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BTU 3-way checkback (XYZ)

We use BTU-style 3-way checkback to an XYZ auction. There are 3 artificial relays in the 3-way checkback:

  • 2♣: several variants:
    • to play 2X
    • strongly shaped invitation
    • balanced invitation
    • special game force to rebid 3NT
  • 2♦: game-forcing checkback
  • 2NT: transfer to clubs

As a corollary, natural 2X are wide-range invitations and 3X become slam tries. Compared with XYZ in literature, direct 2X are swapped with the variants in 2♣. This is because invitations are prone to competition.

1♣-1♥-1♠

1♣-1♥ 1♠-F, 4+♠
1NTMIN, 7–10, 0–3♠, 4–5♥
2♣!BTU CB, F1
2♦!FG CB
2♥!INV, 5+♥
2♠!INV, 4+♠
2NT!TRF, PRE or FG, 6+♣
3♣S/T, 5+♣, 5+♥
3♦S/T, 5+♦, 5+♥
3♥S/T, 6+♥
3♠S/T, 4+♠
3NT!COG, 44(32)
4♥♠NAT PRE
1♣-1♥ 1♠-1NTNAT MIN
2♣NF, 11–16, 5+♣
2♦!4SFG
2♥INV, 3=♥
2♠FG, 5+♠
2NTBAL FG
3♣FG, 6+♣
3♦FG, 6+♦
3♥FG, 5+♠, 3=♥

The 2♣ checkback

The special game force here is mild balanced slam try (15–17), interested when opener bypasses 2♦.

1♣-1♥ 1♠-2♣BTU CB
2♦!P/C, 11–16
2♥INV, 3=♥
2♠FG, 5+♠, 0–2♥
2NTFG, 4=♠
3♣FG, 6+♣
3♦FG, 6+♦
3♥FG, 5+♠, 3=♥
3♠!FG, 5+♣, 4=♠, 0–2♥
3NTBAL S/T, 21–23, 4=♠
1♣-1♥ 1♠-2♣ 2♦-P/C, 11–16
PMIN, 5+♦
2♥UNBAL MIN, 5+♥
2♠MIN, 4+♠
2NTBAL INV
3♣INV, 6+♣
3♦INV, 6+♦
3♥INV, S-SOL 6+♥
3♠INV, 4+♠, 5+♥
3NTBAL 15–17

The 2♦ game force

This game-forcing checkback probes 3-card support or a whole extra trick (about 15–17). This strength cut helps slam investigation since the 2♣ checkback asks for half-tricks.

Overload 15–17 to 2♥ and 3♣ because the range only consists of ~10% of 1♣.

1♣-1♥ 1♠-2♦FG CB
2♥11–17, 3=♥
2♠18+, 5+♠, 0–2♥
2NT11–14, 0–2♥
3♣15+, 5+♣, 0–2♥
3♦18+, 5+♦, 0–2♥
3♥18+, 5+♠, 3=♥

By passed hand

There are definitely no slam tries by passed hand. Direct 3X become strongly shaped invitations without a doubt. The debate is whether 2♦ is still an artificial checkback. To avoid confusion, I suggest keeping 2♦ artificial. Openings in the third and fourth seat can be light. Hence, 2♦ invites full openers.

P-1♣-1♥ 1♠-4+♠
2♦!STR INV, 5–6♥

1♣-1♥-1NT

The special game force via 2♣ is choice of games with (5332). This treatment helps concealing declarer’s distribution most of the time.

1♣-1♥ 1NT-BAL 12–14
2♣!BTU CB, F1
2♣ 2♦!P/C
2♣ 2♥MAX, 3=♥
2♦!FG CB
2♥!INV, 5+♥
2♠!INV, 4+♠
2NT!TRF, PRE or FG, 6+♣
3♣S/T, 5+♣, 5+♥
3♦S/T, 5+♦, 5+♥
3♥S/T, 6+♥
3♠!SPL, 0–1♠, 6+♥
3NT12–15, 4=♥
4♣!SPL, 0–1♣, 6+♥
4♦!SPL, 0–1♦, 6+♥
1♣-1♥ 1NT-2♣ 2♦-BAL 12–14, P/C
2♥S/O, 5+♥
2♠INV, 4+♠, 6+♥
2NTBAL INV
3♣INV, 6+♣
3♦INV, 6+♦
3♥INV, S-SOL 6+♥
3NTCOG, 5♥(332)

1♣-1♠-1NT

1♣-1♠ 1NT-BAL 12–14
2♣!BTU CB, F1
2♣ 2♦!P/C
2♣ 2♥MAX, 4=♥
2♣ 2♠MAX, 3=♠
2♦!FG CB
2♥!INV, 4+♥, 5+♠
2♠!INV, 5+♠
2NT!TRF, PRE or FG, 6+♣
3♣S/T, 5+♣, 5+♠
3♦S/T, 5+♦, 5+♠
3♥S/T, 5+♥, 5+♠
3♠S/T, 6+♠
3NT12–15, 4=♠
4♣!SPL, 0–1♣, 6+♠
4♦!SPL, 0–1♦, 6+♠
4♥!SPL, 0–1♥, 6+♠
1♣-1♠ 1NT-2♣ 2♦-BAL 12–14, P/C
2♥INV, 5+♥, 5+♠
2♠S/O, 5+♠
2NTBAL INV
3♣INV, 6+♣
3♦INV, 6+♦
3♥INV, 4+♥, 6+♠
3♠INV, S-SOL 6+♠
3NTCOG, 5(332)