Basic Acol Reverse Benjamin

1NT Opening

1NT

  

12-14 Balanced

Responses

Stayman

1NT

2§

Stayman

2¨

 

no major

2©

 

hearts may have spades

2ª

 

spades not hearts

Jacoby Transfers

1NT

2¨

Five or more hearts

2©

 

Normally opener rebids 2© .

1NT

2©

Five or more spades

2ª

 

Normally opener rebids 2ª .

Weak minor Takeout

1NT

2ª

Weak Takeout to a minor

2NT

  

Opener can rebid 2NT and then responder bids either 3§ or 3¨ to play

Invitational to 3NT

1NT

2NT

2NT invites opener to bid 3NT with a maximum. Normally responder won’t have a four-card major (start with Stayman).

Slam Interest

Any suit response at the three-level shows slam interest.

1NT

3§

3¨

3©

3ª

Slam interest.

2NT Opening

2NT

  

20/21- 22 Balanced

Responses

2NT

3§

Stayman

 

3¨

Transfer

 

3©

Transfer

 

3ª

Minor Suit Stayman Opener rebids a good minor otherwise 3NT.

3NT Opening

3NT

  

Gambling showing a long solid minor

Suit Openings

Suit openings show a four-card suit.

Open your longest suit:

The highest of two five-card suits;

The lowest of two four-card suits;

1§ with 4441 and a red singleton;

The middle suit with 4441 and a black singleton;

Responses

Raises

e.g.

1ª 2ª 6-9 three or four-card support

1ª 3ª 10-12 four card support - limit raise

New Suit

New suit at the one-level 6+ points

New suit at the two-level 10+ points

Jump new suit shows 16+ points

No Trumps

1NT 6-9 points

2NT 10-12 points - usually better to bid a new suit

3NT 13-15 points - usually better to bid a new suit

No Trump Rebids

After a one over one

...

    

1NT

  

15-17 Balanced

...

    

2NT

  

18-19 Balanced

After a two over one

...

    

NT

  

15+ Forcing

2§ Opening

2§

 

Game Forcing or 23+ balanced

Responses

2§

2¨

Negative 0-7pts

 

else

8+ pts and a five-card suit

2¨ Opening

2¨

 

Eight Playing Tricks

Responses

2¨

2©

Herbert Negative 0-7pts

 

else

8+ pts and a five-card suit

Opener then rebids a long suit.

Weak Two Openings

2© /ª

  

6-10 pts with a six-card major

Responses

2© /ª

2NT

Artificial Force

3© /ª

  

Opener rebids the suit opened otherwise opener rebids a feature

Overcalls

One Level

A one-level overcall shows around 8-15 points and a five-card suit.

Two Level

A two-level overcall shows around 10-15 points and a good five-card suit.

1NT Overcall

A 1NT overcall shows 15-18 points and a stopper in the opponent’s suit.

Systems are on. This means we respond as we would to a 1NT opening.

Jump Overcall

Jump Overcalls are weak - around 6-10 points and a six-card suit.

Takeout Doubles

Doubles of a suit bid up to 4© before partner has bid are for takeout.

They show:

Around 12+ points and support for all of the unbid suits;

16+ points and a five-card suit;

or 19+ points balanced.

Negative Doubles

After partner opens we play negative doubles up to 2ª .

A negative double is for takeout and promises four-cards in all unbid major suits.

Landy Over the Opponent’s 1NT Opening

A bid of 2§ over the opponent’s 1NT shows both majors.

Leads

Tops of sequences (or top of interior sequence)

4th highest

Top or 2nd from small cards

Signals

Standard Attitude - High is encouraging, Low is discouraging

When following to partner’s lead or discarding

Standard Count - High shows an even number, Low shows an odd number

When following to declarer’s lead

Standard Suit Preference - High shows interest in the higher suit, Low shows interest in the lower suit

When leading a suit for partner to ruff.

When setting up your long suit in NTs.