Partnership Agreements Checklist
___Standard American or ___2/1 Game Forcing general approach
Opening bids (for further information consult this section of the book) 1.1.1
1NT Opening ___15-17 ___Other ______
2NT Opening ___20-21 ___Other ______
3NT Opening ___25-27 ___Gambling
Distribution for opening 1NT 1.1.3
___Open 1NT with five-card majors, only with 3 cards in the other major
___Open 1NT with five-card majors often
___Do not open 1NT with five-card majors often
Opening criteria 1.4
___Open all hands with 13 HCP
___Open all hands with 12 HCP that have two quick tricks
___Open most hands with 11 HCP and all 12 point hands (light openings)
___Open all 5-5 or better hands with 10 or more HCP & two quick tricks
___Open lighter than above in 1st or 2nd seat
___Open lighter than above in 3rd or 4th seat
With a five-card suit and a five-card suit 1.7.7
___open 1 ___If strong ___always
___open 1 ___If weak ___always
Responses to 1NT opening bids - Stayman
Responding to Stayman with two four-card majors, opener will bid 2.1.1
___ first (2/1) ___ first ___strongest first ___weakest first
Responder’s rebids after 1NT-2-2 2.1.2
___a 2/2 bid shows five cards in the bid major & four in the other major, invitational
___a 2 bid shows five spades & four hearts, invitational
___a 2 bid shows a weak 5-5 or 5-4 hand, Crawling Stayman
Responder’s rebids after 1NT-2-2 2.1.3
___2 is an invitational hand with 4 and five of a minor
___2 is a strong hand with four spades and five of a minor
___2 a hand worth a 2NT raise with a 4-card suit (if 2NT is a transfer) (2/1)
2NT by responder after any response to Stayman 2.1.4
___shows at least one four-card major (SAYC)
___does not promise a four-card major (if a direct 2NT is a transfer) (2/1)
After a 2 response to Stayman, responder’s, 2.1.5, 2.1.6 & 2.1.7
___3M shows 5 cards in the major suit bid and 4 in the other, game forcing (SAYC) (2/1)
___3M shows 5 cards in the other major and 4 in the bid major, (Smolen) game forcing
___4/4 over opener's 3NT rebid, after a forcing 3M is a transfer to 4/4
After any response to Stayman, responder’s, 2.1.8
___3 or 3 shows a 5+card suit and slam interest (will have 4M)
___3 or 3 shows a 5+card suit and slam interest (may not have 4M) (SAYC)
After 1NT-2-2/, 3 of the other major shows, 2.1.9
___slam interest in the NT opener’s major with an unspecified singleton (2/1)
___when not a jump, shows a six-card suit (SAYC)
Slam interest rebids after 1NT-2-2/, 2.1.10
___4 is Gerber (SAYC) or ___ RCK Gerber (2/1)
___4 shows a strong balanced game raise (2/1)
Responses to 1NT opening bids - Transfers
___Jacoby Transfers for the majors over 1NT (SAYC), 2.2
___Super acceptance with Transfers for the majors over 1NT (SAYC)
___Walsh Relays - Transfer to 2 and then bid 2-2NT-3X) (2/1)
___Super acceptance with Walsh Relay modifications over 1NT (2/1)
___Transfer to 2 and then bid 2 to show a 5-5 M inv hand (SAYC)
___Transfer to 2 and then bid 3 to show a 5-5 M game forcing hand
___Transfer to M and then bid 3m shows 5-4 game forcing, 2.2.3
___Transfer to M and then bid a jump bid shows 5+ M and a singleton
___Transfer and bid 4 is Gerber 2.2.6
___Transfer and bid 4 shows 5-5M slam invitational, 2.2.6
___Transfer and bid 3 of the other major shows an unspecified singleton 2.2.6
___Texas Transfers for the majors (2/1), 2.3
Responses to 1NT opening bids - Other
___2 as a relay to 3 for a bust, correct to 3 for bust (SAYC)
___2 to show a weak minor suit or 5-5 strong 2.5
___2 is a transfer to 3 using four suit transfers 2.9
___2 as Minor Suit Stayman (2/1) 2.6
___a raise of opener's 3/3 rebid to 4/4 is Roman Key Card
___a jump to the suit above opener's 3/3 is Kickback RCK
___a jump to game in the minor after 3NT by partner is to play
___a jump to game in the minor after 3NT by partner is inv to 6
___3 or 3 is invitational to 3NT (SAYC) 2.10
___3 or 3 shows 5-5 in the minors, 3 weak 3 strong
___3 over 1NT as Puppet Stayman 2.11
___3 or 3 shows six or more and slam invitational (SAYC) 2.12
___3 showing 5-5 in the majors, game invitational (2/1)
___3 showing 5-4m and heart shortness, game forcing
___3 showing 5-5 in the majors, slam invitational
___3 showing 5-4m and spade shortness, game forcing
2NT bid directly by responder
