Stitch: a Bridge Bidding System

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Edwina Patterson
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1 Stitch: a Bridge Bidding System Jochen Je77 Rick 29th June 2004 Stitch is a bidding system that I came up with after working for a while on Mouse. Mouse really encourages 5-card suits at the one level. As a result, it had a large-range 1 NT and too many pass-outs. I created Mouse because I thought minor and 3 NT games are undervalued and that the concentration on majors is a little silly. Unfortunately, while Mouse was pretty good, it had too many flaws. I realized that the real reason for preferring majors is that they come later in the bidding. So, I created Stitch to take advantage of this. The main strategy for Stitch is to hook the suits together like a stitch 1. The first time I used this strategy was in Mouse for strong bids 2 and I think it works well. Thus, a 1 minor opening either means 4 of the stitched major or 5 of the minor. This has several advantages. First, the opposition does not know what your bid meant if that was the only bid you made. Second, you are more able to find a 4-4 major fit, since you have ways of differentiating 4 and 3 card suits. Third, you can open every hand that would normally get opened (basically, Rule of 20 openings). Fourth, because 1-level minor openings are forcing, you can actually pack fairly strong bids into them. Finally, because so much can be packed into a minor suit opening, 1 NT and 2 NT can be much more authoritative bids. 1 Opening Bids Opening This bid can mean many different things: 4 of, opening strength (section 3.1) 5 of, opening strength (section 3.1) HCP (without 4 of or ) HCP 22+ HCP Responses go as follows: 1 forcing (everything else) 1 4 of, 7 HCP 5 of, 5 HCP 1 is connected to and is connected to. 2 Stitch inherits Mouse s 2-level strong bids. 1 5 of, 3-4 of, 7 HCP 1 NT 3 of, 5-8 HCP 2 5 of suit, 9-11 HCP 2 NT Strong hand. Respond as follows: 3 5 of, no voids 3 a void in a suit (bid it next time) 3 4 of 3 no 4 card major, HCP 3 NT 18 HCP 3 6 of suit, 6-8 HCP 3 Invite to 4 or 3 NT After 1 / 1, opener responds as follows: 1 4 of. Select responses: 1 12 HCP (section 1.1.2) 1 NT low points and 3 of 1 5 of. Select responses: 1 NT low points and less than 3 of 2 low points and 3 of 2 8+ HCP, stopper(s) in suit 2 NT 14+ HCP, 4 of HCP, 3+ of 3 invitation to 3 NT if opener has stoppers in that suit 3 NT game SIGN-OFF 4 Shifted RKC Blackwood (section 3.11) 1 NT HCP (without 4 of or ) 2 6 of 2 4 of, 5 of HCP. Select responses: 1

2 2 Minor Suit Stayman (section 3.7) 2 NT 5 HCP 3 Stayman (section 3.5) 3 6 HCP HCP. Select responses: 2 NT 3 HCP 3 Stayman (section 3.5) 3 Minor Suit Stayman (section 3.7) 2 NT 24 HCP. Select responses: 3 Stayman (section 3.5) 3 Minor Suit Stayman (section 3.7) After 1 / 1 NT, opener responds as follows: 2 5+ of 2 5+ of, 5+ of HCP, 5+ suit. Select responses: 2 a void or singleton in one of 2 NT minimum 3 5+ of suit 3 a void or singleton in HCP, no 5+ suit. Select responses: 2 NT 5+ of 3 no 5+ of suit, 5-6 HCP 3 no 5+ of suit, 7-8 HCP 2 NT 22+ HCP. Select responses: 3 no 5+ of suit, 5-6 HCP 3 NT no 5+ of suit, 7-8 HCP HCP, 5 of suit Interference If there is interference, remember that the most likely meanings of the bid is HCP with 4 of / 1 / 1 / 1 Responses Opener has shown HCP and 4 of Responder has shown 12+ HCP. This should be enough for game and perhaps even slam. Original opener should bid according to the following to further describe his hand: 1 NT of, 4- of of. Responder bids 2 NT if interested in minors; respond: 3 4 of 3 4 of 3 3 of, 3 of 2 NT Opening This bid can mean two things: 4 of, opening strength (section 3.1) 5 of, opening strength (section 3.1) Responses go as follows: 1 forcing (everything else) 1 4 of, 7 HCP 5 of, 5 HCP 1 NT 3 of, 5-8 HCP 2 5 of suit, 9-11 HCP 2 NT Strong hand. Respond as follows: 3 a void in a major 3 5 of, no voids 2

