Churchill System

 

The main features are:

    1. A weak no trump opening.
    2. No strength showing forcing opening bid; hence responder virtually never passes an opening suit one bid.
    3. A weak no trump response with a wide variety of weak hands. One no trump would be the response to one heart with any of the following:
      1. S - Qxx; H - Kxx; D - xxx; C - xxxx
      2. S - Qxx; H - Kxxx; D - xxxx; C- xx
      3. S - Qxxxx; H - Kx; D - xxx; C - xxx
      4. S - Q10xxxx; H - xx; D - x C - 10xxx

On the last example, responder would bid spades at his next opportunity. The corollary is that all other responses, including a single raise in the opener's suit, imply a better-than-minimum response. After the "utility" one no trump response, the opening bidder makes every effort to find a rebid, although he is not forced to do so.

4) Balance of strength bidding.

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