Polish Club


Polish Club is a bridge bidding system which was developed in Poland, where it is the most popular bidding system, and which is also used by players of other countries. It is a type of small club system.
In the Polish Club, a 1♣ opening bid is forcing for one round but does not necessarily show a strong hand; in most versions of this system it shows either a weak balanced hand, a natural 1♣ opening or any strong hand. Consequently, bids of 1♦, 1♥ and 1♠ are limited to about 18HCP, and also 1♦ shows at least four diamonds.
The 2♣ opening is usually reserved to show a limited hand with long clubs and possibly a four-card major, similar to the Precision 2♣ opening.
The following outline of the system is based on that given in System licytacyjny Wspólny Język 2005 - opis skrócony by Krzysztof Jassem. The latest version translated into English, is available :

1♣ opening

  1. 12–14 HCP, no 5-card major, no 4-card diamond suit. Five clubs are possible if the hand is balanced. Opener should not bid clubs on the next round – even in competition.
  2. 15–17 HCP, five clubs, unbalanced distribution. Opener bids clubs in the next round.
  3. 18+ HCP, any distribution.

    1♦ response

  4. negative: 0–8 HCP. In the 7–8 HCP range, Responder should not have a 4-card major.
  5. 9–11 unbalanced; either both minors, or one poor minor..
  6. 12–16 HCP balanced without a 4-card major. The hand is not suitable for declaring no trumps.

    1♥/1♠ responses

7+HCP, 4+ cards, can have longer minor if less than GF

1NT response

9–11 HCP, no 4-card major

2♣/2♦ responses

5+ cards, GF, can have 4-card major

2♥/2♠ responses

Strong jump shift

2NT response

12+ HCP, GF no 4-card major

3♣/3♦ response

Good 6-card suit, invitational

3♥/3♠ responses

7-card suit with 2 high honours, nothing outside

1♦ opening

4+ cards, 12–17 HCP possible canape: 4 diamonds; 5 clubs are possible if weak
  • 2♣ response – natural, promises 5 clubs, one-round force. Rebidding diamonds by Opener shows length and does not specify strength. The other 2-level bids show 4-card openings in the range of 12–14 HCP.
  • 2♦ response – inverted minor, 10+ HCP, 4 diamonds
  • 3♦ response – preemptive
  • NT responses: 1NT = 7–10 HCP, 2NT = 11–12 HCP; both deny a 4-card major.

    1♥/1♠ openings

5 cards, 12–17 HCP
  • 1NT Response – not forcing
Responder's 2NT is forcing after the suit is repeated.
1♥ 1♠/1NT
2♥ 2NT = forces to 3 of a major; opener shows shortage, and
1♠ 1NT
2♠ 2NT = forces to 3 of a major; opener shows shortage
Two-over-one response – forces to three of that suit.
  • 2♣ response is semi-natural.
Rebidding the suit by Opener shows a minimum and does not show length.
2NT rebid by Opener shows strength.
  • 2NT response – limit raise with support
  • Jump raise – preemptive
Two types of Splinter bids
1♥ - 3♠ = any shortage, 9–12 HCP
1♠ - 3NT = any shortage, 9–12 HCP
1♥ - 3NT = spade shortage, 12–16 HCP
1♥/1♠ - 4♣, 4♦, 4♥ = bid shortage, 12–16 HCP
Drury-fit by a passed hand
2 of the bid major is the weakest rebid.
Jump shift by a passed hand – invitational

1NT opening

15–17 HCP
  • Stayman 2♣
Opener's 2♥ does not deny four spades.
Responder's subsequent bidding is natural: forcing at
the 3-level, non-forcing at the 2-level. Also:
1NT - 2♣; 2♦ - 2♠ = invitational, 5 spades, 4 hearts, and
1NT - 2♣; 2♥/2♠ - 3♦/3♥ = transfer, agrees Opener's suit, GF
Transfer to hearts does not deny five spades.
Responder's new suit at the 3-level forces to game. Also:
1NT - 2♦; 2♥ - 2♠ forces to 3♥
  • 2♠ response – transfer for clubs. Opener may choose between a positive 2NT, and a negative 3♣. Responder may continue by showing shortage.
  • 2NT response – limit
  • 3♣ response – transfer to diamonds, weak or strong Opener is obliged to bid 3♦. Responder may continue by showing shortage.
  • 3♦ – natural, inviting
  • 3♥/3♠ – 5431 convention: GF, both minors: at least 5-4, shortage in the bid suit

