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Negative 1♦

In our version of Polish Club, the 1♦ relay denies invitational values. This relay contains all hands without another suitable bid.

StrengthDistribution
0–6Any
7–110–3♠, 0–3♥, probably UNBAL
16+2–3♠, 2–3♥, 3–4♦, 3–4♣

Traditionally, 2♦ is game-forcing and 2NT is 21–23. I find 2♦ low enough to accomodate 21+. Then, 2NT takes care of 18–20 natural clubs, alleviating burden of 2♣. The side effect is that most (xx)45 are better opened 1♦.

Opener with 18–20 and a 5-card major bids the suit most of the time, expecting to rebid it later. Opener can also bid 1NT with a bad 5-card major and balanced shape.

1♣-1♦-0–11 or 16+
1♥11–19, 4+♥ or BAL MIN 3=♥
1♠11–19, 4+♠ or BAL MIN 3=♠
1NT18–20, 2–5♠, 2–5♥, 2–6♦, 2–6♣
2♣11–17, 5+♣
2♦!ART F, 21+
2♥20–23, 5+♥
2♠20–23, 5+♠
2NT!18–20, 6+♣
3♣21–23, 6+♣
3♦21–23, 6+♦
3♥!FG, 5+♥, 5+♠♦♣
3♠!FG, 5+♠, 5+♦♣
3NT!P/C, 5+♣, 5+♦
1♣-1♦-3♥-FG, 5+♥, 5+♠♦♣
3♠!Ask for the side suit
3♠-3NT!5+♠, 5+♥
3NT!Prefer 4♠ > 3NT > 4♥
4♣♦!CTRL, S/T in ♥
1♣-1♦-3♠-FG, 5+♠, 5+♦♣
[4..7]♣!P/C
4♦!S/T in ♠
5♦!, 6♦!P/C
P-1♣-1♦-0–11
PBAL MIN, 4=♦

1♣-1♦-1M

Given that Polish Club is a 5-card major system, the major suit left in 1♣-1♦-1M gets longer when stronger.

StrengthLength
11–144=# or occasional UNBAL 3=#
15–174=# or occasional 5+# 6+♣
18–195+# or UNBAL 4=#

As 1♣-2♠ takes care of diamond invitation, the 3♦ rebid here is freed up as balanced slam try.

1♣-1♦-1M-11–19, usually 4+#
1NTBAL, 5–7
2♣♦NF, 5–9, 5+#
2MNF, 4–6, 4–5# or UNBAL 3=#
2NT!INV, 9–11, 5+♦, 4+♣
3♣!INV, 9–11, 5+♣, 4+♦
3♦!BAL S/T, 16+
3MNF, 4–6, 5+#

1♣-1♦-1NT

The whole thing is just a strong notrump opening with a few more points.

1♣-1♦-1NT-BAL 18–20
2♣!STAY, Garbage STAY, or INV 5=♠
2♦!TRF, 5+♥
2♥!TRF, 5+♠
2♠!6+♣ or QUANT INV
2NT!5+♦, 4+♣ or 6+♦
3♣!PUP STAY
3♦!INV+, 5+♠, 5+♥
3♥!SPL, 0–1♥, 0–3♠, 4–6♦, 4–6♣
3♠!SPL, 0–1♠, 0–3♥, 4–6♦, 4–6♣
3NT, 4♥♠S/O
4♣!TRF, 6+♥, South African Texas
4♦!TRF, 6+♠, South African Texas
4NTQUANT INV to 6NT, NF
5NTQUANT INV to 7NT, F

Opposite the 18–20 rebid game is assured, so the levels speak to slam rather than game. Opener picks the major at the three level when minimum, at the four level when maximum; bids 3NT with a doubleton in each major; and control-bids 4♣ or 4♦ with slam interest in hearts or spades:

1♣-1♦-1NT-3♦-INV+, 5+♠, 5+♥
3♥MIN, prefers ♥
3♠MIN, prefers ♠
3NTDislikes both majors
4♣!S/T in ♥, CTRL
4♦!S/T in ♠, CTRL
4♥MAX, prefers ♥, S/O
4♠MAX, prefers ♠, S/O

1♣-1♦-2♣

  • The 3♦ rebid is balanced slam try like 1♣-1♦-1M-3♦.
  • Invitations leak too much information by bearing diamonds as well. Mixed raise at 2NT probably makes a better declarer.
1♣-1♦-2♣-11–17, 5+♣
2♦NF, 8–11, 5+♦
2♥NF, 0–6, 5+♥
2♠NF, 0–6, 5+♠
2NT!CONST, 7–9, 4+♣
3♣!INV, 9–11, 4+♣
3♦!BAL S/T, 16+

1♣-1♦-2♦

The 2♦ rebid shows a nearly balanced hand with 21–23 HCP or any game force. If you can force to game, bid as if partner opened a natural 2NT. Otherwise, try to sign off at the 2-level.

1♣-1♦-2♦-21+
2♥NF, 4+♥
2♠NF, 4+♠
2NTNF, 0–3♠, 0–3♥
3♣!Muppet STAY
3♦!TRF, 5+♥, possible 4=♠
3♥!TRF, 5+♠
3♠!PUP 3NT
3NT!5–7, 2–3♠, 2–3♥, 4–5♦, 4–5♣
4♣!S/T, usually 5+♦ 5+♣
4♣-4♦Switch to diamonds
4♣-4♥+S/T in ♣
4♣-5♣♦S/O
4♣-6♣♦S/O
4♦!Texas TRF, usually 7+♥
4♥!Texas TRF, usually 7+♠

I choose Muppet Stayman over Romex. Opener has not bid notrump yet. Muppet is full of 3♠ relays pushing back 3NT.

Choosing the right Muppet bid

Bidding at the 3-level is a little different from the 2-level. The Muppet Stayman is good when ♠ ≥ ♥. However, 45(xx) better fits the (Muppet) transfer than Stayman.

-3=♠4=♠5+♠
3=♥♣♣♣
4=♥♣♣♣
5+♥♦♦♣

Muppet Stayman

1♣-1♦-2♦-3♣-Muppet STAY
3♦!4=♠♥
3♥!0–3♠, 0–3♥
3♠5+♠
3NT!5+♥
…-3♣-3♦-4=♠♥
3♥!4+♠
3♥-3♠!(34)xx
3♥-3NT!(24)xx
3♥-4♠MIN, 4=♠
3♥-4♣♦♥!MAX, 4=♠, CTRL
3♠!4+♥
4♣!S/T, 4+♠, 4+♥
4♦!COG, 4+♠, 4+♥
4♥!S/T, 6+♣
4♠!S/T, 6+♦
…-3♣-3♥-0–3♠, 0–3♥
3♠!TRF to 3NT
3NT!5+♠
4♣!S/T, 5+♠, 5+♥
4♦!COG, 5+♠, 5+♥
4♥!S/T, 6+♣
4♠!S/T, 6+♦
…-3♣-3♠-5+♠
4♣♦!S/T, 5+#
4♥!S/T in ♠
4NTQUANT
…-3♣-3NT-5+♥
4♣!S/T, 5+♣
4♦!TRF to 4♥
4♠!S/T, 6+♦
4NTQUANT

Muppet Transfer

…-3♦-3♥-2+♥
3♠!TRF to 3NT
3NT!MIN, 4=♠