Strength; Shape; 4-/5-M; Length

1. Seat #1 (Dealer): This bidding position corresponds to the simplest in terms of the number of potential active roles available, namely 1. The only potential active role at this position is that of opener of the auction, which is chosen by making an opening bid, a bid being any call other than pass, double, or redouble. The only other potential role available is the passive role, which is chosen by making the call "pass."

1.1 With less than 6 HCP: pass! Pass is the most underutilized call in bridge.

1.2 With at least 6 HCP but less than 13 total points:

1.2.1 With no long suit: pass.

1.2.2 Otherwise, make a weak/preemptive bid:

1.2.2.1 With a 6-card suit make a weak-2 bid (see front of card), but that excludes 2C, which is a forcing opening bid.

1.2.2.2 With a 7-card suit make a 3-level preemptive bid (see back of card).

1.2.2.3 With 8 or more cards in a suit make a 4-level preemptive bid (see back of card).

1.3 With 13 or more total points make an opening bid:

1.3.1 With less than 21 total points and an unbalanced hand, open the bidding at the 1-level (see front of card).

1.3.2 With 21 or more total points and an unbalanced hand, make the strong (forcing) opening bid of 2C (see front of card).

1.3.3 With 20 or 21 points and a semi-balanced hand bid 2NT (see front of card).

4. Seat #4 (pass-out seat): This position offers 4 potential active roles: (1) opener; (2) overcaller; (3) responder; or (4) advancer (of partner's overcall).

4.1 If first three seats have passed, you become the "pass-out seat," namely, if you pass, that ends the auction, and in Chicago style bridge, that's a do-over. Many experts use the so-called Rule of 15 to decide: If the number of high-card points (HCP) plus the number of Spades equals 15 or more, then open the bidding; otherwise pass out the auction.

4.2 If partner did not overcall (i.e., partner either passed or opened), follow the decision process for the potential overcaller or responder, as presented for Seat #3.

4.3 If partner did overcall, decide if you can assume role of advancer for partner who overcalled, which is analogous to role of responder to a partner who opened.

4.3.1 If partner has made a preemptive overcall, pass or raise (using Law of Total Tricks) if you can.

4.3.2 If partner has made a non-jump (i.e., simple) overcall:

4.3.2.1 If RHO (Seat #3) passed, make the corresponding advancer bid for partner's overcall (see back of card for simple overcalls and their responses).

4.3.2.2 If RHO (Seat #3) did not pass, then:

4.3.2.2.1 If RHO (Seat #3) responded: jump raise partner with length and weakness or simply raise with length and strength (using Rule of Fast Arrival).

4.3.2.2.2 If RHO (Seat #3) doubled, pass with a fit for partner; with no fit for partner's bid, redouble or bid own long suit; or ignore if partner overcalled 1NT.

3. Seat #3: This position offers 3 potential active roles: (1) opener; (2) overcaller; or (3) responder (to partner's opening bid).

3.1 If partner (Dealer) has passed, follow the decision process for the potential opener or overcaller, as presented for Seat #2.

3.2 Otherwise, decide if you can make a response to partner's bid:

3.2.1 If partner has made a weak/preemptive bid, either pass or raise partner's bid using the Law of Total Tricks as follows: The 2, 3, 4, or 5 level is safe to play with a combined suit count of 8, 9, 10, or more cards, respectively. Add your count to partner's implied count and act accordingly. Any raise by you (simple or jump) to the appropriate level of play will serve to enhance the effectiveness of partner's preempt.

3.2.2 If partner has made an opening strength bid:

3.2.2.1 If RHO (Seat #2) passed, make the corresponding response bid to partner's (Dealer's) opening bid (see front of card for opening bids and corresponding responses).

3.2.2.2 If RHO (Seat #2) did not pass, then:

3.2.2.2.1 If RHO (Seat #2) overcalled: jump raise partner with length and weakness or simply raise with length and strength. This may seem counter-intuitive, but weakness encourages preemption (AKA the Rule of Fast Arrival).

3.2.2.2.2 If RHO (Seat #2) doubled, redouble if you have more than 9 points and you can't support partner's bid suit (see back of card); or make preemptive jump shift with own long suit; or ignore double if partner opened 1NT (see front of card).

3.2.2.2.3 If RHO (Seat #2) cue bid (strong takeout), most likely you should pass, or raise partner's suit (using Law of Total Tricks) if you can.

2. Seat #2: This position offers 2 potential active roles: (1) opener or (2) overcaller.

2.1 If RHO (Dealer) has passed, follow the decision process for the potential opener, as presented for Seat #1.

2.2 Otherwise, decide if you can make an overcall (see back of card):

2.2.1 If RHO has made a forcing opening (i.e., 2C in our systems), pass.

2.2.2 With less than 6 HCP, pass.

2.2.3 With a weak hand (6-9 points) but no 5 card suit, pass.

2.2.4 With 6-12 points and a long suit, make a jump overcall, which is a preemptive bid in this context.

2.2.5 With 6-16 points and an unbalanced hand, make a simple (i.e., no jump) overcall, in the best biddable suit partner can lead to.

2.2.6 With 13-16 points and support (at least 3 cards) in all unbid suits, double (takeout is intended); partner can bid longest unbid suit or convert the double to a penalty double (by passing), if partner's longest suit is the opponent's bid suit.

2.2.7 With more than 16 points and support for all unbid suits, make a cue bid (bid opponent's bid suit at next level; strong takeout demanded). Partner must bid his best unbid suit (can't convert to a penalty, since cue bid doesn't have penalty implications).

2.2.8 With 15-17 HCP and a semi-balanced hand, overcall 1NT (but must have stopper for RHO's bid suit).

2.2.9 If RHO opened 1NT, and you have an essentially equivalent hand (points and shape), double (penalty intended); partner can pass or treat like an equivalent 1NT opening (system responses are on).

2.2.10 With opening strength and your best suit same as opponent's bid suit, trap pass! You can't double (partner will likely take it out), but partner may double (takeout intended), then you will convert it to a penalty by passing! Pass is the most underutilized call in bridge.