Our Partnership System

Full bidding system based on Russian bridge tradition with custom HCP ranges and conventions.

Table 1: Terminology

#BidHCPDescription
1HCP—High Card Points
2GF—Game Force (Гейм Форс)
3GI—Game Invite (Гейм Инвайт)
4SI—Slam Invite (Слем Инвайт)
5(!)—Artificial/Conventional bid
6Равномерный—Balanced distribution
7нет 4-ок в М—No 4-card major
8нет 5-ок—No 5-card suit
9синглет/ренонс—Singleton/void
10короткая масть—Short suit
11длинная масть—Long suit
12взятки—Tricks
13козырь—Trump

Table 10: After 1NT - Double (Penalty)

#BidHCPDescription
11NT → Double → PASS0-7No 5-card suit, willing to play 1NT doubled
21NT → Double → Rdbl10+Strong hand, suggesting penalty (we can make this)
31NT → Double → 2♣(!)8+Stayman, asking for 4-card major (same as without double)
41NT → Double → 2♦(!)ANYJacoby Transfer to ♥ (same as without double)
51NT → Double → 2♥(!)ANYJacoby Transfer to ♠ (same as without double)
61NT → Double → 2♠ANYTransfer to 3♣ (same as without double)
71NT → Double → 2NT8-9Balanced, GI (same as without double)

Table 11: After 1NT - 2♣/♦/♥/♠ (Overcall)

#BidHCPDescription
11NT → 2♣/♦/♥/♠ → PASS0-7No game interest, can't act
21NT → 2♣/♦/♥/♠ → DBL8+Penalty double, good holding in opponent's suit
31NT → 2♣/♦/♥/♠ → 2X (new suit)8+Natural, 5+ card suit, forcing
41NT → 2♣/♦/♥/♠ → 2NT8-9Balanced, stopper in opponent's suit, GI
51NT → 2♣/♦/♥/♠ → 3NT10-15Balanced, stopper in opponent's suit, to play
61NT → 2♣/♦/♥/♠ → Cuebid10+Stayman equivalent, asking for 4-card major

Table 33: Quick Reference: Opening Point Ranges

#PointsBalancedUnbalanced
10-11PassPass (or preempt)
212-141♣/1♦1 of longest suit
315-17**1NT**1 of longest suit
418-191♣/1♦, then jump1 of longest suit
520-21**2NT**2♦ or 1-suit
622+**2♣****2♣**

Table 34: Quick Reference: Response Strength Guide

#BidHCPDescription
10-5—Pass (usually)
26-9—Simple response
310-12—Invitational (GI)
413+—Game forcing (GF)
517+—Slam interest (SI)

Table 35: Quick Reference: Key Conventions Summary

#ConventionSequenceMeaning
1Stayman1NT - 2♣(!)Asking for 4-card major
2Jacoby Transfer1NT - 2♦(!)Transfer to ♥
3Jacoby Transfer1NT - 2♥(!)Transfer to ♠
4Weak Suit Ask1M - 2NT(!)Asking about short suit
5Blackwood4NTAsking for aces
6Splinter4♣/♦/♥(!)Singleton/void, slam interest

Page 4

Table 2: Opening Bids

#BidHCPDescription
11♣12-195+♣, or 3-3 in ♦♥, no 5-card major
21♦12-194+♦ (including hands with 4♠), no 5-card major
31♥12-195+♥
41♠12-195+♠
51NT15-17Balanced
62♣(!)22+Strong artificial - 22-24 balanced OR any strong hand
72♦/♥/♠20-225+ card suit
82NT20-21Balanced
93♣/♦/♥/♠6-107+ card suit, preemptive
103NT25-27Balanced
114♣/♦8-8+ card suit, preemptive

