-4 13-15 point hand.
JUMP SHIFTS
The basic rationale for a jump shift is that responder has a better than opening hand and a potential problem with a rebid next round. Consequently, responder does NOT have 2 suits of his own, unless one is also partner's. It is important to realize that responder does not need a huge hand. Those hands are not the problem. A jump shift shows something like a king better than an opener and no convenient way to show it. It is a MILD slam try!
A jump shift promises either:
a) a 1-suited hand (will be followed either by a rebid of the suit or by 4NT—RKC in responder's suit.)
b) a strong suit with good support for partner's suit (will either raise partner's suit or CUE-BID on the next round)
c) 16+ balanced—will tend to rebid NT or raise opener's second suit.
The rebid b) needs remembering. A raise of opener's second suit shows hand type c); a new suit shows hand type b) and is a cue-bid; 4NT shows an "I don't care about your support" type suit.
After a jump shift, opener should bid naturally. No transfers or things like that - we no longer need them because the auction is unconditionally forcing to game.
JACOBY 2NT*
Jacoby 2NT* over 1H* or 1S* normally shows 4-card support, a fairly balanced hand, and about 13-16 points. Since responder has not used a splinter bid, the hand usually contains no singleton or void. The 2NT bid asks opener to describe his hand further, according to the following schedule.
SPLINTERS
PROTEST has a variant on these, too, but it is not essential. For the time being, stick to the standard kind.
SAMPLE HANDS
6. OPENING ONE DIAMOND
An opening bid of one diamond has a slightly different flavor from the major suit openings. You can open 1D* with a 5-card suit! The bid shows at least 4 diamonds; the hand may have a 5-card major, but it will not have a longer club suit. For practical reasons, club–diamond hands are opened in the traditional order—longer suit first, or diamonds with equal length. If you open these hands Canapé style, there are difficulties with 5 diamonds and 4 clubs. It's fine to open 1C* and reverse into diamonds if you have some extra values, but if you have to bid 1D*-1H*; 2D with 13 points and 5-4 in the minors, you have to go to the 3-level to find a club part score. If you bid the club–diamond hands in a traditional manner, then after 1C—1H; 2C it is intuitively easier to find your 4-4 diamond fit. This may seem a small point—it is a small point—but in trying the system out on hands from assorted sources, it became an annoyance to keep the Canapé sequences for the minors.
1D* is never opened on a balanced hand except for hands with a good 16 to 19 with a diamond suit. 12-16 point hands are opened with 1NT. This simple statement leads to an interesting development - opener will almost never pass a 1NT response! Either his hand is good enough to raise notrumps, or his hand is sufficiently unbalanced to bid a second suit. The ACBL general conventions chart does not allow 1NT to be forcing opposite 1D, and we can probably dream up a hand with a weak six card diamond suit that would like to play in 1NT. However, responder should work on the assumption that opener will bid again. However, a 1NT* response does need alerting, as responder will routinely bypass a four card major.
1H* and 1S* responses to 1D* normally show a 5-card suit. Under duress, you can respond on a 4-card suit if you don't have much and 4-1 in the majors, since you really do want to try to dissuade partner from bidding the other major. If opener raises you suit with only three cards, you are probably in as good (bad?) a spot as any.
eg: S: Axxx H: x D: Kxx C: xxxxx
or: S: KJ10xx H: xxx D: A10x C: Kx
are both 1S* responses to 1D*
Opener's rebids after a major suit response include some offbeat notions. Rebids in diamonds and and clubs are as one would expect—opener has six diamonds to rebid diamonds, and promises at least five diamonds and at least four clubs to bid clubs (unbalanced, remember). If opener has a balanced hand, it is good enough to rebid 2NT, showing a good 16 to 18 points.
Since 1NT is not needed in its natural sense, we can use it to clarify the strength of hands with a five card major and four diamonds. Opener rebids 1NT over either 1H or 1S if he has not more than 14 HCP, one or two cards in the bid major, five cards in the other major, and four diamonds. A bid of the other major promises more points or more diamonds, and just possibly has three card support for the bid suit. This is fairly natural if the sequence is
1D–1S; 2H
(remembering that reverses in PROTEST can be passed), but is less obvious to the uninitiated on the sequence
1D–1H; 1S.
Opener's other rebids after a major response are straightforward. 2D shows a 6-card suit; 2C shows 5-4 or better in diamonds and clubs; simple raises tend to show 3-card support and not too good a hand; double raises show either a good hand and 3-card support or 5-card support. Jumps in a new suit show at least 5 cards in that suit, game forcing values, and probably some tolerance for partner's suit (or why didn't opener start with 2C?).
But what if you have a club suit you want to play in, with a fairly weak hand? PROTEST allows that 2C* is potentially weaker than the normal 10+ points for a 2-over-1 response. It shows eight or more points, and is forcing as is any other change of suit by responder on the first round. So:
S: Kxxx H: Qx D: xxx C: Kxxx
is a minimum 2C* response.
INVERTED MINOR RAISES
After a 1D* opener, responder raises to 2D* with 4-card support, no 5-card major, and sufficient strength to play in at least 3D. It is forcing to at least 2NT or 3D. A direct raise of 1D* to 3D* is pre-emptive, and hardly ever used. After all, you don't really want to miss a 5-3 major fit. Therefore, responder will have a terrible hand with diamonds and possibly a 3-card major, or a very bad hand with diamonds and no 3-card major. Opener is not expected to bid again!
eg: S: Axx H: Kx D: K10xx C: xx (2D*)
S: Qx H: x D: Kxxxxx C: xxxx (3D*)
REVERSES
A reverse does not show a superabundance of strength as it does in Standard. Often, it shows no extra strength at all. For instance, with
S: AQxxx H: x D: AKxx C: xxx
you don't want to play in 1NT when partner responds 1NT to 1D. It is also likely that partner has three spades, so 2S is a sound rebid despite its sound of strength. Opener's reverses are not of themselves forcing in PROTEST.
JUMP SHIFTS
As over 1H or 1S, a jump shift promises either:
a) a 1-suited hand (will be followed either by a rebid of the suit or by 4NT - RKC in responder's suit.)
b) a strong suit with good support for partner's suit (will either raise partner's suit or CUE-BID on the next round)
c) 16+ balanced - will tend to rebid NT or raise opener's second suit.
Again, a jump shift is not two suited unless it has diamonds. It is not necessarily more than a mild slam try.
JUMPS IN NT
With a balanced hand and about 11 points, responder can bid 2NT* in response to 1D*, provided that he has 3 or 4 cards in each major. Opener now has a fairly good idea of where the hand is going, and can bid or pass accordingly. So
If opener has slam ambitions in a major after a 2NT response, he bids 4C to set the suit as hearts, and 4D to agree spades. Responder should now cue bid with any hand that looks mildly interesting for slam purposes. For example,
A direct jump to 3NT* shows some 3-3-3-4 hand with 13-15 points. Again, highly descriptive and limited.
DOUBLE JUMPS IN A MAJOR
Over a minor, we prefer to use these as natural limited descriptive bids rather than splinters. 1D*—3H* shows 5 hearts, 4-card diamond support, and 12-15 points. Again, opener should have a good idea as to what the right level and denomination are. Some examples:
S: AQxxx H: x D: KJxx C: Qxx
S: Kx H: KQxxx D: Axxx C: Kx
SAMPLE HANDS
7. OPENING ONE CLUB
Many systems use a one club opening as artificial and forcing. PROTEST does, too. Unlike most others, the bid of 1C* does not promise anything better than opening strength. The bid may be very strong; it may just show a minimum opener with 5-3-3-2 distribution (we sometimes do have a 5-card major!); it may be something in between. The main point is that responder must give opener another chance to bid.
The possible interpretations of 1C* are:
a) Genuine club suit, no second suit, unless the hand has 5 clubs and 4 diamonds.
eg: S: x H: Kxx D: AJxx C: KQxxx
b) Clubs and a five card major suit. If opener has this combination he also has 15 or more points or a club suit longer than the major. We have the 2H and 2S openers for hands of the appropriate shape that are weaker than about 15 HCP.
eg: S: x H: KQxxx D: AJx C: KQxx
but not: S: x H: KJxxx D: AJx C: KJxx (2H)
Occasionally, opener will have a super hand short of a 2C opener, with clubs and a five or six card major. Opener’s jump on the next round after a 1D* response promises at least four clubs and five or more of the jumped in major.
eg: S: KQJxxx H: A D: xx C: AKxx
However, a jump after a response of 1H* or 1S* does not promise clubs.
c) 5-3-3-2 hands with a 5-card major, any opening strength up to 20 points (just short of 2NT opening).
eg: S: xx H: KQxxx D: AJx C: KQx
or: S: KQJxx H: AJx D: AJx C: Kx
d) Good (15+) hand, 5-5 in the majors. 2D is the bid for weaker versions.
eg: S: AQJxx H: KQxxx D: Kx C: x
but not: S: AJxxx H: KJxxx D: x C: Kx (2D)
Since opener denies a major of exactly four cards, responder can ignore mere four card major suits. 5–4 fits will be found!
