System Summary Form (SSF), 2019 Mixed USBC


Team: Rosenthal Last Updated May 6, 2019 at 18:49
Players: Debbie Rosenberg - Michael Rosenberg

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Bids that Require Advance Preparation

1C-P-2D = 5-9HCP with 5+-card S & 4+-card H

1m-P-2H = Artificial Balanced Invitation
1m-P-2S = Artificial Limit Raise

1H-P-2S = 6+ card spades, less than invitational values

1M-P-3D = Artificial 4-trump Limit Raise (could be planning to bid game).

1D-P-1H-P-1S is natural and forcing one round. It could include strong jump shift values, because a jump to 2S is an artificial bid with long diamonds (either GF or inv w/3 hearts).

Transfer resp. and transfer advances after 1M (X)

After (1m) P (1N) or (1C) P (1D):
2C = 5-4 either way in majors
2D = Michaels 5+-5+ in majors

Support doubles and redoubles below 2 of responder's suit, including after 1D response. Support doubles are not mandatory, and do not apply over any 1N overcall.

When we open or overcall 1M, and the next hand acts, 2N, jump or not, is a 4-card raise.

Two Way Doubles. Double is either penalty or shortness in the following situations:
- We open at the 1 level, they double, responder redoubles, and 4th seat makes a non jump suit bid. Direct double by opener is 2-way.
- We open at the 1 level, they overcall with an artificial two suited bid, responder makes a value showing double, and 4th seat makes a non jump bid in a suit overcaller has promised. Direct double by opener is 2-way.
- (2x) P (3x) P, (P) X = 2 way

Penalty Pass of their Redouble
- We open, they overcall, two passes, double, redouble, PASS
- They preempt(any), pass, pass, double, redouble, PASS
- Partner shows 5-5 and doubles, redouble, PASS
- They are in 4♥ or higher – pass says you would have passed.

Redoubles of natural 3N are always to play.

General Bidding Style

We play 5 card majors and 2/1 GF with many gadgets (those deemed most relevant to opponents listed above or below, but far too many for this form).

3-3 opens 1C. 4-4 may open either minor. 4-5 opens 1C.

Open almost all balanced 12's non vul, but will pass quite a few vul.

15-17 1N opening frequently includes 5-card major if 5332. 4-5-2-2 is also possible. 5 cd. major & 4-cd minor rare.
2-4-2-5 and 2-2-4-5 common. 6-cd minor is possible, but probably less likely than for most.

1st and 2nd seat Weak 2's are at least 6-cards.
7-card suits are possible, as are 4 or 5 card side suits.
3 level openings are relatively sound (compared to modern style) EXCEPT first seat favorable can be VERY light, and will never be a normal maximum preempt.

We frequently respond to opening bids with fewer than 6 HCP, especially non-vul.

We routinely bypass a 4-card major to rebid 1N. Our 1M rebid is assumed to be unbalanced.
We routinely rebid 1N with a stiff in responder's major with no other good rebid.

Our 1M-2M raise is semi-constructive by an UPH, so our Forcing 1N response can include a 3-card raise which is too weak.

In 2/1 auctions after we open 1M, opener rebids as naturally as possible, though a new suit at the 3 level shows some extras. Rebid of major does NOT promise 6-cards, but is also not just a default.
In 1D-2C auctions we tend to rebid 2D with a decent 5-card suit, unless the hand is suitable for a 2N rebid. 2M rebid implies (but doesn't guarantee) only four diamonds and weakness in the other major.

Our jump raises in competition are Mixed (presumably about 7-9 support points), unless we have an artificial mixed raise available, in which case they are preemptive. However, at favorable, with no preemptive raise available we might make the ostensibly mixed raise with a light hand.

Forcing Passes above game are rare for us, used only in some clear situations when our side has opened the bidding. However, we do have many agreements regarding low level competitive forces.
If we are in a high level forcing pass situation, pass then pull is WEAKER than bidding directly.

Opener's jump rebid to 3m never includes 3-card support for responder's major.

After 1D-1M, 3D: 3 of the other major by responder asks for a stopper, therefore 3N may not include a club stopper.





Opening Leads AND Leads in the Middle of the Hand

Vs. Suit Contracts:

- 4th best from an honor.

- High from a doubleton

- 2nd highest from 3+ small cards, however:
- Can lead highest if doubleton is impossible
- If we've raised and can have 3 or more, then we'd normally lead highest from an odd number and second highest from 4.
- Optional from Txx(x) (low or 2nd highest)

- T from T9x


Ace from AK except:
1) Doubleton
2) 5-level or higher
3) Partner's suit (first bid and 3+, or shown (incl. raise) and 4+)
4) Declarer or partner has opened at 3 or 4-level in 1st or 2nd seat
5) Alarm clock, usu. shifting to sing. (in K lead situation, A may be alarm clock).


Vs. Notrump:

- 4th best usually from an honor (T optional), but may be weak suit if no desire for shift

- Second highest when want shift, possible even with honor in suit led

- Top from xxx (low or high in partner’s suit if not supported)
Usually second highest from xxxx(x) (but 4th in partner’s suit if not supported).

If spots are sequential lead highest.

- Rusinow from 4+ down to the 8. Not in partner’s suit (first bid and 3+, or shown (incl. raise) and 4+)

- 8 can be from H98(x)(x), but lead 4th best from K98 with 5(+)-card suit

- Low can also be attitude, when known to have more than four (suit is running)

- K asks for count or unblock

- If supported, lead high from xxx and typically lead low from xxxx. Might lead second highest (or highest if sequential) if you want a shift.

- Low from Hx possible in partner’s suit


Vs. Suits or Notrump

After trick one, leads in a new suit are nearly always attitude. The lower the card, the stronger the desire to have the suit returned.

After trick one, honor leads through declarer only are 0 or 2 IF NECESSARY (must be honor in dummy - holding such as Qxx or AJx in dummy).

When dummy has AJx(x), 10 lead thru dummy shows one higher.

After trick one, A asks for Attitude K asks for Count (often lead Q from KQ).

Defensive Signals

Standard count and attitude

Vs. Suits: At trick one, when no more tricks can be cashing (or set up) in suit led, we play SP. K or Q is informative, not SP.
This rule applies after trick one too.


Vs. NT, Smith Echo (high enc.) at trick 2 only, unless count necessary, or high card holding in suit led known, or dummy has 3 clear stoppers.


Other than Smith vs. NT, first signal on declarer's lead is usually count

Usually play second highest from four small in count situations; play either lowest or second lowest (more often) from four small in attitude situations.

If declarer leads, second signal in same suit usually SP.

Middle cards often express uncertainty
Generally, signal what you want, not what you have


With xx remaining, low-high may be neutral

Splitting Honors:

Second highest under declarer unless dummy has higher card, then split highest
e.g., dummy has Qxxx and second hand has JT9x – play J

Highest under dummy (if winning trick, normally cheapest, but still can win with highest if more descriptive).

- These agreements apply to the trump suit.
- We are likely to false-card any of these if we don’t think partner needs to know.