This bidding system was devised and developed by Gretchen Ohstrom and Mr. William (Will) Aubrey. This bidding system was at one time presented online, but has since been removed.
Note: Any additional information as to these two bridge personalities, especially photographic material, would be greatly appreciated.
Note: The presentation below is accurately reflected from the original found online.
Offensive Bidding - Opening Bids
Bids after 1NT Opening
2 Clubs Opening Structure
| Responses: |
Description |
2  : |
Promises 0-6 points. |
2  : |
Promises 7-10 points. |
2  : |
Promises 11-14 points. |
| 2 NT: |
Promise 15 plus points. |
After responder has indicated points opener may ask for responder's longest suit by bidding the next suit. Example: If responder bids 2 indicating 7-10 points, the opener would bid 2 to ask for the longest suit of the responder. The responder may not name a 4-card suit. If the responder has no 5-card plus suit then he bids the lowest available No Trump. If responder has a good 6-card suit with generally 6 plus high card points in suit he bids at the four level.
2 Diamonds Opening Structure
| Bid: |
Description |
| 2 : |
Shows 0-6 points |
| 2 : |
Shows 7-10 points |
| 2 NT: |
Shows 11-14 points |
3  : |
Shows 15 plus points |
After the responder has indicated points, the opener may ask for the longest suit of the responder by bidding the next suit. Example: If responder bids 2 indicating 0-6 points, the opener would bid 2 to ask for the longest suit of the responder. The responder may not name a 4-card suit. If the responder has no 5-card plus suit, then the responder bids the lowest available No Trump. If the responder has a good 6-card suit with 6 plus high card points, the responder bids at the four level.
Counting Your Points
| Ace: |
4 points |
| King: |
3 points |
| Queen: |
2 points |
| Jack: |
1 points |
|
Subtract one point if the honor is not guarded. |
| Void: |
5 points |
| Singleton: |
3 points |
| Doubleton: |
1 point |
Add 1 point for each honor in a string in your trump suit. You must have the Ace. For example, if you have AKQ you would add 3 points. As responder, add one point for each trump you have over 3.
Raising your Partner
If you have 3 cards with an honor or 4 cards in the suit bid by partner, you raise. From a bid of 1 you raise to:
| Level: |
Points |
| Two: |
With 6-9 points |
| Three: |
With 10-12 points |
| Four: |
With 13-15 points |
| Five: |
With 16-18 points |
| Six: |
With 19-21 points |
| Seven: |
With 22 plus points |
Contracts and Points Required
| Contract: |
Points |
| 2 in a suit: |
17 points |
| 2 NT: |
21 points |
| 3 in a suit: |
21 points |
| 3 NT: |
26 points |
| 4 in a suit: |
26 points |
| 4 NT: |
31 points |
| 5 in a suit: |
31 points |
| 6 in a suit: |
32 points |
| 6 NT: |
35 points |
| 7 in a suit: |
35 points |
| 7 NT: |
37 points |
Game Forcing Raise
After a bid of 1 Diamond or 1 Heart accepting the transfer by bidding the next suit indicates support in that suit and points sufficient for a raise to game, between 13-15 points.
Negative Response
A bid of No Trump at the same level as a previous suit bid by the opener indicates at least 10 points but no support in the suit of the opener.
Jump Shifts
With 15-19 points and a 6-card suit, you jump shift even if you have support for the opener, if your suit is a Major and opener bid a Minor.
If opener bid a Major suit and you have a Minor suit, you jump shift with a singleton or void in the suit of the opener. If you have a doubleton it is a judgment call.
Examples of Jump Shifts:
| Opener |
|
Responder |
| 1 |
|
2 |
| or |
|
|
| 1 |
|
3 |
Opener may raise the shifter to 4 with two in the trump suit of the responder. With three you can raise to 5 if it seems prudent.
3NT should also be a consideration. Say you open 1 Heart and responder bids 3 Clubs. You have 1 Club in your hand but have Diamonds and Spades stopped in addition to Hearts. You bid 3 No Trump.
Any time there is a jump shift the potential for slam exists. If opener has 14 points, the upper limit for a 1 bid, then at his discretion he can bid 4 No Trump to initiate the Blackwood conventional method and start exploring slam.
Stayman Convention
When Opener Bids 1 No Trump
| 1. |
If responder has at least 4 cards in both Hearts and Spades with at least one honor, he bids 2 Clubs If you wish to play in Clubs, bid 2 No Trump. |
| 2. |
If opener has 4 Hearts and maybe 4 Spades, he bids 2 Hearts. |
| 3. |
If opener has 4 Spades but not 4 Hearts, he bids 2 Spades. |
| 4. |
If opener does not have 4 cards in Hearts or Spades, he bids 2 Diamonds. |
Minor Suit Stayman
When Opener Bids 1 No Trump
| 1. |
If responder has at least four cards in both Clubs and Diamonds then he bids 2 Spades. |
| 2. |
Opener then bids 3 Clubs or 3 Diamonds with a 4-card suit. |
| 3. |
If opener has no 4-card Minor, then he bids 2 No Trump. |
Blackwood Convention
Used for slam bidding. The partner bids 4 No Trump asking for Aces. 5 No Trump asks for Kings.
| Aces |
|
Kings |
| 5 : |
0-4 Aces |
|
6 : |
0-4 Kings |
| 5 : |
1 Ace |
|
6 : |
1 King |
| 5 : |
2 Aces |
|
6 : |
2 Kings |
| 5 : |
3 Aces |
|
6 : |
3 Kings |
Cue Bids
They occur once a suit has been chosen, and are also used after Jacoby Transfers, and show first round controls showing either an Ace or void.
If rebid, they show second-round controls. Either a King or singleton.
Defensive Bidding
Any double of 2 asks for points.
Defense to Preempt 3 Bids
Following a preempt bid on the three level by the opponents, you can bid 3 No Trump to show even distribution and 18 or more points. This is a demand bid that asks for partner to bid his suit.
Michaels Convention
With 5-4 distribution and at least 10 plus points, you rebid the opponent's opening suit as follows ...
| If they open with a Minor and you rebid it, that indicates both Major suits. |
| If they open a Major and you rebid it, that indicates the other Major suit and an unspecified Minor suit. |
| Slightly more points and at least 5-5 length is recommended, if vulnerable. |
Brozel Convention
After opponent bids 1 No Trump the player can show two-suited holding. These bids indicate at a minimum a 5-card suit and a 4-card suit and a minimum of 11 points.
| 2 : |
Shows Clubs and Hearts. |
|
Note: becomes 3 clubs if the partner responds at the two level. |
| 2 : |
Shows Diamonds and Hearts. |
| 2 : |
Shows Hearts and Spades. |
| 2 : |
Shows Spades and a Minor suit. |
| 2 NT: |
Shows both Minor suits. |
Single Suited Holdings
| Requires at least 11 points. |
| If you have a single suit, double the bid of the opponent. |
| Your partner asks for your suit by bidding 2 Clubs. |
Voids
| a.k.a. 3-suited holding with even distribution and 14 points minimum. |
| This bid is one-round forcing. |
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.