BridgeHands

ACOL System - BY George Jesner
(provided courtesy of BridgeGuys)

Also see ACOL Bridge Books

The Acol Bidding System is not a Standard Bidding System as the Five Card American Standard Bidding System. This means that the Acol Bidding System is rather interpretable and allows a stronger latitude in flexibility according to the partnership agreement. We would like to present a General Structure of the Acol Bidding System in order that the bridge player, who would like to learn, has a general concept of the meanings behind the bids.

General Structure of the Acol Bidding System
 

Fourth Suit Forcing is generally forcing, except for the following auction:

    1C - 1D;
    1H - 1S;

Any possibly ambiguous bid by the opener or responder shows values or length in that suit. This is called fragmenting, rather than splintering, which means that the bid is indicating a stopper, rather than asking for a stopper. To fragment means to show a Stopper. To Splinter is to asking for a Stopper, and this is very important to remember.

Over 3 of a Major, when there is a known fit in the Major, 3 No Trump is a natural bid, if Three of a Major is Non-Forcing. But it is a Trump Cue if Three of a Major is forcing.

Over 3 of a Minor, Three No Trump is always at least a suggestion to play.

A simple raise of responder's 2-over-1 is Invitational, that is Non-Forcing. A Jump raise to 4 of a Minor is Generally Forcing and suggests slam interest. Hands worth "3-5" Minor raise must find another bid.

The auction 1S -  2H promises 5 cards in Hearts, but 2 of a Minor promises only a 4-card suit.

A new suit at the Four Level, after partner has shown strength, is a cuebid showing a hand too strong to raise partner's last bid suit directly.

The following bidding auctions should clarify this principle:

1C - 1S; 3H - 4D	Shows a strong Heart raise
1H - 1S; 3H - 4C/D	The rebid by responder is a cuebid, and Hearts is the agreed upon suit.
1H - 2C; 2D	Forcing bid for one round.
1H - 1S; 2D	Non Forcing bid
1H - 1S; 3H	Invitational
1H - 2C; 3H	Game Forcing
1S - 2H; 3H	Invitational
1C - 1H; 2D - 3C	Suit rebids by Responder are signoff, Non-Forcing.
1C - 1H; 2D - 2S	4-card Spade suit, Game Forcing
1C - 1H; 2D - 2N	Invitational
1C - 1H; 2D - 3D	Forcing one round.
1C - 1H; 2D - 3H	Opener has reversed, Game Forcing
1H - 1S; 2D - 3C; 3D - 3H 3N	3H is a Trump Cuebid, showing Slam interest
1H - 3H; 3D	Responder has the option to Pass or correct to 4H

ACOL SYSTEM
BY GEORGE JESNER

With the introduction of the Acol Bidding System, bridge players have been trying to modify it. The following is a short summary of a modification by Mr. George Jesner of England. There will be a certain terminology used, which will not be understood by every bridge player. We have attempted to include the clarifications as much as possible. The Acol System proposed and is credited to Mr. George Jesner. After reviewing the material contained on this page, the bridge player could have questions which we have not anticipated. If this is the case, please contact us.

As an introduction and explanation, this modification, which is quite involved, by Mr. George Jesner is a natural system featuring 4-card suit openings, a Weak Notrump with a range of 12 to 14 HCP, and Benjamin Two-Bids. Be aware that we have tried to include most of the material and that it is quite long.

OPENING BIDS

Bid	Meaning
1C	10-21 HCP. At least 4 clubs.
1D	10-21 HCP. At least 4 diamonds.
1H	10-21 HCP. At least 4 hearts.
1S	10-21 HCP. At least 4 spades.
1N	12-14 HCP. Any distribution of 5-3-3-2, 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2 (including weak 5-card Majors).
2C	8+ Quick Tricks in an unspecified suit, or 21-22 HCP, or 25-26 HCP with a balanced hand.
2D	Game Forcing hand, or 23-24 HCP, or 27-28 HCP with a balanced hand.
2H	4-9 HCP. A 6-card Heart suit.
2S	4-9 HCP. A 6-card Spade suit.
2N	19-20 HCP. Balanced hand.
3C, 3D, 3H, 3S	Standard preempts
3N	Broken preempt in either Minor.
4C	Transfer to 4 Hearts.
4D	Transfer to 4 Spades.
4H	Standard Four Level preempt.
4S	Standard Four Level preempt.
4N	Specific Ace asking bid.
5D, 5C	Standard preempt.
5H, 5S	Specific trump asking bid.  Raise to 6 with one top honor. Raise to 7 with two top honors.
6C, 6D, 6H, 6S	Specific trump asking bid. Raise to 7 with one top honor

One Level Opening Bids

Open the longest suit. If two suits of equal length (whether 4/4 or 5/5) open the higher ranking, which includes touching suits, except with clubs and spades where the opening should be 1 Club. With 4-4-4-1 distribution, open the suit below the singleton.

