Bridge At the Corners

     The Canadian Club fashions an effective slam-bidding structure around a
well-established framework.  Many of the ideas here will be familiar to
Precision bidders.  Unfamiliar ones will be easy to learn once we understand
some of the general rules of the system.  

     Many of these conventions can be incorporated into other systems
directly.  The Golady 2C Response to 1-of-a-suit, Trial Transfers, DIET TABs,
GIRLS 2NT, Feature Show, the Perverse Reverse and Defensive Doubles will all
be of interest.  Ironically, some of these--especially the Feature Show and
Perverse Reverse--will work better in a standard system than in the Canadian
Club!     

     Certain conventional ideas found in standard systems are sadly
underused.  The Stayman convention reserves the cheapest response to 1NT
(i.e. 2C) for an investigation of 4-card {major} suits.  It reserves two
responses, 2D and 2H, as Jacoby Transfers into long major suits.  If such a
setup makes sense opposite a balanced hand it will make even more sense
opposite an unbalanced hand--a 1D, 1H or 1S opening bid.  After all, the more
distributional a hand is the more appropriate it is to playing in a suit. 
Playing in a suit requires finding a fit.  Finding a fit relies upon
straightforward, easy disclosure of our holdings.  In standard systems such
free disclosure is hampered by rules regarding reversing (including high
level reverses such as 1S:2H:3-of-a-minor), fourth suit forcing and
rebiddable suits.
     
     The Canadian Club derives its nickname "Transfer Precision" from the
fact that, in Game-Forcing ("GF") auctions especially, the Passive Partner
(i.e. "PP", the one answering the questions) often transfers into his long
suit(s).  Thus, the unlimited--and presumably stronger--Forcing Partner (i.e.
"FP", the one asking all the questions) often gets to play the hand.  For
example, 1C:1H is a GF response showing 5+ Spades, allowing trumps to be
established as low as the 1S level!  {In case you are curious, other GF
transfer responses to 1C are:  1C:1S shows a flat hand;  1C:1NT shows 5+
Hearts; 1C:2C shows 5+ Diamonds; 1C:2D shows 5+ Clubs.}  These transfers work
particularly well when the Passive Partner is 1-suited.

          1S   2C   - "Do you have a second 4+card suit?"
          2H        - "No."  But 2S can now settle trumps.

     Compare the above auction to a more standard approach (1S:2-over-1:2S)
when Forcing Partner (i.e. "FP"; Responder, in this example) is forced to bid
3S to set Spades as trumps before investigating slam possibilities.  Worse,
the standard pair will often reach the 4S level before discovering whether or
not Opener and Responder are interested in slam.

     The age-old problem facing standard practitioners involves the minor
suit fit.  Should the partnership play in 5-of-a-minor (or a 7-card major
suit fit) or should they play in the more prosaic 3NT?  The answer to this
question lies largely in the distribution.  Standard systems can usually get
their 4+card suits into the light of day before 3NT is passed.  They rarely
succeed in uncovering the partner's residual holdings.

     Responder:    S- KQxx   H- Ax   D- AJxx   C- xxx

     Holding this hand you hear partner open 1H and rebid 2D.  If his
remaining four cards are split 2-2 or if he holds 3 Spades and only 1 Club
this hand must be played in a suit.  If Opener holds 3 Clubs, however, this
hand should be played in 3NT regardless of whether Opener's Clubs include a
stopper or not.

     Opener A: S- A       H- KQxxx   D- KQxx    C- xxx
     Opener B: S- Ax      H- KQxxx   D- KQxx    C- xx
     Opener C: S- Axx     H- KQxxx   D- KQxx    C- x

     Opener C should present you and your partner few problems in avoiding
3NT.  But are your bidding methods up to the task of finding 3NT with Opener
A while playing in 4H or 5D with Opener B?  This simple example illustrates
the importance of distributional bidding--especially residual bidding.

     Another age-old dilemma facing bidders is 3NT versus a minor suit slam. 
At matchpoints especially, the decision to investigate a possible slam in a
minor can be expensive if the partnership is forced to settle in 5-of-a-
minor.  Obviously, the partnership must be able to determine before passing
the 3NT level if such an investigation is warranted.  We will not dwell on
the problems of finding good 4-4 minor suit fits opposite a standard 1NT
opening.  Such failures are legion.  Instead, consider this standard auction:

          1H   2D   - 4+ Diamonds, 10+HCPs (or 2-over-1 GF).
          2H   3C   - 5-4 or better in the minors.  Forcing.
          ??        - What do you bid holding:

     Opener A: S- KQx     H- AQJxxx  D- J       C- QJx

          A good hand for 6C if Responder has 5+Clubs.