Opener's rebids are mainly intuitively obvious. Over 1C*-1D*; 1NT* shows a balanced good 16 to 18 points, and 2NT shows 19–20. Over major suit response, opener has to jump to 2NT* or 3NT* to show the strong notrump. In the interests of defining opener's strength and shape accurately, we adopt another "strange" use of 1NT after a major suit response. This one is different from the structure over 1D*, because we have another way of showing the minimum 5-4 hands - the intermediate 2-suited 2-bids. After
1C*—1H* or 1S*; 1NT*
shows a minimum balanced hand with 5 cards in the other major, and 2-card support for partner's suit.
eg: S: xx H: KQxxx D: Axx C: Kxx
1C*—1S*; 1NT*
The sequence
1C*—1H*; 1S*
therefore shows more points (15+), and does not yet say anything about club suit length. It shows much the same strength as a reverse when the majors are the other way round—that is, not forcing but better than average. For example:
S: AQxxx H: AJ D: x C: AJxx
1C*—1H*; 1S*
or S: Ax H: KQxxx D: Axx C: Kxx
1C*—1S*; 2H*
OPENER'S SUPER SUPPORT
If opener bids 1C* or 1D*, and receives a reply of 1H* or 1S*, we prefer to have the double jump available to show a super fit. For instance, if you hold
S: Kx H: AQJxx D: AJx C: Kxx
and the bidding has gone
1C - 1H;
we would like to use the wild leap to show
- a game-going hand (or better)
- a 5-5 fit
- values in the suit bid.
Note that we can not always use a splinter; hands such as the one above need a strong bid. With the above hand, we rebid 4D. A leap to 4C after 1C - 1H; would show a good 4-card club suit. After 1D - 1H; 4D tends to show 5 diamonds, but it might be something like AK10x or better.
A sequence starting with 1H or 1S does admit to using splinters by opener, so the following sequences all show a shortage in the last suit bid and game-going support for responder's suit.
1H - 1S; 4C
1S - 2H; 4D
1S - 2D; 4C
1S - 2C; 4H
Incidentally, opener's splinters can not be transfer (see section 11). With 2 suits bid already, it just does not work!
If responder bids 2NT* to 1C*, showing values and support for both majors, we need to be able to make slammish noises in either suit below the game level. We therefore harness jumps to 4C* to agree hearts, and 4D* to agree spades. Responder should consider her hand in the light of slam suitability, and cue bid if interested.
BIG HANDS
1C* can show big hands with both clubs and a major. A jump rebid in a major after 1D* promises genuine clubs as well as the suit bid. Responder may pass with utter junk; this means that opener must not be too good. After 1C* – 1H/S*; a jump in the other major by opener does not promise clubs; for instance, with
S: AKQJx H: xx D: AKQ C: xxx
1C* – 1H*; 2S
Jumps in diamonds still promise more clubs than diamonds.
SAMPLE HANDS
I still need to clean up some of the formatting, but all the major points of the system are now here.
2. HAND EVALUATION
NOTRUMP BIDDING
The Milton Work 4-3-2-1 point count is not perfect for notrump bidding, but it is a lot more accurate than anything that is not much more complicated. Its main defect is its failure to take into account the strength of card combinations or the combining effect of points in long suits. Obviously,
S: AKxxxx H: Axxx D: xx C: x
is very much better than
S: xxxxxx H: Qxxx D: AK C: A
even though the second hand has the same distribution and two points more. Likewise,
S: AKQJx H: AKx D: Ax C: Qxx
is about three tricks better than
S: AQx H: AKQ D: AQx C: Qxxx
even though they are both 23 point notrump type hands. Still, if you make sensible adjustments for running suits, and remember to have stops in side suits, "25 points is game" is a reasonable notrump rule.
THE LOSING TRICK COUNT
The Losing Trick Count (LTC) is a hand evaluation method particularly suited for determining whether to go to game or not once a trump suit has been agreed. In its original form, it was a complete hand evaluation system for both notrump and suit contracts, but under the care of M. Harrison-Gray in particular, its true home has been found. A number of systems use it as being appropriate under certain conditions, including Blue Team Club, ROMEX, Roman Club, and Breakthrough Club. Its principles are as follows.
In a flat Yarborough, there are twelve losers if we can chose the trump suit—the long trump takes care of the other loser. In a suit of two cards or longer, each Ace or King takes care of one loser, and in a three card or longer suit, the Queen disposes of another loser provided it has something to support it. The Jack or a fourth card is probably enough to provide this support. You count at most three losers in a suit; if you have a doubleton, it counts as two losers unless it contains the Ace or King; a singleton is a loser unless it is the Ace.
You and your partner start with potentially 24 losers between you. If you have enough trumps, a ten trick contract needs you to be able to reduce that number to 14, an eleven trick contract to 13. The simple-minded rule is to add your losing trick count to your partner's, and subtract the total from eighteen to determine the level at which you should play.
A little experimenting will show you that a normal minimum opening hand has about seven losers. So, by the rules above, a minimum opener opposite a minimum opener should make a major suit game if a fit can be found. This conforms to normal expectations. Where the LTC really comes into its own is when one hand is light on points but has shape. Thus if partner opens 1H and you hold
S: Kxxxx H: Axxx D: xxx C: x
your LTC is eight. Added to partner's expected seven losers, you can perfectly reasonably make an invitational raise to 3H. Partner now knows that you have an eight loser hand, and will raise to 4H if he only has six losers. Try constructing a few normal 1H hands, decide if you would go to game opposite a limit raise, and then see how many tricks you would normally make with the above dummy.
S: Axx H: KJxxx D: KQxx C: x or
S: xxx H: KQxxx D: Ax C: AQx or
S: x H: KJxxxx D: AQxx C: xx
are all perfectly reasonable heart games (take note of that last one!). Who says you need 9-11 points to make a limit raise?
Needless to say, the basic LTC has problems. You should take something off for a shortage of Aces; if you might not be able to ruff often enough, you should add a second loser for your singleton. 4-4-4-1 hands in particular are dangerous in this regard. If you have a potential 4-3 fit, you should add a loser. However, there are compensating gains. A 5-5 fit missing the AKQ should only be counted for two losers; any nine card fit is worth a bonus. The trump Queen in a three-card suit disposes of a loser. A suit headed by the AJ10 should only be counted as one loser. An opponent's bid can promote or demote the value of your holding.
The LTC loses accuracy as you approach the six-level. The reasons are fairly obvious. The higher you get, the proportionately more important Aces become. Missing an important King at the seven level gives you about a 50% chance of making your contract. Missing the Ace reduces that chance to close to zero. A combined LTC of 11 is not enough if you are missing the trump Ace!
Whether a hand is worth opening or not can be related to the losing trick count. If you have a couple of defensive tricks (tricks you can expect to make if opponents choose trumps), then you can open all sorts of light hands with a LTC of seven. There is a caveat to this. If you have a misfit, your system must be able to brake abruptly. If you play 2-over-1 game forcing, you can not really open
S: AJ10xxx H: x D: Axxx C: xx
because you have no playable game if partner has something like a 1-5-3-4 minimum opener.
Conversely, it does not make much sense to open
S: AKxx H: Axxx D: xx C: xxx
without special methods, because responder will go to game with
S: Jxx H: Qxxx D: Kx C: AKxx
and your chances of making 4H are about as miserable as they can be.
PROTEST allows reasonably light openings, but it frowns upon opening junk 11 counts. You will open most 12 counts; you can open a 9-count that looks good enough. You do not open 4-3-3-3 hands with Ace-Ace-King. The simple rule is that if responder has a normal opening bid opposite, do you want to be in game? If you hold
S: Axx H: Kxxx D: KJx C: xxx
and hear partner open 1H, you probably will not bid more than 3H–your losing trick count is nine. That means that the above hand is not good enough to open. However, if you have
S: AJ10xxx H: Axxx D: xxx C: x
and hear partner open 1H, you are not going to stop short of game. Therefore, you have a legitimate opening
bid.
General guidelines for a 1-level opening bid should be:
a) any 13 or more point hand (almost) or
b) most 12 point hands that can be opened 1NT or have a sound rebid
c) 8 to 11 point hands that have a LTC of not more than seven, and have 2 defensive (honor) tricks, and have a rebid, and have points in long suits.
3. NOTRUMP SEQUENCES
THE RANGES OF NOTRUMP BIDS
(In the following sequences, opponents are well-mannered (silent). "Grapes" and "Plums" are indeterminate suits, with Plums being higher ranked than Grapes.)
- 1NT* 12 to a bad 16 points, and denies a 4-card major unless the distribution is 4-3-3-3. Will not normally have 5 diamonds if the hand has 15-16 points.
- 1C* 1D*; 1NT* Good 16 to 18 points, no 4-card major, 4 or 5 clubs.
- 1C* 1D*; 2NT 19-20 points, no 4-card major, 4 or 5 clubs.
- 1C* 1H/S*; 1NT* 12-14 points, 5-3-3-2 distribution with 5 cards in the unbid major and 2 card support for responder's suit. Yes, it is logical and will be explained later.
- 1D* 1H/S*; 1NT* 12-14 points, with 4 diamonds, 5 of the other major, and fewer than 3 cards in the bid major. Not needed in a natural sense as 1D is always strong (good 16+) or unbalanced.
- 1H* 1S*; 1NT* 12-16 points, usually with a 4-card minor. Responder can find out about partner's exact range (see later)
- 1G 1P; 2NT 17-18 points balanced (Grapes are not clubs)
- 1G 1P; 3NT 19-20 points balanced. Hardly ever used, as opener will frequently have a better bid available.
- 1D* 2C; 2NT Good 16–17 points, usually with a 5-card diamond suit.