Therefore, in the bidding auction:

1D - 1H;
1S

The 1 Spade rebid by the opener shows a distribution of 5 Diamonds and 4 Spades.

There are occasions where a 4-card suit is opened in preference to a 5-card suit. For example, open 1 Spade in preference to 1 Heart when holding a good 4-card Spade suit and a very poor 5-card Heart suit, and less than 16 points. It avoids a rebid problem with a poor 5-card suit and insufficient values to reverse on the second round. The suit must be very poor, otherwise the auction is distorted.

Raises of One Level Opening Bids

Notrump Responses to One Level Opening Bids
 

Note that the chance of opener holding 4 Spades after opening 1 Heart are minimized.
 

Suit Responses to One Level Opening Bids

Jump Shifts show 15 HCP plus, and at least a 4-card suit, but the Jump Shift says nothing about the suit quality, and Jump Shifts are also Game Forcing. With a 4-card plus support for opener's suit, the Jump Shift may be a short suit, called a Stepping Stone. This means bidding the suit with the highest control. For example: with Axx and KQx, the correct bid is to bid the suit containing the Ace.
 

Balanced Hand Openings

Examples:

1 Notrump Opening Bid

1 Notrump shows 12-14 HCP and may contain a 5-card Minor or a weak 5-card Major.
This Guideline helps to avoid rebidding the weak Major suit.

Responses

For the purposes of the 3 Diamond Game Forcing inquiring bid, Kxx or Axx is good support and QJx is borderline.  The responses are:
 

The above 4 Club Major strength inquiry bid indicates Slam interest and the responses are:

Notes:

Strong Openings

The strong opening bids in George Jesner's System are 2 Clubs and 2 Diamonds.

A 2 Clubs bid shows 8+ Quick Tricks in an unspecified suit or 21-22 HCP or 25-26 HCP and a balanced hand, and a 2 Diamonds bid shows a Game Forcing hand or 23-24 HCP or 27-28 HCP and a balanced hand depending on the rebid of the opener. These openings also contain outside defensive playing tricks - at least 2.5 defensive tricks outside of opener's suit.

2 Clubs and 2 Diamonds opening bids are Asking Bids. They ask for certain honor combinations, namely Ace and a King of different suit, or Ace/King of the same suit, or King/King/King/King, or King/King/King/Queen, or King and Queen/King and Queen. Responder may give a positive response with these honor combinations or better. It must be noted that the combination: King/King/Queen/Queen is not sufficient for a positive response.

The negative responses over 2 Clubs and 2 Diamonds openings are 2 Diamonds and 2 Hearts respectively. Over opener's rebid, the cheapest bid in Notrump by the responder is a second negative.

2 Club Opening Bid: 2 Clubs shows 8+ Quick Tricks in an unspecified suit or 21-22 HCP or 25-26 HCP and a balanced hand.

Note that an Acol Two Opening, except for 2 Clubs or 2 Notrump, is described as 8-9 Quick Tricks, forcing for one round, and showing either 6-card plus suit or possibly a two suiter. It also contains outside defensive playing tricks - around 2 to 2.5 defensive tricks outside of opener's suit.

Responses to 2 Club Openings

Opener's Rebid Over 2 Diamond Response

Second Negative

Responder's Jump Suit Response After A Negative

Opener's Rebid After A Positive Response

Over Interference

2 Diamond Opening Bid

2 Diamonds shows a Game Forcing hand or 23-24 HCP or 27-28 HCP balanced hand.

Responses To 2 Diamond Openings

Opener's Rebid Over 2 Hearts Response

Second Negative

Responder's Jump Suit Response After A Negative Response

After a Negative Response, opener bids or Jump bids. These bids are Forcing and responder must bid again, even if it is a Second Negative bid.

Over Interference

Baron, Clubs or Gerber

Consistent agreement is needed whether the following similar sequences are Baron, Gerber, or merely show Clubs:

Gerber is probably unnecessary in these sequences because opener can bid a suit and later Blackwood.
 

2 Hearts, 2 Spades Opening Bids

Weak two bid. 4-9 HCP, 6-card suit (quality undescribed but less than AKxxxx).
Denies a void. 1 to 1.5 defensive tricks in any suit.

