SSS convention card



			SSS CONVENTION CARD SSS by Danny Kleinman

		NAMES: Bridge player and Casual Partner GENERAL APPROACH: Simple, Sound and Descriptive TWO OVER ONE: promises a rebid unless raised FORCING OPENING: Natural 2-Bids NOTRUMP OPENING BIDS 1NT: good 15 to 18 5-card major common (but 1NT is rare with five spades) 2C Stayman 2D Transfer to hearts 2H Transfer to spades 2S Transfer to clubs 3C Transfer to diamonds 3D Strong 5-5 in majors 3H Strong 5-5 in minors 3S Slightly stronger 3NT raise 4D, 4H Transfer: only over overcalls through 3C Other: if they double 1NT, redouble shows clubs, 2C shows diamonds, 2D shows hearts, 2H shows spades 2NT: 22-24. Responses as to 1NT but one level higher 3NT: 25-27. Responses as to 1NT but two levels higher MAJOR OPENING Expected Minimum Length: 5, but a strong 4-card major may be opened if a convenient rebid is available RESPONSES Double Raise: forcing, but invitational after overcall Void splinters Cuebid is forcing raise after overcall 2NT forcing except after overcall MINOR OPENING Expected Minimum Length: 4, but a decent 3-card minor may be opened if no other opening is convenient RESPONSES Double Raise: forcing, but invitational after overcall Void splinters Cuebid is forcing raise after overcall Single raise may bypass 4-card major 1NT response to 1C: good 8 to 10 HCP 2NT forcing except after overcall OPENING TWO-BIDS: natural and game-forcing RESPONSES: cheapest suit-bid negative, other suit bids and 2NT (no good suit to bid) positive OTHER CONVENTIONAL CALLS: 4th Suit Forcing 1 Round (often artificial) 2-over-1 promises rebid unless raised; opener's non-jump 2NT rebid game-forcing Void Splinters Versus "Unusual 2NT" and Minor Michaels: cheaper of overcaller's suits shows the fourth suit (game-invitational or better); dearer of overcaller's suits shows a strong raise of opener's suit SPECIAL DOUBLES Penalty doubles of low-level overcalls may be pulled if opener is short SIMPLE OVERCALL: sound ADVANCES New Suit constructive but not forcing Jump Raise invitational (but weak over intervening negative double) Cuebid = limit raise or better Jump Shift forcing JUMP OVERCALL Strong if bid directly; Intermediate in passout seat; Weak by passed hand or over artificial 2C OPENING PREEMPTS Sound (Rule of Two and Three) DIRECT CUEBID Natural over artificial bids or over 1-level suit response Strong T/O over natural minor- and major-suit openings 1NT OVERCALLS Direct: good 15 to 18 Balancing: trick lighter Jump to 2NT: natural DEFENSE VS NOTRUMP natural overcalls, penalty doubles OVER OPP'S T/O DOUBLE Jump Shift invitational 2NT shows limit raise or better VS Opening Preempts Double Is Takeout thru 4S SLAM CONVENTIONS: no Blackwood, no Gerber. 5NT Grand Slam Invitation (extra-good trumps required to accept). LEADS (versus Suits and Notrump): standard low from length suggests desire to have the suit returned K from AKx, Q from AKQ, else highest honor of sequence or internal sequence LENGTH LEADS (versus Suits and Notrump): 4th best Primary signal to partner's leads: Attitude 1st, Count 2nd, Suit-preference 3rd DEFENSIVE CARDING (versus Suits and Notrump): standard