Table 3: After Opponent Opens 1X

#BidHCPDescription
11X → PASS0-7If already passed, promises 4+ cards in all unbid suits
21X → PASS9-11Cards in all unbid suits (trap pass)
31X → DBL11+Promises 4+ cards in unbid suits
41X → -13+Promises 3+ cards in unbid suits
51X → -17+From unbid suits
61X → 1X12-165+ card good suit
71X → 1NT15-18Balanced with stopper in opponent's suit
8- → 2X8-165+ card strong suit or good distribution (has second 5-card)

Pages 5-6

Table 4: Responses to 1NT: Basic Responses

#BidHCPDescription
11NT → PASS0-6No game interest
21NT → 2♣(!)8+Stayman - 4 in major, 5 in minor, asking for 4-card major
31NT → 2♦(!)ANYTransfer to ♥ - 5+♥, may be 5-5
41NT → 2♥(!)ANYTransfer to ♠ - 5+♠
51NT → 2NT8-9Balanced, GI
61NT → 3♣10+Natural, GI
71NT → 3♦10+Natural, GI
81NT → 3♥10+6+♥, GAME
91NT → 3♠10+6+♠, GAME
101NT → 3NT10+To play
111NT → 4♥8-96+♥, to play
121NT → 4♠8-96+♠, to play
131NT → 4NT(!)-Quantitative slam invite, asking about aces

Table 5: After Stayman: 1NT - 2♣(!)

#BidHCPDescription
11NT → 2♣(!) → 2♦—No 4-card major
21NT → 2♣(!) → 2♥—4+♥ (may have 4♠)
31NT → 2♣(!) → 2♠—4♠, denies 4♥
41NT → 2♣(!) → PASS0-6Weak, 5+♦
51NT → 2♣(!) → 2♥7-115+♥, GI
61NT → 2♣(!) → 2♠7-115+♠, GI
71NT → 2♣(!) → 2NT8-9GI, no major
81NT → 2♣(!) → 3♣10+5=♣, GI, SI
91NT → 2♣(!) → 3♦10+5=♦, GI, SI
101NT → 2♣(!) → 3♥-May have 4=
111NT → 2♣(!) → 3♠-May have 4=

Table 6: After Heart Transfer: 1NT - 2♦(!) - 2♥

#BidHCPDescription
11NT → 2♦(!) → 2♥ → PASS0-65=♥, weak
21NT → 2♦(!) → 2♥ → 2♠7-115=♠, GI
31NT → 2♦(!) → 2♥ → 2NT7-114+♣, 5=♥, GF, SI
41NT → 2♦(!) → 2♥ → 3♣12+5=♣, GF, SI
51NT → 2♦(!) → 2♥ → 3♦12+5=♦, GI
61NT → 2♦(!) → 2♥ → 3♥7-116=♥, GI
71NT → 2♦(!) → 2♥ → 3♠12-16GFQ: 3NT or 4?
81NT → 2♦(!) → 2♥ → 3NT175=♥, choice of games
91NT → 2♦(!) → 2♥ → 4♥-GAME

Table 7: After Spade Transfer: 1NT - 2♥(!) - 2♠

#BidHCPDescription
11NT → 2♥(!) → 2♠ → PASS0-65=♠, weak
21NT → 2♥(!) → 2♠ → 2NT7-114+♣, 5=♠, GF, SI
31NT → 2♥(!) → 2♠ → 3♣12+4+♣, 5=♠, GF, SI
41NT → 2♥(!) → 2♠ → 3♦12+5=♦, GF, SI
51NT → 2♥(!) → 2♠ → 3♥12+6+♥, GI
61NT → 2♥(!) → 2♠ → 3♠7-115=♠, GF
71NT → 2♥(!) → 2♠ → 3NT12-16GFQ: 3NT or 4?
81NT → 2♥(!) → 2♠ → 4♠17GAME

Table 8: Responses to 1NT: Direct Minor Suit Sequences

#BidHCPDescription
11NT → 3NT8-9GAME
21NT → -10+GAME
31NT → PASS0-8GAME
41NT → 3NT8-9GAME

