Balance
Balancing After an Opening Bid and Two Passes
5
   If your left-hand opponent opens the bidding and your right-hand
opponent passes, almost any excuse is good enough to bid. As a rule
of thumb, you add 3 points and 1 Playing Trick to your hand and then
bid as if you were making a direct overcall.

75
2
1 of a suit
opened ?
1
Did your left-hand opponent open with one of a suit ?

1
1NT opened ?
1
Did your left-hand opponent open with 1 No Trump ?

2
Weak 2-bid
opened ?
1
Did your left-hand opponent open with a weak 2-bid ?

2
3 of a suit
opened ?
1
Did your left-hand opponent open with a 3-level shutout bid ?

2
4-level
opening ?
1
Did your left-hand opponent open at the 4-level or higher ?

2
Can you
bid 1NT ?
4
Bid 1NT with (i) 12-15 High-Card Points (10-12 High-Card Points if
playing La Majeure Cinquième); (ii) Kx, Qxx, Jxxx, or better in your
opponent's suit; (iii) no singletons or 6-card suits; and (iv) no
5-card major that can be bid at the one-level.

2
Can you
bid 2NT ?
3
Bid 2NT with (i) 20-22 High-Card Points (17-19 High-Card Points if
playing La Majeure Cinquième); (ii) Kx, Qxx, Jxxx, or better in your
opponent's suit; (iii) no singletons or 6-card suits.

2
3-suited
hand ?
1
Do you have 3 or more cards in each unbid suit, and no 6-card suit ?

2
5-card
suit ?
1
Do you have an unbid 5-card suit ?

2
Double
or pass
1
Double with 13 or more High Card Points, otherwise pass

2
Strong
enough ?
1
You can overcall if have 6 or more Total Points.

2
Less than 6
Playing Tricks ?
1
With less than 6 Playing Tricks, overcall at the lowest level

2
Simple
overcall
0

2
6-card
suit ?
1
With no 6-card suit, double

2
8+ Playing
Tricks ?
2
With 8 or more Playing Tricks, cue-bid your opponent's suit,
to force to game

1
Cue-bid
1
Cue-bid your opponent's suit, to force to game

2
Jump
overcall
0

2
Take-out
double ?
8
Make a take-out double with:
(i) 7 or more High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit, and 4 or more
    cards in each unbid suit; or
(ii) 9 or more High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit, and 4 or
     more cards in each unbid major; or
(iii) 10 or more High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit, and no more
      than one unbid 3-card suit; or
(iv) 13 or more High-Card Points

1
systems ?
1
Are you playing systems in the blancing seat?

2
2 of a
suit ?
1
With 12 or more Total Points and a 5-card suit, bid it.

1
Bid it
0

2
12+
HCP ?
2
With 12 or more High Card Points, double.
Otherwise, pass.

2
Can you
double ?
2
Double with #3 or more High-Card Points and #4 or more likely tricks
(but you cannot double to show strength when playing D.O.N.T.)

2
Playing
Cappelletti ?
1
Are you playing Cappelletti ?

2
Playing
D.O.N.T. ?
2
Are you playing D.O.N.T. (Disturbing Opponents' No Trump, sometimes called
Bergen over No Trump)?

3
Bid,
double,
or pass
12
With less than 6 High-Card Points, pass.
With any 6-card suit, bid 3 of that suit with 6-14 High-Card Points and
5+ Playing Tricks (6+ if vulnerable vs. not) in that suit, or double with 
4+ Playing Tricks (5+ if vulnerable vs. not) overall.
With 5-5 in any two suits and 3+ Playing Tricks (4+ if vulnerable
vs. not), bid 2$C with clubs and another suit, bid 2$D with diamonds
and a major, or bid 2$H with both majors.
With 5-4 in any two suits and 4+ Playing Tricks (5+ if vulnerable 
vs. not), bid 2$C with clubs and another suit, bid 2$D with diamonds 
and a major, or bid 2$H with both majors.
With 5+ spades and 4+ Playing Tricks (5+ if vulnerable vs. not), bid 2$S.
Otherwise, pass.