Preemptive Bids

Gerber

4C is Gerber after opening bids of:  1C, 1D, 1H, 1S, 1N, 2H, 2S, 2N

These are the only situations where Gerber applies.

After 1 Notrump and 2 Notrump opening bids and the response to Gerber, 4 Notrump is a signoff, and 5 Clubs asks for Kings. However after 1 Club, 1 Diamond, 1 Heart, 1 Spade, 2 Hearts and 2 Spades openings and the response to Gerber, 4 Notrump, if available, asks for Kings.

Asking for Kings guarantees that all the Aces are held, and responder may Jump to a Grand Slam with a source of tricks. It does not necessarily show Grand Slam interest. The partnership may still play in game.

4 Notrump Quantitative

4NT is quantitative in the following auctions:

1/2N -4N;
 

Benjamin Two followed by a Negative Response

The Benjamin Convention differs from the Weak Two Bid used in American 5-Card Standard, in that the 2 Diamonds bid is no longer used as a Weak Two Bid, but rather as an Artificial Strong Two Bid, as is the 2 Clubs bid when opening. In the following bidding auctions, the responder shows a Negative response:

2C - 2D;
2/3N - 4N

Benjamin Two followed by a Positive Response

2C - 2/3N;

4 Notrump Blackwood

4 Notrump is always Blackwood unless the auction defines the 4 Notrump bid as quantitative.

1/2N - 4C;
any    - 4N

4N is a signoff after Gerber

1H/S/2H/S - 4C;
any               - 4N

4NT is Gerber asking for Kings.

Responder only shows a void suit over Blackwood which he feels may be the key to a Slam or Grand Slam. Do not bid above the level of the trump suit, if one is agreed or probably agreed. A bid of Six of the Trump Suit shows a void in a higher-ranking suit.

After the response to Blackwood, 5 Notrump guarantees possession of all the Aces and asks for the number of Kings held. Therefore the Blackwood initiator has Grand Slam interest. The responses are:

In the unlikely event that the opponents intervene, a Double is for Penalty, a Pass is Neutral suggesting no interest in slam, and Step Responses imply slam interest. The first Step Response would be to show an Ace.

In the unlikely event that the opponents intervene in an extreme manner, a Double shows zero or two Aces or an even number, a Pass shows one or three Aces or an odd number. If all four Aces are held, then the bidding auction should proceed as in the DEPO convention.

Information about the Auctions:
4th Suit is not forcing.

Change of suit at the Three Level is Game Forcing.

1S - 2D;
2H - 3C            3C is Non-Forcing

Opener's Reverse Bids are an inferentially Forcing bids. They show about 16-19 HCP, or equivalent distribution. The responder may pass a Reverse Bid only if he should not have responded on the first round of bidding. However, if the opener reverses and responder bids again, then responder's rebid is Forcing for one round. The responder may rebid a strong suit, say KQJxxx with other values outside, to find out more about the hand.

Jump Reverses by opener are absolutely Game Forcing.

Responder's Reverse Bids are an inferentially a Forcing bid. Although this sequence is highly encouraging and will seldom be passed. Remember, 4th suit is not forcing:

1D - 1H;
2D - 2S

After a force to game, a Jump in one of opener's suits determines that suit and shows a double fit. For example, after this auction 3H would be preference and 4H would show good Hearts and good Diamonds, most likely a top honor in Diamonds.

1H - 1S;
3D

Over a force by the responder, opener must show distribution. For example, after this auction 3S shows a 4-card Spade suit and not necessarily any extra values.

1H - 3C;
3S

Similarly, over a force by opener, the responder must show distribution. After this auction the responder probably shows 3-2-3-5 distribution or even 3-1-3-6.

1H - 2C;
3D - 3NT

Auctions After An Opponent Doubles

After an opponent Doubles a One Level opening, a Pass says nothing about the holding, but promises at least doubleton support. A new suit shows a poor hand and void or singleton in opener's suit. A Jump in a new suit shows poor hand and a 6-card suit. A 1 Notrump bid shows 6-9 HCP, and is to play.

A single Raise shows 4-6 HCP but can be very weak. A Jump Raise is a Preemptive Raise and showing about 5-9 HCP. A Raise to Game is Preemptive with strong distribution. A 2 Notrump bid is a good raise showing 10-12 HCP and 4-card support. A Redouble shows about 10+ HCP and shows the balance of the points.

