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When opponents interfer with our auction

I play basically two different methods of competitive bidding. One is fairly "vanilla" version with transfer advances with Jordon 2NT, unassuming cue-bids, all direct raises weak. The other most definitely not-vanilla, named Equality and invented by Misho Nedyalkov (MishoVnBg on the BBO). Equality is the better of the two options, and since the vanilla version can be followed by anyone, I will explain Equality after WE OPEN. Turns out we also play EQUALITY after they open and partner overcalls as well. It is a "meta" defense and works in both situations. A very large Word document describing Equality can be found on Dan Neill's system page.


Equality bids


Transfer bids after takeout doubles and to some extent, transfer bids after an overcall are all the rage now. Equality is a meta method that uses specialized transfer bids not only after your RHO overcalls or makes a takeout double, but also after your partner overcalls or doubles and your right hand opponent bids.

Equality bids not apply to your OPENING bids, but also to your partners responses to your direct second seat overcalls or takeout doubles if your RHO bids. The main principles of Equality bids are the following assuming your partner has made a bid and your RHO made a bid (your partner’s bid could be an opening, on overcall, or a takeout double.Your bids are:

Natural bids
  • 1NT or 3NT are both always natural
  • Rebid of your suit is always natural
  • Major suit raises are always natural
  • Minor suit raises to 3 and above are always natural
  • SPECIAL NOTE: 2NT is never natural. If your partner has bid a major suit, it is a good raise of partner's major suit. If your partner has bid a minor, it is either super preemptive raise or a game forcing raise.

Other bids are transfers

  • Dbl is transfer to next higher suit
  • Cheapest transfer to unbid minor is a two way bid. It shows either the indicated minor, OR a balanced hand (typically a misfit) unsuited for a natural NT bid (could be too strong for 1NT, or might lack a stopper).
  • Raise/response of 2 of minor of your partners opening bid is a transfer for unbid major. However, over 1M-(DBL)- 2♣ is transfer to ♦, 2D is transfer to (Ruben transfers)
  • Bids in suits above transfer level are natural and round force (fit jumps)
  • Cue-bids are never transfers, and we don’t “make a cue-bid” by transferring into their suit (we never transfer into their suit) ·

Scope of transfer bids

  • When DBL/REDBL are available, including dbl/redbl up to cue-bid/raise of partner suit
  • When DBL/REDBL are not available (responding to our partners overcall), transfers start at cue-bid up to jump cue-bid ·
  • Stopping transfers and return to standard bidding when:
    ---->we already establish fit
    ----> We have both bid naturally once
    ----> Opponents bid 3NT and above
    ----> Opponents bid shows 2 suits (use unusual versus unusual)
    ----> We used transfer or distributional bid (such as meckwell)
    ----> NT natural or nebulous was bid by opponents
    ----> Reopen position

Details of Equality:

If opponent's intervention is dbl or the very cheapest suit - transfer advances include 2 way raise of partner's suit (direct raise weak, transfer raise strong), else 1 way but raise to 2 of minor is always transfer for unbid major.

  • If transfer is in impossible suit (like transfer rebid in opener's suit at 2 level), then transfer show next cheapest possible suit.
  • If rebid of opener's suit is available only at 3 level, then 2 way rebids, where direct one is competitive and transfer rebid is constructive+.
    Special transfer responses (M=major; UM=unbid major)
    ----> 1m-(1M)-?--> 2♣: 4UM;
    ----> 1m-(1M)-?-->2: 5+UM
    ----> 1m-(1S)-?-->2H: negative free bid (weaker than 2D) *
    ----> 1♣-(1)-? -> 2♣: 5+♥;
    ----> 1♣-(1)-? -> 2: 5+♠
    ----> 1-(2♣)-? -> dbl: take out;
    ----> 1-(2♣)-? ->2: 5+♥;
    ----> 1-(2♣)-? ->2♥: 5+♠
    ----> 1H-(2♣)-? -> 2 = 4+♠, 1RF
    ----> 1H-(2♣)-? -> 2 ♠= 5+♠, non forcing (negative free bid)
    ----> 1H-(2♣)-? -> DBL = transfer to D or balanced misfit unsuited for 3NT bid

*when 2H or 2S can be balanced hand or other major, that takes precedent over use as negative free bid. 2H and 2S can also be “FIT NONJUMP” on some auctions where both opponents show strength as opposed to transfers or simple negative free bids.

Equality over opponent’s redouble. We use both double and redouble as transfers, but equality takes a slightly different approach if RHO redoubles partner’s takeout double. The assumption is the opponents have points so we need distribution to bid much in this case. Here are the rules.

Over a redouble

  • a pass is a “transfer” to the next higher suit (or no preference)
  • a new suit is a transfer bid as before
  • 1NT is no longer natural but rather shows , highest and lowest suits.
  • Cue-bid is top two suits
  • 2NT is lower two unbid suits

Remember, the 1S bid (or pass of 1Sx) still shows cheapest unbid minor or semibalanced as always.

Example auctions, to illustrate points.

