N
S
N
S
N
S
A.
1©
2©
3©
4©
P
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
1-5-4-3 15-18 3-4-4-2 7- 8
North has enough to invite South, who did NOT make a 9 HCP Limit Raise. Given that invitation, South carries on to game, so he is at the top of the single raise - 8 HCP.
N
S
N
S
N
S
B.
1©
2§
2¨
2©
4©
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
2-5-3-3 12-14 3-3-2-5 12 - 14
South makes a Two Over One game force call. North responds with a Diamond stopper; South supports Hearts, showing at least three, and North simply bids the game. Routine, solid bidding with Fast Arrival by North when the Heart fit is identified. South's Hearts must not be very strong, as he didn't bid 3NT on the first call.
N
S
N
S
C.
1ª
1NT*
2ª
P
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
6-2-3-2 12-14 2-3-4-4 6 - 8
A Forcing NT response by South. North rebids Spades, showing six, and South passes. With N/S holding Spades, this is a tough auction to interfere with. Because South passed, he doesn't have enough for the 9+HCP Limit Raise so he has at most two Spades.
N
S
N
D.
2©*
4ª
P
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
4-5-2-2 11-15 5-2-2-4 0 - 14
North opens Flannery, showing exactly 5 Hearts and 4 Spades with an opening hand. Knowing this, South goes directly to the Spade game. South could be strong or very weak with a bunch of Spades. The point is, 2© is a limited opening bid, so South doesn't have to tell North anything: he is the captain. 4 Spades could be very preemptive.
N
S
N
S
N E.
2©*
2NT*
3§*
3NT
P
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
4-5-1-3 11-15 3-2-5-3 12 - 14
A Flannery opening by North. This time, South wants to know the shape of North's minor suits and asks with the 2NT call. North shows a 'fragment' - a three card Club suit - and South decides the Notrump game is best.
N
S
N
S
N F.
1ª
1NT*
2§*
2ª
P
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
5-3-2-3 12-14 2-3-4-4 7 - 9
A Forcing NT response, followed by a (possibly short) Club rebid. South bails out at the 2 Spade level, probably with decent points but only two Spades. With 8+ HCP, South might compete to 3ª if pushed by opponents.
N
S
N
G.
1©
3©
P
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
2-5-3-3 11-12 3-4-2-4 9 - 11
A Limit Raise by South, but the invitation turned down by North. Limit Raises aren't forcing, although some play they always accept an invitation.
N
S
N
S N H.
1ª
3ª
3NT*
4ª P
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
5-3-2-3 16-18 4-2-3-4 9 - 11
A Limit Raise by South, with the Mathe Asking bid by North, looking for a possible slam try. However, South doesn't have a singleton, so the game is enough. North must have some losers in one or more suits.
N
S
N
I.
1©
2ª
P
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
2-5-3-3 12-14 6-1-2-4 5 - 7
A Weak Jump Shift by South. North leaves it in for the opponents to figure out. Since North didn't open Flannery, he doesn't have four Spades with South. This bidding sequence may go on if opponents come in.
N
S
N
S N S J.
1ª
2©*
3©
4NT 5© 6©
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
5-3-4-1 12-14 1-6-2-4 17 - 19
A Two Over One call by South, finding a fit with North, who knows South has 5 Heart cards. Blackwood and a small slam in Hearts follows.
N
S
N
S N S K.
1ª
1NT*
2§ *
3§ 3NT P
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
5-2-3-3 15-17 2-4-2-5 10 - 11
A forcing NT by South, with a (possibly short) Club rebid. South shows good strength by raising Clubs, even though North may have only 3 Clubs. (Remember, South cannot have 12 or more points.) North, hearing the South strength, carries on to the NT game.
N
S
N
S N L.
1©
1ª
1NT
2NT P
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
2-5-3-3 12-14 5-2-3-3 10 - 11
An unusual 1ª call by South, as North didn't open Flannery. Why bid Spades? He - South - may have five Spades or could be looking toward a NT contract. In fact, North says NT and South encourages, but North isn't strong enough for game this time.
N
S
N
S N M.
2ª
2NT*
3§
3NT P
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
6-2-3-3 6-12 2-3-3-5 14 - 16
North opens a Weak Two spades and South asks for any 'feature', which could be an entry for NT. North has one in Clubs, and South gives 3NT a try. Without a feature, North would bid 3ª , which South must be able to Pass when using the 2NT force.
N
S
N
S N S N.
1ª
4§*
4NT
5© 6ª P
Opener
Responder Distribution
Count
Distribution Count
6-2-3-3 6-12 2-3-3-5 14 - 16
South responds with a splinter bid, showing strong Spade support and a stiff Club. North goes for the slam, not having to worry about his Club losers.