- 1D* 2C; 3NT 18-20 points balanced.
- 1H/S* 2G; 3NT 15-16 points balanced.
- 1H/S* 2G; 2S* A variety of balanced hands (as well as some unbalanced ones). 2S is a sort of transfer. We'll discuss it under rebids by opener.
- 2NT 21-22 points balanced, no 5-card major
- 2C 2 any*; 2NT 23-24 points balanced, no 5-card major or 4-card major that could be bid at the 2-level.
- 2C 2 any*; 3NT 25-26 points balanced, no 4 or 5-card major. Almost always 4-3-3-3
ONE NOTRUMP AND RESPONSES
Balanced hands have special rules. 1NT* is reserved for 12 to bad 16 point balanced hands that have no 4-card major, unless the distribution is 4-3-3-3. Hands with a good 16 to 19 points that conform to the same rules are opened with one of a minor, with a notrump rebid, possibly a jump. Stronger balanced hands start with 2NT, 2C, or occasionally 1C*.
How do manage this wide a range 1NT*? One or two things have to change. We need 2C* as an inquiry as to both strength and shape; since our range of descriptive responses is extensive, 2C has to promise enough to go to game if opener has a maximum. To meet this requirement, what have we lost? The ability to respond 2C (Stayman) with 4-4-5-0 hands and a load of junk? Not too disastrous if you have some sort of escape sequence over a double. The bad result is still the -200 on a part score hand. Playing 2NT on a combined 22 count? It happens. It will happen if you play other systems, too, but admittedly less often. I contend that the advantages of playing the wider range Notrump (better exploration on slam hands or minor suit game hands, less information given to opponents on true part score hands, missing fewer 2H or 2S contracts) outweigh this loss.
Since 1NT* shows 12-16 points and a balanced hand and is not made with a 4-card major and a doubleton, we do not need 2C* as Stayman in its normal sense. We use it as a "Size Asking" bid, showing at least enough values to be going to game if opener has 15-16 points. The bid may be made on much stronger hands; but hands that want to invite game in a suit facing a 12-14 point notrump start out with a transfer.
Opener responds to 2C* as follows:
2D* shows 12 or a poor 13 points, with any distribution. It is bid with a hand that would pass an invitational 2NT if we were playing a "conventional" 12-14 point notrump.
e.g. S: KJxx H: Kxx D: Axx C: Jxx
or S: K84 H: QJ3 D: AK C: 87642
2H* shows a good 13 or 14 points, with exactly 3 hearts and 2 spades.
e.g. S: Kx H: Kxx D: AQxx C: Q10xx
or S: K9 H: J86 D: Q86 C: AQJ64
2S* shows the same strength with the major suits the other way round.
e.g. S: Kx H: Kxx D: AQxx C: Q10xx
or S: A86 H: K10 D:K1096 C: QJ64
2NT* promises the same strength, and at least 3 cards in each major.
e.g. S: Kxx H: Kxx D: AQxx C: Q10x
or S: KJ10 H: 1086 D: Qx C: AQJ64
3C* shows 15-16 points and a 5–3–3–2 distribution with either minor.
e.g. S: Kx H: Kxx D: AQx C: K10xxx
3D* shows 15-16 points and 4-4 in the minors.
e.g. S: Kx H: Kxx D: AQxx C: K10xx
or S: A42 H: KJ4 D: A865 C: A73
3H/S* show 15-16 points, and a 4-card major in a 4-3-3-3 hand.
e.g. S: Kxx H: Kxxx D: AQx C: K10x
or S: A432 H: KJ4 D: A86 C: A75
3NT* shows 15-16 points, and a 4-card minor in a 4-3-3-3 hand.
e.g. S: Kxx H: Kxx D: AQxx C: K10x
or S: A43 H: KJ4 D: A86 C: A754
After any of the 2-level rebids, a pass is (obviously) to play, as is a minimum rebid in a major or notrump. If responder bids 3C* on the second round, she is asking about distribution. Opener bids 3D* with five cards in either minor (3H* now asks which, to which 3S shows clubs and 3NT shows diamonds); a four card major; or 3NT otherwise. The catalog of sequences is:
1NT 2C "Describe"
- 2D 3C "Describe further"
- 3D 5 card minor
- 3H "Which?"
- 3S Clubs (both black)
- 3NT Diamonds
- 3S Clubs (both black)
- 3H "Which?"
- 3D 5 card minor
- 3H 4 hearts (hence 3-4-3-3)
- 3S 4 spades (hence 4-3-3-3)
- 3NT No 5-card minor or 4-card major
- 3D 5-card minor
- 3H "Which?"
- 3S Clubs (both black)
- 3NT Diamonds
- 3S Clubs (both black)
- 3H "Which?"
- 3D 5-card minor
- 3H "Which?"
- 3S Clubs (both black)
- 3NT Diamonds
- 3S Clubs (both black)
- 3H "Which?"
Bids at the 3-level that have not been covered so far are game forcing. If opener has not specifically defined the majors, then 3C* can be used to ask for major suit definition. So
S: K10xx S: AJxx H: QJx H: xx D: AJx D: K10xx C: Q10x C: AKx
1NT* 2C*; 2NT* 3C*; 3S 4S
If the bidding goes
1NT* 2C*; 2D* 3H (or 3S )
opener is expected to bid a 4-card major if possible. Remember, opener can not be 4-2 in the majors, so responder can correct if she does not have 5-4 in the majors. Opener only rebids 3NT with the wrong 3-2 in the majors. So, for example
S: Kxx S: AJxxx H: QJxx H: Kxxx D: AJx D: K10x C: Jxx C: A 1NT* 2C* 2D* 3S 4H Pass
Over 2H* or 2S*, showing 3-2 in the majors, we do not need the inquiry bids in this form. They take on meanings intended to avoid 3NT with the short suit exposed. So, a raise of the 3-card suit shows a fairly good 4-card holding, and is suggesting an alternative to 3NT. Opener can now bid 3NT with both minors; bid a minor at the 4-level with a 5-card suit; or with supporting values in the major, bid game directly. The bidding can otherwise stop in 4C or 4D.
The sequence
1NT* 2C*; 2S* 3H;
is to play, for instance on
S: KJ10 S: Qx H: Qx H: KJxxxx D: AJ10x D: Kxx C: Qxxx C: xx
but the other 3-level sequences are free for alternative uses.
1NT* 2C*; 2H/S* 3D*;
is used as an inquiry about the short major. Opener bid 3NT with Kx or better in the major; bids 3NT with Qx or Jx in the minor, or rebids the 3-card major. This allows responder to play in 3NT with something like Kxx opposite Qx, or if a 6-card suit is solidified by the high honor. The sequence could, of course, also be the start of better things.
The sequences
1NT* 2C*; 2H* 3S;
or 1NT* 2C*; 2NT* 3D;
or 1NT* 2C*; 2D* 3D;
have no meaning—yet!
Sequences where opener rebids at the 3-level are game forcing. Since opener has given both shape and strength fairly precisely, any non-game bid by responder is some slam try. Opener should now bid suits with values.
TRANSFER RESPONSES
PROTEST uses 4-way transfers: 2D* and 2H* are more or less normal transfers to hearts and spades; and 2S* and 2NT* are transfers to clubs and diamonds. We don't need minor suit Stayman or an invitational 2NT, as both these hand-types are covered by 2C* Size-Asking.
2C* Size-Asking also affects some of the 2D/H transfer sequences. We have no need to transfer with game forcing hands containing 5-4 in the majors, as again the 2C* sequences provide the mechanisms for those hands. Also, the NT structure means that we do not need an invitational sequence for the hand with 5 spades and 4 hearts. The sequence
1NT* 2H*; 2S 2NT;
may conceal 4 hearts, but we know that if opener has 4 hearts, he must have 3 spades, and so can bid 3H or 4H to suggest a 4-4 heart contract instead of the 5-3 spade equivalent. For instance
S: Kxx S: QJxxx H: QJxx H: Kxxx D: AJx D: Qx C: Axx C: Kx 1NT* 2H* 2S 2NT 4H pass
For "invitational" purposes, we always assume that opener has 12-14 points. If opener needs 15-16 points to justify our game ambitions, then we should start with a 2C response. Thus, a sequence
1NT* 2D*; 2H 2NT;
shows the usual 11-12 point hand with 5 hearts.
There are some sequences left over. We do not need
1NT* 2H*; 2S 3H*;
for invitational 5-4 hands; we use it to show 5-5 invitational hands.
1NT* 2D*; 2H 3S*;
shows the same shape but is game forcing.
Transfers to the minors can be any strength. So that we can sort out the hands where responder wants to make a 3NT try based on a 6-card minor needing a filler, opener bids 2NT* over 2S* (or 3C* over 2NT*) if he does NOT want to accept the invitation if offered. A direct bid of the intended minor says he would accept that invitation. Responder now settles in 3 of the minor, shows a second suit, or bids 3NT depending on her original intentions.
Jumps to the three-level are one-suited slam tries. So
1NT* 3D*; 3H
would be showing a heart control, while agreeing to investigate a diamond slam.
An immediate 4C is Gerber; a transfer followed by 4C is Roman Key Card Gerber; 4C in almost any sequence is Gerber if it is the second or fourth bid. The only exception is in the set of sequences
1NT* 2C*; 3H*/3S*/3NT*
S: KQx S: Axx H: KJxx H: x D: Axx D: KQxx C: QJx C: AKxxx 1NT* 2C* 3H* 4C 4D 4S 6C
where 4C is now a natural bid, at least game forcing.
