1D is our catch-all opening for hands with no 5-card major and fewer than 6 clubs. The range is (9)10–15 HCP if unbalanced, or 10–13 HCP if balanced. 1D does not promise any diamonds at all; a 4=4=0=5 hand is routinely opened 1D. The opening covers three hand types: 10–13 balanced, 12–15 with 6+ ♦, and (9)10–15 unbalanced with no 5-card major and no 6-card minor.
Like most of our system, we try to invite and get out as low as possible. The response structure reflects that; we sometimes give up granularity to keep the auction low.
Pass 0–9 HCP. Routine to pass with up to 9 and no 4-card major. 1♥ 4+ ♥, forcing one round 1♠ 4+ ♠, forcing one round 1NT 10–13 HCP, invitational, no 4-card major (8–9 if a passed hand) 2♣ 10+ HCP, 5+ ♣, forcing one round 2♦ 10+ HCP, 5+ ♦, forcing one round 2♥ GF canapé. 4 ♥, longer minor. 2♠ GF canapé. 4 ♠, longer minor. 2NT Natural, GF, balanced, no 4-card major. 13+ to 16, or 19+. 3♣ Natural, 6+ ♣, mixed (7–9). No suit-quality requirement. 3♦ Natural, 6+ ♦, mixed (7–9). No suit-quality requirement. 3♥ / 3♠ Splinter. Shortness in the bid suit, at least 5–4 in the minors either way, GF. 3NT 17–18 HCP balanced 4♣ South African Texas, transfer to ♥ 4♦ South African Texas, transfer to ♠ 4♥ / 4♠ Natural, to play
1D–1M is a standard response showing 4+ cards in the suit and forcing one round. After 1D–1H, opener is expected to bid 1S any time they hold four spades. Two-way new minor forcing and fifth suit forcing apply.
1♠ 4 ♠. Opener does not bypass a 4-card spade suit. 1NT 10–13 balanced 2♣ 5+ / 4+ in the minors, either could be longer 2♦ 6+ ♦, 12–15 HCP 2♥ Simple raise, usually 4 ♥. 10–13 balanced or 10–14 unbalanced. Two-way game tries follow. 2♠ Natural, shapely, 5–6+ ♠, 13–15, NF 2NT 6+ ♦, 3 ♥ 3♣ 5+ ♦, 5+ ♣, 14–15 HCP, NF 3♦ 6+ ♦, good hand. Since 2D is already better than minimum, this is very strong. 3♥ 4 ♥, unbalanced, typically (13)14–15 HCP 3♠ Splinter 4♣ / 4♦ Splinter
1NT 10–13 balanced. A singleton spade is common. 2♣ 5+ / 4+ in the minors, either could be longer 2♦ 6+ ♦, 12–15 HCP 2♥ Reverse, shows extras. Lebensohl over reverses applies. 2♠ Simple raise, usually 4 ♠. 10–13 balanced or 10–14 unbalanced. Two-way game tries follow. 2NT 6+ ♦, 3 ♠ 3♣ 5+ ♦, 5+ ♣, 14–15 HCP 3♦ 6+ ♦, good hand. As above, this is very strong. 3♥ Splinter 3♠ 4 ♠, unbalanced, typically (13)14–15 HCP 4♣ / 4♦ Splinter
After opener raises with 1D–1H–2H or 1D–1S–2S, responder's continuations are the same two-way game tries we use over 1H–2H. The cheapest step is a shortness ask; opener answers None / Low / Middle / High. Any other suit is a natural game try.
2♠ Shortness ask. Opener shows None / Low / Middle / High. Other Natural game try.
1D–1NT is game-invitational, 10–13, with no 4-card major. Most auctions end in 1NT or 3NT, but opener has ways to show other hand types. Opener's 2H shows an unbalanced invitational hand, and 2S shows an unbalanced hand that is an artificial game force.
2♣ To play. Does not promise ♣. 2♦ To play. 5+ ♦ (there is no 2D opener). 2♥ Unbalanced, invitational. 2♠ Unbalanced, artificial GF. 2NT Re-invite. Typically 12–13 balanced. 3♣ 5–5 minors, GF 3♦ 6–4 minors, GF 3♥ 6–4 natural, GF 3♠ 6–4 natural, GF 3NT To play
2♠ Lebensohl. Rejects the invitation, looking to get out. 2NT Accepts. Higher bids also accept and show where.
A 2C or 2D response is natural and forcing one round, typically 10+ (invitational or better). Opener's rebids run all minimum hands through 2H; every other rebid promises a non-minimum.
2♥ Any minimum. All minimum hands start here. 2♠ Unbalanced raise of responder's minor, non-minimum. 2NT 12–15 balanced. 3♣ / 3♦ Natural, non-minimum.
Both are game-forcing canapé responses: four cards in the major with a longer minor. 1D–2H shows four hearts, 1D–2S shows four spades. Over each, opener's cheapest step asks for responder's longer minor, and the next step agrees the major and asks shortness, shown low to high.
2♠ Asks for responder's longer minor. 2NT Agrees ♥, asks shortness. Low to high. 2NT Asks for responder's longer minor. 3♣ Agrees ♠, asks shortness. Low to high.
Game-forcing balanced, 13+ to 16 or 19+, no 4-card major. No special methods. 4C is Gerber (1430).
Mixed strength, 6+ cards in the minor.
Splinter with both minors, at least 5–4 either way, GF.
17–18 balanced. No special methods. 4C is Gerber (1430).
4H and 4S are natural and to play. The four-of-a-minor responses are South African Texas: 4C transfers to ♥, 4D transfers to ♠.