major suit openings

Looking for information about Gazzilli, Gazilli, Gazzili or “The Italian 2C Rebid?”  You’re in the right place.

The highlights:  After 1M-1X, opener’s 2C might be artificial.  Then again, it might not.  We use 1M-1X; 2C to show either the standard 4M/4C minimum hand (11-15 high cards, a hand not suitable to play in 1NT) OR any strong hand with 5+M, 16+ high cards.  Alfredo Versace starts bidding his “good Gazzilli” hands at 15 high card points; I don’t play my cards as well as he does, so I start at 16+.  I’ve seen a few players (who play better than I do) start at 17+.  You can decide for yourself by determining the answer to this question:  opposite what MINIMUM point count in opener’s hand do you want to be forced to game opposite what MINIMUM values in responder’s hand?  Judi and I decided that we want to be in every game with 16+ in opener’s hand and 8+ with responder. Your milage may vary.

I can’t imagine how one would just slip Gazzilli into a standard 2/1 major suit structure, if you do and it works for you that’s terrific.  Below you’ll find our complete major suit notes so you can see the treatment in its entire context.  There are many implications:  1NT not forcing, invitational jump shifts, limit raises…

We open 5 card majors, though we could have only 4 in 3rd position and/or at favorable.  With exactly 15 (sometimes good 14) hcp balanced and 5M we open 1NT. Second-seat openers can be lighter than first seat openers.  We tend to fall back on the Rule of 20 when determining whether to open light.  In general, we open balanced 11 and 12 counts when they include three or more controls.  2/1 is 100% game forcing.  Jumps in game forcing auctions usually show less than going slow. When cue-bidding, we show first and/or second-round controls, including shortness.

1M-1NT

1NT is never forcing over 1M.  With 3-card support we raise directly with 2M or 3m.  After 1M-1NT,

2C = natural or artificial, forcing through 2M.  See Gazzilli.
2D = minimum 11-15 with 5M and 4+ diamonds.
2M = 11-13, 6+ cards in suit bid, not invitational.
2NT = 5-4-4-0, 16+.  See Other Relevant Calls after 1M-1X.
3x = distributional non-minimum (14-15).
3M = 14-15, 6+M with a feature, invitational.

raising partner’s major

they X 1M

1M (x) –> 2C = constructive raise with 3 or 4 trump; 2M = weaker.

game tries

In general we invite aggressively and accept conservatively at matchpoints.  At IMPS, we invite somewhat conservatively and accept aggressively.  Our game tries are usually natural and help-seeking.  We look for help in short suits, broken suits, etc.  We accept with all maximums, refuse with dead minimums and decide close hands by the number of trump (generally accepting game tries with 4 trump).  We tend to use game tries to set up cuebidding and ace-asking sequences with very strong hands.

splinters

Double jumps are always splinters.  We show either 10-13 hcp or 16+ and always guarantee 4 trump.  In general, we do not splinter into stiff Ace or King.  After splinter and sign-off in our major game, 4S/4NT are RKC and show a void in the suit into which we splintered.

jacoby 2NT

After 1M-2NT, bids by opener at the 3-level show shortness and say nothing about hand strength.  3M shows all non-minimums with 14+, at least two keycards. 3NT shows the Gazzilli strong hand (16+).  4M shows a minimum opener with no slam interest.  Other bids at the 4-level show 5-card suits with 2 of the top 3 or 3 of the top 5 honors.  4S/4NT are RKC, 5x = exclusion.With 5-card suits not good enough to bid, we show shortness.  If opponents overcall after 2NT, x by opener shows shortness in the suit they bid.

gazzilli

In auctions proceeding 1M-1X (1H-1S; 1H-1N; 1S-1N), opener’s 2C rebid is either natural, showing 5+M and 4+ clubs with a minimum (11-15) or any strong hand, 16+.  There is a strong inference that opener is distributional and/or unsuited to NT when she goes through 2C to show the minimum opener, since with all minimum notrumpish hands we pass 1NT.  After opener’s 2C rebid, responder shows 8+ hcp with 2D; all other calls by responder show weak hands (less than 8 hcp).  When responder bids 2D and opener holds the strong hand, our partnership is forced to game.

Bids below game are exploratory and designed to get us to the right contract, so we generally show shape over range when forced to choose a single message.  We bid again over Partner’s signoff when we hold two controls (an Ace or two Kings) or more  than the minimum requirements for the bid (20+ in opener’s hand or 12+ in responder’s hand).

1H-1NT-2C (either weak or strong) –>

In general we ignore 3-card spades in opener’s strong hand when the auction begins 1H-1NT, since responder does not have four spades and NT has already been bid. Instead of showing spade stopper or specific length, we use 2S (1H-1NT; 2C-2D; 2S-) to show the strong hand with six bad hearts.

2D = artificial, any 8+.  Then bids by opener –>

2H = minimum with hearts and clubs (2C was natural).  Then, bids by responder –>

2S = good club raise with spade values (concern about NT game)
2NT = invitational
3C = preference
3D = to play
3H = invitational
3NT = to play
4C = keycard for Clubs

2S = strong hand (16+) with 6 BAD hearts (KJxxxx or worse)
2NT = 35(32) NT, 16-17
3m = 5+ hearts, 4+ minor, 16+
3H = strong hand (16+) with 6 GOOD hearts (KJTxxx or better)
3S = 5+ hearts, 4+ spades, 3-1 or 2-2 minors, 16+
3NT = 3532 NT, 18-20

2H = 4-7 hcp, exactly 2 hearts
2S = 4-7 hcp, both minors 5-5, stiff heart.  Then, bids by opener –>

3C = nonforcing preference
3D = 16+, hearts and diamonds, forcing
3H = 6 good hearts, to play
3NT = to play
4C = Keycard for clubs
4D = Keycard for diamonds
4H = to play
4S = Keycard for hearts
4NT = pick a minor

2NT = 4-7 hcp, no 4 spades, no 2 hearts
3m = 4-7 hcp, 6+ cards in suit bid

Other relevant calls after 1H-1NT

2C = Gazzilli
2D = 5+ hearts, 4+ diamonds, 11-15
2H = 6+ hearts, 11-13
2NT = 5-4-4-0 shape, 16+.