Page 6

Table 9: Responses to 1NT: Slam Invitation Sequences

#BidHCPDescription
11NT → 1NT - 2♦(!)12+GAME (via transfer)
21NT → 1NT - 2NT(!)????Asking about aces
31NT → 1NT - 3♣8-126+♣, no interest in NT, GAME
41NT → 1NT - 3♦8-126+♦, no interest in NT, GAME
51NT → 1NT - 3NT20+Asking about strength, SI

Table 12: Responses to 1♣

#BidHCPDescription
11♣ → 1♦6+5+♦, may be 3-3 in ♦♥, no 5-card major
21♣ → 1♥6+4+♥, may have 5+♠
31♣ → 1♠6+4+♠, may have 5+♠
41♣ → 1NT6-10No 4-card major
51♣ → 2♣6-105+♣ support, no 4-card major
61♣ → 2♦17+4+♦, SI
71♣ → 2♥17+4+♥, SI
81♣ → 2♠13-15Balanced, no 4-card major
91♣ → 2NT11+SI, asking about short suit
101♣ → 3♣16-175+♣, no 4-card major
111♣ → 3NT23+GAME, SI
121♣ → 4NT(!)23+Asking about aces

Table 26: Responses to 4NT

#BidHCPDescription
15♣—0 aces
25♦—1 ace
35♥—2 aces
45♠—3 aces

Page 7

Table 13: Responses to 1♦

#BidHCPDescription
11♦ → 1♥6+4+♥ (or 4-4 in ♠♥), no 5♠
21♦ → 1♠6+4+♠, may have 4+♥, no 5♠
31♦ → 1NT6-10No 4-card major
41♦ → 2♣6-10No 4-card major
51♦ → 2♦6+4+♦, no 4-card
61♦ → 2♥6+4+♥, no 4-card
71♦ → 2♠17+4+♠, SI
81♦ → 2NT13-154+♠, SI
91♦ → 3♦13-15Balanced, no 4-card major, GF
101♦ → 3NT16-17SI, asking about short suit
111♦ → 4NT(!)23+Balanced, no 4-card major, GAME, SI, asking about aces

Pages 7-8

Table 14: Responses to 1♥

#BidHCPDescription
11♥ → 1♠6-105+♠, may be 3+
21♥ → 1NT6-10No 4+♠, no 3♥ support
31♥ → 2♣11+4+♣, no 4+♥
41♥ → 2♦11+4+♦, no 3+♥
51♥ → 2♥6-103+♥ support
61♥ → 2♠17+4+♠, GF, SI
71♥ → 2NT(!)13+Balanced, no 3+♥, asking about short suit
81♥ → 3♣17+4+♣, GF, SI
91♥ → 3♦17+4+♦, GF, SI
101♥ → 3♥13-163+♥, singleton/void (splinter)
111♥ → 3♠16-17Balanced, no 3+♥, 4+
121♥ → 3NT-GAME, SI
131♥ → 4♣(!)13-163+♥, singleton/void in ♣, GF, SI
141♥ → 4♦(!)13-163+♥, singleton/void in ♦, GF, SI
151♥ → 4♥13-163+♥, singleton/void in ♠, GF, SI
161♥ → 4NT(!)23+GAME, asking about aces

Page 8

Table 15: Responses to 1♠

#BidHCPDescription
11♠ → 1NT6-10No 3+♠ support
21♠ → 2♣11+4+♣, no 3+♠
31♠ → 2♦11+4+♦, no 3+♠
41♠ → 2♥6-105+♥, may be 3+♠
51♠ → 2♠6-103+♠ support
61♠ → 2NT(!)17+Balanced, no 4-card major, GF, SI, asking about short suit
71♠ → 3♣17+Asking about short suit, GF, SI
81♠ → 3♦10-124+♦, GF, SI
91♠ → 3♥10-123+♠, GI
101♠ → 3♠13-16GF, SI
111♠ → 3NT16-17Balanced, no 4-card major
121♠ → 4♣(!)13-163+♠, singleton/void in ♣, GF, SI
131♠ → 4♦(!)13-163+♠, singleton/void in ♦, GF, SI
141♠ → 4♥(!)13-163+♠, singleton/void in ♥, GF, SI
151♠ → 4♠13-163+♠, GAME
161♠ → 4NT(!)23+Asking about aces

Table 16: Responses to 2♣(!)

