Master Responding Convention

This convention is designed as a BASIC approach for beginners. Experienced players will use a more complex and fluid bidding system.

Note: S = Number of Spades in hand, SP = Number of Spade Points, SH = Number of Spade Honour Cards – the same pattern for the other suits applies.

red = question or action required

OPENERS BID	YOUR POINTS	YOUR CARDS	YOUR RESPONSE
1 Club	0-5	<4C	Pass
	10+	<4C	Longest @ 1
	0-5	>=4C	Pass
	6-9	>=4C	2C
	10-12	>=4C	3C
	13+	>=4C	3NT
1 Diamond	0-5	<4D	Pass
	6-9	<4D	If Longest = Club then 1NT else longest @ 1, unless a 4CM in H or S
	10-15	<4D	Longest @ 1, if Clubs, then @2
	16+	<4D	Longest @2
	0-5	>=4D	Pass
	6-9	>=4D	2D
	10-12	>=4D	3D
	13+	>=4D	3NT
1 Heart	0-5	<4H	Pass
	6-9	<4H	If Longest = Club or Diamond then 1NT else longest @1, unless a 4CM in S
	10-15	<4H	Longest @ 1, if Clubs or Diamonds, then @2
	16+	<4H	Longest @2
	0-5	>=4H	Pass
	6-9	>=4H	2H
	10-12	>=4H	3H
	13+	>=4H	4H
1 Spade	0-5	<4S	Pass
	6-9	<4S	1NT
	10-15	<4S	Longest @ 2
	16+	<4S	3NT
	0-5	>=4S	Pass
	6-9	>=4S	2S
	10-12	>=4S	3S
	13+	>=4S	4S

When the sum of your HCP added to the number of cards in your longest suit = 14 or more, you can bid at the 2 level in your longest suit.

OPENERS BID	YOUR POINTS	YOUR CARDS	YOUR RESPONSE
1 Anything	<12	Your Points + Number in Longest suit >= 14	Open longest @2

OPENERS BID	YOUR POINTS	YOUR CARDS	YOUR RESPONSE
1NT	<10	Balanced	Pass
	11-12	Balanced	2NT
	13-18	Balanced	3NT
	19+	Balanced	4C - Gerber, Asking for Aces
1NT	0-11	Unbalanced	Pass
	12	Unbalanced	2NT
	13-18	Unbalanced	3NT
	19+	Unbalanced	4C - Gerber, Asking for Aces

Stayman responses will supercede the basic responses above

OPENERS BID	YOUR POINTS	YOUR CARDS	YOUR RESPONSE
1NT	11+	4H or 4S	2C
2NT	11+	4H or 4S	3C

Transfer responses will supercede the basic responses above

OPENERS BID	YOUR POINTS	YOUR CARDS	YOUR RESPONSE
1NT	Any	5H	2D - Indicating a transfer to Hearts
1NT	Any	5S	2H - Indicating a transfer to Spades
2NT	Any	5H	3D - Indicating a transfer to Hearts
2NT	Any	5S	3H - Indicating a transfer to Spades

These will supercede the responses above.

OPENERS BID	YOUR POINTS	YOUR CARDS	YOUR RESPONSE
2C	<=7		2D - Not enough points to support
	>=8	5H	2H
	>=8	5S	2S
	>=8	No 5card suit	2NT
	>=8	5C	3C
	>=8	5D	3D

OPENERS BID	YOUR POINTS	YOUR RESPONSE
2NT	<3	Pass
	3-10	3NT
	11+	4C - Gerber, asking for Aces

OPENERS BID	YOUR POINTS	YOUR CARDS	YOUR RESPONSE
2D	0-15	<=2D	Pass
	0-15	3+D	3D
	16+	2+D	2NT
2H	0-15	<=2H	Pass
	0-15	3+H	3H
	16+	2+H	2NT
2S	0-15	<=2S	Pass
	0-15	3+S	3S
	16+	2+S	2NT

OPENERS BID	YOUR POINTS	YOUR CARDS	YOUR RESPONSE
3C	0-15	<3 C	Pass
	0-15	3C=	4C
	14	3C+ 1 Hon	3NT
	16+	1C+	5C
	17+	6 good card	New suit at 3
3D	0-15	<3 D	Pass
	0-15	3D=	4D
	14	3D+ 1 Hon	3NT
	16+	1D+	5D
	17+	6 good card	New suit at 3 (if C, then 4)
3H	0-15	<3 H	Pass
	0-15	3H=	4H
	14	3H+ 1 Hon	3NT
	16+	1H+	5H
	17+	6 good card	New suit at 3 (if CD then 4)
3S	0-15	<3 S	Pass
	0-15	3S=	4S
	14	3S+ 1 Hon	3NT
	16+	1S+	5S
	17+	6 good card	New suit at 4
4C	0-15	<3 C	Pass
	0-15	3C=	5C
	14	3C+ 1 Hon	4NT
	16+	1C+	6C
	17+	6 good card	New suit at 4
4D	0-15	<3 D	Pass
	0-15	3D=	5D
	14	3D+ 1 Hon	4NT
	16+	1D+	6D
	17+	6 good card	New suit at 4 (if C then 5)
4H	0-15	<3 H	Pass
	0-15	3H=	5H
	14	3H+ 1 Hon	4NT
	16+	1H+	6H
	17+	6 good card	New suit at 4 (if C or D then 5)
4S	0-15	<3 S	Pass
	0-15	3S=	5S
	14	3S+ 1 Hon	4NT
	16+	1S+	6S
	17+	6 good card	New suit at 5

Bridge Trainer