Moscito Byte
Moscito is a partial acronym for Major-Oriented-Strong-Club and was first devised by Mr. Paul Marston and Mr. Stephen Burgess. The concept was based on the Symmetric Relay system basically in auctions when the opening partnership has the balance of power. Originally, Mr. Paul Marston and Mr. Stephen Burgess conceived this system of bidding as a Strong Pass system. The Moscito Byte bidding system is a variation based on the system devised by Mr. Paul Marston and Mr. Stephen Burgess.
It is highly recommended that the student of Moscito Byte first acquaint him/herself with the basics of the Moscito System before reading the guidelines of the Moscito Byte bidding system.
The main features of the Moscito Byte is:
No Trump Opening Bids: the range is determined by the system or by partnership agreement, and which varies according to vulnerability and opening position.
Forcing Opening: always 1 Club.
Two Over One, which is an artificial or a natural non-forcing bidding system, depending on the bidding sequence.
Very Light Openings: used only in First or Second Seat.
Moscito Byte was researched and devised with several targets in mind.
1. Entering and exiting the auction as quickly as possible and find a contract, especially in a Major suit.
2. To determine whether game values are present, and if slam should be explored.
3. To increase the difficulty of communication between the opponents.
General Description of Moscito Byte
1
:
Shows 15 plus points, any shape 1
:
8-14 HCPs, shows Spades 1
:
8-14 HCPs, shows Hearts 1
:
8-14 HCPs, shows both Major suits 1 NT:
11-14 HCPs, balanced 2 any Minor:
No Major suit, unbalanced, natural
Following are the openings of the partnership employing Moscito Byte, and the various responses of the responder. Whether or not the systems are on or off depends on the partnership agreement and the bidding sequence, by which a situation may arise which demand that the systems are played as off when they would generally be on. Partnership agreement is necessary. It must also be clear to both partners which bids are natural and which are not, especially after interference. The partnership must also be aware as to whether a bid is applicable or if it has become an idle bid with no application within the Moscito Byte bidding system.
1 No Trump: range 11-14 high card points in First and Second Seat 1 No Trump: range 13-16 high card points in Third and Fourth Seat
The imparted information and the meanings of the responses are listed below, and these responses have specific information for the No Trump bidder.
Opener
Responder
Meaning 1 NT
Denies a 4-card Major suit unless 4-3-3-3 distribution
No 5-card Major suit
Systems Off
2
Stayman: this does not promise a 4-card Major suit
2
Jacoby Transfer: invitational; could promise only 4 Hearts
2
Jacoby Transfer: invitational; could promise only 4 Spades
2
4-4 distribution in the Majors or shows weakness in the Minor suits
2 NT
Natural bid and invitational
3
Transfer to Diamonds; responder is weak or is 3-suited
3
Stopper Asking Bid
3
Natural bid and game-forcing
3
Natural bid and game-forcing
4
Transfer to Hearts
4
Transfer to Spades
4
Natural bid and end of bidding auction
Conventions, which are not used nor applied are:
Rubinsohl: however, applied in competitive tournaments
An opening of 2 No Trump is completely artificial and promises 0-10 high card points. This opening imparts to the partner that the opener has either a Preempt in Clubs or a bad to moderate Preempt in Diamonds.
If the responder bids a Minor suit, the opener either passes if that suit is his suit or corrects to the other Minor suit.
If the responder bids a Major suit, then this response is considered to be a natural bid and is one-round forcing if the auction is still below game.
An opening of 3 No Trump is completely artificial and promises 0-10 high card points. This opening imparts to the partner that the opener has either a Preempt in Clubs or a Preempt in Diamonds, and that the main values are located in the intended Minor suit.
If the responder bids a Minor suit, the opener either passes if that suit is his suit or corrects to the other Minor suit.
If, however, the responder bids a Major suit, then this response is natural and is to play. The opener should pass.