#BidHCPDescription
12♣(!) → 2♦(!)0-7Waiting/Negative - artificial
22♣(!) → 2♥8+5+♥, positive, no 5-card in other suit
32♣(!) → 2♠8+5+♠, positive, no 5-card in other suit
42♣(!) → 2NT8+Balanced, positive
52♣(!) → 3♣8+5+♣, positive
62♣(!) → 3♦8+5+♦, positive

Table 17: Opener's Rebids After 2♣ - 2♦(!)

#BidHCPDescription
12♣ → 2♦(!) → 2♥22-2422-24 balanced OR 21+ long suit, 8 tricks
22♣ → 2♦(!) → 2♠22+Long suit, game in hand
32♣ → 2♦(!) → 2NT22+22+ all other distributions, game in hand
42♣ → 2♦(!) → 3♣-Negative, other distributions
52♣ → 2♦(!) → 3♦0-75+♣, GI
62♣ → 2♦(!) → 3♥5+5+♦, GI
72♣ → 2♦(!) → 3♠-Balanced, continue as after 2NT opening
82♣ → 2♦(!) → 3NT22-245+♣, GI
92♣ → 2♦(!) → 4♣22-245+♦, GI
102♣ → 2♦(!) → 4♦17+6+♥
112♣ → 2♦(!) → 4♥17+6+♠

Table 18: Continuations After 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT

#BidHCPDescription
12♣ → 2♦ → 2NT → 3♣-Stayman
22♣ → 2♦ → 2NT → 3♦-Transfer to ♥
32♣ → 2♦ → 2NT → 3♥-Transfer to ♠
42♣ → 2♦ → 2NT → 3NT-To play

Page 9

Table 19: After 1♣ - 1♦

#BidHCPDescription
11♣ → 1♦ → 1♥-5+♦, may be 3-3 in ♦♥
21♣ → 1♦ → 1♠-No 5-card major
31♣ → 1♦ → 1NT12-164+♦, may be 5+♦
41♣ → 1♦ → 2♣12-164+♦
51♣ → 1♦ → 2♦12-16No 5♠, no 4-card
61♣ → 1♦ → 2♥12-164=, no 4-card
71♣ → 1♦ → 2♠12-164=, no 4-card
81♣ → 1♦ → 2NT17-18Balanced, GF
91♣ → 1♦ → 3♣17-185+♣, no 4-card, GI
101♣ → 1♦ → 3♦17-185+♦, no 4-card, GI
111♣ → 1♦ → 3♥19-224=, GF
121♣ → 1♦ → 3♠19-224=, GF

Table 20: After 1♣ - 1♥

#BidHCPDescription
11♣ → 1♥ → 1NT12-16No 5-card major, may be 5+♦
21♣ → 1♥ → 2♣12-184+♠
31♣ → 1♥ → 2♦12-18No 5♠, no 4-card
41♣ → 1♥ → 2♥12-185+♥, no 4-card
51♣ → 1♥ → 2♠12-184=, no 4-card
61♣ → 1♥ → 2NT17-18No 3-card support
71♣ → 1♥ → 3♣19-225+♣, no 4-card, GI
81♣ → 1♥ → 3♦19-225+♦, no 4-card, GI
91♣ → 1♥ → 3♥19-22Balanced, GF
101♣ → 1♥ → 3♠19-224=, GI

