Bidding Guide 2Z12 by Richard Pavlicek

Coping with Interference

After a Suit Opening and a Suit Overcall

West 1

North 1

East  ?

South

With 5+ cards in enemy suit
any strength	pass
After a major opening with 3+ trumps
6-10 points	raise to 2	N
11-12 points	raise to 3	I
13+ points	bid unbid suit	F
With a balanced hand and a stopper
7-10 HCP	bid 1 NT (if possible)	N
10-12 HCP	bid 2 NT	I
13-16 HCP	bid 3 NT	N
With a 4+ card unbid suit
7+ points	double (if appropriate)
6-10 points	bid suit at 1 level	F
11+ points	bid suit at cheapest level	F
After a minor with 5+ trumps or at least Q-x-x-x
6-10 points	raise to 2	N
11-12 points	raise to 3	I
13+ points	bid unbid minor	F

Commonly called a “trap pass,” this assumes you are playing negative doubles (topic follows). At the 2 level or higher you may trap pass with 4 good cards in the enemy suit.

This usually shows 4+ cards, but it may be bid with 3 cards as a waiting bid. Alternatively you may cue-bid the enemy suit, after which all bids below game are forcing.

Usually no unbid 4 card major.

With 9 or 10 points and a good 5+ card suit you may bid your suit at the 2 level rather than pass.

Requirements for a Negative Double

West 1

North 1

East  ?

South

An aid to finding a major-suit fit
After partner opens one of a suit, and an opponent overcalls in a suit (through 4 ), a double is not for penalty but shows 7+ points and 4+ cards in an unbid major suit.
If both majors are unbid
Double promises only one major except on the specific sequence, 1  1 , double shows both (at least 4-4) since you can bid 1  or 1  with just one.
If both majors are bid
Double shows both minor suits (at least 4-4).

Rebids by Opener after a Negative Double

West 1  ?

North 1

East Dbl

South P

Choose the best contract
Opener should try to choose the best trump suit or notrump, similar to normal rebidding style, based on the information revealed by the double.
Indicate your strength as follows
13-15 points	minimum bid	N
16-18 points	jump bid	I
19+ points	cue-bid enemy suit	F

Rebids by Responder after a Negative Double

West 1 2

North 1 P

East Dbl  ?

South P

No need to bid
Responder is not required to bid unless forced by a cue-bid. Assuming opener has indicated a hand in the minimum range (13-15):
Indicate your strength as follows
7-10 points	pass or bid 2 of suit	N
11-12 points	2 NT or raise to 3	I
13+ points	cue-bid enemy suit	F

Optionally, bid game directly if sure of the best contract.

After a Suit Opening and a Takeout Double

West 1

North Dbl

East  ?

South

With 10+ HCP or 11+ points
any hand	redouble
After a major opening with 3+ trumps
6-10 points	raise to 2	N
With a balanced hand
6-9 HCP	bid 1 NT	N
With a 4+ card unbid suit
6-10 points	bid suit at cheapest level	N
After a minor with 5+ trumps or at least Q-x-x-x
6-10 points	raise to 2	N

With 8-10 points you may instead raise to 3 if your trump support is exceptionally good.

Suit must be 6+ or a good 5 cards to bid at the 2 level.

After a Suit Opening and a One-Notrump Overcall

West 1

North 1 NT

East  ?

South

With 10+ HCP or 11+ points
any hand	double (penalty)
After a major opening with 3+ trumps
6-10 points	raise to 2	N
With a 6+ or good 5 card unbid suit
6-10 points	bid suit at 2 level	N
After a minor with 5+ trumps or at least Q-x-x-x
6-10 points	raise to 2	N

Rebids by Opener after Interference

West 1  ?

North P

East 1

South 2

General guidelines
If your right-hand opponent bids over partner’s bid, make the same rebid you would have made without interference if possible. If the bidding is too high, or if unhappy with your hand, just pass; partner has another turn. Also, be alert to double (penalty) with 4 good cards in the enemy suit.

After a One-Notrump Opening and a Suit Overcall

West 1 NT

North 2

East  ?

South

With 4+ cards in enemy suit
7+ points	double (penalty)
With an unbid 4 card major
9+ points	cue-bid enemy suit	F
With a 5+ card unbid suit
5-8 points	bid suit at cheapest level	N
9+ points	jump in suit	F
With any other hand
7-8 HCP	bid 2 NT	N
9-14 HCP	bid 3 NT	S

This replaces the Stayman 2  bid. Opener must bid an unbid 4 card major if he has one; else 3 NT.

Jump bids to the 4 level are unique: 4  is Gerber, 4  requires 7+ cards, and 4  or 4  requires 6+ cards (sign-off). If a jump bid is inappropriate, you may instead cue-bid the enemy suit or gamble on 3 NT.

After a One-Notrump Opening and a Double

With 7+ HCP or 8+ points
any hand	redouble
With any 5+ card suit
1-7 points	bid 2 of that suit	S

The Stayman 2  bid does not apply over a double.