In consideration of the No Trump opening bids, it must be remembered that the range is determined by the system or by partnership agreement, and which varies according to vulnerability and opening position. However, the range of a No Trump rebid after a 1 Club opening, which shows 15 high card points plus and any distribution, is relayed to the partner in the following bidding sequences:
Opener
Responder
Meaning 1
15 HCPs plus and any distribution
1
1 NT
14-17 HCPs or
1
15 HCPs plus and any distribution
1
1 NT
12-14 HCPs
All other rebids of No Trump are artificial on the two level.
In consideration of a Major suit opening, which in the original Moscito system showed 10-14 HCPs, 4 plus length, less than 3 in the other Major suit, and a possible longer Minor suit on the side, the Moscito Byte system has the following meaning. It must be also remembered that it is permissible to open a 4-card Major suit; the length does not have to be a minimum of a 5-card suit.
1
4-card plus Heart suit, 0-3 Spade suit, 8-15 HCPs;12-16 HCPs in Third and Fourth Seat 1
4-card plus suit, 4-card plus Heart suit, 8-15 HCPs; 11-16 HCPs in Thrid and Fourth Seat
In relation to a Major suit opening, the systems applied in responding are:
1. A Double Raise is weak. 2. After an overcall, a response is weak. 3. Other responses are conventional raises.
Such as:
1. Over 1 Heart, all No Trump bids and Minor suit bids, except 2 Diamonds and 1 No Trump are conventional.
2. Over 1 Spade, any bid of 3 Diamonds or 4 Diamonds is conventional.
Other responses after a Major suit opening have the following significance:
1
1 NT
non-forcing 1
1 NT
non-forcing 1
2 NT
4-card plus support, invitational, definitely not a Mini-Splinter 1
3 NT
A Transfer to 3 Clubs; may be a Mini-Splinter 1
3 NT
May mean to play and shows any strength; Drury not applicable 1
1
Strong and artificial response 1
2
Unbalanced distribution, artificial and constructive response 1
2
Invitational raise and/or game-forcing per agreement 1
2
A sign-off in Hearts; or a constructive Spade raise; or invitational misfit
It is important that all Major suit openings are natural and not forcing. Responder may pass any Major suit opening of his partner since the values are between 11/12 and 16 HCPs. With absolutely no values, responder may pass.
Any Minor suit opening corresponds to the original concept devised by Mr. Paul Marston and Mr. Stephen Burgess, but with a slight difference as to the Seat Position.
1 1
The responses and other features as a response to a Minor suit opening are as follows:
A Double Raise:
This bid is not applicable. After an overcall:
Rubinsohl; however, Transfers in competition. Forcing Raise:
This bid is not applicable. General Limit:
The 4-Level may be exceeded. 1 NT over 1 Club:
Signifies 8 HCPs plus.
Other responses to a 1 Club opening are:
1
Normally 0-8 HCPs and any shape. 1
Artificial, 8 plus HCPs, and semi-shape descriptive. 1
Artificial, 8 plus HCPs, and semi-shape descriptive. 1 NT:
Artificial, 8 plus HCPs, and semi-shape descriptive. 2
Artificial, 8 plus HCPs, and semi-shape descriptive. 2
Artificial, 8 plus HCPs, and semi-shape descriptive. 2
A natural bid and considered semi-inviting. 2
A natural bid and considered semi-inviting. 3
A natural bid and considered semi-inviting. 3
A natural bid and considered semi-inviting.
All other responses are artificial and positive (forcing per partnership agreement).
Responses to a 1 Diamond opening are:
The issue of openings, especially on the two level, have specific meanings. An opening on the two level must conform always to the information agreed upon before deciding to make an opening on the two level. These bids are individual and verify the holding of certain distributions. They are covered individually with the appropriate significance of the responses.
1
Artificial, a waiting bid. 1
Artificial, a strong response. 1 NT:
Constructive showing 5-6 length in Hearts. 2
Constructive showing a 3-card plus Spade suit. 2 NT:
This is an artificial Spade raise. 3
This is an artificial Spade raise. 3
This is an artificial Spade raise. 3 NT:
This is an artificial Spade raise. 4
This is an artificial Spade raise. 4
This is an artificial Spade raise. 2
A natural and non-forcing response. 2
A natural and non-forcing response. 2
A natural and non-forcing response. 3
A natural and non-forcing response. 3
A natural and non-forcing response. 4
A natural and non-forcing response. 4
A natural and non-forcing response.
