🃏 Bridge Bidding Puzzle

How it works

• Basic SAYC: opener rebids after partner’s one-level (or jump) response.
• Jacoby transfer: over partner’s 1NT, 2♦ and 2♥ are transfers to hearts and spades — transfer whenever you have a five-card or longer major.
  • Opener normally completes (2♥ / 2♠). Super-accept: jump to 3♥ / 3♠ with a maximum and four-card support.
  • 0–7 HCP with a five-card major: transfer, then pass.
  • Balanced with a five-card major: transfer, then rebid NT — 2NT = 8–9, 3NT = 10–15, 4NT = 16–17, 5NT = 18+.
  • When responder rebids NT, opener corrects to responder’s major with three-card support (or better), and accepts or rejects game/slam invitations.
  • Transfer + new suit = game-forcing (5–5 in the two suits, or 5–4 with slam interest).
  • Six-card major, 6–7 HCP: transfer, then invite at the three-level in your major.
  • Six-card major, 8–13 HCP (game, no slam): Texas transfer — 4♦ to hearts, 4♥ to spades.
  • Six-card major, 14+ HCP: Texas transfer, then 4NT (Blackwood).
  • 5–4 in the majors: use Stayman (2♣) — not a Jacoby transfer.
• Stayman: 2♣ over partner’s 1NT has nothing to do with clubs — it asks “Do you have a four-card major?”
  • Opener must answer — pass is not allowed: 2♦ = no four-card major · 2♥ = four hearts (may have four spades) · 2♠ = four spades, not four hearts.
  • Both majors → opener bids 2♥, then converts to 2♠ if responder does not raise hearts.
  • Responder shows full value on round two (invite game/slam), or passes opener’s answer without game interest.
  • 4NT right after a Stayman answer = quantitative slam try (not aces).
  • After 1NT–2♣–2♦: 2♥ or 2♠ = invitational (5+ suit, 4 in other major).
  • Jump to 3♥ or 3♠ after Stayman = game-forcing (5+ suit, 4 in other major).
  • Responder needs at least one four-card major; not with 4–3–3–3.
  • Usually 8+ HCP; exception 4–4–5–0 or 4–4–4–1 (short clubs) below 8 HCP.
• Takeout double: asks partner to bid their best unbid suit — opening hand with support for the other three suits and shortness in theirs.
  • Auction: below game · partner only passed · opponents bid a suit (not NT).
  • Hand: 12+ HCP · void, singleton, or doubleton in their suit · 3+ cards in each of the other three suits.
• Blackwood: bid 4NT to ask for aces. Partner responds 5♣ (0 or 4), 5♦ (1), 5♥ (2), 5♠ (3). Then 5NT asks for kings.
• Gerber: when the opening bid is notrump, jump to 4♣ to ask for aces. Partner responds 4♦ (0 or 4 aces), 4♥ (1 ace), 4♠ (2 aces), or 4NT (3 aces). Then 5♣ asks for kings.
• When not to ask: do not use Blackwood or Gerber if you have a void, or two or more quick losers in a suit — the ace answers will not tell you what you need to know.