% Here's the bidding sheet you were asking about.
% It's in Plain TeX format, I think.  Disclaimer:  I did not make up these
% conventions.  They are taken from from the book "Basic Bridge in Three
% Weeks" by Alan Truscott, bridge editor for the New York Times.  They are
% largely `Standard American', if there is such a thing, but some aspects
% may not be what you are used to, e.g. the requirement to have a 6-card
% suit for an unsupported rebid.
% 
% -- Miller
% 
\newdimen\unit \unit=10pt

\parskip=0pt
\parindent=1pc

\def\category#1\par{\bigbreak\leftline{\bf#1}\nobreak\smallskip}
\def\bid#1{\par\noindent\hbox to 4pc{\hfil#1\hfil\ }\ignorespaces}

\def\n{NT}
\def\s{$\spadesuit$}
\def\h{$\heartsuit$}
\def\d{$\diamondsuit$}
\def\c{$\clubsuit$}
\def\+{$^{+}$}
\def\-{$^{-}$}


\category Evaluating your hand

First count {\sl high card points\/}: ace${}=4$, king${}=3$,
queen${}=2$, and jack${}=1$.  When opening, or when a fit has been
found, add {\sl assets\/}: void${}=2$, singleton${}=1$, and each
5\+-card suit $=$ 1 point.  Assets double with a 9-card fit, triple
with a 10-card fit, etc.

A partnership usually needs 26\+ points for game in notrump or
a major suit, 29\+ points for game in a minor, 33\+ for a small
slam, and 37\+ for a grand slam.

Bid cautiously if short of aces and tens, or with high cards mainly in
short suits; bid aggressively with several aces and tens, or with high
cards mainly in long suits (or partner's suits).

With a bid on your right, strength in that suit becomes stronger,
and weakness becomes weaker.  With a bid on your left, strength in
that suit becomes weaker.


\bigskip\hrule
\category Opening bids

\bid{1\n} 16--18 points, balanced hand
\bid{2\n} 21--22 points, balanced hand
\bid{2\c} 23\+ points; forcing to game
\bid{1\h,1\s} 13\+ points, 5\+ cards in suit
\bid{1\d,1\c} 13\+ points, 3\+ cards in suit
\bid{2\d,2\h,2\s} 6--12 points, good 6-card suit
\bid{3 of suit} 6--12 points, good 7-card suit
\bid{Pass} 0--12 points, no good 6\+-card suit
\smallskip

Order of preference for suit bids:  bid a 5\+-card major or a 4\+ card
minor, the longer the better; with equal-length suits bid the higher
ranking; if necessary bid a 3-card minor, clubs preferred.

All opening suit bids above 2\c\ are weak.  The level is generally the
length of the suit minus four but varies a little with vulnerability and
strength of suit.


\category Overcalls and takeout doubles

This table assumes that the opening bid was 1\h.  Numbers preceding a
slash apply when not vulnerable; numbers following the slash apply when
vulnerable.

\smallskip
\bid{1\s} 10/13--16 points, 5\+ spades
\bid{2\c,2\d} 13--16 points, 5/6\+-card suit
\bid{2\s} 6/8--12 points, 6\+ spades
\bid{3\c,3\d} 6/8--12 points, 7\+-card suit
\bid{1\n} 16--18 points, balanced, \h\ stopper
\bid{Dbl} 13\+ points, 3\+ cards in \c,\d,\s; forcing
\bid{Dbl} 17\+ points, any distribution; forcing
\smallskip

{\sl Takeout doubles\/}:  A double of a low-level suit bid is for
takeout if your partner has not bid.  All other doubles are for
penalties.

When overcalling in a suit, strength of the suit is important:
tend to pass if your suit is weak.


\bigskip\hrule
\category Responses to 1\n\ (or 2\n)

\bid{Pass} 0--7 points, no 5\+-card suit
\bid{2\d,2\h,2\s} 0--7 points, 5\+-card suit; stopping
\bid{3\h,3\s} 10\+ points, 5-card suit; forcing
\bid{4\h,4\s} 10--14 points, 6\+-card suit; stopping
\bid{2\c} Stayman: 8\+ points and a 4\+-card major
\bid{2\n} 8--9 points, no 4\+-card major; invites 3\n
\bid{3\n} 10--14 points, no 4\+-card major; stopping
\bid{3\c,3\d} 15\+ points, 5\+ cards; suggests slam
\bid{4\c} slam interest; asks for aces
\bid{4\n} 15--16 points; invites 6\n
\smallskip

A bid of 3\h\ or 3\s\ requests opener to raise to game with
3\+-card support, and otherwise bid 3\n.

{\sl Stayman convention\/}: After a response of 2\c, opener
must bid a 4\+-card major if he has one, and otherwise bid 2\d.

Responses to 2\n\ are similar, but responder needs 4 fewer points.
(A response of 3\c\ is Stayman; 3\d\ is natural; 3\h\ and 3\s\ are
encouraging.)


\category Responses to 1 of a suit

This table assumes the opening bid was 1\h.  If overcalled, say by 1\s,
then 2\s\ promises 13\+ points and is forcing, and notrump bids require
a \s\ stopper.  After a takeout double, a redouble shows 10\+ high card
points; other bids deny 10\+ HCP.