2 Clubs:
1. Shows 10-15 HCPs and no biddable Major suit
2. Shows a 6-card plus Club suit or 4-5 in the Minor suitsResponses:
1. A 2 Diamond response is strong and artificial,
2. All other responses are generally natural
2 Diamonds:
1. Shows 10-15 HCPs and no biddable Major suit
2. Shows a 6-card plus Diamond suit or 4-5 in the Minor suitsResponses:
1. A 2 Hearts response is strong and artificial,
2. A 3 Clubs response is a Splinter Raise,
3. All other responses are generally natural
2 Hearts:
1. shows 9 HCPs and is considered a natural bid showing a 6-card plus Heart suit
Responses:
1. 2 NT is a strong asking bid,
2. 2 Spades is a natural bid,
3. A 3 Club or 3 Diamond response are Transfers
4. A 4 Club or 4 Diamond response are Fit-Showing Jumps
2 Spades:
1. Shows 3-9 HCPs
2. Considered a natural bid showing a 6-card plus Spade suitResponses:
1. 2 NT is a strong asking bid
2. A 3 Club / 3 Diamonds / 3 Hearts response is a Transfer bid
4. A 4 Club or 4 Diamond Jump response is a Fit-Showing response
To gain a partnership agreement, which includes the Moscito Byte bidding system, it is important to remember which other conventions are compatible. It is also important to agree whether after an overcall whether or not other systems are on or off, as mentioned above when opening No Trump. Several of the conventions listed below are designated as applicable or not applicable in general partnership agreements.
Fourth Suit Forcing:
Not applicable Weak Jump Shifts:
Depends on the competitive event New Minor Forcing:
Not applicable Rubensohl:
Transfers only in competitive events Negative Doubles:
Not applicable Responsive Doubles:
Not applicable Support Doubles:
Not applicable Maximal Doubles:
Not applicable Card-Showing Doubles:
Applicable
In the following bidding sequences, when the opponents bid first, the general partnership agreement is listed below:
Opponent
Partner
Meaning 1 any suit
1 NT
15-18 HCPs and systems on 1 any suit
pass
pass
1 NT
10-16 HCPs 1 any suit
2 NT
Promises the 2 lowest-ranking suits
If the requirements for a No Trump overcall are not fulfilled, the auction can still be entered with an overcall even though the opponents have opened the bidding;
Opponent
Partner Overcall
Meaning 1 any suit
On the One-Level
8-16 HCPs and a 5-card suit 1 any suit
Any new suit
Not forcing for partner, but constructive in nature 1 any suit
Any Jump Raise
A weak overcall, preemptive
Regarding other conventional features, it is important to note that jump overcalls are definitely weak, Opening preempts are light in nature. Concerning cuebids, the general partnership agreement is that direct cue-bids vary according to the nature of the opening bid by the opponents.
Michaels Cuebid:
Applicable over a natural opening bid. Cuebid:
Considered natural after an artificial opening bid.
The partnership can also enter the bidding after the opponents have opened the auction. Since the strength and distribution of the opponent is already known, with the proper distribution and sufficient values, the bidding of the opponents can be disturbed. The proper distribution are shown with the following bids after a No Trump opening by the opponents.
2
Shows Hearts and a second suit 2
Shows Spades and a second suit 2
Shows Hearts and is a natural bid 2
Shows Spades and is a natural bid Double:
This bid is for penalty 2 NT:
Is the Unusual No Trump and all higher bids are natural
In the case that the opponents double after an opening, and the double of the opponents is definitely a Takeout Double, then the responder can bid a new suit at the one level, which then becomes a Forcing bid. If the responder Jump Shifts to a new suit, then this is weak. A redouble shows absolutely no fit in the suit of the opener. A response of 2 No Trump over the Takeout Double by the opponents show a Limit Raise for the suit of the opener, but only if the suit of the opener is a Major suit. This does not apply if the suit of the opener is a Minor suit.
Other defense mechanisms are definitely available to the individual partnership, and these must be agreed upon by the partnership.
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