     Opener B: S- KQx     H- KQJxx   D- x       C- Qxxx

          A good hand for 3NT OR Clubs, but how good for Six Clubs?

     Opener C: S- xx      H- KQJxx   D- Kx      C- QJxx

          A good Club fit but little interest in 3NT or 6C.

     Clearly, the auction is too high for Opener to show a club fit versus a
club preference while advising Responder on the efficacy of 3NT.  A Canadian
Club auction uses a Staymanic 2C response to 1H in conjunction with transfer
rebids by Opener to produce:

     Responder:     S- Axx     H- x          D- AQxxx     C- AKxx
     Opener A:      S- Kxx     H- AQJxxx     D- J         C- QJx

          1H   2C   - "2nd suit?"
          2D        - "No second suit."
               3D   - Natural.
          3NT       - No decent fit, no reason to investigate 6D.

     Opener B: S- KQx     H- KQJxx       D- x        C- Qxxx

          1H   2C
          2S        - 4+card Club suit.
               3C   - A Club fit.  "3NT?  5C?  6C?"
          3S        - No interest in 5C or 6C.  Spade strength.
               3NT

     Opener C: S- xx      H- KQJxx       D- Kx       C- QJxx

          1H   2C
          2S   3C
          3D        - No interest in 5C or 6C.  Diamond strength.
               4C   - Then 3NT will be hard.  "Clubs?  Key Cards?"
          4D        - This Trump Asking Bid reply:  C-Q +/or 5+C-s.
               4H   - "Key Cards?"  i.e. any Ace or the Club King.
          4NT       - "None."
               6C   - This'll need less luck to make than 3NT will. 

     The Canadian Club revolves around a few basic rules and theory points:

        With two 5+card suits (11 to 15 HCPs) open the higher ranked
        suit first--even if you show a 5-card suit before a 6+carder.
        
        With hands of approximately equal strength the flatter hand
        should be Declarer.  Otherwise, the stronger hand should be
        Declarer.  Misfits should be played in the weaker hand's suit.
        
        The more balanced the fit (e.g. 4-4 vs. 5-3) and strengths the
        better.  13 HCPs opposite 13 HCPs will make game easier than 26
        HCPs opposite a yarborough.
        
        Responder tends to define the auction as Game-Forcing or Non-
        Game-Forcing with his first bid.  Only opposite a 2D opening
        (strong, 3-suited or flat) does Responder define the auction
        with his second bid.
        
        In a Non-Game-Forcing auction both partners have limited their
        hand.  Only a few gadgets apply;  4th Suit Forcing is not one of
        these!
        
        Opener:        S- KJxx     H- x         D- AQxxx     C- Qxx
        Responder:     S- xx       H- Kxxxx     D- x         C- Kxxxx
        
          1D        - Natural, limited opening.
               1H   - Natural, limited response.  Non-Forcing.
          1S        - Natural, limited rebid.
               2C   - Natural, limited rebid.
          Pass      - This auction may raise some eyebrows...
        
        If one partner's major suit is raised to the 2-level he can use
        a Feature Show by rebidding the cheapest step (e.g. 1H:2H:2S,
        1D:1S:2S:2NT, etc.).  This asks partner to show his cheapest
        feature.  If the Forcing Partner rebids a new suit he authorizes
        his partner to go to game only with a feature in this suit.
        
        Opener:         S- KJxx     H- x         D- AQxxx    C- Kxx
        Responder A:    S- Qxxx     H- KJxx      D- xx       C- Axx
        
          1D   1H   - Both natural and non-forcing.
          1S   2S   - 8-11 HCPs with Spade support.
          2NT       - Feature show.  "Cheapest honour card?"
               3C   - Club card.
          3D        - "Okay, tell me more."
               3H   - "Heart card."
          3S        - "Not such good news, pard."
               Pass - "No diamond card."
        
        Responder B:    S- Qxxx     H- Jxxx      D- Kx       C- Axx
        
          1D   1H   - Same as above.
          1S   2S   - Ditto.
          2NT  3C   - Ditto again.
          3D   4S   - Authorized to bid game with a D- honour...
        
        Many players today play major suit re-raises (e.g. 1H:2H:3H,
        1S:2S:3S) as pre-emptive.  To Canadian Club pairs this smacks of
        "advanced balancing", taking a push before there is one. 
        Standard players use this approach as a general game try.  This
        is far too imprecise for Canadian Club, who use the re-raise to
        invite game if partner has good trumps.
        
