FULL STANDARD AMERICAN YELLOW CARD (exceptions) 4/28/03

NO TRUMP OPENINGS

1NT=15-17 HCP, 2NT=20-21 HCP, 3NT=25-27 HCP; 5 Card Majors OK

Stayman: 2C response asks for 4 card major; 2D rebid denies

Jacoby Transfer: 2D asks for H rebid, 2H asks for S, 2S forces 3C rebid for minor suit signoff

Texas Transfers: 4D asks for 4H rebid, 4H asks for 4S rebid

If Opponents interfere, conventions are OFF

MAJOR SUIT OPENING: 5+ Cards

Limit Raises: 10-12 pts, 3+ cards

Jacoby 2NT: 13+ pts, 4+ trumps, asks opener to show a singleton or void suit; if none show strength by

rebidding 4 of suit=min, 3 NT=14-15 pts, 3 of suit=16+, 4 of new suit shows another 5+ card suit

Splinters: Double jump shift shows 13-16 pts, 4+ trumps and singleton or void in bid suit

(3NT: 15-17 HCP, balanced hand with two-card support)

OTHER OPENINGS & RESPONSES

2Clubs: 22+ pts or 9+ Tricks; 2D response is waiting; less than 8 pts

Weak Two-bids: 5-11 HCP, 6+ cards; 2NT response is (Ogust: Rebids of 3C=poor suit & min strength, 3D= good suit & min strength, 3H= poor suit & max strength, 3S= good suit & max strength)

Minor Opening: Response of 1NT=6-9 pts; 2NT=10-12; 3NT=13-15 and no 4 card major

(Inverted Minors: 4+ cards; 6-9 pts = Jump Raise, 10+ = Single Raise; OFF with interference)

SLAM BIDDING

RKCB; A+Trp K: 5C=0 or 3, 5D=1 or 4, 5H=2 w/o Q, 5S=2+Q; 5NT asks for nontrump Ks: DOPI

Gerber: 4C Jump after 1 or 2NT opener, response or rebid, 4D=0 or 4, 4H=1, 4S=2, 4NT=3: DOPI

Control-showing Bids: Show first round control bidding a suit beyond 3 of trump suit.

(4NT is not Blackwood when Gerber is appropriate: It asks p to bid 6NT with maximum for his bids)

(Grand Slam Force: Jump to 5NT asks for grand slam bid if p has 2 of top 3 trumps)

DEFENSIVE BIDDING

Overcalls: 8-15 pts; if stronger, double then bid suit(s)

Weak Jump Overcalls: 10- pts, 6+cards, little defense; overbid 2,3,or 3-5 tricks depending on vulnerab.

1NT overcall: shows 15-18 pts (10-15 if reopening), NT Conventions On

Unusual NT: 2NT overcall shows 5-5 in two lowest unbid suits

Michaels Direct Cuebid: 5-5 in unbid majors or major & a minor & 8 pts; 2NT response=which minor ?

Doubles: Takeout below game opening bids, penalty over opening game bids

Lead Directing Doubles: Artificial Bids; of NT asks for Leader's/Doubler's/Dummy's First/Leader's weakest Major; of Suit Slam asks for Dummy or Declarer suit/Leader's longest suit not bid by his side

COMPETITIVE BIDDING AFTER OPPONENT OVERCALL

Cuebidding: shows game values without clear direction for the moment ie, Partner bid before Opp Overcall

Negative Doubles: Through 3S shows 4+ cards in unbid majors

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENT

Preemptive Jump-Shift Response: 2-5 pts, 6+ Card suit to 2-level; 2-7 pts, 7+ Card suit to 3-level

DEFENSIVE LEADS AND SIGNALS

Attitude: High then Low to Encourage Partner: Signal count or suit preference if attitude apparent

Count: Play High then Low to Signal P you have an Even # in the suit lead; Low/High for Odd

First Discard Suit Preference: Odd card shows preference for that suit; high even card shows preference for the higher ranking suit, low even card shows preference for the lower ranking suit

Leads: 4th Best, Top of Touching Honors; xxx, Underlined Card from the following Suit Leads: AKx,

AKJ, KJ10x, K109x, Q109x, and from NT leads: AKJ, AJ10x, A109x, KQ109 p play J if you have it

Suit Preference Leads: Lead a high card to show P you want the higher suit returned; low for low