13 / OTHER CONVENTIONAL BIDS [07.08.2007] COMMENT: OMEGA is a guide to general opening bids and responses. We have a variety of other bids or conventional calls, which help "round out" the bidding strategy. NEW minor FORCING 1-ROUND = Described in 1C and 1D 4th SUIT GAME FORCING = Described in 1C, 1D, and 1M EXCEPTION 1C - 1D - 1H - 1S = NATURAL; Less than 12 HC; NOT Forcing 1C - 1D - 1H - 2S = Game Forcing; MAY be Artificial 2-LEVEL WEAK JUMP SHIFT Requirements 0-5 HC 6-Card Suit SUIT [NOT Better than KQ-or-AJ 2M Jump Shift = All Seats; PH -or- UPH 2D = PH -or- Over TO-X of 1C 2NT Rebid Sequences (2NT Forcing; Inquires Suit Quality) 3C Rebid = WEAK Suit; Less than 2 HONORS 3D = AJxxxx -or- KQxxxx 3H = KJxxxx -or- QJxxxx After 3C Response to 2NT 3D Rebid = STRONG Invitation 3Same MAJOR Rebid = MILD Invitation 3Other MAJOR Rebid = Inquires Splinter 3NT Rebid = FINAL Immediate Raise = Invitational; USUALLY NO Trump HONORS "OMEGA DEFENSE" Vs FORCING BIG 1C -or- STRONG 2C Vs Forcing 1C -or- 2C: As defenders, we usually do not enter the auction when opponents have the preponderance of HC's. HOWEVER, with appropriate suit length[s] and relative vulnerability, OMEGA offers safe intervention over opponent's Strong Opening Bids. The sequences are similar to "OMEGA Defense" Vs NT Opening Bids and natural NT Overcalls. X Requires D [ONLY D -or- BOTH MAJORS] D [H Transfer] H [S Transfer] S [S + D] NT requires C [ONLY C -or- "RED" -or- "ROUND" -or- "BLACK"] C Q-Bid [BOTH minors] Jump OverCall [Including C] = Sound, Very good suit COMMENT: OMEGA defense Vs Artificial [short] 1D and 2D [Flannery] are similar - varying only by the level of the bidding Vs "SHORT 1D" ("FORCING BIG 1C") X = 15-18 HC 1H = "Artificial" Take-Out 1NT = 1H OverCall Others = NATURAL Vs FLANNERY 2D X = 15-18 HC 2H = "Artificial" Take-Out, USUALLY minors NT = "Tricks" Others = NATURAL COMMENT: Defense Vs Opponent's Michaels QBid -or- Unusual NT Overcalls helps the partnership make better decisions. All X's of the Conventional bid will be penalty-oriented suggesting a "mis-fit". Other bids indicate offensive values and/or support. Vs MICHAELS and UNUSUAL NT P = NO AGREEMENT X = Penalty-Oriented; USUALLY Mis-Fit 3Opener's Suit = Competitive; NOT Invitational Vs UNT -and- minor Q-Bid [For MAJORS] = 2 Known Suits Lower Q-Bid = Support for Opener; Limit Raise -or- Better Higher Q-Bid = "4th Suit"; 5+ Cards; Invitational Values; TOLERANCE for Opener's Suit "4th Suit" = NATURAL; Forcing Vs MAJOR Q-Bid = ONLY 1 Known Suit ONLY Q-Bid = Limit Raise -or- Better for Opener's MAJOR -OR- FORCING "4th Suit" "4th Suit" = NATURAL; Competitive