System Summary Form (SSF), 2016 USBC


Team: Dinkin Last Updated Apr 11, 2016 at 13:42
Players: Sam Dinkin - Cenk Tuncok

Click here to see their ACBL convention card in a new window

Bids that Require Advance Preparation

ACBL-required pre-alerts:

2NT = either minor 6+m,
-no major,
-1st/2nd seats 12+-15 HCP,
-3rd/4th seats 14-17- HCP (17 has fewer than 5 controls),
-defenses permitted at the table.
-This convention is permitted according ACBL mid chart opening #17. "A 2NT opening bid showing an unspecified minor." http://web2.acbl.org/documentLibrary/play/Convention-Chart.pdf
-ACBL defense: http://web2.acbl.org/defensedatabase/mc18.pdf
Please note that while the defense states "weak preempt", USBF has determined it's an acceptable for the ranges here, with the exception that pairs might want to play the initial balanced doubles somewhat heavier.

1 of a major = natural;
-may have longer suit;
-4+ cards;
-1S also shows 0-3H;
-1st/2nd seats 8-9 HCP, we will pass about half of 0-1 control 8 counts;
-3rd/4th seats 14-17- HCP (17 has fewer than 5 controls);
-3rd/4th seat will either be a four card suit or balanced 5 card suit.

3-level preempts may be as undisciplined as xxxxxx.

Other opening bids, responses and competitive calls that may require advance preparation, but are not ACBL pre-alerts are listed below the general bidding style.

General Bidding Style

We play a strong diamond system with many weird openings, competing calls and follow ups.

In the 15+ HCP range in 1st and 2nd seats we have 4 calls:

2C = 5+S, 15+HCP;

2D = 5H, 4-card minor, (31) or 6H, 15+HCP;

2NT = artificial, 6+card minor, 12+-15; and

1D = 15+ art., for hands that want to ask partner what he has or any other pattern than the 2 of a minor opening patterns.

In 1st and 2nd seats in the 10-14 range, we have 4 calls below 2NT:

2 of a Major = natural;
-either a 5-card major, 4-card minor, (31) or a 6-card or longer major;
-10-11 HCP or 13-14 HCP;

1NT = natural,
-10-12 HCP,
-12 HCP has no major; and

1C = 10-14 any pattern.
-We prefer to open 2M or 1NT to 1C.
-We have the option to open 1C with a 2NT shape.

In the 8-9 HCP range we can either open at the 3-level or above or, if we have a 4+card major, we open 1 of a major. Both majors 8-9 HCP will always open 1H.

Our style is to open all 10-counts even 4333. We can upgrade or downgrade (with some exceptions like not being able to upgrade from 7 to 8 to open 1M or from 9 to 10 to open 1N). Our preempting style is to be disciplined on tricks and length, but not suit quality. Length is 6+ 3-level, 7+ 4-level and higher.

In 3rd and 4th seats, since we opened all 10-counts and most 8-9-counts already, we increase the strength requirements for our strong bids to 17+ with minimum shape. We add another forcing opening: 1C with 14+-17- and a 5-card suit unbalanced and a 5 or fewer loser hand. Our 1H, 1S, 1NT and 2NT are all 14-17- also.

1M = natural,
-4-5M,
-balanced, semi-balanced or 4441 hands.

1NT = balanced with no major.

2NT = 6m no major 14-17-. The minus in 17- is fewer than 5 controls.

We also play in 3rd seat 2M natural 5+cards 3-14 HCP (with no conventions) and no distribution requirements. In 4th seat, it's 11-14 HCP.

In 3rd/4th seats, we will pass balanced 0-13 counts with no 5-card major.

Other opening bids that may require advance preparation:

1C 1st/2nd seats = 10-14 HCP,
-any pattern,
-could be as short as 0,
-non forcing.
-Some negative inferences that some patterns may have a narrower HCP range.
--Balanced 4+M 12-14,
--balanced 2-3M 13-14,
--5M4m(31) or 6+M 12,
--unbalanced 6m 10-12-,
--semi-balanced 6m 12-,
--everything else 10-14.

1D = 15+;
-artificial;
-forcing;
-could be as short as 0D;
-any pattern.
-Some negative inferences that opener did not opt to open 2m showing 5M strong;
-3rd/4th seats 17+, if 17, 5+controls.

1N 1st/2nd seats = natural,
-10-12 HCP,
-if 12 no major.