Defensive Bidding

Overcalls

Shows a 5-card plus suit and less than an opening hand, about 12 HCP. The emphasis is on good suit rather than point count. These overcalls are also Lead Directing. New suit responses are non-forcing.

Jumps and cuebids force overcaller to bid again.

Several bidding sequences:

1H - 1S;
2H - 3S;    Non-Forcing

1H - 1S;
1N - 3S;     Non-Forcing

(1C) - 1H - (P) - 1S;     Non-Forcing

(1C) - 1H - (P) - 2S;     Forcing

Takeout Doubles

Shows an opening hand, about 12+ HCP, or better.

With 9+ HCP, the responder jumps in his longest suit.

Responding 1 Notrump shows 6-9/10 HCP with a stopper in the opponent's suit.

(1C/D/H) - X - (XX) - P;     Denies 4 cards in the next higher suit.

(1C) - X - (1S) - X;             Shows Spades

(1H) - X - (2H) - 3C;           Non-Forcing

Redouble

(1H) -   X - (XX) - P;
(P)   - 1S - (X)    - P;
(P)   - XX                           "SOS" convention, Kock-Weiner showing Minors
 

Responsive Doubles

Responsive Doubles are used over opponent's raises to 3 Spades.  For example, the second double in the following auction is responsive.

(1S) - X - (3S) - X;
 

1 Notrump Overcall

Shows 15-17 HCP with a stopper in the opponent's suit/s in all positions.  This shows 15-17 HCP with a stopper in the opponent's suits.  Note the inference that partner could not even overcall.

(1D) - P - (1S) - 1N;

Single Jump Overcall

Intermediate to strong with 6-7 playing tricks but not forcing. It also shows 2 defensive tricks. 15 HCP plus. Good 6-card suit. Usually denies a full stopper in the opponent's suit. With a stopper in the opponent's suit, commence with a double. After this bidding sequence, the responder shows half a stopper.

 (1H) - 2S - (P) - 3H;

Jump overcalls are weak against artificial systems.  A study of the defense to Precision is recommended.
 

Cue-bid

Always equals Game Force.
 

Jump Cue-Bid

Requests partner to bid Notrump with a stopper in the opponent's suit.  A Jump Cuebid typically shows a solid suit. See Western cuebid.
 

2 Notrump Overcall over One of a Suit

This bid shows a 6/5 distribution or better in the unbid suits.  The Overcall may be weak or strong, Forcing One Round.
 

Defensive Bidding

Doubles are Penalty Doubles.
 

Over a Precision Club Opening

(1C) - X                     Majors

(1C) - 1N                   Minors

(1C) - 2C/D/H/S       Weak Jump Overcalls

 

Over 1NT

(1N) - X                    Shows 15 HCP plus, and may be a Penalty Double

(1N) - 2x                  Natural

(1N) - 3x                  Shows 6/7 playing tricks

Over Opponent's Transfer

Response to 1 Notrump Bid

(1N) - P - (2D) - X      Double shows values in suit (2D is a transfer to 2H)

(1N) - P - (2D) - 2H    2H shows a weak hand, 4 Spades and longer Minor suit

(1N) - P - (2D) - 2S     2S shows a long Spade suit as KQJTxxx
 

Over Weak Two Bids

(2x) - X                        Double is for Penalty
(2x) - 2N                      2N shows 15-18 HCP and good stoppers in opponent's suit
(2x) - 3C                  3C is for takeout
 

Over Weak Three Bids

(3x) - X                        Double is for Penalty
(3C/D/H) - 3D/H/S   3D/H/S is the Fishbein Takeout

Leads and Signals

Overlead all except Ace-King.

The lead of an Ace against Notrump Contract, except the Gambling 3 Notrump, requests partner to play his highest card.

Leads are the 4th highest in a suit containing an honor. Against suit contracts lead Middle-Up-Down or MUD from three small and 4th highest or top from four small.
Against Notrump contracts, lead the top of nothing from three small and 4th highest or top from four small.

Natural encouragement and count signals. High-low is encouraging or even number.

McKenny Suit Preference Signals are used where obvious. In various countries, the Suit Preference Signal is known by the names of bridge writers. The McKenny Suit Preference Signals is a standard term in Great Britain simply for the Suit Preference, and it named for Mr. William E. Mckenny of the ACBL, who helped popularize it.

DUM or Down-Up-Middle

When following suit with say 742, play the 2, which is a preference signal or discouraging, then the 7 and then the 4, showing an odd number. When following suit with say 72, after playing the queen from Q72 per force, play 7 followed by the 2, showing an even number.