1S-(2C)
---->DBL “diamonds or balanced unsuited for 3NT”
---->2D shows 4+ hearts, round force
----> 2H Hearts negative free bid, not forcing
----> 2S Raise
----> 2NT Useful raise or better
----> 3C Mixed raise
----> 3D, 3H Fit jump

1S-(2D)
----> DBL = “hearts – next suit, 1RF”
----> 2H = Clubs or balanced hand unsuited for 3NT (not negative free bid, as need it to show diamonds)
----> 2S = Spade raise
----> 2NT=Useful raise or better


1S - (2H)
----> DBL “Transfer to 3C, or balanced”
----> 2S Raise
----> 2NT Useful raise or better
----> 3C Transfer to 3D


1H-(1S)
----> DBL Transfer to 2C or balance unsuited for 1NT or 3NT
----> 1NT Natural, non-forcing
----> 2C No unbid major, so transfer to diamonds
----> 2D “sound raise heart raise”
----> 2H Weak raise
----> 2S Mixed raise, balanced type hand,
----> 2NT Useful raise

1H-(2C)
----> DBL “diamonds or balance mis-fit”
----> 2D = 4+ spades, 1RF
----> 2H “any kind or raise”
----> 2S = 5+ spades, (since !D shown by dbl) not forcing
----> 2NT = Useful raise
----> 3♣ Mixed raise
----> 3/3♠, Fit jumps
----> 4C splinter

1S - (2D)
----> DBL “heart transfer”
----> 2H Balanced or clubs (no room for neg free bid)
----> 2S raise
----> 2NT Useful raise

1D- (1H)
----> DBL Shows spades
----> 1S Clubs, or balanced misfit
----> 1NTNatural, non-forcing
----> 2C 4+ spades, relatively balanced
----> 2D 5+ spades, forcing
----> 2H Diamond fit, invite (not GF, see 2NT)
----> 2S Fit jump, NF
----> 2NT Weak or game forcing raise
----> 3C, 3S Fit jump, NF
----> 3D Weak (but not desperately weak)
----> 3H Looks for 3NT with stopper

1D-(1S)
----> DBL - Club or balanced misfit
----> 1NT Natural, non-forcing
----> 2C = 4+ hearts, balanced pattern
----> 2D = 5+ hearts, forcing
----> 2H 5+ hearts, negative free bid thing, not forcing,
----> 2S = Mixed raise, not game forcing, see 2NT
----> 2NT = Weak or game forcing raise
----> 3C, 3H Fit jump, NF
----> 3D Weak (but not desperately weak)

1D- (2C)
----> DBL, Regular takeout double, wow.
----> 2D “5+ hearts, RF”
----> 2H “5+ spades, RF”
----> 2S Spades, not forcing
----> 2NT Weak or game forcing raise
----> 3C Mixed raise, not game forcing
----> 3D Weak (but not desperately weak)
----> 3H/3S Fit jump
----> 4C Splinter

1C-(1D)
----> DBL 4+ hearts, tends to be balanced (see 2C)
----> 1H 4+ spades, tends to be balanced (see 2D)
----> 1S Balanced only (no unbid minor) unsuitable for 1NT (too strong? Wants partner to play NT, etc. may include fair club support
----> 1NT Natural, limited (see 1S)
----> 2C 5+ hearts, stronger than dbl, more distributional
----> 2D 5+ spades, stronger than 1H, more distributional
----> 2H/2S Fit jumps, this time, not forcing (see 2C/2D)
----> 2NT Really, really weak club raise, or GF club raise
----> 3C Typical preemptive club raise
----> 3H/3S Preemptive this time since 2H/2S available

1C - (1H)
----> DBL 4+ spades, good defensive hand, deny short H
----> 1S is bal hand unsuitable for nat 1/3NT bid or 5+D
----> 1NT Natural, NF
----> 2C 4+ spades, offensive hand
----> 2D 5+ spades, forcing game invite plus
----> 2H Constructive raise
----> 2S Fit jump
----> 2NT Very preemptive or game force
----> 3C Preemptive but better than 2NT
----> 3D, 3S Fit jumps
----> 3H Ask for heart stopper for nt
----> 3NT To play

1C - (1S)
----> DBL Balanced or shows diamonds
----> 1NT Natural, non forcing
----> 2C 4+ hearts, 1RF
----> 2D 5+ hearts, forcing
----> 2H Non-forcing, 5+ hearts
----> 2S Good limit raise (GF raise uses 2NT) also see 2C
----> 2NT Very Preemptive raise or GF raise
----> 3C “good raise but preemptive”
----> 3H, 3D Fit jump
----> 3S Bid 3NT with stopper

Over doubles

1S-(DBL)
----> Rdbl balanced or diamonds
----> 1NT natural nf
----> 2C trasfer to diamonds
----> 2D transfer to hearts
----> 2H "sound" raise to 2S
----> 2S preemptive spades raise
----> 2NT useful spade raise or better

1H-(DBL)
----> Rdbl shows hearts
----> 1H shows spades
----> 1NT natural nf
----> 2C trasfer to diamonds
----> 2D sound heart raise
----> 2H preemptive heart raise
----> 2S fit jump
----> 2NT useful raise or better

1D-(DBL)
----> Rdbl hearts
-----> 1H shows spades
-----> 1S shows clubs or balanced unsuited for 1NT
----> 1NT natural nf
----> 2C 5+H's, 1RF
----> 2D 5+S's, 1RF
----> 2H fit jump
----> 2S fit jump
----> 2NT weak or GF diamond raise

1C-(DBL)
----> Rdbl shows diamonds
----> 1D shows hearts
----> 1H shows spades
----> 1S shows balanced unsuited for 1NT
----> 1NT natural nf
----> 2C 5+H's, 1RF
----> 2D 5+S's, 1RF
----> 2H fit jump
----> 2S fit jump
----> 2NT weak or GF diamond raise

Next time, equality after they open the bidding.

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