BROZEL RESCUE BIDS

Many partnership agreements include the agreement that the No Trump range is 11 to 14 high card points. The frequency of being doubled when using this No Trump range is higher than when the No Trump range requires more high card points.

Knowing the weak range of the No Trump bid, the opponents will generally enter the auction by means of a double. How does the responder of the No Trump bidder describe his holding. Even if the responder holds insufficient values to enter the bidding, but has a favorable suit distribution, then the Brozel Rescue Bids are a good alternative in exchanging information. The advantage to these different methods of defense is the fact that the meaning of the double by the opponent becomes relegated to being unimportant. Whatever the reason behind the double by the opponent, this reason is not necessary information for the partnership bidding the weak No Trump range. The escape bids are meant to do exactly that, escape the double.

These escape or rescue bids have been developed over time by partnerships and should be viewed as alternative defense mechanisms, not as guidelines etched in stone. The individual partnership may change or alter the suggestions below, although the three methods illustrated below are perhaps the more popular methods. The concept is to simply escape the double in the best possible way, otherwise a larger than normal negative score would / could be the result.

The perhaps more favorite suggestion for the defense mechanism is as follows, and shows only the possible calls and bids of the responder after a double by the immediate opponent.

Opener	Opponent	Responder	Meaning
1 NT	Double	Pass	to play
		Redouble	shows a one-suited holding. This is a Relay to 2 to be corrected if one-suited in another rank
		2	shows Clubs and Hearts
		2	shows Diamonds and Hearts
		2	a natural bid with sufficient values in Hearts
		3	shows both Major suits
		2	a natural bid with sufficient values in Spades
		3	shows Spades and an unknown Minor suit
		2 NT	shows both Minor suits

Opener	Opponent	Responder	Meaning
1 NT	Double	Redouble	1-suited holding; opener should respond with 2 . The opener may pass with good Clubs or correct to a better suit.
		2	shows Clubs and a second unspecified suit.
		2	shows Diamonds and an unspecified Major suit.
		2	shows both Major suits.
		2	shows only the Spade suit.

Opener	Opponent	Responder	Meaning
1 NT	Double	Pass	Forces the opener to redouble. The reasoning is to play 1 No Trump redoubled or the responder has a one-suited holding and will correct.
		Redouble	This shows a two-suited holding without, or shortage in, Hearts. Shows either: Clubs and Diamonds, Clubs and Spades, Diamonds and Spades.
		2	shows Clubs and Hearts.
		2	shows Diamonds and Hearts.
		2	shows both Spades and Hearts.
		2	shows only the Spade suit.

	Claus and Raymond Conventions Bridge Sites Home Page I Glossary Home Page II Defense 1 No Trump