What) It was Thursday morning at the regional in Moose Jaw and I got to talking with a man named Larry Whitlow.  He stuck out in the bridge crowd because of his age (less than 50), his beard (very long) but mostly because he is a very interesting guy to know.    We kind of hit it off and I ended up going up to Saskatoon shortly afterwards to have a game of bridge with him.  The game went well so we decided to go play bridge in Penticton for a week. 

    Why) There were other "reasons" that I decided to play bridge in Penticton but they are ones that are not appropriate for this web site.






























Larry and I made the cover of the Penticton newspaper shortly after we arrived.








Larry and I were playing a fairly complicated system.  If you have seen a bridge card before then you will notice that ours is quite crowded.  Of course, all of the things I had to remember did not fit onto a card so I made a list to increase the odds that I would not forget any of it.

 There is no reason that you have to read my list as much of it is in "Jason" code anyway.

- Bergen rule of 15 - If the sum of HCP + the number of spades is 15 or greater than open in 4th seat.
- Cue Bidding Controls - Show a first-round control (ace or void) first.  Then a second-round control (king or singleton).
- DIFS (Double is first step) - After 2H/S(J), 2NT(L), 3C/D(O) then x(J) = first Ogust response and P(J) = 2nd Ogust response
- Good/Bad 2NT If my right hand Opponent bids at the 2 level or doubles my 2 level bid then my 2NT relays to 3C. Except if: 2NT is unusual, either side opens 1NT, they open 1C strong, opps x for penalty, we have a fit or we are in a GF auction.
- Grand Slam Force - jump to 5NT over a major says bid 6H/S if you have 1 of top 3 or 7H/S with 2 of top 3
- Inverted Minors – 1D,2D (4 D's, no major, 12+ HCP) – 2H/S (shows stopper) or 2NT (both majors stopped)
           or 3H/S (splinter) or 3D (min hand)
- Impossible 2S - 1H(J), 1NT(L), 2C(J), 2S(L) = INV hand with clubs
- Last Train - If you have agreed hearts then a bid of 4D indicates previously unshown slam interest.
- Lebensohl after 1NT(J), 2?(O), * = takeout, 2suit = to play, 2NT = relay, 3suit = natural GF, 3their suit = denies stopper GF
- Lebensohl over 2's – 2H(O), *(L) (shows 16+), 2NT(J) (0-8 points L rebids 3C with min), or 3 of a suit = 8+ points
- Lebensohl over reverses - 1D(L), 1S(J), 2H(L), 2S(J) = weak to play or 2NT(J) = relay to 3C or 3C/D(J) = GF
- Maxi Roman - 2D(J) = 16+ with 4441 or 4540, 2H(L) = GF asks for shortness or 2S(L) = C transfer or 2NT(L) = D transfer or 3C(L) = H transfer or 3D(L) = S transfer.  After 2S(L), 2NT(J) = singleton club or 3C = min with support or 3NT = max with support or 3D = max with short clubs or 3H/S = splinter.  After 3C(L), 3D(J) = singleton H ...
- New Suit by unpassed hand - is always forcing unless 1D(J), 1S(L), 1NT(J), 2H(L) = weak because no NMF
- OBAR (opps bid and raise) - 1H(O), P, 2H(O), 2S(L) does not promise an opening hand and is a prebalancing bid.
- Ogust - 2D/H/S(J), 2NT(L), 3C(J) = - suit, - PTS or 3D(J) = - suit, + PTS or 3H(J) = + suit, - PTS or 3S(J) = + suit, + PTS
- Pointing Bid - 1NT(O), 2H(O) - 2S(J) = 4-4 or 5-5 in red suits. 1NT(O), 2D(O) - 2H(J) = 4-4 or 5-5 in black suits.
- Poison - 1C(strong)(O), X(L) = S+C's or 1D = H+D's or 1H = H+C's or 1S = S+D's or 1NT = C's or 2C = D's or 2D = H's