1
Playing Multi-Landy ?
1
Are you playing Multi-Landy?

3
Bid,
double,
or pass
6
2$C shows both majors.
2$D shows a single-suited major.
2$H is hearts and a minor.
2$S is spades and a minor.
2NT is both minors.
Dbl is penalty.

2
Playing
Astro ?
1
Are you playing Astro?

2
Bid or
pass
12
With less than 6 High-Card Points, pass.
With a 6-card suit and 5+ Playing Tricks (6+ if vulnerable vs. not) in that
suit, bid 3 of that suit.
With 5-5 in any two suits and 3+ Playing Tricks (4+ if vulnerable
vs. not), bid 2$C with hearts and a minor, or bid 2$D with spades and
another suit.
With 5-4 in any two suits and 4+ Playing Tricks (5+ if vulnerable 
vs. not), bid 2$C with hearts and a minor, or bid 2$D with spades and
another suit.
With 5+ hearts and 4+ Playing Tricks (5+ if vulnerable vs. not), bid 2$H.
With 5+ spades and 4+ Playing Tricks (5+ if vulnerable vs. not), bid 2$S.
Otherwise, pass.

2
Playing
Brozel ?
1
Are you playing Brozel?

3
Brozel
two-
suiter ?
2
Do you have 6 or more High-Card Points, two five-card (or longer) suits, and
3+ Playing Tricks (4+ if vulnerable vs. not)?

2
Show
suits
3
Bid 2$C to show hearts and clubs, 2$D to show hearts and diamonds,
2$H to show hearts and spades, 2$S to show spades and a minor, or 2NT
to show both minors.

2
Long
suit ?
2
Do you have 13 or more Total Points and a six-card suit?  If so, double ;
you will show your suit on the next round.

2
Three
suits ?
2
Do you have three four-card (or longer) suits and 16 or more Total
Points ?

3
Jump
in short
suit
1
Jump to three of your void or singleton.

1
Cappelletti ?
5
Can you make a Cappelletti overcall ?
(If playing Cappelletti, with 13 or more total points:
--- bid 2 of a major with 5 cards in that major and a 4-card minor ;
--- bid 2$D with 5 cards in each major ;
--- bid 2$C with any 6-card suit.)

1
Bid Cappelletti
0

1
Jump to 3?
3
Do you have a jump to the 3 level?
To jump to the level you need a suit with at least 5 playing tricks (6
if vulnerable) and at least 7 cards in the suit.

2
Landy
2$C ?
2
If you are playing Landy, can you make a Landy 2$C bid, showing 4-4 or better
in the majors and 13 or more Total Points?

1
Playing Hello ?
1
Are you playing the Hello convention?

2
Bid or 
pass ?
8
If you are strong enough for an overcall, make one of the following bids:
2$C shows either a single suited diamond hand or a major/minor two suited hand.
2$D shows a single suited heart hand.
2$H shows both majors.
2$S shows spades.
2NT shows a single suited club hand.
3$C shows both minors.
Otherwise, you should pass.

1
Robinson ?
1
Are you playing the Robinson convention?

1
Meckwell
1
Are you playing the Meckwell convention?

2
Make Robinson
overcall
9
Playing Robinson:
Double shows a five-card or longer minor and a four-card major.
2C shows both majors at least 5-4.
2D shows a single-suited major.
2H shows five or more hearts and a four-card or longer minor.
2S shows five or more spades and a four-card or longer minor.
2NT shows at least 5-5 in the minors.
All of these bids generally require at least 8 HCP nad 10 total points.
More distribution is needed if your side is vulnerable.

2
Make Meckwell
overcall
9
Playing Meckwell:
Double shows a single-suited minor or both majors
2C shows 5+ clubs and a 4+ card major.
2D shows 5+ diamonds and a 4+ card major.
2H is natural and shows a single-suited heart hand.
2S is natural and shows a single-suited spade hand.
2NT shows at least 5-5 in the minors.
All of these bids generally require at least 8 HCP nad 11 total points.
More distribution is needed if your side is vulnerable.

