Jordan's Tweaks to SMP

We like the SMP book, Standard Modern Precision a lot. But there are a couple of places we like to change it, and a couple it leaves unspecified.

1♣ Openers

We generally approve of the advanced version which has

1♥ - 8-11 HCP, 4- spades
1♠ - 8+ HCP, 5+ spades
1NT - 12+ HCP, 5+ hearts
2♥ - 14+ HCP, balanced
2NT - 12-13 HCP, balanced

Over 2NT we play our 2NT systems on (regardless that contracts will be "wrong-sided"). We add two gadgets after the 2♥ response:

2♠ALERT - exact HCP ask. 2NT=14, 3♣=15, etc.
2NT - Opener shows 17-19 balanced and transfers captaincy to the Responder
3♣+ - as per normal 2NT system

1♦ Openers

We prefer to use weak jump shifts. Specifically Responses to 1♦ are:

2♣, 2♦ - 5+ suit, natural, F1, (not GF). If GF may have a 4 card major. Opener's Rebids:
- 2♦ - 6+ suit
- 2♥, 2♠ - natural 4 card suit
- 2NT - balanced 11-13
- 3m - 3+ card raise, minimum, NF
- 3omALERT - 3+ card raise, maximum, GF
(2♥, 2♠, 3♣, 3♦)ALERT - weak jump shifts

1♦-1♥-1♠ - 4 spades, could be balanced.

We play XYZ. So, in particular, after 1x-1y-1z:

2♣ALERT - puppet to 2♦. If Responder bids again, that is natural and invitational
2♦ALERT - artificial game force
2M - natural and less than invitational (except 1♦-1♥-1NT-2♠)
2NT - puppet to 3♣
3w - 55 slam try
3y - 6+ slam try

Opponents Double 1♦

We play transfers, so in particular:

XXALERT - transfer to hearts
1♥ALERT - transfer to spades
1♠ALERT - transfer to NT
1NTALERT - transfer to clubs
2♣ALERT - transfer to diamonds
2♦ALERT - both majors
2♥+ - weak

After a transfer to 1M, Opener should bid as though Responder had bid 1M, except that bidding 1M directly shows 3 card support. After a higher level transfer, Opener typically accepts the transfer except with shape.

1M Openers

1M-3M - weak

1♥-2♠ and 1♠-2NT are Limit Raise or better with support of M, after which:

2NTALERT - minimum with ♠ shortness
3mALERT - minimum with m shortness
3M - balanced minimum
3(M+1)ALERT - any maximum

We use 3(M+1) as the maximum because we want to give Responder space to cue bid if Responder has slam interest, but we don't want to immediately start revealing information in case Responder is only game invitational.

Remember, with a GF raise of M and no particular slam interest, you just bid 4M directly.

2♣ Openers

After 2♣-2♦-2♥-2♠ asking for details of the alleged 4 card major, we add an extra two responses:

2NTALERT - min with hearts
3♣ALERT - min with spades
3♦ALERT - max with hearts
3♥ALERT - max with spades
3♠ALERT - max with hearts and a void
3NTALERT - max with spades and a void

2♦ Openers and other Three Suiters

Or more specifically, any time we have shown a 3 suited hand (for example, after 1♣-2♠), instead of the dangerous 4♣-4♦-4x scheme (I always forget the jump to 4♥ is not to play), we use something simpler:

4♣ - puppet to 4♦, then
- 4♥ - RKC for middle suit
- 4♠ - RKC for highest suit
4♦ - RKC for lowest suit

Third and Fourth Seat Openers

Rather than learn a whole new bidding system, we just adapt our system slightly to take advantage of the fact that we have lots of game finding gadgetry. Specifically, all Opener ranges go up by 1 point, all Responder ranges go down by 1 point. So 1♦ is 11-16, 1NT is 15-17, 1♣ is 17+ (18+ if balanced), and so on.