or 2H = H+S or 2S = S's or 2NT = C+D's or 3C = C's or 3D = D's if 1C(O), P(J), natural(O), natural (L)
- Poison - 2C(strong)(O), X(L) = D's or 2D = H's or 2H = H+S's or 2S = S's or 2NT = C+D's or 3C/3D = natural
- Queen Ask - After 5C/D response to 4NT one up asks for Queen,trump bid denies otherwise specific kings up the line.
- Ripstra over Gam. 3NT - 3NT(O), 4C(J) = both majors
- slow shows - 1NT(J), 2S(O), 2NT(L), 3C(J), 3NT(L) = spade stopper or 3S(L) = no spade stopper GF
- Specific Kings (5NT) - guarantees all KC's and Queen - bid kings from lowest up the line further bids ask for specific K
- Un v Un - 1H(L), 2NT(O), 3C(J) = limit raise in hearts, 3D = 5 spades GF,  1S(L), 2NT(O), 3D(J) = limit raise in spades
- UDCA - When partner leads low = like and high = dislike, when discarding low-high = even and high-low = odd,
                Despite this suit preference is unchanged and discards can be anything you want.
- Zar rule of 26 - If A=6, K=4, Q=2, J=1 add (points) + (length of 2 longest suits) + (length of long suit - length of short suit)
- 1C(O), *(J), 1S(O), *(L) = 4 good spades or 5 spades
- Over any 1C opener I always bid 1D if I have 4 diamonds, with 4 D and 5S I bid 1S.
- 1C(L), 1H(O), 1S(J), 2H(O), *(L) = support *, P(O), 2S(J) = not promising 5th spade, 3C(J) = bigger than min hand
- 1C(L), 1H(O), 1S(J), 2H(O), P(L) = 15-17 Balanced
- 1D(L), 1H(O), 1S(J), 2H(O), P(L) = NOT 15 -17 Balanced
- 1C/(L), 1H(O), P(J), 2H(O), 2NT(L) = NATURAL Good/Bad is off only because I am a passed hand
- 1C(L), 1S(O), 1NT(J) = 6-10 with spade stopper, 2C(J) = 6-10 and 2+ Clubs with no other bid
- 1C(L), P, 2C(J) = 0-7HCP, 5 clubs, with no 4 card major. If Larry bids 2NT = 18-19 bal if 2Suit = 18+ unbalanced
- 1C(L), P, 3C(J) = GF 12+HCP, 4+ clubs, with no 4 card major.
- 1C(L), P, 4C(J) = weak, - 1C(L), P, 4D(J) = 1430 keycards for clubs reverse these two for a 1D opener.
- 1C(O), P, 1H(O), 2C(J) = Michaels (showing 5-5 otherwise 1NT or *) while 2H(J) shows a natural heart suit.
- 1C/D(O), 3C/3D(J) = natural to play.
- 1D(L), 1S(J), 2NT(L), 3H(J) = weak or 3C(J), 3D(L), 3H(J) = 5 spades and 4 hearts strong
- 1D(L), 2C(O), 2S(J) = GF with 5 spades or 2NT(J) = relay to 3C.
- A 1D opening bid promises 5 diamonds or a hand that is 4441.  With two 4 card minors open 1C.
- 1H(L), *(O), ?(J) Bergen and everything else (but not 3NT) is still on over the double.
- 1H(L), 2H(J), 3C/3D(O), *(L) = big hand
- 1H(L), 1NT(J), 2C/2D(L) = min 4 card suit, 3H(J) = 10-11 HCP with 3 hearts
- 1H(L), 2H(J), 2NT(L), 3C/D/S = doubleton or singleton, 3H = min, 4H = max
- 1H(L), 2H(J), 3C/D(L) (5 card suit, asks for a control in that suit), 3H denies a control, 4H is either a control or a max hand.
- 1H(J), 1S(L), 2D(O), 3D(J) = a limit raise for spades.
- P,P,P,1H(J),P(O),1S(L) = promises 5 spades
- A new suit bid at the 2 level by responder is always forcing and is nearly GF.
- 1S(O), P(L), 2S(O), *(J), 2NT(L) = I don't have a 5 card suit please bid your best suit.
- 1S(O), P(L), 2S(O), 2NT(J) = 5-5 in the minors or 5 diamonds and 5 of the other major (super unusual)
- 1S(J), *(O), 2C/D/H(L) = 0-10 HCP with a 6 card suit
- 1S(J), 2H(O), 2S(L), 3H(O), ? = do not raise to 3S without an extra trump or extra values.
- P, P, 1H/S(L), P, 1NT(J) = forcing even though I am a passed hand.