1NT* 2C*; 3NT* 4C; 4D
shows a 4-card diamond suit; responder could still be looking for a 4-4 minor fit. [4NT in any of these sequences is natural, expressing no further slam investigative interest.]
On any sequence where 4C is Gerber, 4NT is quantitative. Since it will almost always be preceded by 2C* Size-Asking, opener should decide whether to go on based on the nature of controls held. If he decides to bid on, he should show suits; responder may still be interested in 4-4 or 5-4 fits.
TWO NOTRUMPS
PROTEST naturally has a special set of responses to 2NT. However, 2NT sequences are comparatively rare, so for the moment we will ignore such luxuries. 2NT is 21-22, responses are as in "Standard".
SAMPLE HANDS
S A542 1NT pass S T6 H Q83 H 97 D QT6 D A9854 C KQJ C T863 S 64 1NT 3NT S K3 H KQ5 H 8643 D AJ863 D KQ4 C KT4 C AJ65 S J3 1NT 3NT S T96 H Q86 H AK4 D QJ2 D AK543 C AQ763 C 42 S KQT 1NT 2C S 76 H J94 2NT pass H AK8 D A85 D QJT32 C A962 C 853 S K5 1NT 2C S 963 H 743 2H 2NT H AJ85 D KQJ76 pass D A9 C AT8 C Q952 S K7 1NT 2C S A532 H T43 2D 2H H KQ972 D K97 pass D C AQ985 C T643 S K97 1NT 2C S Q5 H AQT 2NT 3H H K9852 D AT984 pass D 76 C 87 C KQ92 S AK 1NT 2D S JT75 H 653 2H pass H KT874 D AQT82 D 7 C J93 C A76 S A9 1NT 2H S KJ874 H J86 2S 3D H D K763 4D 5D D AQJ98 C AJ53 pass C 876 S J742 1NT 3NT S AK8 H AKQ H JT73 D 642 D AQ8 C K86 C J52 S 963 1C 1H S AKQ H 63 2C 3D H AKQ87 D KQ6 3H 3S D AJ92 C AKJ75 3NT 5NT C 8 7NT S KQ2 1NT 2C S AJT H K75 2NT 3NT H AQT D KQ965 D JT74 C T8 C 942 S AJT 1NT 2C S KQ92 H 73 2S 3NT H AQ4 D AJ84 D T7 C KT65 C AQ42 S 962 1NT 2C S AJ3 H AQT 2D 2NT H 9874 D J5 pass D KQ72 C AJT95 C 43 S K54 1NT 2C S AQ76 H Q64 3NT pass H AKJ5 D K96 D 2 C AQJ5 C 9642 S 532 1NT pass S JT96 H 73 H J96 D KQ93 D JT2 C AKJ6 C 854 S J83 1NT 2H S AQT96 H 985 2S pass H QT2 D AKJ74 D 93 C QJ C 863 ** S K9 1C 2D S A832 H KT5 2NT 3C H A7 D AQ4 3NT 4C D K872 C KJ842 4H 6NT C AQ6 S 982 1NT 2C S KJ76 H AQ3 2D 2NT H 974 D AQ753 pass D KJ82 C T3 C K5 S 53 1NT 3NT S AT H A85 H KJ63 D Q82 D A764 C AK863 C J52
4. OPENING BIDS AT THE 2-LEVEL
PROTEST has special uses for 2-bids other than 2 Clubs. Actually, even 2 Clubs is a bit diferent, but for basic PROTEST you can use any structure that has 2 Clubs almost forcing to game.
2D*, 2H*, and 2S* are adapted from the Roman System. They show minimum openers with specific hand patterns.
2 DIAMONDS*
shows any 4–4–4–1 hand with 11–15 points, with some special rules about counting points in the short suit. You discount short suit points by two, so an Ace is worth 2 HCP, and a Queen is worth nothing. If responder does not have values to try for game, he bids his cheapest suit with four or more cards. So, with
S: Q10xx H: Axx D: — C: Qxxxxx
the response is 2S, not 3C.
Opener will now pass unless she is short in the suit bid, when she will bid the next suit up (2NT over 2S with 14–15 points, as an option to play there). Responder now passes or places the contract. If opener is maximum and really likes responder's 2H or 2S bid, she may raise.
If responder is prepared to play in diamonds opposite a singleton, he may pass 2D. It is obviously sensible to try to make 2D rather than anything else if you hold
S: x H: Qx D: Q10xxxxx C: Qxx
If responder wants to try for game, he bids 2NT asking about opener's singleton. Opener bids the suit below the singleton. If responder now bids four of a minor, opener may pass with about 11–12 points, but otherwise you play in game after a 2NT response. A jump to 4NT on the second round by responder is straight Blackwood. Responder does have another asking bid available, namely a bid of the singleton suit. We use this to ask opener how many honor (quick) tricks she has, with the first step being 1.5 honor tricks, the second being 2, and so on in half-quick tricks. (Honor (Quick) tricks are defined as being tricks you expect to take on defense with little danger of being trumped. The complete list of possible contributions to your honor trick count is
AK=2
AQ=1.5
A=1
KQ=1
Kx=0.5
Responder is often able to work out from knowledge of the short suit, his own hand, and the honor trick count, just where the contract should be placed, provided he has enough to be thinking about slam. In cases of doubt, he can ask for Aces using the cheaper of a repeat "singleton" bid or 4NT; or ask for responder's lowest ranked good suit (one or more honor tricks) using the more expensive of the two. However, both 3NT and a jump in the short suit are to play.
WARNING: This scheme of responses to 2D is volatile and likely to change. We are experimenting with transfers, losing trick count responses, and top trick responses, as well as asking bids in specific suits.
Anything may happen!
Responder should remember that 4–4–4–1 hands frequently do not play well, and be conservative in game tries.
2 HEARTS*
is modified Roman (weaker than the original), showing 10–14 HCP, 5 or 6 hearts, and 4 or 5 clubs.
Typical examples are:
S: Qx H: AQxxx D: x C: Kxxx
S: AKQ H: Kxxxx D: x C: Jxxx
Responses: Responder often knows where to place the contract. Contrary to original Roman procedures, 2S and 3D are not forcing, but are to play despite opener's warning. A bid of 3C is correction and expected to be passed. A raise of hearts is invitational, and a raise to 4H is pre-emptive or expecting to make. Responder should take note of the position of honor cards when deciding to raise or pass. Cards in clubs and heartts are far more valuable than in the other suits. For instance,
S: xxxx H: Q10xx D: xxx C: KQ
is worth a raise to 3H, because the well placed honor cards cover three of opener's presumed six or seven losers on the LTC.
Any time responder wants to force, he has to jump in diamonds or spades, or bid 2NT. 2NT asks opener to define his shape according to the following schedule:
3C = 2-5-2-4
3D = 1-5-3-4
3H = 6 hearts (club rebid shows 5)
3S = 3-5-1-4
3NT = 2-5-1-5 or 1-5-2-5
4C = 3-5-0-5
4D = 0-5-3-5
Responder should now be well able to judge the final contract. For instance, with
S: AQxxx H: xx D: KQx C: Axx
after
2H–2NT; 3C–3NT
2H–2NT; 3D–3NT
2H–2NT; 3H–4H
2H–2NT; 3S–4S
2H–2NT; 3NT–4C (invitational)
2H–2NT; 4C–4S
2H–2NT; 4D–5C
2 SPADES*
shows a similar hand with Spades. The responses are similar, with obvious transpositions of hearts and spades.