2
Good
suit ?
2
You need a 6-card suit or a very good 5-card suit (KQJ10x or better)
to overcall 1NT

2
Bid if
you can
1
Bid to within one trick if vulnerable, two tricks if non-vulnerable

2
Can you
bid 2NT ?
3
Overcall 2NT with (i) 15-18 High-Card Points ; (ii) Kx, Qxx, Jxxx, or
better in your opponent's suit ; (iii) no singletons or 6-card suits ;
and (iv) no 5-card major that can be bid at the two-level.

2
Can you
bid 3NT ?
3
Overcall 3NT with (i) 19-21 High-Card Points ; (ii) AK, KJx, QJxx, or
better in your opponent's suit ; (iii) no singletons or 6-card suits ;
and (iv) no 5-card major that can be bid at the two-level.

1
Leaping Michaels ?
4
Do you have a Leaping Michaels hand and are you playing the Leaping Micahels convention?
If LHO has opened 2$H or 2$S and you have a strong hand with a five-card minor and
five-cards in the other major, you can make a jump to four of your minor to show this
hand type.

2
Make Leaping
Michaels Bid
2
Your hand has been classified as one well suited for a Leaping Michaels bid
so make the corresponding conventional call.

2
3-suited
hand ?
1
Do you have 3 or more cards in each unbid suit, and no 6-card suit ?

2
5-card
suit ?
1
Do you have an unbid 5-card suit ?

2
Strong
enough ?
5
You can overcall if you are within 2 Playing Tricks of your contract if
vulnerable, or 3 Playing Tricks if non-vulnerable. You can also overcall at
the 2-level if you have 11 High-Card Points, or 10 High-Card Points and a
6-card suit ; or at the 3-level with 14 High-Card Points and 5 cards to the
Ace and Queen, or 13 High-Card Points and a 6-card suit.

2
Less than 7
Playing Tricks ?
1
With less than seven Playing Tricks, overcall at the lowest level

2
6-card
suit ?
1
With no 6-card suit, double

2
9+ Playing
Tricks ?
2
With nine or more Playing Tricks, cue-bid your opponent's suit,
to force to game

2
Take-out
double ?
8
Make a take-out double with:
(i) 10 or more High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit, and 4 or more
    cards in each unbid suit ; or
(ii) 12 or more High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit, and 4 or
     more cards in each unbid major ; or
(iii) 13 or more High-Card Points outside your opponent's suit, and no more
      than one unbid 3-card suit ; or
(iv) 16 or more High-Card Points

1
9+ HCP ?
1
With fewer than 9 High-Card Points, pass.

2
Good
suit ?
2
You need a 6-card suit or a very good 5-card suit (KQJ10x or better)
to overcall a 3-level shutout bid

2
Can you
bid it ?
2
To bid at the 3-level, you need 6 Playing Tricks if vulnerable, 5 if not.
To bid at the 4-level, you need one more Playing Trick.

1
Bid it
1
Bid to within 3 tricks if vulnerable, 4 tricks if non-vulnerable

1
Double ?
5
A double of a 3-level shutout bid shows a good hand with some support
for the unbid major suits. Double with 4 or more cards in each unbid major
and 9 or more High-Card Points. With only 3 cards in one major (but at
least Kxx), you must have 11 points. With 3 small cards or Kx in an
unbid major, you need 13 points.

3
Can you make
a contract
by yourself ?
3
Do you have enough Playing Tricks to make a contract in your own hand, and
a trump suit that is good for 5 Playing Tricks by itself ? If so, bid your
suit rather than doubling the opponents.

2
Bid what you
can make
0

2
Can you
double ?
3
Double of 4$C, 4$D or 4$H shows 14 or more High-Card Points, and Kxx or better
in each unbid major. Double of a higher bid is for penalties, and shows
enough Quick Tricks to set the contract.