3 3 a void in a minor 3 4 of, no voids 3 6 of suit, 6-8 HCP DJ-Raise J-Shift 5 of new suit J-Raise minimum hand game SIGN-OFF 3 Invite to 4 or 3 NT After 1 / 1, opener responds as follows: 1 4 of, HCP. Select responses: 1 NT low points and 3 of 1 NT 5 of. Select responses: 2 sign-off 2 5 of, 5 of 2 5 of, HCP. Select responses: Interference 2 NT dislike of (SIGN-OFF) If there is interference, remember that point count is probably around 14 points Opening This is a natural opening bid. Make sure you are not strong enough to bid of suit, opening strength (section 3.1) Responses to this opening bid should be relatively natural: Raise 3-4 of suit, 5-8 HCP (agree on suit, probably SIGN- OFF) Shift 5 of new suit, 9 evaluation points (game seeking) 1 NT 9 HCP, no 5 of suit (forcing) This bid does not deny 3 of partner s suit; later bid of suit shows 3 card support. All further bids show stoppers in either length or strength. J-Raise 3-4 of suit, HCP J-Shift 10 points, stoppers in the other suits (NT game seeking if you can cover bid suit) 2 NT Jacoby 2 NT: 4 of suit and 12 HCP. Opener responds: Shift Raise shortest suit excellent hand 3 NT good hand DJ-Shift (includes 3 NT): starts cue-bidding (suit agreeing, slam seeking) 4 NT RKC Blackwood (section 3.12) Interference In competitive sequences, responder cuebids an opponent s bid to show a limit raise or better in opener s suit NT Opening This indicates a HCP. You should consider bidding 1 of a suit if you have a 5 card suit. Responses go as follows: 2 6+ HCP, Stayman (section 3.5) 2 Jacoby Transfers (section 3.6) 2 8+ HCP, Minor Suit Stayman (section 3.7) 2 NT Invite to 3 NT 3 5 of suit (game seeking) 3 5 of suit (game forcing, slam seeking) 3 NT Game SIGN-OFF 4 Gerber (section 3.9) 4 5 of, 5 of, evaluation points Opening These are strong FORCING suit bids. You need to meet these criteria: 5 of suit, 19+ points (You may want to think about bidding 2 no-trump instead) 6 of suit, 17+ points 7 of suit, 16+ points 2 : indicates or suit 2 : indicates or suit Response goes according to combination points (section 3.3) follows: 1 suit Distributional difference or minimum (section 1.5.1) 3