1N 3rd/4th seats = natural,
-denies a major (i.e., 2-3M),
-14-17- HCP, 17 HCP will have 2-4 controls

2C = 5+S;
-strong;
-artificial;
-forcing,
-15+ HCP if balanced;
-3rd/4th seats 17+-35 HCP if balanced, if 17 5+controls.

2D = 5+H;
-5H4m31 or 6+H;
-0-3S;
-strong;
-artificial;
-forcing;
-15+ HCP if 5431;
-3rd/4th seats 17+-35 HCP if 5431, if 17 5+controls.

2M = natural,
-10-11 HCP or 13-14 HCP,
-5M4m(31) or 6+M

Responses that may require advance preparation:

1C-1D 1st/2nd seats = GF art.

1C-1M 1st/2nd seats = natural NF, 0-9 HCP

1C-2C 1st/2nd seats = 12-13- HCP,
-artificial,
-5-card Stayman,
-does not promise 4+M

1C-2D 1st/2nd seats = 10-11 HCP,
-artificial,
-4 or 5 card stayman,
-promises 4+M

1C-2H+ 1st/2nd seats = 10-11 HCP,
-natural,
-non-forcing

1D-1H artificial;
-semi positive;
-forcing;
-1st/2nd seats 6-10- or a quick trick, 10 HCP will have 0-1 controls;
-3rd/4th seats 5-8- or a quick trick, 8 will have 0-1 control.

1D-1S artificial,
-double negative,
-non-forcing,
-no quick tricks,
-1st/2nd seats 0-5 HCP,
-3rd/4th 0-4 HCP

1D-1NT+ = artificial, game forcing

1M-2C 1st/2nd seats = artificial, game forcing

1M-2 new = natural, invitational, non-forcing

1N-2C 1st/2nd seats = artificial, game forcing

1N-2D 1st/2nd seats = artificial,
-puppet to 2H,
-either a sign off in any suit or invitational with both majors.

1NT-2M 1st/2nd seats = invitational, non-forcing, 4+M

2C-2D = artificial, game forcing

2C-2H = 4+H non-forcing, not a drop

2C-2S = 0-3S, drop

2C-2NT = puppet to 3C,
-with one minor,
-weak

2C-3C = artificial,
unfitted,
invitational,
non-forcing,
0-4H

2C-3D = artificial,
-5+H,
-forcing,
-invitational+

2C-3H = artificial,
-3+S,
-forcing,
-invitational+

2D-2H = 0-3H, drop

2D-2S = Game forcing, artificial

2D-3C = artificial,
-5+S,
-forcing,
-invitational+

2D-3D = artificial,
-3+H,
-forcing,
-invitational+

2H-2S+ responses are like 2D-2S+ responses

2S-3C+ responses are like 2C-3C+ responses

2NT-3C = pass or correct

2NT-3D = Game forcing, Artificial

2NT-4m = South African Texas transfer showing 6M in major two steps up

Competitive calls that may require advance preparation:

(1 of a suit natural) – 1NT = takeout,
-typically 10-17- HCP 2nd seat
-10-19- HCP 3rd/4th seats)

(1 of a suit natural) – Double = 15+ HCP 2nd seat;
-(1S)-X also shows a stopper;
-3rd/4th 17+-35 HCP

(1C natural) – 2D = 4+H, 5+D, 8+HCP

(1m natural) – 2H = 4+S, 5+H, 8+HCP

Opening Leads AND Leads in the Middle of the Hand

3rd/low vs. suits, 4th vs. NT from suits we like. Attitude leads possible in partner's suit. K asks count (or vs. NT unblock). A asks suit preference. K from AK when switching to xx, A from AK when switching to x. Standard honor card leads. Middle of the hand: attitude when breaking a new suit.

Defensive Signals

Primary: standard suit preference throughout the hand.
-High asks for highest absolute side suit out of the two most likely; typically T98, but if highest spot card from xxx is lower it is by agreement high.
-Low asks for lowest absolute side suit "; " 432, " ...
-Middle asks for neither; typically 567 " ...

In a situation where there are only two relevant suits and one of them is the suit we are playing a card,
-if the other suit is lower, a low card (typically 2345) asks for that suit,
-if the other suit is higher a high card asks for that suit (typically T987).

No attitude signal, we use suit preference instead.

Secondary standard count.

Discards standard suit preference.

We will sometimes give suit pref in a count situation (e.g., king lead) if, for example, dummy has a singleton. We will sometimes give count in a suit preference situation (e.g. if preference is known or irrelevant).