        Opener:         S- Kxxxx    H- xx      D- AKQxx    C- x
        Responder A:    S- Qxx      H- Kxxx    D- xx       C- Kxxx
         
          1S   2S   - Destructive raise.  6-8 HCPs, 3+ Spades.
          3S   Pass - "Sorry, but my trumps aren't spectacular."
        
        
        Responder B:    S- AQxx     H- xxx     D- xx       C- xxxx
        
          1S   2S - Destructive raise, 3+card support, 6-8 HCPs.
          3S   4S - "My trumps couldn't be better."
        
        The Canadian Club partnership often employs the Perverse Reverse
        to describe one of three hand types:
        
          1.  A "2-and-a-half" raise of partner's major.
          2.  A natural reverse on a 4-6 2-suiter (if possible).
          3.  8 or 9 tricks in NT with xx in partner's major.
        
        1D:1S:2H, then, is a 1-round force based on a good spade raise,
        a 4-6 red 2-suiter OR a solid minor suit, 2 spades and 8 or 9
        tricks in no trump.  Similarly, 1D:1H:2S is either 4-6 Spade-
        Diamond 2-suiter, 8 or 9 tricks in NT or, most often, a good
        Heart raise.  Responder can show interest by rebidding the
        cheapest unbid step (i.e. 1D:1S:2H:2NT or 1D:1H:2S:2NT).  Any
        other rebid by Responder (e.g. 1D:1H:2S:3D) is weak.
        
          1D   1S   - Natural, non-forcing.
          2H        - Perverse.  "Interested?"
               2NT  - "Okay."  2S, 3C or 3D would've been weak.
          ??        - 3C  = C- fragment.  4-1-5-3-ish.
                    - 3D  = Natural.  4-6 reds.
                    - 3H  = H- fragment.  4-3-5-1-ish.
                    - 3S  = 4-2-5-2 or 3-2-6-2-ish, 14-15 HCPs.
                    - 3NT = 9 tricks, xx in Spades.
        
        
          1D   1H   - Natural, non-forcing.
          2S        - Perverse Reverse.
               2NT  - "Do tell..."  All else is weak.
          ??        - 3C  = C- fragment.  1-4-5-3-ish.
                    - 3D  = Natural.  4S-s, 6D-s.
                    - 3H  = 3-4-5-1-ish.
                    - 3NT = 9 tricks, xx in Hearts.
        
        
        It follows that 1D:1H:3H or 1D:1S:3S denies a short suit (else
        use the Perverse Reverse).  Similarly, with 1D:1H:3NT or
        1D:1S:3NT Opener denies even a doubleton in Responder's major. 
        It also follows that 1D:1S:2H:2S does NOT show extra Spade
        length;  it simply denies interest in hearing what Opener has to
        say.
        
          Opener:        S- KQxx     H- x      D- AKJ10x     C- Jxx
          Responder A:   S- Jxxx     H- Qxx    D- xxx        C- Kxx
        
          1D   1S   - Natural, non-forcing.
          2H        - Perverse Reverse.  Good hand.
               2S   - "Sorry, not interested."
          Pass      - 3D here would show a natural reverse.
        
          Responder B:   S- Axxx     H- KQx      D- xxx      C- Qxx
        
          1D   1S
          2H   2NT  - "Okay, tell me more."
          3C        - "4-1-5-3, 3-1-6-3 or some facsimile."
               3S   - "Ugh!  I hoped for short clubs.  3NT?"
        
          Responder C:   S- Axxx     H- xxx      D- Qx       C- Axxx
        
          1D   1S   - Both bids are natural & non-forcing.
          2H   2NT  - Interested.
          3C        - "Club residue."
               4C!  - Cuebid, looking for 6S.
          4D        - Cuebid, co-operating in the search.
               4S   - No H- Ace, 0 or 1 S- honour, hoping for...
          5D        - ...showing D-Ace and S-KQ (else pass 4S).
               6S   - Ruff 2 Hearts, draw trump & claim. 
        
        Some partnerships will choose to play 1H:1S:2NT as a Perverse
        Reverse, when 3C expresses interest.  Then:
        
          3D   = Diamond fragment.  4-5-3-1-ish.
          3H   = Natural.  8 tricks with long solid Hearts.
          3S   = Club fragment.  4-5-1-3-ish.
          3NT  = 9 running tricks in NT;  long solid Hearts.
        
        If your partnership uses 1H:1S:2NT as a Perverse Reverse it
        follows that 1H:1S:3S denies a short suit (4-5-2-2-ish).
        
        
        In any Game-Forcing auction:
        
           Opener is the Forcing Partner if and only if he opens 2S (an
           artificial Game-Forcing opening) or 1C.  Opposite any other
           opening Responder is the Forcing Partner.
           