Page 10

Table 21: After 1♣ - 1♠

#BidHCPDescription
11♣ → 1♠ → 1NT12-16No 5-card major, may be 5+♦
21♣ → 1♠ → 2♣12-184+♦, may be 4-card, no 3+
31♣ → 1♠ → 2♦12-184+♦, from 5♠, no 4-card
41♣ → 1♠ → 2♥12-184=, no 4-card
51♣ → 1♠ → 2♠12-184=, no 4-card
61♣ → 1♠ → 2NT17-18Balanced, GF
71♣ → 1♠ → 3♣19-225+♣, no 3+, GI
81♣ → 1♠ → 3♦19-225+♦, no 3+, GI
91♣ → 1♠ → 3♥19-224=, no 3+, GI
101♣ → 1♠ → 3♠19-22Balanced, GI

Table 22: After 1♣ - 1NT

#BidHCPDescription
11♣ → 1NT → PASS6-105-card major
21♣ → 1NT → 2♣12-16Pass in M
31♣ → 1NT → 2NT17-185+♣, no 4-card, GI
41♣ → 1NT → 3♣17-18Balanced, GI
51♣ → 1NT → 3NT19-225+♣, no 4-card, GAME

Table 23: After 1♦ - 2♣

#BidHCPDescription
11♦ → 2♣ → 2♦11+No 4-card
21♦ → 2♣ → 2♥12-14Balanced (no 4-card but with stoppers), GI
31♦ → 2♣ → 2♠12-143+♣, no 4-card
41♦ → 2♣ → 2NT12-14GF
51♦ → 2♣ → 3♣15-18GF
61♦ → 2♣ → 3♦15-18GF
71♦ → 2♣ → 3♥15-18GF
81♦ → 2♣ → 3NT15-18GAME, SI?

Page 11

Table 24: After 1♣ - 2♣

#BidHCPDescription
11♣ → 2♣ → 2♣17+5-card major, SI
21♣ → 2♣ → 2♦17+SI
31♣ → 2♣ → 2♥17+SI
41♣ → 2♣ → 2NT(!)13-15Balanced, no 4-card major, asking about short suit

Table 25: Example: After 1♥ - 2NT(!)

#BidHCPDescription
11♥ → 2NT(!) → 3♣(!)18+Strong trump suit, no short suit
21♥ → 2NT(!) → 3♦(!)-Singleton/void in ♦
31♥ → 2NT(!) → 3♥(!)-Singleton/void in ♠
41♥ → 2NT(!) → 3NT(!)15-17No short suit
51♥ → 2NT(!) → 4♣12-145+♣ (second 5-card suit)
61♥ → 2NT(!) → 4♦-5+♦ (second 5-card suit)

Page 12

Table 27: Table 1: Points Below the Line (Contract Points)

#ContractUndoubledDoubledRedoubled
1♣/♦ (per trick)204080
2♥/♠ (per trick)3060120
3NT (first trick)4080160
4NT (subsequent)3060120

Table 28: Tables 2 & 3: Points Above the Line (Bonuses)

#BidHCPDescription
1Making doubled contract—50
2Making redoubled contract—100
34 honors in one hand (trump)—100
45 honors in one hand (trump)—150
54 aces in one hand (NT)—150
6Rubber bonus (2-0)—700
7Rubber bonus (2-1)—500

Table 29: Tables 2 & 3: Points Above the Line (Bonuses): Overtricks

#ConditionUndoubledDoubledRedoubled
1Non-vulnerableTrick value100200
2VulnerableTrick value200400

Table 30: Tables 2 & 3: Points Above the Line (Bonuses): Undertrick Penalties (Cumulative Totals): Not Vulnerable

#DownUndoubledDoubledRedoubled
1150100200
22100300600
331505001000
442008001600
5525011002200
6630014002800

Table 31: Tables 2 & 3: Points Above the Line (Bonuses): Undertrick Penalties (Cumulative Totals): Vulnerable

#DownUndoubledDoubledRedoubled
11100200400
222005001000
333008001600
4440011002200
5550014002800
6660017003400

Table 32: Tables 2 & 3: Points Above the Line (Bonuses): Slam Bonuses

#AchievementNon-VulnerableVulnerable
1Small Slam (12 tricks)500750
2Grand Slam (13 tricks)10001500