___is invitational to 3NT, denies a four-card major (SAYC) 2.13
___is a transfer to 3 showing a club bust or to show a singleton (2/1)
___is a transfer to 3 using four suit transfers 2.9
Responses to 1NT opening bids – With interference
When responder’s 2 is doubled, 2.14
___redouble by either partner is to play
___systems are still on, bids have same meaning
When opener’s 1NT is doubled
___redouble is for profit (SAYC)
___pass asks opener to redouble for penalty or run out 13.1.2
___redouble asks for opener to bid 2 as a weak club transfer or showing
a weak 5-5 in the majors if the responder follows up with 2 2.14
When opener’s 1NT is doubled after responder passes
___redouble asks for opener to bid 2 as a weak club transfer, with
a possible correction to diamonds, all other systems are on 13.1.2
If opponents interfere after we open 1NT, we play 2.15
___Lebensohl ___Direct Denies (Slow Shows) ___other (2/1)
___systems on over double, not Lebensohl (2/1)
___systems on over 2 bid that shows one suited hand (dbl for Stayman), not Lebensohl
Using Lebensohl over a two suited overcall, showing a stopper 2.15
___With one suit stopped, bid the suit stopped (this is not Stayman as with one suit only)
___With neither stopped, bid 3NT
___With both stopped bid 2NT, Lebensohl Slow Shows
Double of interference after partner opens 1NT is 2.14
___for penalty (SAYC)
___Stolen bid with systems on
___a negative double asking partner to bid one of the other three suits
After a transfer bid is doubled, a redouble by 1NT opener is 2.16
___for penalty with the bid suit as trump (SAYC)
___a three-card acceptance for the transfer suit, almost a super acceptance hand
After a transfer bid is doubled and NT opener passes with two-card support
___a redouble is to play the bid suit , bidding the transfer suit is to play
___a redouble asks opener to bid the transfer suit 2.16
Responses to 2NT openings (or 2, 2X, 2NT)
___3 is Puppet Stayman 3.3
___3 is Regular Stayman (SAYC)
After a 3NT response to Puppet Stayman 3.3
___any four level bid is natural and forcing
2NT-3-3-3 3.4
___shows 5-5 in the majors with slam interest (SAYC)
___is a Walsh Relay to show a hand with a single minor suit
2NT-3-3-4 3.4
___shows 5-5 in the majors, no slam interest
Other transfers over 2NT
___transfer and bid 4 is a second suit with slam interest (SAYC) 3.4
___transfer and bid 4 is Gerber or ___RKC Gerber for the transfer suit
___transfer and bid 5 is Gerber or ___RKC Gerber for the transfer suit
___Over a 2NT opening, transfer and bid 4NT is quantitative (SAYC)
___Over a 2NT opening, transfer and bid 4NT is ace asking
___Texas Transfers over a 2NT (2/1) 3.5
___3 over 2NT is as a relay to 3NT to show one or both minors
___3 over 2NT is Minor Suit Stayman (2/1) 3.7
Responses to 3NT openings (or 2, 2X, 3NT)
___4NT after a transfer over 3NT is quantitative (SAYC) 3.11
___4 over an opening 3NT is Stayman (SAYC) 3.14
___4NT over an opening 3NT is quantitative (SAYC) 3.15
___5 over an opening of 3NT or a transfer after 3NT is Super Gerber
Bid over a quantitative 4NT or 5NT
___shows a four-card suit and asks partner to bid four-card suits up the line
Gambling 3NT 3.17
___Shows a solid seven card minor suit, no outside A or K in first or second seat
___Shows a seven card minor suit, missing only the K or Q
___Has no outside honor ___Has one outside honor
Opener’s response to 4 by responder asking for singleton
___4NT without a singleton, bid suit with a singleton in other minor (SAYC)
___5m without singleton, 4NT with singleton in other minor
Defense against gambling 3NT 13.17
___double for penalty, 4 takeout for and , 4 takeout for
___natural bids
Auctions after opening one of a major
After a single raise of a major, a new suit by opener is 4.2.2
___a help suit game try, showing a second suit (SAYC)
___a NEED help suit game try, relay shows a short suit
___a singleton & 2NT is a relay to 3 for opener to show a five-card suit
Double raise of major opening without interference is 4.3
