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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

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=♠