SAMPLE HANDS
S AK32 2D 2NT S T986 H T 3D 4S H AK2 D K852 D AT7 C JT92 C Q83 S A 2D 2NT S J653 H AJ64 3H 4C H 3 D K542 5C D JT6 C KT97 C AQJ85 S J873 2D 2NT S KT H AQJ9 3S 4C H K643 D AKT4 5C 6H D Q87 C 5 C AKQ2 S 8 2D 2NT S AQJ95 H KJT6 3H 3NT H AQ D KQ32 D AJ C K742 C J985 S A 2D 2S S KJ82 H T853 3C 3D H J74 D AT76 D Q543 C AQT2 C K5 S Q542 2D 2NT S AKJ3 H AJT2 3S 4C H K76 D A764 4H 4S D 82 C 7 C KQ83 S KQ92 2D 2H S T87 H AJT8 H K42 D T D KJ5 C K642 C QJT7 S T763 2D 2NT S A52 H AKQ9 3C 3D H JT73 D 3 3S 4H D AQJ85 C QT64 C A S 3 2D 2NT S K5 H AJ54 3H 4H H KT73 D AQ93 D 7652 C J632 C KQ9 S A754 2D 2NT S KQJ83 H KT72 3S 4C? H 65 D AQ32 4NT 6S? D 7 C 5 C AKJ82 S 6 2D 2S S QT874 H AQT7 3C H J4 D AJ62 D K53 C QJ85 C KT7 S KT74 2D 2H S Q98 H Q876 H 9542 D K D 76 C KQ65 C AJ42 S AQ73 2D 2NT S T642 H 8 3H 3NT H AKQ74 D JT65 D K32 C AQ43 C K S 9532 2D 2NT S AJ86 H AJ43 3S 4S H KQ8 D AKQ8 D JT93 C 9 C Q3 S AK96 2D 2NT S QT875 H KT95 3C 4S H 42 D 9 D AJ742 C QJ97 C 3 S KJ82 2D 2S S AQ64 H T 3S 4S H 8 D AJ54 D 732 C AQ86 C KJT54 S AK92 2D 2NT S QT H KQ65 3H 3D H JT2 D 2 4D 6D D AKQJ65 C K852 C AJ S AT83 2D 2H S KJ94 H 3 2S H K985 D KT87 D Q43 C AQ54 C J3 S A 2H 4H S K82 H KJ932 H T8654 D 72 D 43 C K9732 C AQ4 S KT976 2S 4S S AQ53 H T4 H Q9765 D 4 D JT C AKJ43 C 52 S T 2H pass S AJ96 H A7653 H K9 D J7 D KT5432 C AJ984 C 5 S K6 2H 3C S QJT5 H KQJ83 H T D A9 D K752 C J864 C AT32 S 4 2H pass S JT2 H KQ542 H A976 D K54 D T3 C Q754 C KT32 S A6 2H 2S S KQ9743 H QJ975 pass H D J8 D KT9 C KT86 C Q942 S KQJ92 2S 4S S T87643 H 2 H AQ65 D Q6 D 85 C KJ543 C 2 S AKT73 2S 2NT S 864 H 52 3NT 4S H AKJ97 D T D A4 C KJ932 C A54 S 42 2H pass or 4H S 876 H AQ854 H JT973 D T8 D K94 C AJ95 C 32 S KQJ83 2S 4S S AT754 H KJ6 H 52 D D Q9632 C Q7542 C K S 2 2H 2NT S K7 H QT763 3NT 4NT H AJ9 D Q3 5D 5H D AJ94 C AQT52 C KJ98
5. MAJOR SUIT OPENINGS
There are two convincing sounding arguments for using a 5-card major style. First, it is more risky to bid in a major; responder has less of the one-level to try to find a fit if a misfit threatens. Obviously, if you open the higher level 1H or 1S only if you have a 5-card suit, the danger of a total misfit is much less. However, the argument is much weaker if you consider that in "Standard" American, responder keeps the bidding open on next to nothing, anyway; and in modern bidding style there is a much greater appreciation of the need to keep opponents out of the auction. If you open 5-card majors, you lose the pre-emptive effect of 1 spade on a 4-card suit.
Second, according to the 5-card major school, responder often needs to know whether opener has 4 or 5 cards in an opened major suit. In traditional style, where you open your longest suit first, you tend to open one of a major on a 4-card suit only if you have spade-heart or heart-diamond hands. It costs little, the argument goes, to make a conventional treatment out of the tendency to have 5 cards in a bid major, and it makes life so much easier for responder. The whole argument makes some sense if you play a 12-14 point NT, so that most of your 4-4 hands you start with a pre-emptive 1NT anyway (Kaplan and Sheinwold's reason), but if you play a strong notrump, there isn't much sense at all to making life easy for opponents as well as for partner.
PROTEST takes the view that it is more pre-emptive to opponents to open the more common 4-card major, and equally helpful to partner to know that you do NOT have a 5-card suit if you open 1H* or 1S*. It resolves the should-I-raise-on-three dilemma just as clearly as if you insist on having five; if you open one of a minor; responder can make opener's life easier because he need not show a major shorter than 5; and if opponents insist on joining in over 1D* or 1C*, it is much easier to introduce a second suit if there are 5 of it; and it is easier to produce a negative double if you only need 3-card suits. Besides, opponents may step in to an unannounced 5-card suit, and that can be profitable!
The PROTEST principle is that you almost always open a 4-card major suit if you have one in a biddable hand; you "never" open a major with exactly 5 cards. (You can with a fairly weak opening with a good suit, but you have to be prepared to pretend that the suit is 6 carded. Don't do it!)
There are naturally exceptions to the "rule". You do not, or need not, open a 4-card major under the following circumstances:
- You also have a 6-card major, and it just looks right to show that before the 4-card major (which you often have to suppress till the third round).
- You have 4-3-3-3 distribution.
- You have 20+ points.
6-CARD SUITS
In general, any suit that is bid and rebid has 6 cards. The exception is clubs; a rebid could be made with 5 clubs and 4 diamonds.
Some sample sequences:
1H*—1S; 2D*—2NT; 3D tends to show 4 hearts and 6 diamonds.
1H*—1S; 2H shows a 6-card heart suit.
4-4 IN THE MAJORS
The standard PROTEST way to bid these hands is to open 1H*, allowing responder to show a 4-card spade suit at the one level. This is the only 1-level ambiguous sequence–opener does not know whether responder has 4 spades or more. If partner bids at the 2-level, we have sequences available to find a lurking 4-4 spade fit. We will get into those later, when we consider opener's rebid. The exception to opening 1H is when the hand is a minimum opener not particularly suited to notrumps, with a very good heart suit. Here, it may be better to treat the hand as 4-5 in the majors. For example, with
S: KJxx H: AKJ10 D: xx C: xxx
you should open 1S and rebid 2H after a 2-level response.
NORMAL RESPONSES
The rules for simple (non-jump) responses are easy. A 2-level response is expected either to have at least 10 points or a good line of argument for the post-mortem. 1NT is not forcing, but it will only be passed if opener has 4-4-3-2 and 12-15+ points. It should therefore show a normal 6-9 points. Of course, if you positively hate partner's 4-card major, you can bid 1NT on somewhat less, hoping that partner shows a second suit. If you do, of course by simple application of Murphy's law, opener will now raise notrumps, so be careful! 1S over 1H* shows at least a 4-card suit. It can be made on 4 cards since opener normally opens 1H with 4-4 in the majors.
LIMIT RAISES
We play standard limit raises over 1H* or 1S*; remember that you need 4-card support to do it! You get plenty of chance to find Moysian fits later.
We tend to use the losing trick count to determine whether to raise to two or to three.
A direct raise to four of the major is made on distributional rather than high card values. As with any other pre-emptive bid, the direct raise should deny two first round controls.
2-LEVEL RESPONSES
Since a 2-level response shows 10 or more points, it promises another bid under normal circumstances. If opener raises responder's suit, or jumps to the 3-level in his own suit, or bids game, then responder may pass with a minimum (see the next section on opener's rebids). The first two of these are systemic, showing specific minimum hands. The third type is obvious–opener is bidding what he thinks he can make.
OPENER'S REBIDS
If opener can and does rebid 1NT*, then he shows a balanced hand with four hearts and a 4-card minor. His point range is the same as the opening 1NT bid, 12-16. This sounds too wide for comfort, but we have a specific tool to handle the range.
Eric Crowhurst came up with this solution for some problems in Acol sequences where it was convenient to bid 1NT with quite a wide range of values. His solution was to use an artificial 2C bid to ask about the range of opener's bid if responder had enough to invite game. For the sequence
1H*—1S; 1NT*
we need the same tool; our responses are naturally different.
After 1H*—1S; 1NT*—2C* (inquiry), opener bids as follows:
- 2D* showing 12-14 and four diamonds (natural)
- 2H* showing 12-14 and four clubs (does not raise the level; so by a process of elimination this must be weak and show clubs)
- 2S* showing 15-16 points and three spades (4 cards in either minor)
- 3C* showing 15-16 points, two spades, and four clubs (natural, since we are now in a game forcing auction - but see below)
- 2NT* showing 15-16 and the other minor - diamonds.
One fly in the ointment. Responder may have had a junk hand with four spades and six clubs. He could not stand 1NT, so he wants to play in clubs, at as low a level as possible. Unfortunately, the level becomes the 3-level because of the convention. Therefore, opener must never go beyond 3C, and responder is allowed to bid or pass 3C to play there. Apart from this offbeat case, all of opener's rebids of 2S or higher are game forcing.
S: Kx S: AJxx H: QJxx H: xx D: AJxx D: x C: Qx C: J10xxxx 1H* 1S 1NT* 2C* 2D 3C Pass
If responder bids 1NT, opener normally rebids a 5-card suit. At the 2-level, this can be passed (it won't be if responder is maximum), so opener must jump with 18 points or so. Even the strong sounding sequence
1H*-1NT; 2S*
is made on minimum values; responder will often pass.
If opener has a balanced 12-16 hand, he will pass 1NT. Beware of the 16 point hand; even if responder has nine points, you need a pretty good 16 to be in a reasonable game. Both hands are probably balanced.
We would like to be able to distinguish between strongly invitational and game forcing jumps to the three level, particularly when opener is 5–4 in the majors. After a little experimenting, we believe that having all jumps to the three level by opener should show the suit above, and be strongly invitational to game at least. Responder will only make a minimum rebid if he is unprepared to play in game in the denomination implied. For instance, the sequence
1H*–1NT; 3H*–3S; pass
is possible; therefore responder must be careful to avoid accepting the transfer if he wants to play in game with a 17 point hand opposite.
Two points to note with these transfers.
a) A transfer to the original major shows a 6-card suit, and can now be made on a hand that is going to game opposite any minimum, but wants to suggest 3NT as an alternative contract.
e.g. 1H*–1NT; 3D*–3H; 3NT.
b) A transfer to a minor should be very good. 3S* (transfer to clubs) allows responder to suggest 3NT below the second suit; therefore 3NT is always a possible contract after a rebid at the 3–level.
