Bridge is getting less popular every day. In my view, the principal reason is that the Bidding Systems used these days have become overly complex, unwieldy, confusing, and suitable only for experts. If it takes too long to learn to bid, many newcomers give up before experiencing the true excitement that the game has to offer. The best way I thought to remedy this situation was to start with a clean slate – write a new system that is simple, easy to remember, and appropriately documented. Here goes!
Main Features
- All Opening bids are forcing – Partner cannot PASS! (even with zip, a Yarborough, 0 HCPs).
- Just four (4) Opening bids (1♣, 1♦, 1♥ or 1♠) describe 98% of hands dealt. These Opening bids convey a lot of information, but are non-specific as to the actual suit preference of the Opener (i.e. 1♣ doesn’t mean Clubs):
- 1♠ shows 10-12 HCPs and a 6+-card Major (non-specific – to be revealed at the 2-level)
- 1♥ shows 13+ HCPs and both (2) Majors (i.e. a 4+-card suit in both Hearts and Spades)
- 1♦ shows 13+ HCPs and one (1) Major (i.e. a 4+-card suit in either Hearts or Spades)
- 1♣ shows 13+ HCPs and no 4+-card Major
- The remaining 2% of hands are also taken care of (with Opening bids of 2♣, 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠). These Opening bids have been especially designed to ensure the computer plays like a human, but unlike the psych bidder, with some hope of real communication between partners. These Opening bids show Opener’s long suit (i.e. a 7+-card Major or 8+-card Minor), being headed by at least the Queen, and nine (9) Playing Tricks. Such hands are treated as a separate type of Opening bid – referred to as Sustain bids. These bids have been so designed that they serve to open the bidding, or respond to any other valid Opening bid – the same bids, the same rules.
- Limited Responses to all Opening Bids – easy to remember and relatively intuitive
- Early Slam identification (useful in ruling out quixotic adventures in bidding)
- Flexible Ace Asks (based on familiar conventions such as Blackwood, Gerber and versions thereof)
- Limited Reply rules
- All your rules in one basket – no necessity to learn Stayman or Jacoby conventions – less chance for confusion and more chance of success.
- A system designed to get you playing offense more often – and who doesn’t like to be on the Declarer’s side.