2
Bid a good suit
if you can
4
Now that you have decided you are unable to double, you can bid a very
strong suit (good for 5 Playing Tricks by itself) if you are within 2
Playing Tricks of your contract vulnerable, or 3 Playing Tricks non-
vulnerable

1
Pass
0

1
1NT
0

1
2NT
0

1
Double
0

1
Double
0

1
2$C
0

1
3NT
0

94
0 0 0 1 19 1 3
5 1 0 2 3 1 2
69 2 0 -1 -1 -1 -1
6 1 -1 4 5 1 2
70 2 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
7 1 -2 6 8 1 2
17 2 -2 7 8 1 2
72 3 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1
8 2 -3 9 18 1 2
10 3 -3 10 17 1 2
11 4 -3 11 12 1 2
12 5 -3 -1 -1 -1 -1
13 4 -4 13 16 1 2
14 5 -4 14 15 1 2
15 6 -4 -1 -1 -1 -1
16 5 -5 -1 -1 -1 -1
71 4 -5 -1 -1 -1 -1
68 3 -4 -1 -1 -1 -1
9 2 -4 -1 -1 -1 -1
1 -1 0 20 55 3 0
18 -2 0 21 50 3 2
22 -3 0 22 23 2 3
71 -3 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
23 -4 0 24 27 2 3
36 -4 -1 25 26 2 3
37 -4 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1
38 -5 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
24 -5 0 28 92 0 3
25 -5 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
28 -7 0 30 31 0 3
29 -7 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
30 -8 0 32 39 0 3
31 -8 1 33 34 0 3
32 -8 2 -1 -1 -1 -1
33 -9 1 35 36 0 3
72 -9 2 -1 -1 -1 -1
34 -10 1 37 38 0 3
35 -10 2 -1 -1 -1 -1
68 -11 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
39 -9 0 40 41 2 3
73 -9 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
40 -10 0 42 43 2 3
41 -10 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
42 -11 0 44 45 2 3
44 -11 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
43 -12 0 46 47 2 3
45 -12 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
46 -13 0 48 49 2 3
47 -13 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
68 -14 0 -1 -1 -1 -1
19 -2 -1 51 52 2 1
20 -2 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1
21 -1 -1 53 54 2 1
71 -1 -2 -1 -1 -1 -1
68 0 -1 -1 -1 -1 -1
2 -1 1 56 76 3 0
48 -2 1 57 58 3 0
70 -3 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
49 -2 2 59 60 3 0
74 -3 2 -1 -1 -1 -1
50 -2 3 61 62 3 0
51 -3 3 -1 -1 -1 -1
52 -2 4 63 65 3 0
58 -3 4 64 65 3 0
72 -4 4 -1 -1 -1 -1
53 -3 5 66 75 3 0
54 -4 5 67 74 3 0
55 -5 5 68 69 3 0
12 -6 5 -1 -1 -1 -1
56 -5 6 70 73 3 0
57 -6 6 71 72 3 0
15 -7 6 -1 -1 -1 -1
16 -6 7 -1 -1 -1 -1
71 -5 7 -1 -1 -1 -1
68 -4 6 -1 -1 -1 -1
9 -3 6 -1 -1 -1 -1
3 -1 2 77 85 1 0
59 0 2 78 84 1 2
60 1 2 79 81 1 0
61 2 2 80 81 1 0
62 3 2 -1 -1 -1 -1
63 2 3 82 83 1 0
71 3 3 -1 -1 -1 -1
68 2 4 -1 -1 -1 -1
68 0 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
4 -1 3 86 91 0 1
64 -1 4 87 88 1 0
65 0 4 -1 -1 -1 -1
66 -1 5 89 90 1 0
71 0 5 -1 -1 -1 -1
67 -1 6 -1 -1 -1 -1
68 0 3 -1 -1 -1 -1
26 -6 0 93 29 0 3
27 -6 1 -1 -1 -1 -1
3
0 5 8 2 1 1 -3
0 62 65 0 3 -2 5
0 78 81 0 1 1 3
