What does that bid mean

What does that bid mean?

When playing with a partner with whom you haven’t discussed every possible bid in every situation it occasionally happens that one of you makes a bid that relies on partner knowing some of the lesser known “standard” bids. Since that happened to me twice in one session I thought I’d write down all the ones I could think of and update it so that my partners at least have a hymn book! Of course you can agree anything you like but unless you do these bids will fox your partner unless you follow some rules.

Being tabular minded here it is. You are South partner North:

Bidding sequence				Meaning and explanation
South	West	North	East
1NT / 2NT	Pass	4NT		If you are maximum bid 6NT otherwise pass. It shows a hand not suitable for a suit contract unless you have a very good five card suit – probably North has 4-3-3-3 or 4-4-3-2 or 5-3-3-2 with a good doubleton. Partner will have enough HCP to make 33-34 if you are maximum. i.e 20 over 1NT (12-14) or 12 over 2NT.
1NT / 2NT	Pass	5NT		Bid 6NT unless you are maximum in which case investigate 7NT or 7 of a suit. Unlike the previous this shows AT LEAST enough points for slam i.e. 34ish opposite a minimum (22 over 1NT, 14 over 2NT). As before he will not have a good five card suit.
Pass	1©	3©		Partner has seven or eight tricks in his own hand but has no stop in the opponents’ suit (hearts). If you have a stop bid 3NT otherwise choose a minor. Usually applies when you have already passed. Do not confuse with Michaels.
Pass	Pass	4NT		Irrespective of your choice of Blackwood variety this asks for specific aces. With none bid 5§, with one bid 5¨, 5©, 5ª or 6§. With two bid 5NT. With more call a doctor.
Pass Double	1NT	2©	3©	Your double shows a high honour in hearts (but not necessarily anything else) and tells your partner it is safe to lead his suit. By the same token failure to double denies a high honour. It can occur in many different situations, not just that shown. If you use “competitive doubles” you lose this meaning.
1§ 3§ 4¨	Pass Pass	1© 3©	Pass Pass	4¨ cannot be a suit otherwise you would have reversed into 2¨ rather than bid 3§. So it is a cue bid agreeing hearts.
1§ 3§ 3ª	Pass Pass	1© 3©	Pass Pass	3ª cannot be a suit otherwise you would have bid 1ª or 2ª rather than bid 3§. But is it a cue bid agreeing hearts? This one is not so clear and should be treated as showing stoppers in spades but not diamonds and looking for 3NT. If you subsequently bid 4© the meaning reverts to a cue bid as in the previous example.
5©				You are asking partner to bid 6© holding one top honour in hearts and 7© with two. A typical hand might be: ªA K; ©Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5; ¨ void; §A K Q. The only time I used this bid my partner bid 6© with something like: ªQ J x; ©x x; ¨A K Jx x; §J x x. It was not a success!
1©		5©		Similar. He is not worried about any other suit than hearts. You should bid 6© with two top honours and 7© with three. Your partner will have something like: ªA x; ©J 10 9 8 7; ¨A K 10 8 7 6; §void There is no other easy way of finding out what you have. ªJ x x; ©A K x x; ¨Q x; §K Q x x is virtually a laydown for six and 50% for seven while ªK Q J; ©Q 6 5 4; ¨J 5 4; §A K Q x is one off despite your 16 points. You can show variations on this theme by bidding 6© with two top honours but only four cards and 6§ or 6¨ (or 5NT) with five or six. But that is for agreement. You don’t want to play 7© opposite the hand above with ªK Q J; ©K Q 6 5 4 3 2; ¨Q x; §A! Or you can play it asking for just the two top honours.
	4ª	4NT		Most good players use a double of 4ª to show a good hand and not for takeout unless partner is very shapely. So this bid asks partner to bid a good suit. North is probably two suited so you should choose the lower if you have a choice. It is NOT just for the minors he could have hearts and diamonds. If you bid 5§ he will bid 5¨ asking you to choose. Similarly, if you bid 5¨ and partner 5© he also has clubs. The sort of hand you should have is ªvoid; © K Q 10 8 6 5; ¨K J 10 9 8; § Q 4. At unfavourable vulnerability you need more.