3C asks for the void –>

3D = club void
3H = diamond void
3S = spade void

3H = 6+ hearts, 14+/-
3NT = 7 solid hearts, outside Ace (choice of games)

1H – 1S; 2C (either weak or strong), then –>

Our treatment is slightly different in auctions beginning 1H-1S.  Since the 1S bidder is unlimited and could very easily have five or more cards in the suit, our first obligation after 2C-2D is to show 3 or more spades.  Responder’s jump to 3H over 2C shows 3+ card limit-raise style support with 5 good spades.  Similarly, jumps to 3S over 2C are forcing to game and slammish opposite any strong opener.

After 1H-1S; 2C-2D; 2H (showing the weak hand with hearts and clubs), responder’s only game force is 3D.   The only thing 3D would not be is slammish with spades, since we bid 3S over 2C to show a hand that will bid a slam opposite partner’s strong hand.

2D = any 8+. Then, bids by opener –>

2H = 5+ hearts, 4+ clubs, 11-15 (2C was natural).  Then, bids by responder  –>

2S = to play
2NT = invitational
3C = preference
3D = artificial, game forcing
3H = invitational with honor-doubleton trump
3S = invitational
3NT = to play
4C = Keycard for clubs
4D = shortness, club support
4H = to play
4S = Keycard for Hearts

2S = 3+ spades, 16+ high cards.  Then, 2NT asks for further description –>

3C = 3-5-1-4, 16+
3D = 3-5-4-1, 16+
3H = 3 spades, 6+ hearts, 16+
3S = 3-5-(3-2), 16-17
3NT = 3-5-(3-2), 18+

2NT = 2-5-3-3, 16-17
3m = 5+ hearts, 4+ minor, no 3 spades, 16+
3H = 6+ hearts, no 3 spades, 16+
3S = 4+ spades, 5+ hearts, minors, 16+
3NT = 2-5-3-3, 18+

2H = 4-7 hcp, doubleton heart.  May have 5 bad spades.
2S = 4-7 hcp, 5 good spades, probably no 2 hearts
2NT = 4-7 hcp, 4 spades, no 2 hearts, no 6 card minor
3m = 4-7 hcp, 6+ cards in minor

Other relevant calls after 1H-1S

2C = Gazzilli
2D = 11-15, 5+ hearts, 4+ diamonds
2H = natural
2S = 11-15, 3 or 4 card spade support.  (After, 2NT asks size and shape)
2NT = 5-4-4-0, 16+.  (After, 3C asks for the void as above)
3x = invitational
3NT = 7 solid hearts, outside control, choice of games

1S – 1NT; 2C –>

2D = any 8+, nothing about diamonds.  Then, bids by opener –>

2H = 5+ spades, 3+ hearts, 16+
2S = 5+ spades, 4+ clubs (2C was natural)
2NT = 5-2-3-3, 16-17
3m = 5+ spades, 4+ in minor bid, 16+, no 3 hearts
3H = 5+ spades, 4+ hearts, 16+
3S = 6+ spades, 3 hearts 16+

2H = 4-7 hcp, 5+ hearts, may have 2 spades
2S = 4-7 hcp, exactly 2 spades
2NT = 4-7 hcp, no 2 spades, no 5 hearts
3m = 4-7 hcp, 6+ card suits

Other relevant calls after 1S – 1NT

2D/H = natural, 11-15 5+ spades, 4+ other
2NT = 5-4-4-0 pattern, 16+.  After, 3C asks for the void –>

3D = club void
3H = diamond void
3S = heart void

3x = invitational
3NT = 7 solid spades, outside control, choice of games

Gazzilli in competition

Gazzilli is off in competition directly over 1M.  If opponents come into a potential Gazzilli auction before opener can bid 2C [1M (p) 1NT (x) ], opener’s double or redouble shows the good hand (16+).  Responder’s bids are systemic if possible.

1M – (p) – 1X – (*) –>

1M – (p) – 1X – (p);
2C – (*) –>

1M opener’s jump shifts

In 1M-1X auctions, opener’s jump shift is invitational (14-15 offensive values), guaranteeing 5+ 5+ in the suits bid.  With very good 15 or better, we go through 2C.  With bad suits or weakish hands our rebids are as standard (or 2C followed by 2M showing a minimum).

1H-1S-3C –>

1H – 1S – 3D –>

1H – 1NT – 3C –>

1S – 1NT – 3C –>

1S – 1NT – 3D –>

drury — 2 way reverse

When deciding to Drury or simply raise, we evaluate based largely upon high cards.  With 3 trump we Drury with 10+ playing points, with 4 trump we Drury with 9+ high cards.  Drury is on in 3rd and 4th seats, off in any competition except when we open 1H and opponents overcall 1S.  In that case, 2C is reverse Drury, either 3 or 4 card support and 2D is natural.  Drury is off over any double by opponents.

Returning to the trump suit shows a hand that wasn’t going to accept a limit raise.  Bidding any other suit shows interest in game and values in that suit.  2NT asks for shortness and is a slam try.  Suit bids higher than 2NT are natural and slamish.  2NT by a passed hand is both minors, 5-5.