The Opening Bids
1♣=18+ balanced, around "rule of 26" unbalanced
1♦=limited, 4+♦ unbalanced or 15-17 balanced
1♥=limited, 4+♥ unbalanced
1♠=limited, 4+♠ unbalanced
1NT=12-14
2♣=limited 6+♣
2♦+=as you please
Limited Openings
Choice of opening
- With balanced distribution (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2) open 1NT or 1♦, even with a 5 card major.
- With a one suited hand (6+ suit) open the suit.
- With a two suited hand where the longest suit is at least 2 cards longer than the second suit (6-4, 7-5, etc.), open the long suit.
- With spades and a red suit, open the longer suit (spades if equal).
- With spades and clubs, open 1♠.
- With hearts and a minor open 1♥.
- With both minors, open 1♦.
- With a three suiter with 5 spades, open 1♠.
- With a three suiter with short hearts, open 1♦.
- With any other three suiter, open 1♥.
The 1♦ Opening
1♥=4+♥
...1♠=4♠, spade diamond two-suiter or three suiter with short hearts.
...1NT=15-17 balanced, denies 4♥.
...2♣=5-4 either way in minors.
...2♦=6+ diamonds.
...2♥=four card support, or three card support with a stiff.
...2♠=6-5 or better, strong
...2NT=exactly three card support, strong. May have long diamonds or minor two-suiter.
...3♣=minor two-suiter (5-5 or better), strong. Denies three hearts.
...3♦=6+ good ♦, strong, denies three hearts.
...3♥=four card support, strong.
...3♠=four card support, very strong, unspecified stiff.
...3NT=four card support, very strong, ♠ void.
...4♣=four card support, very strong, ♣ void.
...4♦=four card support, very strong, ♦ void.
1♠=4+♠
...1NT=15-17 balanced, denies 4♠.
...2♣=5-4 either way in minors.
...2♦=6+ diamonds.
...2♥=6-4 in red suits, strong.
...2♠=four card support, or three card support with a stiff.
...2NT=exactly three card support, strong. May have long diamonds or minor two-suiter.
...3♣=minor two-suiter (5-5 or better), strong. Denies three spades.
...3♦=6+ good ♦, strong, denies three spades.
...3♥=four card support, very strong, unspecified stiff.
...3♠=four card support, strong.
...3NT=four card support, very strong, ♥ void.
...4♣=four card support, very strong, ♣ void.
...4♦=four card support, very strong, ♦ void.
To be continued...