    2♣ opening

Precision: 5 clubs and a 4−card major, or 6 clubs, 11–14 HCP
  • 2♦ response – relay, forcing to 3♣. Opener shows a 4-card suit or makes a choice between 2NT and 3♣ with long clubs.
  • 2♥/2♠ response – not forcing, good 5-card suit
  • 2NT response – weak support in clubs or GF two-suiter. Puppet to 3♣. Opener must bid 3♣. Responder either passes or shows his suits: 3♦ = diamonds and hearts, 3♥ = hearts and spades 3♠ = spades and diamonds.
  • 3♣ response – limit raise
  • 3♦/3♥/3♠ response – limit, good 6-card suit

    2♦ opening

Weak two in a major, 6+ cards, 6–11 HCP.
  • 2♥/2♠/3♥/3♠ response – pass or correct
  • 2NT – relay, forcing to 3 of the major
Opener bids:
3♣ = good opening, 3♦ relays and 3♥ shows spades. 3♠ shows hearts.
3♦ = hearts, minimum opening
3♥ = spades, minimum opening
  • 3♣ response – GF, any one-suited hand, puppet to 3♦.
  • 3♦ – game-invitational with support in both majors
Opener bids 4♣ with hearts and 4♦ with spades if the invitation is accepted.
  • 4♣ response – asks Opener to bids the suit below his major. Opener bid 4♦ with hearts and 4♥ with spades.
  • 4♦ response – asks Opener to bids his suit.
  • 4♥/4♠ response – to play

    2♥/2♠ openings

Polish two−suiters, 6–11 HCP.
  • Opening 2♥ = any 5-5 with hearts
  • * 2♠ response = pass or correct
  • * 2NT response – asks for another suit. With hearts and spades Opener bids 3♥. Other responses – natural
  • Opening 2♠ = 5 spades and 5 of a minor

    2NT opening

5-5 in minor, 6-11HCP.
  • 3♥ asks to bid a longer minor or a longer major if minors are equal.
  • 3♠ – natural, forcing

    3NT opening

Gambling
  • 4♦ asks for singleton.

    Conventions in an uncontested auction

Jump shift

Strong, semi−solid suit, slam interest

Fourth suit

Invites to game after an initial one-over-one response. Responder may pass in the subsequent bidding but Opener may not. Fourth suit forces to game after a two-over-one response.

Third suit

If Opener raises the third suit, that promises four cards in the suit and denies a stopper in the unbid suit. 3NT bid by Opener shows four cards in the third suit and promises a stopper in the unbid suit.

Forcing 2NT

Responder's 2NT is forcing after a two-over-one response.

Odwrotka

After a 1♣ opening and a response in a major, 2♦ is Odwrotka, that shows an 18+ hand, a fit, and asks responder to describe his hand. Jassem recommends replacing WJ2000's "Odwrotka" with the "Bubrotka" responses above.

2♣ – check back

Weak with clubs or game invitational, or game forcing Opener's rebids:
  • 2♦ = minimum opening, no 3-card support
  • 2 in Responder's suit = minimum opening, 3-card support
  • 2 in the other major = nice opening, 3-card support
  • 2NT = nice opening, no 3-card support
Responder's continuations: 3♣ signs off. 2 in the bid major is non-forcing. Other bids are game forcing.

En passant

In an uncontested auction, stoppers are shown. In competition, bidding the opponent's suit asks for a stopper. If opponents bid two suits, bidding the higher-level suit promises stopper in the lower-level suit.

Slam bidding

Roman Key Card Blackwood 1430

5♣ = 1 or 4,
5♦ = 0 or 3,
5♥ = 2 or 5 no trump queen,
5♠ = 2 and a trump queen, etc.

Exclusion Key Card Blackwood (1430 responses)

After trump agreement, an unusual jump shift at the 5-level asks for key cards, exclusive of the ace of the bid suit.

Hoyt

The cheapest bid after key cards are shown asks for kings. The next cheapest bid shows no kings, etc.

5NT

Kind of Josephine; asks for the number of high honours in trumps 6♣ = 0, 6♦ = 1, etc.

Cue bids

First− and second−round controls are treated as equals