___Strong forcing (SA)
___Limit raise ___4+card support (2/1) ___3+card support (SAYC)
___Weak (Optional, played with Bergen Raises)
Over a limit raise of a major by responder, new suit by opener is a 4.4
___Help suit (a second suit with length and values) slam try
___Control showing, inviting responder to show controls up the line
___Asking for help suit (a suit that has losers) slam try
___Short suit slam try, showing a singleton or void
Over a major suit opening, a jump shift by responder is 4.10
___a strong jump shift, a hand with 17+ HCP (SAYC)
___an intermediate jump shift with 12+ HCP
___a mini splinter
___a Fit Bid (a good suit with support for opener)
___a weak jump shift (six-card suit less than 6 points) (2/1)
___Bergen Raises 4.20
Play 2NT in response to a major opening is 4.8
___balanced hand with 10-12 points (SA)
___balanced hand with 12+ points
___a forcing major raise – Jacoby 2NT 12+ HCP (SAYC)
___Play control showing bids with interference after 2NT 13.5
In response to Jacoby 2NT, four of a new suit shows 4.8
___a five-card second suit (SAYC)
___a void
Play Serious 3NT Slam try 4.5
___3NT asks for a cue bid
___3NT is to play
3NT response to a major opening 4.14
___shows 16-17 HCP with 2-3-4-4 distribution (SAYC)
___Delayed Splinter over majors 13.1
Over a major suit opening, a double jump shift by responder is 4.11
___a splinter (singleton or void in bid suit, four-card support) (2/1)
1NT response to a major opening is 4.16
___not forcing (SAYC)
___always forcing (2/1)
___forcing only by an unpassed hand
___play constructive raises ___by a passed hand only 4.16.13
After 2NT showing 18-19 HCP over responder’s forcing 1NT
___all three level bids by responder are now forcing (2/1) 4.16.8
___all three level bids by responder are now weak
___transfers over opener’s rebid of 2NT 4.16.9
After a 1NT response to a major a double jump shift shows by opener
___shows a singleton or void in support of opener’s own suit 4.15.1
After partner opens a 3rd or 4th seat major 4.18.2
___2 is Drury showing a limit raise with 3+ card support or clubs,
opener replies 2 with weak hand
___2 is Reverse Drury showing a limit raise with 3+ card support
___2 is Two Way Reverse Drury with 3M, and 2 is Two Way Reverse Drury with 4M
___2NT is the Drury Adjunct showing 5-5m with game invitational values
Play a two over one response by an unpassed hand shows 4.19
___11+ points (SAYC)
___10+ points (very common)
___12+ points (2/1)
___6-11 points
Which rebid by a major suit opener is not forcing after a 2/1 response
___2 of the major 4.19
___2NT (most commonly used as 12-14 HCP, non-forcing in SAYC)
___3 of responder’s suit
___a new suit that is not a jump or a reverse
___none of the above (2/1)
A jump in a new suit by opener after a 2/1 response shows 4.19
___Splinter in support of responder’s suit
___5-5 hand
___strong hand
Which rebids by responder after a 2/1 bid are not forcing 4.19
___Cheapest bid of opener’s original suit
___Cheapest rebid of responder’s suit
___Cheapest rebid of opener’s second suit
___Cheapest NT bid (See section 13.7 for 2NT new suit forcing)
After a 2/1 response 4.19
___1-p-2-p-3 is strong (only if this sequence is forcing to game)
___1-p-2-p-4 is strong (fast arrival)
___3NT rebid by opener after a 2/1 response shows 18-19 HCP 4.19
___3NT rebid by opener after a 2/1 response shows 15-17 HCP (SAYC)
___3NT rebid by responder after a 2/1 response shows 16-17 HCP
___3NT rebid by responder after a 2/1 response shows 13-15 HCP
Auctions after opening one of a minor
After partner opens 1, responder 5.1.1
___bids four-card suits up the line (SAYC style)
___bids four-card major instead of four or five-card
diamond suit with a weak hand (Walsh Style)
After 1-1, opener will 5.1.1
___bid four-card suits up the line (SAYC style)
___bid 1NT with a 12-14 HCP balanced hand,
bypassing a four-card major or majors (Walsh Style)
After opener supports responder’s suit and responder’s rebids