Now for the second major innovation of the system (no 5-card majors was the first). We must have a method to distinguish between minimum and game going hands opposite a 10-count. This is a problem peculiar to Canapé systems, but "Standard" American has some problems here.
In "Standard", a responder who bids a new suit at the 2-level is expected to bid again, so he must really have better than a 10-count. (Hence two-over-one game forcing, but I believe that distorts too many sequences too much - but that is a different argument!)
In PROTEST, a non-reverse bid by opener after a 2-level response shows the obvious pattern. Responder must bid again, so opener's simple rebid can have a wide range. So
1H*—2C; 2D*
shows 4 hearts, 5 or more diamonds, and more or less any strength that has not been eliminated by the failure to open 2C.
If opener has to reverse to show shape, we have a different problem. We really do not want to distort responder's requirements for a 2-bid any more than we have to, so we need to be able to distinguish between minimum 4 spade, 5 club hands and good ones.
A simple observation is necessary here. Opener with a weak hand and 6 spades can not play in 2 spades after a 2 over 1 response! Once we get that statement out of the way, we have no reason for opener to have to bid 2S to show such a hand - he can jump to 3S. In the history of PROTEST, we have tried a number of options, including making opener's rebid of 2NT forcing and artificial. However, the most efficient structure is to make all bids from a rebid of opener's suit to the denomination below responder's suit transfers. The complete catalog of transfers is:
1S* - 2C : Transfers are 2S* => 2NT; 2NT* => 3C
1S* - 2D : 2S* => 2NT; 2NT* => 3C; 3C* => 3D
1S* - 2H : 2S* => 2NT; 2NT* => 3C; 3C* => 3D; 3D* => 3H
1H* - 2C : 2H* => 2S; 2S* => 2NT; 2NT* => 3C
1H* - 2D : 2H* => 2S; 2S* => 2NT; 2NT* => 3C; 3C* => 3D
This leaves three other bids. A direct jump to 3 of opener's major* shows a generally weak hand with a 6-card suit and no reasonable support for responder's suit. A direct raise of responder's suit* shows the same sort of hand with 3-card support for partner. A jump in the intermediate suit* (e.g. 1H*—2C; 3D*) shows 6 cards in the major, 4 cards in the suit just bid, and too good a hand to want to let the bidding die in a part score.
The transfers themselves need some explaining. First, since opener is allowed to pass responder's acceptance of the transfer if he has a minimum hand, responder must bid something else with more values. Since responder might not have extra values and might hate the transfer denomination, the following rebids also show no extra values:
- A rebid of 2NT
- A rebid of responder's suit
- A raise of opener's first suit
(e.g. 1S* – 2H; 3C* – 3S with S: Kxx H: AKxxx D: x C: xxxx)
A transfer to 2NT, followed by a rebid of either 3NT or opener's suit shows 17 or more points.
A transfer to 2NT, followed by a rebid in some other suit (including responder's) shows 15-16 points, a generally balanced hand, and some sort of concern about 3NT (usually a weakness in an unbid suit).
A transfer to another suit, followed by a rebid of 3NT, shows the same sort of hand with 17 or more points.
A transfer to another suit, followed by a rebid of opener's major, shows 15-16 points, a 6-card suit, and values (not necessarily length) in the implied suit.
The sequence
1H*—2C/D; 2H*—2S; 2NT*
shows 12-14 points with 4-4 in the majors. Responder with a 10-point hand can now choose between 2NT, 3S, or 3 of the minor.
1H/S*—2 new suit; 2S*
can be 12-14 balanced, as well as the various strong meanings already described. So
1S*—2D; 2S*—2NT;
Pass is weak
3C* or 3D* shows 15-16 with support or values in the suit bid
3S* shows 17+ with 6 spades
3NT* shows 17+ balanced without support
STRONG RESPONSES
We use a fairly normal set of strong responses to opening major suit bids. We don't demand a super rock-crusher to make a jump shift, but we do have rules about what is not allowed. We use Jacoby 2NT for the game forcing raise with a balanced hand - responses are not quite standard, because of the Canapé sequences, but are clearly recognizable. A direct jump to 3NT shows a 3-3-3-4 13-15 point hand.
JUMP SHIFTS
The basic rationale for a jump shift is that responder has a better than opening hand and a potential problem with a rebid next round. Consequently, responder does NOT have 2 suits of his own, unless one is also partner's. It is important to realize that responder does not need a huge hand. Those hands are not the problem. A jump shift shows something like a king better than an opener and no convenient way to show it. It is a MILD slam try!
A jump shift promises either:
a) a 1-suited hand (will be followed either by a rebid of the suit or by 4NT—RKC in responder's suit.)
b) a strong suit with good support for partner's suit (will either raise partner's suit or CUE-BID on the next round)
c) 16+ balanced—will tend to rebid NT or raise opener's second suit.
The rebid b) needs remembering. A raise of opener's second suit shows hand type c); a new suit shows hand type b) and is a cue-bid; 4NT shows an "I don't care about your support" type suit.
After a jump shift, opener should bid naturally. No transfers or things like that - we no longer need them because the auction is unconditionally forcing to game.
JACOBY 2NT*
Jacoby 2NT* over 1H* or 1S* normally shows 4-card support, a fairly balanced hand, and about 13-16 points. Since responder has not used a splinter bid, the hand usually contains no singleton or void. The 2NT bid asks opener to describe his hand further, according to the following schedule.
- A direct raise to game shows a 6-card suit and a generally weak opening.
- A bid of the agreed suit at the 3-level shows a 6-card suit in a good hand.
- A new suit at the 4-level shows a good hand, a strong "second" suit, and does not deny a singleton.
- A new suit at the 3-level shows a singleton or void (should be shown even on a weakish hand)
- 3NT shows any generally balanced hand with nothing specific to say. Responder should now cue-bid if possible. Opener will then rebid 4 of the major with a weak hand, or makes progressive noises with values.
SPLINTERS
PROTEST has a variant on these, too, but it is not essential. For the time being, stick to the standard kind.
SAMPLE HANDS
S 875 1H 1S S KQT9643 H AKT7 1NT 2S H D AK D T72 C 8754 C 632 S Q32 1H 2H S A974 H KJT8 H 9743 D AT96 D Q4 C Q7 C K64 S A654 1S 3H S Q87 H Q 4C 4H H AJT8654 D K5 D A7 C Q98543 C A S KJT763 1S 1NT S A H AQJ9 2S H 765 D D KJT853 C 652 C T94 S AKJT65 1S pass S 73 H J984 H 53 D AQ3 D KT965 C C J973 S J6 1H 1S S K984 H Q652 1NT 4H H KJ974 D AT76 D K4 C AQ6 C J5 S AK52 1S 1NT S 943 H 654 pass H QJT7 D AJ83 D 75 C Q5 C AJ76 S QJ95 1S 2C S 3 H 53 2D 3C H K72 D AKJ9865 3D 3NT D QT2 C C AQJ954 S KQ76 1S 2C S AJ2 H A 2NT 3C H JT42 D A63 D Q74 C 96543 C QJ7 S 1D 1S S AT9764 H K65432 2H 3D H D AK753 pass D QJ98 C T5 C 983 S QJ4 1H 1S S A982 H K764 1NT pass H T92 D AKQT D 95 C 54 C QT98 S J932 1H 1S S AQT87 H AQ72 2S pass H T8 D J94 D Q53 C AK C J65 S A743 1S 2D S KQ2 H Q8 2S 3H H AKT6 D KQ4 3NT pass D AT962 C KT42 C 5 S A53 1H 2D S 642 H AJ96543 3C 3D H K D A76 3H 4H D KQ932 C C Q942 S AQJT983 1S 2C S K76 H K84 2S 2NT H A3 D K76 3S 4S D J932 C C KT73 S AK65 1S 3NT S QJ3 H A65 4D 5D H Q87 D KJ8653 6D pass D AQ74 C C QT4 S QJ73 1S 2C S K2 H JT 2S 3H H AKQ2 D AJ82 3NT pass D K3 C A83 C QT962 S 1H 1S S AQ654 H A975 2D pass H T64 D AQT653 D 742 C KJT C Q7 S A975 1H 3C S QJ H AQT4 3D 3H H K863 D KQ974 3S 4NT D A3 C 5S 5NT C AKQ76 6D 6H S AJT8742 1S 2C S Q H K 2NT 3C H Q87 D J 3S 3NT D KQT6 C AQT7 4S C J6542 S AQ83 1S 2S S K9542 H Q9 pass H 8652 D K3 D 974 C K9632 C T S AT42 1H pass S J953 H AJ85 H 4 D 2 D K87 C AQT6 C 97432 S QJT982 1S 2C S 63 H Q85 3S pass H K32 D A6 D Q743 C K2 C AJ53 S KQT76543 1S 1NT S A98 H T2 4S H K8 D D Q8752 C AK3 C 842
6. OPENING ONE DIAMOND
An opening bid of one diamond has a slightly different flavor from the major suit openings. You can open 1D* with a 5-card suit! The bid shows at least 4 diamonds; the hand may have a 5-card major, but it will not have a longer club suit. For practical reasons, club–diamond hands are opened in the traditional order—longer suit first, or diamonds with equal length. If you open these hands Canapé style, there are difficulties with 5 diamonds and 4 clubs. It's fine to open 1C* and reverse into diamonds if you have some extra values, but if you have to bid 1D*-1H*; 2D with 13 points and 5-4 in the minors, you have to go to the 3-level to find a club part score. If you bid the club–diamond hands in a traditional manner, then after 1C—1H; 2C it is intuitively easier to find your 4-4 diamond fit. This may seem a small point—it is a small point—but in trying the system out on hands from assorted sources, it became an annoyance to keep the Canapé sequences for the minors.
