Bridge in Australia, mostly

We make some adjustments. We open all balanced 11-counts so bump 1NT to 14-16, a useful and common range. Thus 1D is Precision style, say 11-15 natural or 11-13 balanced.…

Mafia stands for Majors First Always. Not so common these days. Old Acol used to open 1H with a 2-4-4-3 16 count but many would open 1D these days. In…

We bid these cards to the poorish 6C, which was makeable but failed. East was a passed hand. We had No1C2C8-10 balanced with a major2D2Hspades & a minor2S3C4-2-3-43D3S6 SPs4C4D0 or…

Strong club systems are generally light opening but that's maybe not such a good idea with relay methods. Our 1H opening is 11-15 with 4+H, denies 4 spades. The wide…

4NT is a contract that could (should) have made but didn't, even after the SJ lead. everyone else played 3NT on their combined 30-count with no fit. Looks like West…

Intro 2NT14-4-2-33C24-4-3-2, 4-2-3-43D44-3-3-3, 4-3-2-4 (5), 4-2-4-3, 2-4-3-43H*53-4-3-3 (5/6), 4-3-2-4 (6), 4-3-4-2 (5/6), 3-4-2-4 (5/6), 2-4-4-3 3S*53-4-3-3 (7), 4-3-2-4 (7), 4-3-4-2 (7), 3-4-2-4 (7), 3-4-4-2 (5/6)3NT*53-4-3-3 (8), 4-3-2-4 (8), 4-3-4-2 (8),…

Simple arithmetic for Standard pairs permits auctions like 1NT - 6NT, where responder has a flat 18-count. Relay can sometimes do that via a long sequence, though the combined HCP…

The modern Precision trend is to require six to open 2C. That helps responder judge fit, though there is the issue of 4-card majors in 2C, since opener could be…

text 2D = 6ds, or 5-4 minors, no major, 10-14 pts.West has a number of choices. 11+14 and no fit suggests passing. On the other hand, East could have 3…