___are natural 5.3
___are the same as 1M-2M game try 5.4
After a 1 rebid by opener after a 1 response to 1 5.3.4
___Jump bids of 3, 3, or 3 by responder are invitational to game
___Jump bids of 3, 3, or 3 by responder are forcing to game
After a1NT rebid by opener, the bid of a new minor suit is 5.3.9
___natural and forcing (SAYC)
___a one round force, may not have the suit, NMF 5.5
___game forcing or almost game forcing, may not have the suit, NMF 5.5
___XYZ 13.4
Double raise of opener’s minor suit is 5.7
___Strong and forcing
___Limit raise
___Weak preemptive (Inverted Minor responses) (2/1)
___single raise is forcing to 2NT or 3 of the minor (limit raise) (2/1)
___single raise is forcing to game (forcing raise)
Over inverted minor responses 5.7
___Use 4NT only as ace asking bid
___Use four of minor after inverted minor for ace asking
___Use four of suit just above the minor for ace asking (Kickback)
___four of the suits above the minor are ___splinters ___Excl Blackwood
Inverted Minors 5.7
___off if opponents double or overcall ___on if opponents double or overcall
Over a minor suit opening, a jump shift by responder is 4.10
___a strong jump shift, a hand with 17 or more HCP (SAYC)
___a mini splinter (a singleton or void, 4+ support, invitational)
___a Fit Bid (a good suit with support for opener)
___a weak jump shift to a major (six-card suit less than 6 points) (2/1)
___an intermediate jump shift, 12 or more HCP
___Criss Cross (jump to opposite minor, forcing raise)
___off in competition ___on in competition ___for opening only
After a 2NT jump rebid by opener 5.13
___3 is a relay to 3 for a weak sign off, Wolf sign-off
___3 and all other bids are forcing to game (SAYC)
___3 is a check back for a major suit fit
Over a minor suit opening, a double jump shift by responder is
___a splinter (singleton or void in bid suit, four-card support) (2/1)
___1m-1M-4m as a Fit Bid showing 6m and 4 of partner’s major (SAYC) 5.3.25
Notrump responses to one of a minor 5.10
___2NT shows 11-12 HCP, 3NT shows 13-15 HCP (2/1)
___2NT shows 13-15 HCP, 3NT shows 16-18 HCP (SAYC)
___2NT shows 11-15 HCP forcing, 3NT shows 16-17 HCP,
2NT and raise to 4NT over 3NT shows 18-19
When looking for stoppers in opponent’s suit for 3NT 5.16
___Western Cue, bid of a suit asks for a stopper in opponent’s suit
___Western Cue, bid of a suit asks for a partial stopper in opponent’s suit
___Eastern Cue, bid of a suit shows a stopper in opponent’s suit
Reverses, Splinters, Jump Shifts and other forcing bids
Reverses by opener
___after a 1/1 response are forcing, showing 16+ HCP (SAYC)
___after a 2/1 response are forcing, showing 16+ HCP
___after a 2/1 response do not show extra values 5.12 & 6.2.3 (2/1)
___always show only distribution, not extra values
A jump when a bid of a suit would have been a value showing reverse,
___shows a very distributional hand 6.2.4
___shows a splinter
___Jump shift by opener is game forcing, ___17+ ___18+ ___19+ points
___2NT in response to a reverse, Lebensohl for a weak hand 6.3
Jump shift by an unpassed hand is 6.5
___Strong 17+HCP forcing (SAYC)
___Weak hand with 6 card plus suit
___Fit Bid
___Mini Splinter
___Intermediate 12+ HCP game forcing
Jump shift by a passed hand 6.5.2
___has the same meaning as if it were not a passed hand
___shows a solid suit or a notrump type of hand
___shows a good suit and support for opener’s suit (Fit Bid)
Bidding the forth suit in an auction, the, 6.6
___forth suit shows a 4+card suit, forcing one round
___forth suit bid may not show a suit, forcing one round
___forth suit bid may not show a suit, forcing to game or four of a minor
Second-round Jump Shift by Responder is 6.7
___a splinter
___a weak two suited hand (new suit would be 4th suit forcing)
___an invitational two suited hand (new suit would be 4th suit forcing)
___a forcing two suited hand
Opening Bids of Two or More
An opening 2 bid shows
___22+ HCP or 8.5 tricks (SAYC) 7.1
___Other ______
After responding to an opening 2 bid with 2 as a waiting bid 7.1
