Opening Bids

1C: 12-21 high card points, 3+ clubs. 1D: 12-21 high card points, 4+ diamonds. 1HS: 12-21 high card points, 5+ card major. 1NT: 15-17 high card points, notrump distribution, preferably not a doubleton without any honors. 2NT: 20-21 high card points, stoppers in all suits. 2C: 22-37 high card points. 2DHS: less than 12 high card points, little defensive strength, a 6-card suit (weak two ). 3 of a suit: less than 12 high card points, little defensive strength, a 7-card suit (preempt ).

Notrump distribution means at most one doubleton (2-card suit), no singletons or voids. You can open 1 of a suit with as few as 10 points if youre in 3rd seat.

Responses to 1 of a suit
2 in partners suit (over a 1-level opening): an (8 minus however many cards partner showed) or more card suit, 6-9 high card points. 3 in partners suit (over a 1-level opening): an (8 minus however many cards partner showed) or more card suit, 10-12 high card points. Invitational to game. 4 in partners suit (over a 1-level opening): Preemptive; shows a 10 card t and very little strength. New suit at the 1-level: 6-16 high card points, a 4+ card suit. A 1D bid usually denies a 4-card major. New suit at the 2-level (when 1-level bid was not available): 10+ high card points, a 5+ card suit. 1NT: 6-9 points, nothing else to show. 2NT: 10+ points, invitational to game. New suit at one level higher than the lowest available (a jump-shift ): 17+ high card points; ambiguously, one of the following: a strong suit, strong support for partners suit, or the ability to make 3NT across almost anything partner could have. Usually a jump-shift starts a slam try. If the responder has not passed yet, any bid of a new suit is forcing (meaning partner really shouldnt let it pass out).

Other Conventions
Takeout doubles: Doubling at low levels indicates at least 3 cards in each unbid suit, 4 in each unbid major, and roughly 12+ high card points. Fractional notrump rebids: If you open 1 of a suit, your partner responds, and you rebid 2NT, that shows 18-19 high card points and roughly notrump distribution. Jacoby transfers over notrump bids: After a notrump opening, minimal sucient bids in diamonds or hearts mean: partner, bid hearts or spades (respectively). These usually show that you have a 5-card holding in that major. Stayman: After a notrump opening, a minimal sucient bid in clubs means 4+ cards in each major; asks partner to bid a 4-card major or minimally in diamonds if s/he doesnt have one. Splinter: If responders rst bid (not having passed already) is 2 levels higher than necessary in a new suit, it indicates a 9+ card t in partners suit, enough strength to force to game level, and a singleton (not an ace) or void in the bid suit. Such a bid usually starts a slam try. All non-natural bids (the above 5 except fractional notrump) are forcing. Rebidding a minor indicates a real suit: 5+ cards long. Rebidding a second suit (unless its a major and your rst suit was a minor) indicates a real (5+ card) rst suit and a 4+ card second suit.