System Summary Form (SSF), 2016 USBC

The following additional SSF forms are also available for this player:
Jay Barron-Jacob Morgan


Team: Harris Last Updated Apr 12, 2016 at 21:49
Players: Martin Harris - Jacob Morgan

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

Bids that Require Advance Preparation

1. We open 1C on all balanced or semi-balanced hands out of range for NT without a 5 card side suit. If 5332 with 5 D, it's optional to open in either minor.

2. Our 1D opening not only shows 5+ D, it also denies a 4 card Major, unless Opener has 16+ HCP. We open 2D with 5+D and a 4 card M.

3. Our 2-level openings (except 2C) are intermediate and natural, so 10-15 HCP:
2D = 5+ D, and a 4 card Major;
2M = 6+ card suit, denies 4+ in OM.

4. We use TRANSFER RESPONSES to a 1C opening:
1D = 4+ hearts
1H = 4+ spades
1S = catchall: no 4+ major, bal or unbal.

5. 1C � 2C: Responder has 5 S and 4+ H, with less than GF.

6. 1C � 2D: Transfer to H. Either a WJS (5+ H, 0-5 HCP), or GF (6+ H 1-suited, or 5-5).

7. 1C - 2H: Transfer to S. Either a WJS (5+ S, 0-5 HCP), or GF (6+ S 1-suited, or 5-5).

8. 1D - 2D: Responder is at least 5-5 in the Majors, with less than GF.

9. 1D - 2H: inv.+ D raise (10+ HCP). If GF, Resp must be unbal. (and must have both 4+ D and a 4 card M). But if he's inv., he can be bal. or unbal, only promises 3+D, and may or may not have a 4 card Major.

10. 1D - 2S: inv.+ with 6+ Cs. May have a 4 card Major.

11. Kaplan inversion after a 1H opening, so:
1H - 1S (0-4 Ss, less than GF)
1H - 1NT (5+ Ss) (exactly 5 unless GF)

12. 1M - 2D (shows 6+ cards in OM, less than GF)

13. 2C opening is strong and artif., but the hand types are limited. Either: (a) balanced, 23+ HCP; (b) 6+ card Major; (c) 6+ Cs; or (d) 5-5 with at least one Major.

14. 3NT opening is strong (15+ HCP), forcing, and shows 6+ S and 5+ H.
4m opening shows the same strength, forcing, with 6+ S and 5+ in that minor.

IN COMPETITION:

15. Many unusual doubles, including in common, 1-level auctions. X is often NOT a Negative X. Sometimes it�s a transfer; other times it may show a strong balanced hand; etc. If we alert a double, we strongly advise you to ask.

16. 1m - [1D or 1H overcall] - 1S: Responder has inv.+ strength with no Major, and no long minor. May or may not have a stopper.

17. 1m - [1S overcall] - 2H: Responder has inv.+ strength with no Major, and no long minor. May or may not have a stopper.

18. When we open 1m and you overcall 1M, Responder uses SWITCHES. Here is an example after 1C - [1H overcall]:
2C = 5+ OM, inv.+
2D = 5+ C, inv.+
2H = 5+ D, exactly inv.
3C = 5+ D, GF
3D = 6+ D, light inv.

19. When we open 1H and you T.O. X, Responder uses SWITCHES:
1S = 5+ C (inv.+) or 6+ C (8-11 HCP)
1NT = 5+ D (inv.+), or 6+ D (8-11 HCP)
2D = constructive raise, 2H is weaker

20. When we open 1S and you T.O. X, Responder uses similar SWITCHES:
1NT = 5+ D (inv.+), or 6+ D (8-11)
2D = 5+ C (inv.+), or 6+ C (8-11)
2H = constructive raise, 2S is weaker

21. In our GF auctions, we use Pass-Double inversion. Pass = clear decision (either penalty or a slam try), while X = doubt / unsure.

General Bidding Style

1. We open as light as Precision pairs: most 10s, including balanced hands. For that reason, in most auctions Responder has two ways to invite, with the sound inv. showing 12-13 HCP. We often respond very light.

2. 1NT = 14 to 17 HCP (any 14). 5422 and 6322 shapes are common, but almost never a singleton.

3. The base of our system is a 5551 opening bid structure. So 5 card Majors, and 1D also promises a 5 card suit. 1C can be a singleton (if 4-4-4-1), but it's almost always 2+ C.

4. We do NOT use 2/1 methods. There's always an artif. GF response, while most 2-level responses are conventional and weaker.

5. 1C opening: either BAL (10-13 or 18-20), or unbalanced with primary Cs. Occasionally 4441. Sometimes balanced with a 5 card Major if the suit quality is poor.

6. 1D opening: tends to deny 4 Hs. Opener can only have 4 H if he has 16+ HCP.

7. 1M opening: tends to show exactly a 5 card suit. Opener can only have 6+ M if: (a) 16+ HCP; or (b) 4+ in OM.

8. We never make control bids in slam try sequences. Instead, we use asking bids to pinpoint partner�s shape, HCP range, key cards, etc.

9. We often treat a weak 5 card Major as 4 card suit, both by Opener and Responder. We use similar judgment in many situations: e.g., show 5422 when really 5431 with a stiff K.

Opening Leads AND Leads in the Middle of the Hand

1. Opening spot card leads vs. NT: MODIFIED ATTITUDE (low = serious interest: 5+ cards or HHxx). From 4 cards (Hxxx or xxxx) we lead lowest spot in the 6-8 range, or the 5 if not holding any of 6-8. From 3 cards or shorter we lead highest spot (even from Hxx)

2. Honor leads vs. NT:
* A and K are standard.
* Q promises a 4+ card suit with the J.
* J shows 3 or fewer) with either Q or T if 3.
* Ten promises 4+ cards with either the J or 9.
* No power card.

3. Opening spot card lead vs. suits: 3rd from even, low from odd.

4. Honor lead vs. suits: Opening lead is Rusinow (K from AK, Q from KQ, etc.), except standard: (a) in partner/'s unraised suit, and (b) by a preemptor. At the 5-level or higher, Ace asks attitude, K asks count.

5. After the opening lead: we lead attitude on the first round of a suit vs. both suits and NT. For later rounds of a suit we usually lead original 4th, unless bridge logic requires otherwise.

6. Coded 9s and 10s (J denies) AFTER the opening lead, but NOT on opening lead -- vs. both suits and NT.

Defensive Signals

UDCA: Attitude, count, and discards are upside-down (low encourages or shows even #). Suit preference is standard.

When partner leads: usually signal attitude. But when attitude is obvious, we may give suit preference.

When following to declarer�s lead: at trick 2 it's Smith Echo vs NT (high-low encourages). We also use Smith Echo on the first round of the trump suit vs suit contracts, but only if attitude about that suit is still in doubt.

When following to declarers lead later in the hand, we give either count or suit pref, whichever we think is more helpful to partner. This applies vs. both suits and NT.

At the 5-level: Ace asks for attitude, King asks for count.