Negative 1♦
This relay contains all hands with no other suitable bid.
| Strength | Distribution |
|---|---|
| 0–6 | Any |
| 7–11 | 0–3♠, 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♦.
| 1♣ - 1♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 1♥ | 11–19, (4+♥ or BAL MIN 3=♥) |
| 1♠ | 11–19, (4+♠ or BAL MIN 3=♠) |
| 1NT | 18–20, 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♥ - | |
|---|---|
| 3♠! | Ask for the side suit |
| 3♠ - 3NT! | 5+♠, 5+♥ |
| 3NT! | Prefer 4♠ > 3NT > 4♥ |
| 4♣♦! | CTRL, S/T in ♥ |
| 1♣ - 1♦ - 3♠ - | |
|---|---|
| [4..7]♣! | P/C |
| 4♦! | S/T in ♠ |
| 5♦!, 6♦! | P/C |
| P - 1♣ - 1♦ - | |
|---|---|
| P | BAL 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.
| Strength | Length |
|---|---|
| 11–14 | 4=# or occasional UNBAL 3=# |
| 15–16 | 4=# or occasional (5+#, 6+♣) |
| 17–19 | 5+# or 4414 or (4=#, 5+♣) |
Contrary to standard Polish Club, 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥♠ - 2♣♦ promise normal responding values here. This forms a strength ladder that eases further bidding.
| 1♣ - 1♦ - 1M - | |
|---|---|
| 1NT | NF, 5–7 |
| 2♣♦ | NF, 7–11, 5+# |
| 2M | NF, 4–6, (4–5# or UNBAL 3=#) |
| 2NT | BAL S/T, 16+ |
| 3M | NF, 4–6, 5+# |
Strawberry Polish Club allows 1♦ to stretch to 20 HCP. Therefore, 1♣ - 1♦ - 1M - 1NT - 2♦ is better a strong relay.
| 1♣ - 1♦ - 1M - 1NT - | |
|---|---|
| 2♣ | 11–16, 5+♣ |
| 2♦! | 17–19, 4=M, 4+♣ |
| 2M | 17–19, 5=M |
| 2NT! | 17–19, 6+M |
1♣ - 1♦ - 1NT
The whole thing is just a strong notrump opening with a few more points.
| 1♣ - 1♦ - 1NT - | |
|---|---|
| 2♣! | STAY, maybe crawling |
| 2♦! | TRF, 5+♥ |
| 2♥! | TRF, 5+♠ |
| 2♠! | 6+♣ or QUANT INV |
| 2NT! | 6+♦ or (5+♦, 4+♣) |
| 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 |
| 4NT | QUANT INV to 6NT, NF |
| 5NT | QUANT 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♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 3♥ | MIN, prefers ♥ |
| 3♠ | MIN, prefers ♠ |
| 3NT | Dislikes 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 a balanced slam try, mirroring 2NT after 1♣ - 1♦ - 1M.
- Invitations leak too much information by bearing diamonds as well. Mixed raise at 2NT probably makes a better declarer.
| 1♣ - 1♦ - 2♣ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♦ | CONST, 7–9, 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♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♥ | NF, 4+♥ |
| 2♠ | NF, 4+♠ |
| 2NT | NF, 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♣ - | |
|---|---|
| 3♦! | 4=♠♥ |
| 3♥! | 0–3♠, 0–3♥ |
| 3♠ | 5+♠ |
| 3NT! | 5+♥ |
| 1♣ - 1♦ - 2♦ - 3♣ - 3♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 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+♦ |
| 1♣ - 1♦ - 2♦ - 3♣ - 3♥ - | |
|---|---|
| 3♠! | TRF to 3NT |
| 3NT! | 5+♠ |
| 4♣! | S/T, 5+♠, 5+♥ |
| 4♦! | COG, 5+♠, 5+♥ |
| 4♥! | S/T, 6+♣ |
| 4♠! | S/T, 6+♦ |
| 1♣ - 1♦ - 2♦ - 3♣ - 3♠ - | |
|---|---|
| 4♣♦! | S/T, 5+# |
| 4♥! | S/T in ♠ |
| 4NT | QUANT |
| 1♣ - 1♦ - 2♦ - 3♣ - 3NT - | |
|---|---|
| 4♣! | S/T, 5+♣ |
| 4♦! | TRF to 4♥ |
| 4♠! | S/T, 6+♦ |
| 4NT | QUANT |
Muppet Transfer
| 1♣ - 1♦ - 2♦ - 3♦ - 3♥ - | |
|---|---|
| 3♠! | TRF to 3NT |
| 3NT! | MIN, 4=♠ |