           If Passive Partner replies 4C to a request for long or short
           suits--usually because he is too strong for 3NT--a rebid of
           4D by Forcing Partner is Relay Gerber.
           
           Forcing Partner initiates either a 4-Card Auction (by asking
           for 4+card suits) or a 5-Card Auction (by introducing a
           5+card suit of his own).  The most common example of a 4-card
           auction is the Golady 2C reply to an opening bid of 1D, 1H or
           1S.  The second most common example is 1C:1-of-a-major:1NT.
           
           During a 4-Card Auction Passive Partner transfers into his
           suit (e.g. 1S:2C:2D shows 4+ Hearts with 5+ Spades;  1S:2C:2H
           shows a 1-suiter, Spades only), jumping in his short suit
           with a three-suiter (e.g. 1C:1H:1NT:3C shows a three-suiter,
           short in Clubs).  In practice, most FPs adopt the 4-card
           approach, if only as a prelude to making a Trump Asking Bid
           ("TAB").
           
           Opener:        S- AKJxx     H- xx     D- xx        C- Axxx
           Responder:     S- Qxx       H- Ax     D- AJ10xx    C- KQxx
           
           1S  2C   - Golady.  "2nd suit?"
           2S       - Shows 4+ Clubs.
               3S   - TAB, temporarily settling S-s.
           4D       - Minimum, no S-Q, only 5 S-s, {0 or} 3 KCs.
               6C   - The advantage of the balanced fit.
           
              A standard auction like 1S:2D:2S:3S would be hampered by
              Opener's inability to make a high level reverse.  The more
              direct 1S:3S would settle trumps too quickly.  In either
              event, Clubs might never be mentioned.
              
           Another reason 4-card Auctions are preferred stems from
           Forcing Partner's ability to ask for a short suit, completing
           the description of PP's hand.
           
       e.g.    1H        - Usually 11 to 15 HCPs, 5+ Hearts.
                    2C   - Game forcing.  "2nd suit?"
               2H             - 4 Spades with the 5+ Hearts.
                    2NT  - "Short suit?"
               ??        - SSAB replies from 3C to 3NT.
           
           In a 5-Card Auction Passive Partner is only allowed to bid
           5+card suits (e.g. 1S:2H:3D shows 5+ diamonds).  With no such
           second 5+carder Passive Partner rebids his suit or no trump--
           whichever is cheaper--unless he wishes to show extra
           length/strength in his first suit (e.g. 1S:2H:2S denies extra
           spade length and strength; 1S:2H:2NT promises 6+ strong
           Spades).
           
           If Forcing Partner bids PP's major suit below game (e.g.
           1S:2C:2H:2S) this is a "DIET" (Detailed Itemization
           Establishing Trumps) TAB (Trump Asking Bid), settling that
           suit as trump.  The TAB is important not only because it
           exchanges so much information--usually enough to make a slam
           decision--but because it starts the chain of similarly
           informative Asking Bids.
           
           If Forcing Partner bids Passive Partner's minor suit at the
           4-level this is a TAB.  
           If Forcing Partner bids Passive Partner's minor suit below
           3NT he asks partner to bid a guard at the 3-level if minimum; 
           or bid at the 4-level if maximal.
           
           e.g.     1D   2C   - "2nd Suit?"  4-Card Auction.
                    2H   3D   - Tentative or "Trial" TAB.
                    ??        - 3H, 3S & 3NT are minimums.
                              - 4C is a cuebid, allowing FP
                                   to make a 4D TAB.
                              - 4D through 5C are TAB replies,
                                   interested in slam.
           
           There are two exceptions to the general rule that only
           unlimited hands can make Asking Bids:  passed hand Responders
           to 2D or 2NT openings.  This is because of the descriptive
           yet powerful nature of these opening hands.
           
           Responder to the strong and forcing 1C can become Forcing
           Partner once partner has signed off, thereby relinquishing
           that role.  Of course, such a Responder must be an unpassed
           hand and must NOT have shown a minimum earlier.
           
           e.g.     1C   1H   - 5+ Spades, 8+ HCPs.  GF.
                    1NT       - Golady.  "2nd Suit?"
                         2D   - 4+ Hearts.
                    2H        - TAB in Hearts.
                         2NT  - Maximum.
                    3H        - Signing off.
                         3S   - "My turn!"  4-step TAB.
           
           During a 4-card Auction opposite a flat Passive Partner (e.g.
           1NT Opener, 1S Responder to 1C) Forcing Partner often uses a
           2NT or 3C relay rebid to ask for minor suit length.  Such
           minor suit length is shown via a MINIMAMA structure where, in
           general, bidding a MInor shows a miNImum, bidding a MAjor
           promises a MAximum (with the corresponding minor).
           