\smallskip
\bid{Pass} 0--5 points
\bid{2\h} 6--9 points, 3\+-card support
\bid{3\h} 10--12 points, 4\+-card support; invites 4\h
\bid{4\h} 13\+ points, 4\+-card support, few HCP
\bid{1\s} 6\+ points, 4\+ spades; forcing
\bid{2\s} 17\+ points, 4\+ spades; suggests slam
\bid{1\n} 6--9 points (8--10 if overcalled), 0--2 hearts
\bid{2\n} 13--15 points, balanced, strength in \c,\d,\s
\bid{3\n} Like 2\n, but 16--18 points
\bid{2\c,2\d} 10\+ points, 4\+ cards in suit; forcing
\bid{3\c,3\d} 17\+ points, 4\+ cards; slam interest
\smallskip

Responses to 1 of another suit are similar, but 2\h\ over 1\s\
promises 5\+ cards as well as 10\+ points.  Raises of a minor suit
require 4\+-card support (usually 5) and deny a 4\+-card major.

When changing suits, bid your longest suit; bid the higher-ranking with
two 5-card suits; bid cheaply with 4-card suits.


\category Responses to an overcall

When the opponents open the bidding, almost any bid is natural and
non-forcing.  An exception is the {\sl cue-bid\/} in the enemy suit
which indicates enough strength for game and is therefore forcing.
Be aggressive if vulnerable, for partner is being cautious; likewise,
be cautious if not vulnerable.


\category Responses to a takeout double

This table assumes the bidding was 1\d--Dbl--Pass.  If your right-hand
opponent bids, you may pass with a weak hand.

\smallskip
\bid{1\h,1\s,2\c} 0--8 points, longest suit
\bid{2\h,2\s,3\c} 9--11 points, usually 5\+-card suit
\bid{4\h,4\s} 26\+ points combined, 6\+-card suit
\bid{1\n} 6--9 points, no 4\+-card major, \d\ stopper
\bid{2\n} Like 1\n, but 10--12 points
\bid{3\n} Like 1\n, but 13--16 points
\bid{2\d} 26\+ points combined; forcing
\bid{Pass} Long and strong \d


\category Responses to 2\c

\bid{2\h,2\s} good 5\+-card suit, 8\+ points
\bid{3\c,3\d} good 5\+-card suit, 8\+ points
\bid{2\n} balanced hand, 8\+ points
\bid{2\d} usually 0--7 points

\smallskip Any bid other than 2\d\ suggests slam; partners must
continue until they reach slam or can rule it out.


\category Responses to a weak opening bid

Think about what your opponents can make.  Tend to bid with 3\+-card
support; tend to pass with a singleton or void.  To bid a new suit, it
must be very long and strong; such bids are forcing.  A bid of 2\n\ is
artificial; it asks partner to rebid his suit with a minimum hand, or
bid something else with a maximum hand.


\bigskip\hrule
\category Rebids by opener

This table assumes the bidding was 1\d--Pass--1\s--Pass.  If partner's
bid was a minor, raises are not preferred.  If partner's bid was 1\n,
then 2\n\ shows 17--18 points and invites 3\n.

\smallskip
\bid{2\s} 16\- points, 4\+ spades (perhaps 3)
\bid{3\s} 17--19 points, 4\+-card support
\bid{4\s} 20\+ points, 4\+-card support
\bid{1\n} Minimum notrump: 15\- points, balanced
\bid{2\n} Jump in notrump: 19--20 points, balanced
\bid{2\c} 19\- points, 4\+ clubs
\bid{2\h} Reverse: 17\+ points, 4 hearts
\bid{3\c,3\h} Jump shift: 20\+ points, 4\+-card suit
\bid{2\d} 16\- points, 6\+ diamonds
\bid{3\d} 17--19 points, 6\+ diamonds
\smallskip

If partner cannot return to your first suit at the 2-level, you
promise 17\+ points (except after 1\d--2\c).  A jump in a new suit is
forcing to game, and is the only forcing rebid except for cue-bids.

{\sl Important rule\/}: Bidding your first suit twice, before your
partner has supported it, requires 6\+ cards.


\category Rebids by responder

This table assumes that the bidding was 1\c--1\h--1\s, with the
opponents silent.  Responses to other rebids by opener are similar;
opener has described his hand, and responder can either choose
the final contract, invite game (by bidding 2\n, 3\h, 3\s, 4\c, or
4\d), or head for slam.

\smallskip
\bid{Pass} 6--7 points, 3\+ spades
\bid{2\c} more clubs than spades
\bid{2\h} 6--9 points, 6\+ hearts
\bid{2\s} 6--9 points, 4\+ spades
\bid{1\n} 6--9 points, no fit, some \d\ strength
\bid{3\s} 10--12 points, 4\+ spades
\bid{3\h} 10--12 points, 6\+ hearts
\bid{3\c} 10--12 points, 4\+ clubs
\bid{2\n} 10--12 points, some \d\ strength
\bid{4\s} 13--16 points, exactly 4 spades
\bid{3\n} 13--16 points, some \d\ strength
\bid{4\h} 13--16 points, usually 7\+ hearts
\bid{2\d} 13\+ points, 4\+ diamonds; forcing
\smallskip

Rebidding your suit before partner has supported it
promises 6\+ cards.

Delayed support for partner's suit (as in 1\s--2\c--2\h--2\s, opponents
silent) usually shows exactly 3 cards.


\category Slam bidding

Bid a slam directly with a good fit and 33\+ points together, provided
that the opponents cannot take the first two tricks with high cards.

When a fit has been found, a bid in a new suit indicates control of
that suit, usually the ace.  Any suits skipped are weak.  Partner can
bid slam with control of those suits, bid another suit to show
control, or sign off by returning to the trump suit at the cheapest
level.

{\sl Blackwood convention\/}: Except in a notrump contract, a bid of
4\n\ asks for aces: a response of 5\c\ shows 0 or 4 aces, 5\d\ shows 1
ace, 5\h\ shows 2, and 5\s\ shows 3.  A subsequent bid of 5\n\ asks
for kings in the same way.  Do not bid Blackwood with a void, or when
the opponents might take the first two tricks in an unbid suit.

\bye