1D* is never opened on a balanced hand except for hands with a good 16 to 19 with a diamond suit. 12-16 point hands are opened with 1NT. This simple statement leads to an interesting development - opener will almost never pass a 1NT response! Either his hand is good enough to raise notrumps, or his hand is sufficiently unbalanced to bid a second suit. The ACBL general conventions chart does not allow 1NT to be forcing opposite 1D, and we can probably dream up a hand with a weak six card diamond suit that would like to play in 1NT. However, responder should work on the assumption that opener will bid again. However, a 1NT* response does need alerting, as responder will routinely bypass a four card major.
1H* and 1S* responses to 1D* normally show a 5-card suit. Under duress, you can respond on a 4-card suit if you don't have much and 4-1 in the majors, since you really do want to try to dissuade partner from bidding the other major. If opener raises you suit with only three cards, you are probably in as good (bad?) a spot as any.
eg: S: Axxx H: x D: Kxx C: xxxxx
or: S: KJ10xx H: xxx D: A10x C: Kx
are both 1S* responses to 1D*
Opener's rebids after a major suit response include some offbeat notions. Rebids in diamonds and and clubs are as one would expect—opener has six diamonds to rebid diamonds, and promises at least five diamonds and at least four clubs to bid clubs (unbalanced, remember). If opener has a balanced hand, it is good enough to rebid 2NT, showing a good 16 to 18 points.
Since 1NT is not needed in its natural sense, we can use it to clarify the strength of hands with a five card major and four diamonds. Opener rebids 1NT over either 1H or 1S if he has not more than 14 HCP, one or two cards in the bid major, five cards in the other major, and four diamonds. A bid of the other major promises more points or more diamonds, and just possibly has three card support for the bid suit. This is fairly natural if the sequence is
1D–1S; 2H
(remembering that reverses in PROTEST can be passed), but is less obvious to the uninitiated on the sequence
1D–1H; 1S.
Opener's other rebids after a major response are straightforward. 2D shows a 6-card suit; 2C shows 5-4 or better in diamonds and clubs; simple raises tend to show 3-card support and not too good a hand; double raises show either a good hand and 3-card support or 5-card support. Jumps in a new suit show at least 5 cards in that suit, game forcing values, and probably some tolerance for partner's suit (or why didn't opener start with 2C?).
But what if you have a club suit you want to play in, with a fairly weak hand? PROTEST allows that 2C* is potentially weaker than the normal 10+ points for a 2-over-1 response. It shows eight or more points, and is forcing as is any other change of suit by responder on the first round. So:
S: Kxxx H: Qx D: xxx C: Kxxx
is a minimum 2C* response.
INVERTED MINOR RAISES
After a 1D* opener, responder raises to 2D* with 4-card support, no 5-card major, and sufficient strength to play in at least 3D. It is forcing to at least 2NT or 3D. A direct raise of 1D* to 3D* is pre-emptive, and hardly ever used. After all, you don't really want to miss a 5-3 major fit. Therefore, responder will have a terrible hand with diamonds and possibly a 3-card major, or a very bad hand with diamonds and no 3-card major. Opener is not expected to bid again!
eg: S: Axx H: Kx D: K10xx C: xx (2D*)
S: Qx H: x D: Kxxxxx C: xxxx (3D*)
REVERSES
A reverse does not show a superabundance of strength as it does in Standard. Often, it shows no extra strength at all. For instance, with
S: AQxxx H: x D: AKxx C: xxx
you don't want to play in 1NT when partner responds 1NT to 1D. It is also likely that partner has three spades, so 2S is a sound rebid despite its sound of strength. Opener's reverses are not of themselves forcing in PROTEST.
JUMP SHIFTS
As over 1H or 1S, a jump shift promises either:
a) a 1-suited hand (will be followed either by a rebid of the suit or by 4NT - RKC in responder's suit.)
b) a strong suit with good support for partner's suit (will either raise partner's suit or CUE-BID on the next round)
c) 16+ balanced - will tend to rebid NT or raise opener's second suit.
Again, a jump shift is not two suited unless it has diamonds. It is not necessarily more than a mild slam try.
JUMPS IN NT
With a balanced hand and about 11 points, responder can bid 2NT* in response to 1D*, provided that he has 3 or 4 cards in each major. Opener now has a fairly good idea of where the hand is going, and can bid or pass accordingly. So
S: Kx S: Axxx H: KJxxx H: Qxx D: AJxx D: Kx C: Kx C: Qxxx 1D* 2NT* 4H
If opener has slam ambitions in a major after a 2NT response, he bids 4C to set the suit as hearts, and 4D to agree spades. Responder should now cue bid with any hand that looks mildly interesting for slam purposes. For example,
S: AKQ72 S: J1063 H: 72 H: AQ6 D: AK84 D: J95 C: T7 C: K92 1D* 2NT* 4D* 4H 4S (as far as I can go) pass (OK)
A direct jump to 3NT* shows some 3-3-3-4 hand with 13-15 points. Again, highly descriptive and limited.
DOUBLE JUMPS IN A MAJOR
Over a minor, we prefer to use these as natural limited descriptive bids rather than splinters. 1D*—3H* shows 5 hearts, 4-card diamond support, and 12-15 points. Again, opener should have a good idea as to what the right level and denomination are. Some examples:
S: AQxxx H: x D: KJxx C: Qxx
S: Kx H: KQxxx D: Axxx C: Kx
SAMPLE HANDS
S 7 1D 1H S KQJ5 H A4 2D or 2C 2NT H JT985 D AK8654 3NT D J9 C K843 C A9 S K96 2C 2S S A8732 H AQJ 3D 3NT H 872 D AK97654 4S pass D Q3 C C QT7 S AQ952 1D 1NT S KJ6 H 7 4S H T2 D AK8764 D 532 C 6 C Q8732 ** S 1D 2D S KQJ74 H KJT76 2H 4C H AQ94 D AQ96542 4D 5C D KJ83 C T 5D 6H C ? S AQ952 1D pass S J H Q87 H KT43 D Q9763 D J52 C C 86432 S JT 1D 1S S A96542 H 86 2C 2H H AKQ43 D AQT96 3D 3H D 8 C AQ63 3S 4S C 2 S A8 1D pass S 3 H K87 H A642 D KQJT863 D 94 C K C JT8532 S 8 1D 2C S Q75 H AQ863 2H 3H H KJ94 D KJ97432 4D 4H D 86 C C AJ52 S AJ9 1D 3D S T53 H AKT52 H 4 D QT52 D AJ8764 C 2 C Q63 S Q6 1D 2C S KJ H AKT83 3H 4C H 52 D AKJ976 4D 5C D 2 C C AQJ76432 S JT953 1D (marginal!) 2C S AKQ H 53 2S 4S H Q4 D AQ54 D 963 C A2 C KQ864 S KJT84 1D 3D S 7 H A32 H 876 D KJ32 D AQ8754 C 4 C J62 S 9 1D 2C S KJ72 H AQT95 2H 3H H KJ4 D AJT7 4H D 98 C A62 C KQT9 S KQ8 1D 1NT S A5 H 852 2D H T94 D AK9543 D JT C 5 C JT9843 S 1D 2C S AKQ7 H KJT98 2H 2S H AQ4 D AJ962 3D 4H D 3 C KJ2 ? C Q9864 S KJ632 1D 1H S 7 H KJ8 1S 2C H AQT9743 D AK942 4H 6H(?) D C C K9762 S 63 1D 1S S K9742 H KQ6 2D H A985 D AQJ986 D 7 C 32 C T85
7. OPENING ONE CLUB
Many systems use a one club opening as artificial and forcing. PROTEST does, too. Unlike most others, the bid of 1C* does not promise anything better than opening strength. The bid may be very strong; it may just show a minimum opener with 5-3-3-2 distribution (we sometimes do have a 5-card major!); it may be something in between. The main point is that responder must give opener another chance to bid.
The possible interpretations of 1C* are:
a) Genuine club suit, no second suit, unless the hand has 5 clubs and 4 diamonds.
eg: S: x H: Kxx D: AJxx C: KQxxx
b) Clubs and a five card major suit. If opener has this combination he also has 15 or more points or a club suit longer than the major. We have the 2H and 2S openers for hands of the appropriate shape that are weaker than about 15 HCP.
eg: S: x H: KQxxx D: AJx C: KQxx
but not: S: x H: KJxxx D: AJx C: KJxx (2H)
Occasionally, opener will have a super hand short of a 2C opener, with clubs and a five or six card major. Opener’s jump on the next round after a 1D* response promises at least four clubs and five or more of the jumped in major.
eg: S: KQJxxx H: A D: xx C: AKxx
However, a jump after a response of 1H* or 1S* does not promise clubs.
c) 5-3-3-2 hands with a 5-card major, any opening strength up to 20 points (just short of 2NT opening).
eg: S: xx H: KQxxx D: AJx C: KQx
or: S: KQJxx H: AJx D: AJx C: Kx
d) Good (15+) hand, 5-5 in the majors. 2D is the bid for weaker versions.
eg: S: AQJxx H: KQxxx D: Kx C: x
but not: S: AJxxx H: KJxxx D: x C: Kx (2D)
Since opener denies a major of exactly four cards, responder can ignore mere four card major suits. 5–4 fits will be found!