               Opener:        S- KQx      H- AKxx     D- AJxx     C- KJxx
               Responder A:   S- Jxxx     H- Qxx      D- Kx       C- Axxx
           
               1C   1S   - 8+ HCPs, flat hand.
               1NT       - "4-card major?"
                    2H   - 4 Spades but not 4 Hearts.
               2NT       - MINIMAMA.  "Minor suit length?"
                    3C   - 4 Clubs, minimum.
               3NT       - "I hoped you'd bid 3H (4 Clubs, maximum)."
           
               Responder B:    S- Axxx    H- Qx       D- KQxx      C- Qxx
           
               1C   1S   - Balanced hand with 8+ HCPs.
               1NT  2H   - 4 Spades, denying 4 Hearts.
               2NT  3S   - 4 Diamonds with a maximum.
               4D   4H   - A "minimum maximum" with the D-Q.
               4H   5C   - "Two Key Cards."
               6D        - "Should be enough."
           
           Forcing Partner must NOT make unnecessary jump rebids to
           shorten the auction.  Ditch the Principle of Fast Arrival! 
           Many such jumps have special meanings.  The biggest problem
           with the Principle of Fast Arrival in uncontested auctions is
           that it all-too-often amounts to missing slam as quickly as
           possible.
           
           Responses to Asking Bids are constructed on the basis that
           the higher the response the better the news.  For example,
           when asked for short suits PP bids:
           
               1st Step - "Sorry, no short suit."
               2nd Step - Short in the highest possible suit.
               3rd Step - Short in 2nd highest possible suit.
               4th Step - Short in lowest ranked unbid suit.
           
           Why are lower ranked shortnesses preferred?  In general,
              wouldn't you rather be dealt long spades and short clubs
              than long clubs and short spades?
              
           These responses are often "telescoped" to show extras or more
           detailed information.  The first form of telescoping is
           "duplication".  In response to a Short Suit Asking Bid we
           might see, in addition to the four steps above:
           
               5th Step - VOID in the highest possible suit.
               6th Step - VOID in 2nd highest possible suit.
               7th Step - VOID in lowest ranked unbid suit.
           
           Obviously, the 2nd through 4th steps are duplicated.
           
           
           The second form of telescoping involves "extension".  Here
           only the highest level response is duplicated, sparing the
           partnership the need to relay for clarification.
           
               1C   2D   - 8+ HCPs, Game-Forcing, 5+ Clubs.
               2H        - "2nd Suit?".
                    ??   - 2S = 6+Clubs, no 2nd suit.
                         - 2NT = 4 Diamonds.
                         - 3C  = 4 Hearts.
                         - 3D  = 4 Spades, 4-2-2-5, more than minimum.
                         - 3H  = 4 Spades, 4-1-3-5-ish.
                         - 3S  = 4 Spades, 4-3-1-5-ish.
                         - 3NT = 4 Spades, 4-2-2-5-ish, minimum.
           
           As you can see, the 3D Spade-showing response is extended all
           the way to 3NT to show the various residual holdings that are
           possible.  This is necessary because a 3H relay over 3D would
           not have enough room to discover Responder's residue before
           3NT is passed.          
           
           Cuebidding occurs only after both partners have limited
        themselves.  The style is Italian:  show controls (Ace, King,
        void or singleton) indiscriminately on the first round of
        cueing, skipping a suit to deny any control there.
        
          1D        - 11 to 15 HCPs, 3+ Diamonds.
               1S   - 6 to 11 HCPs, 4+ Spades.
          3S        - 4-2-5-2-ish, 14-15 HCPs.
               4D   - Diamond control, no Club control.
          4H        - Heart and Club control (else 4S here).
        
        If and only if the cuebidders establish control of all three
        side suits the partners address the trump suit, returning to the
        trump suit unless that partner holds 2 of the top three trump
        honours.  In the above example Responder will rebid 4S unless he
        holds two top spade honours.
        
        If a second level of cuebidding does occur the partners will
        cuebid only first round controls.  If, instead of 4S, Responder
        bids 5D in the above example he clarifies the Ace or a void in
        Diamonds and two top trump honours.  Second level cuebids are
        rare;  the partnership usually reverts to Key Card Blackwood.
        
        No "cuebidding at the one level" in first or second seat.
        
        e.g.   S- 65432     H- AKQJ10     D- A3      C- 4
        
                  In 1st or 2nd chair open 1S, not 1H.  Period.