___the bid of the cheapest minor at the three level is a second negative
___the bid of the cheapest minor is a suit, not second negative bid
___2 response to 2 of is a bust hand (2NT is ), 2 has an A, K or 2 Qs
___a rebid of 3NT after a 3 rebid by opener is a second negative
___Kokish Relays shows a ____ HCP balance hand over a 2 7.1.1.1
___Step responses to a 2 opening ___HCP ___Controls
If an Opening 2 Bid is overcalled, responder’s 7.1.1.2
___double shows a very bad hand, pass shows 4+HCP (Common)
___double shows 4+ HCP, pass shows a bad hand
___double is for penalty, pass shows any other hand
___any suit bid is a positive response
If an Opening 2 Bid is doubled, responder’s 7.1.4.2
___redouble shows 8+ points and no suit
___pass shows a weak hand, then opener’s redouble is to play
___2 shows 4+ points
___any suit bid is a positive response
If an Opening 2 Bid is overcalled and responder passes,
___opener’s double is for takeout
If responder’s waiting bid is overcalled 7.1.4.2
___opener’s pass is forcing for takeout
___double is for penalty
___After a 2 opening, if opponents double the responder’s bid,
a redouble is to play and pass is forcing 7.1.6
___If LHO overcalls opener’s 2 and partner passes or doubles and RHO raises to the three level, a double by opener is for takeout if responder has shown a weak hand and a double by opener is for penalty if responder has shown some points. If responder showed points, a pass by opener is forcing
An opening 2 bid is,
___a weak two bid ___Other ______
Opening two bids of 2, 2, and 2 are weak bids showing 5-11 HCP 7.2
___in 1st or 2nd seat promises six-card suit & 2 of the top 3 honors
___in 1st or 2nd seat can be made with a weak suit
___in 3rd seat will be made on a good suit
___in 3rd seat may be weak or only five cards
3NT directly in response to the weak two bid shows 7.2.2
___a strong hand to play in 3NT or 4M, a bid of 3NT after 2NT is to play
___a bid of 3NT play, a bid of 3NT after 2NT is to play in 3NT or 4M
New suit bid by an unpassed responder after a weak two bid is 7.2.2.3
___forcing (RONF) (2/1)
___not forcing
2NT in response to a weak two bid 7.2
___asks for a singleton or void
___asks for a feature (an outside king or ace) (SAYC)
___3 asks for a singleton or void
___asks for Ogust responses
After double of partner’s weak two bid 7.4
___Lead directing raises (lead suit bid if opponents get the bid, or raise)
___Lead directing raises, 2NT is a relay to 3 for a bailout suit
___Lead directing raises, a jump bid is ___higher lead directing ___bailout suit
A jump in a new suit by responder to an opening weak two bid is
___a Control Asking Bid (CAB) 7.6
___a splinter in support of the opening bidder
Opening preempts 7.7
___Preempt based on the rule of 1, 2 & 3 with little defensive strength
___Preempt based on the rule of 2, 3 & 4 with little defensive strength
___Preempts may be even lighter
After a 4/4 Openings, A new suit by responder is 7.9.1
___a non-forcing constructive
___a Control Asking Bid to find out more about opener’s hand 7.6
___a cue bid showing a control with slam interest
___4/4 is Namyats, 8 tricks with a major as trump 7.9.2
After 4/4 openings, a new suit by responder is 7.9.3
___a non-forcing constructive
___a cue bid showing a control with slam interest
___a Control Asking Bid to find out more about opener’s hand 7.6
Bidding After the Opponents Double
Jump shift after opponents double shows 8.1.3
___weak hand with a long suit (SAYC)
___Fit Bid
___mini splinter
After opponent’s double of partner’s opening bid of 1 or 1 8.1.10
___3NT over a takeout double, shows a game forcing raise over 1M
___3NT is natural, to play (SAYC)
Over opponent’s double of an opening suit bid 8.1
___3 of the major is a limit raise, 2NT is natural
___2NT is a limit raise, three of opener’s suit is preemptive, Jordon (SAYC)
___2NT is preemptive, three of opener’s suit is a limit raise (Flip Flop)
___Minors only
After opponent’s double of partner’s opening one bid 8.1.12
___Redouble shows 10+ points, implies no fit (2/1)
___Redouble shows 10+ points, if a fit, it will be shown later
Bidding After the Opponents Overcall
Over opponent’s overcall of a major suit opening suit bid 8.4