System Summary Form (SSF), 2025 Senior USBC

Bids that Require Advance Preparation

(1) 2-suiters - Roman style jumps and overcalls: - 1 -2 = 5-5+ Majors - (2) 3 or (2) 3 weak Michaels - (3) 4 = & a red suit; 4 =reds - (3) 4 = & a M - (2) 3, or (2) 3 = one or both minors with a good hand asking for a stopper [invites 3N] - Over M suit weak 2's, a jump to 4M or 4N shows 2 long suited minors, [4M shows more quick tricks than does 4N and includes a control in the OPP's M] - [2 or 3 or 2 or 3] - 4 shows s & OM; 4 shows s & OM - (2+ 1)-2 =5+-5+ M's NF, (1)-3 =strong M's - (3+ 1) -2 = 5-5+M's not strong, (1)- 3= strong M's - (1H) 4 and (1) 4 are Super Michaels showing the OM and a minor [usually 6-5 with a control in the Q-bid suit] with good prospects of taking 11 trick opposite non-misfits. (2) ART responses to 1 opening (16+ HCP ART): - 1 = 0-7; all others which follow are ART GFs - 1 = s or 11-13 BAL - 1 = s (suits = 5+) - 1N = s - 2 = s - 2 = 8-10 BAL - 2 = 14+ BAL - 3 = any SOL suit - Others = 8+ 3suiters (3) Responses to 1 openings: - 2 = 5/4+ (+), less than INV - 2 = 5/4+ INV - 3 = minors less than INV; 3 could be very light NV with lots of shape. - 2N- INV but due to our light opening bid style may be better than you'd expect; 2N may be up to 13 HCP particularly opposite a 1st seat white 1. (4) Competitive TRFRs We use many competitive TRFRs. A TRFR to a new suit either shows that suit or is a lead-directing raise perhaps lacking 5+ cards in the transferred-to suit, 1-(X)-XX = TRFRs to N (perhaps with ); 1 - (X) -1NT = TFERs to s, 2 TRFRs to 2, etc. (5) ART Raises Many ART raises used. 1 under at 3-level is normally a mixed raise (7+-9 HCP support value with 4+ trump). 2NT normally used as Major suit raise. (6) Misc Agreements - When showing shape in response to an artificial inquiry, we may choose to show a singleton honor as a doubleton - A X of SPL seeks to compete, other SPL X’s are natural. - Pen P of XX except at the 1 level (including 1N) - In general, XX of 3N is to play. - An Initial X of an ART raise is lead directing if it is known to INV on better; otherwise these Xs are t/o. - We play some relays in many auctions. Generally 2 step interference breaks UP the relay.

General Bidding Style

(1) Precision Our style is based on Rodwell precision. All stated point count ranges are approximate. We often upgrade based on distribution, but downgrades are also frequent. (2) 1NT Openings = 14-16, but is 15-17 HCP in 4th seat, or 3rd seat VUL. (3) Non-1 Openings . - 1 = 16+ HCP or compensating shape. Our rule of thumb is that 1 is OK if we are willing to shoot out game opposite balanced 8 HCP. See prior section for continuations. - 1 = 11-15 HCP catchall but includes 2+s. Very rarely we may open 1 with a 5M332 or a stiff honor with the shape for a 2 opening. Occasionally we open 10 balanced HCP, most likely 1st seat favorable - 5-card Majors = 11-15 HCP; 4 card suites are permissible in 3rd seat, typically with less than a normal opening and containing a good suit. - 2 = 6+ card suit with 10-15 HCP (5 cards suits are possible in 3rd seat) - 2 = 3-suiter short in (can be (4-3) in the Ms either way) with 10-15 HCP. (3) Style - Our responses can be light and our passes may be heavy. Our openings in 1st or 2nd seat typically show 11 HCP but they may be slightly lighter based on distribution. Our 3rd seat openings may be aggressive. - Preempts - In 1st and 2nd seat our weak 2's are usually decent [11 HCP is possible and they may be made on a weakish hand with a 7 card suit]. Our 3M openings tend to be respectable especially when vulnerable; with a running 7 card M we are likely to open 3N systemically. Our 1st and 2nd seat 3m openings are sound and contain a strong suit that includes the A. In 3rd and 4th seats, our preempts can be made on a 5 card suit (weak 2's) or a 6 card suit (at the 3 level); the strength of these openings may vary considerably.possible. - Generally we play an active [but not crazy] style both in constructive auctions and in competition. But major variations are common. For example, we may open 1NT with 13 HCP if we think it is worth 14, or 1 may be opened with a stiff K of Diamonds instead of 2, or we may open with 9 or 10 HCP if we have a reason to so. 1M-2M tends to be about 8-11 HCP but that comes with no guarantees. With few HCP we most often bid 1N but tactical circumstances may cause us to raise directly. 3rd seat openings can be primarily tactical and might be on shorter lengths than otherwise promised. For example 4-card Major or 5-card 2 openings are reasonably common. - Most of our low level doubles are conventional or takeout or they can show extra offense; Low level responsive Xs tend to show a 4 card M. - We often open 1N with a 5422 pattern (including 5 4) even if our values are concentrated; - We rarely psych but psychs are not impossible. Most common psyches are 3rd seat white. - We play relatively few forcing passes in auctions on which we don't have a specific agreement. We don't vary our forcing pass rules based on vulnerability. We play Pass/double inversion in 1C! auctions.

Opening Leads AND Leads in the Middle of the Hand

Defensive Signals