2009 Article on the Richmond Relay - Bridge Bulletin, July, August 2009

The Richmond Relay
by Becky Bray and Margaret Matheson

BRIDGE BULLETIN, July and August, 2009

In most systems that use the so- called "convenient minor" as an opening bid in the absence of a five-card major, it is often difficult to find a major-suit fit when responder holds five and opener three in the suit. When responder has a relatively strong hand, new-minor forcing and fourth-suit forcing can show five, but when responder has a weaker hand, it is difficult to find a 5-3 fit. For example, after a 1

opening, responder would bid 1

with as little as:

	Q T 7 6 5
	3
	7 4
	K 8 6 4 3

If opener bids 1NT, responder must pass. The contract might make, but if opener has three spades, 2

is a much more promising contract.

When responder holds the same hand and opener holds 18-19 high-card points, the bidding would go


West	North	East	South
1	P	1	P
2NT	P	P	P

Without a known eight-card fit in spades, game is unlikely and responder must pass. However, if the partnership has a fit in spades and could find it, game is likely.

To simplify finding a 5-3 fit at a low level, we created the Richmond Relay, based on the Montreal Relay system developed by Eric Kokish.

The relay begins
Opener starts with 1

he does not have five cards or more in the majors or in diamonds. This bid is not forcing. Responder must Announce, "Could be as short as one." With 4-4-4-1 shape, opener must begin with 1

denying five of a major or five diamonds. Responder will bid a major with five or 1

with one or both four-card majors -- or six or more diamonds. If responder bids 1

, opener Alerts because responder is denying a five-card major. If responder bids one of a major, opener Alerts because it promises at least five in the suit.

Without the majors or a diamond suit, responder will bid some level of notrump. Responder can also bid 2

with six or more clubs and no four-card major. This could be a weak or strong bid depending on whether your partnership plays inverted minor raises. The point count for each bid is similar to that in standard bidding.

Responder has diamonds
With a true diamond suit, the response depends on hand strength. With a six-card suit and fewer than 6 HCP, jump to 2

if you play weak jump shifts. With a six-card suit and more than 6 HCP, bid 1

. Opener will bid a major or notrump. Responder rebids 2

with 6-9 HCP and a reluctance to play in notrump. With a good 10 or more HCP, responder jumps to 3

, invitational.

Opener's rebid after partner responds one of a major will reflect his knowledge that responder has five. When responder bids 1

, opener bids his four-card majors up the line or bids notrump to deny a four-card major. Opener can show extra values— e.g., 15-16 HCP by a jump to the two level of a four-card major. Other options are to rebid 2

to show a six-card (or very strong five-card) club suit or 2

to show reversing values (15-16 or more HCP") and a hand with a minimum of five clubs and four diamonds.

Opener may splinter in response to 1

by jumping to the three level to show a singleton or void and a strong hand, i.e., 19 or more HCP. Responder would then bid his four-card major in search of the eight-card fit.

Benefits
The Richmond Relay replaces the convenient minor with a system that is simpler and more descriptive when responder has a major. It can easily be adapted to Standard American and 2/1 systems.

The Richmond Relay - Part 2
Last month we introduced a bidding system we call the Richmond Relay, based on the Montreal Relay system developed by Eric Kokish. The system is designed to simplify finding a major-suit fit when opener holds three cards in the suit and responder holds five. Last month we developed the relay that occurs after a 1

opener. This month we cover the bidding after a 1

opener, how to use the RR in competition and give some examples.

1 opening
An opening bid of 1

promises at least five diamonds. Responder bids as in standard: four-card majors up the line, spades first when holding two five-card majors. New-minor forcing is employed when opener rebids INT and responder has five of the major and invitational values. Responder also may choose to support diamonds with appropriate hands. Inverted minor raises -- a single raise invitational -- are in effect and can be used with three-card support because opener is known to have at least five. Handling interference
When the opening bid is 1

and the next player doubles for takeout, responder ignores the double and bids 1

with a four card major, 1

or 1

with five in the suit and notrump to deny majors.

If opener's left-hand opponent over-calls 1

, double by responder shows one or both four-card majors or a real diamond suit. If the overcall is a major, the negative double is used, so over a 1

overcall, double shows four spades. A bid of 1

shows at least five. After a 1

overcall, double shows four hearts or possibly five without the values to bid 2

. Otherwise, responding in notrump shows a stopper and no four or five card major.

In the sequence


West	North	East	South
1	P	1	1

double by opener shows three-card support, a direct raise shows four-card support.

How it works
Here are a couple of examples of how the Richmond Relay works:

1. Opener holds:

	A 7 6 3
	Q 8 4
	9 2
	A K 7 6

Responder's hand:

	9 5 4
	A K 7 6 2
	7 6 5
	J 3

In standard bidding, opener starts with 1

and rebids 1

over partner's 1

response. Responder should not rebid a five-card heart suit, so he will bid INT. Using the Richmond Relay, opener starts with 1

and has an easy raise to 2

, knowing partner's bid of 1

shows at least five.

2. Opener holds:

	A 7 6
	K 5
	A K 9 8
	A J T 5

Responder's hand:

	K T 9 5 3
	8 7 6
	6 5
	Q 7 2

In standard, opener starts with 1

, rebidding 2NT over the 1

response. With the Richmond Relay, the bidding would be 1

- Pass - 1

- Pass - 4

- All Pass. 4

is a safer and superior contract.

The authors live in Glen Allen VA, in the Richmond area. Bray is a commercial real estate analyst. Matheson is an artist. They had been playing together for five years when this article was written in 2009.