BASIC PRINCIPLES
A) `Captain' means the player in charge of the bidding.
B) A player becomes `Captain' if he/she makes a strong opening 2-bid, or initiates Blackwood or Gerber.
C) The playerŐs partner becomes `Captain' if the player makes any preemptive bid or an opening bid of 1 No trump or 2 No trump.
D) If you are the partner of the `Captain' you may only bid if you are forced to do so and you are not permitted to make any jump bid.
EXAMPLES
1. Partner bids 2C (strong and artificial). You respond 2S and partner bids 4S. You must pass unless you have a very strong hand with 12 or more points. (If partner had wanted slam, there would have been other bids available.)
2. Partner bids 2C and you hold:
S AQT863 H KJ D986 C43. You bid 2S and partner bids 3H. You bid 3S and partner says 4H. At this point you have visions of a slam in hearts--BUT partner is the `Captain' so you are forbidden to take another bid. You must pass. Partner may be voi
d in spades which would make your hand worth much less.
3. You open 3D, your left hand opponent bids 3S. Partner holds: S 8 HQ742 D KJT4 C JT87 and preempts to 5D. Your right hand opponent bids 5S. You MUST pass for several reasons: a) Partner is the `Captain' and b) Partner may have jumped preemptive
ly with a poor hand to prevent the opponents from getting to slam. c) You do not want to incite them to bid 6S since you and your partner may have no good defense against it.
4. You open 1 or 2 NT which automatically makes your partner the `Captain'. You may now make only such bids as are required.
EXCEPT
a. If you open 1 NT and partner raises to 2 NT you may go to 3 NT with a maximum of 17-18 high card points, and
b. If partner responds 2H or 2S (or 2D or 2H if playing Jacoby Transfers) you may respond 3H or 3S (never 4) with a maximum opening and 4 trumps..
c. If you open 1 NT or 2 NT and partner responds with 4 NT (not Blackwood) you may raise to 6 NT with a maximum opening. (17-18 or 21-22).
5. You open 2H, your left hand opponent passes and your partner, the `Captain', bids 2 NT (forcing for one round). You hold: S 54 H QJT965 D K84 C A63. You can visualize a game in hearts and would like to jump to 4 but you may not do so. Bid 3C to show a feature. If partner now rebids 3H, you should pass. When partner bids 2 NT over your preemptive 2H opening he/she may have any of the following types of hands:
a) weak and is preempting to keep opponents out of game;
b) strong, wishing to explore slam possibilities;
c) long, solid minor suit with visions of playing 3 NT;
d) intermediate strength, wanting to hear your response to determine if a game is likely.