- 1D* is a sort of negative bid. You use it with practically all 0-5 point hands and many 6-12 point hands that do not have a 5-card major. If you assume it is not one of the types below, you are on the right track.
eg: S: x H: xxxxx D: xxx C: KQxx (not enough points)
S: Kxx H: KJxx D: xx C: xxxx (not enough points for 1NT)
S: Kx H: KJxx D: Kxxx C: xxx (not enough spades for 1NT)
S: Ax H: KJxx D: x C: xxxxx (not enough points for 2C) - 1H* or 1S* show a 5-card suit with normal responding strength. They deny the requirements for a Jump Shift, or for 3H or 3S.
eg: S: x H: Kxxxx D: xxx C: Kxxx - 1NT* shows 8-10 points with three or four cards in each major. If opener has a 5-card major, he can bid at the 2, 3, or 4 level to sign off, invite, or bid game as appropriate. It is just possible that opener may want to make slam tries after this. We will deal with those sequences later.
eg: S: xxx H: Kxxx D: xxx C: KQxx - 2C* and 3C* are inverted minor raises, as over 1D*. The raise to 2C* only promises four clubs. The raise to 3C* is more unlikely than the raise of 1D* to 3D*, as opener very easily can have less than three clubs.
eg: S: Axx H: Kx D: xxx C: K10xx (2C*)
S: Qx H: x D: xxx C: Jxxxxxx (3C*) - 2D* shows 13 or more points and no 5-card major. It is game forcing, and quite possibly is unrelated to diamonds.
eg: S: AJxx H: KQxx D: xx C: AJx
or: S: KJ10 H: A D: AKQJxxx C: Qx - 2H and 2S are strong jump shifts, with most of the same general requirements as over other 1-bids. Here, however, you are promising a 5-card suit, and you are not denying a second suit. After all, partner with a 5-5 major suit hand may not have any clubs!
eg: S: KJ10 H: AQJxxxx D: Kx C: x
or: S: AQJxx H: AQJxx D: x C: Ax - 2NT* is much the same as over 1D*, except that it is specifically 11-12 points with 3 or 4 cards in each major (over 1D*, the range is a bit more nebulous).
- 3NT* is a completely flat 13-15 points.
eg: S: KJx H: Axxx D: Kxx C: Kxx - 3D* is a strange bid. It has approximately the same requirements as a Precision 2D opener. It claims 4 or 5 clubs, 0 or 1 diamond, and 3 or 4 cards in each major. The point range is limited - about 12-15. This leads to my favorite PROTEST sequence
S: x 1C*(1) 3D*(2) S: AJxx H: KQJxx 4NT(3) 5S(4) H: Axxx D: Axx 7H (5) D: x C: AKxx C: QJxx
(1) One of 4 meanings, this one being 4 clubs with a 5-card major, hence 15+ points - but responder is never going to know that!
(2) Typical 3D response.
(3) Roman Key Card Blackwood. Must be in clubs, since no other suit has been "agreed".
(4) Two Aces, or an Ace and the club King, and the Queen of clubs.
(5) Surprise! A 29 point grand slam, known to be good, on 5 bids, one in each denomination! - 3H* and 3S* show a 5-card suit, 4-card club support, and 12-15 points, thus describing all the major features of the hand in one bid. Typical examples are:
S: AQxxx H: Kx D: xx C: KJxx
S: x H: KQJ10x D: Axx C: Qxxx
Opener's rebids are mainly intuitively obvious. Over 1C*-1D*; 1NT* shows a balanced good 16 to 18 points, and 2NT shows 19–20. Over major suit response, opener has to jump to 2NT* or 3NT* to show the strong notrump. In the interests of defining opener's strength and shape accurately, we adopt another "strange" use of 1NT after a major suit response. This one is different from the structure over 1D*, because we have another way of showing the minimum 5-4 hands - the intermediate 2-suited 2-bids. After
1C*—1H* or 1S*; 1NT*
shows a minimum balanced hand with 5 cards in the other major, and 2-card support for partner's suit.
eg: S: xx H: KQxxx D: Axx C: Kxx
1C*—1S*; 1NT*
The sequence
1C*—1H*; 1S*
therefore shows more points (15+), and does not yet say anything about club suit length. It shows much the same strength as a reverse when the majors are the other way round—that is, not forcing but better than average. For example:
S: AQxxx H: AJ D: x C: AJxx
1C*—1H*; 1S*
or S: Ax H: KQxxx D: Axx C: Kxx
1C*—1S*; 2H*
OPENER'S SUPER SUPPORT
If opener bids 1C* or 1D*, and receives a reply of 1H* or 1S*, we prefer to have the double jump available to show a super fit. For instance, if you hold
S: Kx H: AQJxx D: AJx C: Kxx
and the bidding has gone
1C - 1H;
we would like to use the wild leap to show
- a game-going hand (or better)
- a 5-5 fit
- values in the suit bid.
Note that we can not always use a splinter; hands such as the one above need a strong bid. With the above hand, we rebid 4D. A leap to 4C after 1C - 1H; would show a good 4-card club suit. After 1D - 1H; 4D tends to show 5 diamonds, but it might be something like AK10x or better.
A sequence starting with 1H or 1S does admit to using splinters by opener, so the following sequences all show a shortage in the last suit bid and game-going support for responder's suit.
1H - 1S; 4C
1S - 2H; 4D
1S - 2D; 4C
1S - 2C; 4H
Incidentally, opener's splinters can not be transfer (see section 11). With 2 suits bid already, it just does not work!
If responder bids 2NT* to 1C*, showing values and support for both majors, we need to be able to make slammish noises in either suit below the game level. We therefore harness jumps to 4C* to agree hearts, and 4D* to agree spades. Responder should consider her hand in the light of slam suitability, and cue bid if interested.
BIG HANDS
1C* can show big hands with both clubs and a major. A jump rebid in a major after 1D* promises genuine clubs as well as the suit bid. Responder may pass with utter junk; this means that opener must not be too good. After 1C* – 1H/S*; a jump in the other major by opener does not promise clubs; for instance, with
S: AKQJx H: xx D: AKQ C: xxx
1C* – 1H*; 2S
Jumps in diamonds still promise more clubs than diamonds.
SAMPLE HANDS
S AQJ98 1C 1D S 76 H AQJ52 1S 2D H T7 D T 2H 2S D KQ754 C 85 Pass C JT62 S A96 1C 1D S Q32 H AKT64 1H 2NT H J2 D KJ 3NT D AT863 C A76 C KJ4 S A8753 2S Pass S 642 H A H 98 D 97 D Q8543 C AJ652 C 983 S Q72 1C 2H S A H 83 3C 3H H AKQT954 D QJ 4H D 954 C AQT753 C J9 S A6 1C 1D S K754 H QT632 1H Pass H 874 D KQ9 D T73 C A92 C Q85 S T8 2H 2NT S KQ6 H AKJ82 3C 4H H Q5 D K D 8542 C QJT52 C A764 S K87 1C 1H S A H AQT54 3H 4H H 87632 D 76 D Q9532 C QJT C A7 S 84 1C 1S S KQ7652 H A75 2C 2S H J2 D K 3S Pass D J42 C AKJ9652 C T7 S AKJ82 1C 1H S Q94 H AK954 3S 4H H QT8632 D Q32 D T4 C C K7 S KJ2 1C 1S S A9653 H KQ875 2S 3S H T D T 4S D Q752 C A852 C QJ6 S AT852 1C 1NT S Q974 H K95 2S H J83 D 8 D 643 C KQ32 C AJ8 S AK4 1C 3C S 93 H QJ843 H D 873 D KT64 C QJ C A976543 S KT632 1C 2C S A984 H A52 2S 4S H KQT9 D QT8 D 2 C AQ C T974 S AKQ74 1C 1D S 62 H A8743 1S 1NT H KQJT D 2H 4H D 97652 C J76 C 98 S KT872 1C 1D S 96 H A6 1S 1NT H KJ942 D QJT D 8 C Q65 C J9832 S 763 1C 2D S A H Q4 3C 3D H 986 D AT 4C 5C D KQJ642 C AQJ982 C K53 S QJ987 1C 1H S K H K7 1NT Pass H QJ865 D QT7 D A986 C AT8 C Q76 S K9752 1C 1H S QJ H AJ6 2H Pass H KT872 D J5 D 7643 C AJ6 C Q8 S QJ 1C 1D S 632 H AK762 1H 2C H J5 D KQJ D 54 C 642 C AJT987 S Q85 1C 1D S T762 H JT985 1H Pass H 3 D AKT D J9864 C K9 C J64 S JT 1C 1D S KQ95 H AQJ32 2H 4H H T976 D KJ D Q96 C AKJ9 C 42 ** S AQT98 1C 2C S KJ53 H K72 2S 4NT?? H A43 D 5 5S 5NT D AQ C A742 ?? C KT98 S 976 1C 1S S AQ852 H K 2S 4S H A4 D A82 D 9643 C AJ9543 C KQ S J9 1C 1H S A52 H A76 3H 3S H KQ543 D QJ6 4C 4NT D KT8 C AKQ74 5H 6H C J2
