Bijan’s 1C Opening Summary:

You can choose to open all minor openings as 1C, but some open 1C with at least 2 Clubs (note may have 4 or more Diamonds). You can also incorporate strong 1NT opening in first or second seat in the 1C opening (allowing use of pre-emptive Mini NT in first or second seat).

After 1C opening, responder use transfer responses as follows:

•1D shows Hearts, opener bids 1H with 3 and 2H with 4 Hearts

•1H shows Spades, opener bids 1S with 3 and 2S with 4 Spades

•1S shows no 4 card major transfer to 1NT, usually 5-7 points

•1NT no 4 card major 8-10 points

•2NT no 4 card major 11-13 points (balance with points distributed)

•3NT no 4 card major 14+ points (balance with points distributed)

•3C/3D/3H/3S natural Very Strong

•2C transfer to 2H usually 6+ Hearts

•2D transfer to 2S usually 6+ Spades

•2H 4-6 shape in Hearts and Spades

•2S 4-6 shape in Spades and Hearts

•After 1C-1S-1NT sequence, responder has the following bid options:

o Pass with 5-7 points

o 2C weak Clubs to be passed

o 2D weak Diamonds to be passed

o 2NT both minors invitational

o 3NT both minors game force

o 3C or 3D natural 10+ invitational

 

​Responder with 8+ points bids twice.

Introduction

In Standard American System, we open 5 card major in order to find a 5-3 or better fit as early as possible and for stronger hand to become declarer. 38% of 1 level suit openings are major opening while the other 62% are minor opening. So minor suits happens a lot more than major opening while objective is still the same; to find a major fit as preference and if possible stronger hand to be declarer.

 

Those of us who open with 13 points, open 20% of the time while if we open with 11 points, we open 30% of the time which is 50% more!

 

In modern bridge it is crucial to get into bidding as quickly as possible. Time to open with 13+ points is long past.

 

In this convention we open all minor openings as 1C (some prefer to open with at least 2 Clubs) with 11+ points (note hand may have 4 or more Diamonds) with transfer responses as core of this system.

 

Strong 1NT openings happens around 5% of the time. We also incorporate strong 1NT opening in the 1C opening.  This will allow 1NT opening to be used for a pre-emptive Mini NT of 8-10 points (in first or second seats only) with Any Vulnerability and yes it is not for faint hearted.

 

So altogether we open around 75% of the time!!

 

You can start with 1C opening which can be used with any system and later when you mastered it, consider the Mini NT.