4 2 suit 16 combination points in both (section 1.5.2) 3 suit 10 HCP, void in raise 10 HCP, void in 2 NT combination points in and. Select responses: 3 suit Strong in minor suit, showing stoppers, 3 NT game seeking. 3 major Invite to 4 major game. 3 NT Strong in minor suit, stoppers in major suit, 3 NT game seeking. 4 major Game sign-off Distributional Responses Your partner either has very little or a significant difference between support for each suit. Describe your hand further: 1 suit 6 of, points 2 suit 6 of, points 3 suit 7 of, points 2 NT 19 points. Select responses: 3 low points 3 singleton in 3 singleton in 3 2 of (3 NT invite) 3 NT 3 of 4 6+ of suit After 2 / +2 bid At this point, you have enough points and suit to make a 5-level game. So, you want to explore slam possibilities. Currently, opener has bid the minor and responder has bid the major. It makes sense for the person who bid the agreed upon suit to be in control of the slam seek. As such, opener responds: +1 bid minor +2 bid 3, 8 or 13 control points (section 3.4) +3 bid 4, 9 or 14 control points +4 bid 5 or 10 control points +5 bid 6 or 11 control points +6 bid 7 or 12 control points From here, responder bids +1 suit for clarification bid. In that case, +1 bid indicates the first entry, +2 bid the second entry, and +3 bid the third entry. A 4 suit bid by responder is suit asking (section 3.8). All other bids by responder begin cue-bidding Opening These are preemptive bids: 6 of suit, 6-10 HCP Select responses: 2 NT NT game seeking. Respond: 3 stopper(s) in, not in 3 stopper(s) in, not in 3 suit no stoppers in and 3 NT stoppers in and 3 suit invite to game 4 suit game SIGN-OFF Any other responses are game seeking NT Opening This is a strong NT bid: probably no 5+ card suit, HCP For other strong NT bids, you should bid 1. If you have a 5+ card suit, you should consider bidding 2 or 2. Responses: 3 Stayman (section 3.5) 3 Minor Suit Stayman (section 3.7) 3 NT game SIGN-OFF 4 Gerber (section 3.9) 4 5 of, 5 of, 7-8 evaluation points Opening These are preemptive bids: 6+ of suit, 6-10 HCP Opening These are preemptive bids: 7+ of suit, 6-10 HCP 4

5 NT Opening This relatively weak opener is called a Gambling Running Minor. It indicates one very strong minor suit (7+ of suit, strong values) and weak values in the other suits. Partner can respond as follows: 4 Shows weakness and indicates a desire to play in opener s long suit. 4 Asking for a singleton. Select responses: 4 singleton in that suit 4 NT no singleton 5 my strong suit, singleton in the other minor 4 6+ of suit. Opener is required to pass. 4 NT Ace asking. Respond: 5 1 A 5 2 As 5 3 As A 5 NT bid by responder after the ace asking indicates all 4 As and asks for strength of openers hand. Respond: 6 no outside Ks, 7 card suit 6 no outside Ks, 8 card suit 6 1+ outside Ks, 7 card suit 6 1+ outside Ks, 8 card suit 6 NT 9 card suit 5 A desire to play in the minor suit. 5 Responder realizes is the running minor and wants to play it. Pass. 2 Overcalls Here are some overcall conventions to play: 2.1 Micheal s CueBid A cuebid of opponent s major suit shows the other major, plus a minor. A minor-suit cuebid shows both majors. 2.2 DONT Double Openers No-Trump: After an opening 1 NT, double shows a 1-suited hand, and a bid of a suit shows that suit, plus a higherranking one. 2 is natural. 2.3 Unusual NT A premptive 2 NT or 3 NT overcall shows a weak 2-suited hand, with the two lowest unbid suits. 2.4 Negative Double In a competitive auction, a double shows the other suits. In particular, it shows 4 of any unshown majors. 3 Conventions 3.1 Opening Strength This is very similar to the rule of 20. Add these quantities together: HCP (4 for A, 3 for K, 2 for Q, 1 for J) length of two longest suits 1 point per void -1 point per singleton K -1 point per singleton or doubleton Q If the total is more than or equal to 20, you can open a one level suit bid. 3.2 Evaluation Points every A: 4 points every K: 3 points every Q: 2 points every J: 1 point every void: 2 points warm fuzzies: 0-2 points (sometimes, you know that your hand is just a little better than points would normally allow you to claim; in that case, add 1 to 2 points) 3.3 Combination Points The length of the particular suit times two plus evaluation points (section 3.2). 3.4 Control Points every void: 4 points every A: 2 points every K: 1 point 5

