System Summary Form (SSF), 2021 JLall Online Teams #3

Bids that Require Advance Preparation

The general approach is pretty much Standard American 2/1 Game Forcing, but with many gadgets and relays. With 4-4 in the minors, we will open 1 unless the clubs are of significantly better quality. We will also tend to open 1 with 5 clubs and 4 diamonds. We almost never respond 1 to 1 unless we have a game force if we have a 4 card Major (the exception is a hand like xxxx/x/KQJxxx/xx). We like to use the rule of 20 when opening the bidding. We play Bergen style raises at the 3-level, but as we play 2NT as a NAT GF, 2 and 3 take the place of a Jacoby 2NT bid for Hearts and Spades respectively. Weak 2 bids can contain a 7 card suit because our 3 level vulnerable openings require a very good suit and/or a little distribution (ie., not 7-2-2-2). We stretch to open 1NT whenever possible. That includes alot of 5-4-2-2 and even 1-3-4-5 (subject to the ACBL restriction on small singletons) hands where the 5 card suit is lower than the 4 card suit. We play transfer advances after we have opened a Major and the opponents have made a takeout double. We also play transfer advances when we have overcalled a Major and the opponents have made a negative double on the one level. We play a slightly unusual convention when our opponents open 1NT: 2 is either s or a 2 suiter with one unknown major and one unknown minor. 2 = hearts 2 = both majors 2 = spades 2NT=clubs 3 = both minors. In the passout chair vs. strong NTs, double = takeout of spades, 2 = takeout with at least 3 spades (both these bids promise at least 2 places to play with pass or correct principles in force), 2 = 5-5 majors constructive.

General Bidding Style

As stated before we tend to use the Rule of 20 when opening...therefore we will open most balanced 12 counts and most shapely 11's...We are more likely to upgrade 2NT rebids, opening 2NT,and opening 2 with balanced hands rather than 1NT openers. In 3rd seat we could be a little lighter if we can handle the auction (ie. pass the response or something similar) and may occasionally open a 4 card Major if the situation or hand warrants such a bid. We stretch to respond and can be very light especially when responding 1NT to a Major NV. We will never have a GF and respond 1NT. 2/1 is considered 100% GF. To summarize, I would consider us sound in principal in most bidding situations (i.e. not destructive). Most of our doubles are take out with the default being take out. In response to an overcall new suits are forcing by unpassed hands except in competition.

Opening Leads AND Leads in the Middle of the Hand

Defensive Signals