User:Brian/Bridge/Flowchart start
Purpose[edit]
These pages have three purposes:
- To provide instructions for beginning players regarding how to use and respond to common conventions
- To serve as a starting point for partnership agreements between me and other players
- To document reasoning that will help both intermediate-level players like me and beginners to better understand bidding theory in general
To further these ends I have tried to flesh out details of conventions as much as possible and cover as many cases as possible in as logical a way as possible.
These pages aren't likely to be very useful to more experienced players since they were all written by me.
How to use this flowchart[edit]
On all pages, choose the first listed option that applies. If a section does not apply (e.g., "minimal hands") then skip all the options in that section.
Summary of conventions[edit]
These pages describe a 5-card major system, with strong notrump (15–17), 2/1 game-forcing, semi-forcing 1NT, strong 2♣ (22+), weak 2♦/♥/♠, Stayman, Jacoby transfers, Texas transfers, Smolen transfers, 2♠ minor Stayman, 2NT/3♣ minor transfers, negative doubles through 3♠, Michaels, Unusual NT, inverted minors, new minor forcing, Cappelletti, Lebensohl (after interference of 1NT openings, takeout double of weak twos, and reverses), Jacoby 2NT, Truscott/Jordan 2NT, 1430 Roman Keycard Blackwood, Italian-style control bids (starting above 3 of agreed suit).
Starting points[edit]
| If... | then ... |
|---|---|
| I am the dealer, or everyone before me has passed | See Opening bids |
| My partner has opened 1NT | See Responding to a 1NT opening. |
| My partner has opened 2NT | See Responding to a 2NT opening. |
| My partner has opened 1 of a major | See Responding to a one-level major opening. |
| My partner has opened 1 of a minor | See Responding to a one-level minor opening. |
| My partner has opened 2♣ | See Responding to 2C. |
| My partner opened 2♦, 2♥, or 2♠ | See Responding to a weak opening. |
| My partner opened 3 or 4 of a suit | See Responding to a weak opening. |
| One or both opponents has bid, but my partner hasn't, and I want to bid | See Overcalls. |
| One of the opponents opened and my partner overcalled | See Advancing an overcall |
| One of the opponents opened and my partner made a takeout double | See Advancing a takeout double. |