- Any 3rd seat 1 level opening bid promises at least a 26 ZAR hand otherwise bid at the 2 or 3 level.
-  if the opponents make a cue bid of your suit then a double by you says lead something else while pass says lead my suit.
- 1NT(L), *(O)(penalty), 2C/D/H/S(J) = 5 card suit or P, **(L) = no 5 card suit,  2C/D/H/S(J) = lowest ranking 4 card suit
- 1NT(J), 2C(L), 2D(J), 2H(L) = weak with 4-4 in the majors or 2S(L) = weak with 5 spades and 4 hearts
- 1NT(J), 2C(L), 2D/H/S(J), 3C/D(L) = 5 in the minor, 4 in the major invitational.
- 1NT(J), 2C(L), 2H(J), 2S(L) = 4333 INV or 3S(L) = splinter or 4S(L) = 1430 for hearts (what else could it be?)
- 2/1 promises 12+.
- When opps are vul @3/4 level a takeout double tends to suggest penalty.
- 1NT(J), 2D(L), 2H(J), 2S(L) = 5H, 4S INV but forcing or 3C/3D(L) = 5H, 4m INV + but forcing for 1 round. (bid 3H w min)
- 1NT(J), 2D(L), 2S(J) = superaccept(SA) with xx in spades or 2NT = SA with 4333 or 3C/D = SA with xx in minor
- 1NT(J), 2H(L), 2S(J), 3C/D(L) = 5S, 4m INV + but forcing for 1 round. or 3H(L) = 5S, 4H INV + but forcing for 1 round.
- After a 1NT opener a transfer to a minor is either weak to play or Game Forcing plus.
- 1NT(J), 2S(L), 2NT/3C(J), 3D/H/S(L) = 5C's 4O's GF+, 3H/S/4D(J) = cuebid showing 4-4 fit or 3NT = denies fit or 4C = 3C's
- 1NT(J), 2NT(L), 3C/D(J), 4D(L), 4NT(J) = weak doubleton in diamonds or 4H = 1430 for diamonds
- After 1NT(J), 2C(L) ... then 4NT is almost always a quantitative bid but Larry may rethink this
- 1NT(J), 3C(L), 3D(J) = 4M, 3H/S(L) = 4 of other M or 3NT(L) = no major or 4H(L) = both majors or 4C/D(L) = 6m3M SI,
            4D/H(next step up)(J) = 1430 for minor or 4NT(J) = doubleton in minor with min hand.
- 1NT(J), 4C(L) = 5,5 minors GF+, 4D(J) = D slam interest, 4H/S/NT(J) = Ace H/S/D + C slam interest, 5C/D = to play
- 1NT(J), 4NT(L), 5suit (J) = 5 card suit slam forcing or 5NT = please bid your 4 card suits up line slam forcing.
- After a 1NT opener any splinters by responder are slam invitational.
- 2C(J), 2D(L), 2S(J) = not forcing, 2NT(J) = 20-22, 3S(J) = solid suit GF, 3NT(J) = 23-24 then 4C(L) = stayman
- 2C(J), 2D(L), 2NT(J), 3NT(L) = diamond transfer - to get to 3NT you must bid 3C puppet first, 4C = minors, 4D = majors
- 2D/H/S(J), 4C(L) = Keycards for bid suit where 4D=0, 4H=1, 4S=1+Queen, 4NT=2, 5C=2+Q
- 2H/S or 3D/H/S(J), *(O), 2NT/3NT(L) = real raise in my suit (applies when my preempt could be light) only over */overcall
- 2D/H/S(O), 3D/H/S(L) = 19+ HCP asking for a stopper, I bid any good suit, bid 4M to play or re-cuebid to head for slam.
- 2NT(J), 3H(L) = do you have 2 honors?, 3S(J) = yes, in clubs or 3NT(J) = yes, in diamonds or 4C(J) = no
- 2NT(J), 3S(L) = do you have good points?, 3NT(J) = yes I do or 4C(J) = no I do not.
- Splinters over openers always show 9-11 HCP, 4 card support and deny a 4 card major. Also 1D(J),P,3C(L) is a splinter.
- P,P,P,2NT(J) or 2C(J), 2D(L), 2NT(J)...4C(L) = gerber no matter how the auction has gone.
- In 1st /2nd opening at 4H/4S (or bidding over our 1 opener) shows 0-7 HCP in 3rd or 4th it can be a “normal” Jason bid.
- A reverse or a jump by opener show 16+ HCP.
- If our last bid suit is a minor then cuebid of opps asks for a stopper with INV hand.  If our last bid suit is a major then cuebid of opps is a game INV raise.  If they have bid two suits then a cuebid tends to show a stopper with a game INV hand.