6 3.5 Stayman neither 4 of, nor 4 of 4 of 4 of, probably not 4 of 3.6 Jacoby Transfers 5+ of 5+ of 3.7 Minor Suit Stayman To bid this (2 ) after a 1 NT opening, the player must have one of these type of hands: 6 of, weak values 5 of, 5 of, weak values 5 of, 4 of, possible slam values Opener responds as follows: 2 NT Interest in minor suit slam 3 4 of 3 4 of 3 4 of, 4 of, first round control of 3 4 of, 4 of, first round control of 3 NT No interest in minor suit slam If responder bids 3 or 3, it shows a singleton. 3.8 Suit Asking +1 bid AKQJ, AJ, KQ, or none +2 bid AKQ, J, KQJ, or A +3 bid AKJ, AQ, KJ, or Q +4 bid AQJ, AK, QJ, or K 3.9 Gerber (Je77 version) The bid of 4 in NT. 4 0 or 4 As 4 1 A 4 2 A 4 NT 3 A is a call for As. This is usually used for finding slam From here, the Gerber initiator can do several things: 4 Asking for K. Respond: 4 K, not K, not K 4 NT not K 5 K, K 5 K, asking for K (below) 5 K, not K, K 5 K, asking for K (below) 4 Asking for K. Respond: 4 NT sign-off 4 NT not K 5 K, asking for K (below) 5 Gerber call for Ks 5 Asking for K. Respond: 5 K, not K 5 K, K 5 NT not K 6 K, asking for K 5 Asking for K. Respond: 5 not K 5 NT K 6 K, asking for K 5 Asking for K. Respond: 5 NT not K 6 K, asking for K For 6 level asking bids, respond 6 NT to deny K and +1 suit to confirm K. 6

3.10 Texas Transfers 4 Partner is forced to bid 4 4 Partner is forced to bid 4 3.11 Shifted RKC Blackwood This is the same thing as Roman Key Card Blackwood (section 3.

7 3.10 Texas Transfers 4 Partner is forced to bid 4 4 Partner is forced to bid Shifted RKC Blackwood This is the same thing as Roman Key Card Blackwood (section 3.12), except that it is used for minors and is basically shifted two bids down. So instead of 4 NT, it starts when a minor suit has been agreed and 4 is bid. Response goes according to key cards: 4.2 Attitude / Suit Preference High card encourages the suit; low card discourages the suit High card encourages higher suit; low encourages lower suit 5 Acknowledgments I d like to thank Brian McNamara and Brandon Sheumaker for helping me refine this system. 4 0 or 3 key cards 4 NT 1 or 4 key cards 5 2 key cards, no Q of trumps 5 2 key cards, Q of trumps In case of 4 or 4 NT, partner can bid one above the suit bid to ask for Q of trumps; responding with one above that denies Q of trumps. Partner bids 5 to signify all 5 key cards + the Q of trumps, asking partner to cue-bid the lowest (not-shown) K. Because it is shifted, 5 NT indicates the K of Roman Key Card Blackwood (# key cards) = (# of As) + (1 for K of trumps). Bid accordingly: 5 0 or 3 key cards 5 1 or 4 key cards 5 2 key cards, no Q of trumps 5 2 key cards, Q of trumps In case of 5 or 5, partner can bid one above the suit bid to ask for Q of trumps; responding with one above that denies Q of trumps. Partner bids 5 NT to signify all 5 key cards + the Q of trumps, asking partner to cue-bid the lowest (not-shown) K. 4 Carding Here are some general carding strategies to use: 4.1 Leads Top of a series (except for AK) No-trump contract: 4th from longest and strongest Doubleton (in suit contract): lead high then low 7

FOUR NOTRUMP - BLACKWOOD OR NATURAL?

6-7-1 FOUR NOTRUMP - BLACKWOOD OR NATURAL? An opening bid of is regular (not RKCB) Blackwood. With a sure ten-trick notrump hand, start with an artificial and then bid. This policy lessens the chance that