Bidding Concepts.pdf

- Use Stayman with 4-card Major and 8-9+ points after 1NT.
- Use Jacoby transfer with 5+ card Major.
- Weak 2 bids: 6-10 points, 6-card suit, 2 honors.
- Competitive bidding: open light in 3rd/4th seat, compete to combined fit level.
- Reverses: non-jump suit bid at 2-level, higher ranking than first bid, shows 17+ points.
- Strong 2♣ opening: 22+ points, partner bids 2♦, opener describes hand.
- Slam bidding: 31-33 points for small slam, 37 for Grand Slam, use Blackwood.
- Overcalling: 10 points, 5-card suit, 2 honors, NT overcall shows stopper.
- Takeout double: shortness in opponents' suit, near opening count.
- Negative double: no suit, suggests pick another suit.
- 2-suited overcalls: Michael's Cuebid, 2NT shows 2 lowest unbid suits.

Play of the hand:
- Pay attention to entries, play winners from short hand first, unblock.
- Play towards high cards, do not lay down bare Aces.
- Plan the play: count winners, develop more tricks, promote high cards, establish long suits, finessing.
- Planning at No Trump: count winners, develop plan, use Rule of 7.
- Planning in Suit Contract: determine losers, draw trump, get rid of losers, delay drawing trump if necessary.

Defense:
- Pay attention to cards played, signals, inferences, declarer's plan.
- Figure out partner's points, trumps, place high cards, recall bidding.
- Opening leads: develop extra winners, top of sequence, 4th best, or top of nothing.