IDAK or IDAC

This is a defensive bidding system against strong artificial Club sequences. IDAK is an acronym for Instant Destroyer And Killer, and IDAC is an acronym for Instant Destruction Against a Club. If the partnership is not vulnerable, then IDAK or IDAC is used. If the partnership is vulnerable, then Wonder Bids are applied. The concept is based on the state of the vulnerability. When not vulnerable, the defense employs the bidding structure of the IDAK and when vulnerable, the defense employs Wonder Bids.

 

The principles of the IDAK are based upon the opponents opening a strong, artificial Club on the one level.

A. If the defense has a long suit, the defense will bid the suit immediately below that suit at the given Level deemed appropriate. In this case, bidding No Trump would show the Club suit although the opening was 1 Club. This should not be understood as a transfer bid, since the responder can pass this bid of the suit with a long suit of his own in that suit bid. In the case that the defense is two-suited, then the principle is to transfer first and then rebid the second suit. This transfer is communicated with the second bid.

B. If the defense bids 1 Spade after a strong artificial Club opening, this bid shows a definite pattern of 4-3-3-3 or a long Spade suit. If the defense bids 1 Spade and has a long Spade suit, the responder first assumes that it shows a definite pattern of 4-3-3-3 and bids his best suit. The partner then can show his long Spade suit by rebidding Spades at the level of the auction.

C. If the defense jumps in Spades by one level after a strong artificial Club opening, then both Minor suits are promised. The responder can bid No Trump to discover which Minor suit is preferable.

D. After a strong artificial Club opening, the defense can double. A double shows any 3-suited hand. If the responder has:

1. a 1-suited hand, the responder bids 2 suits lower than his real suit. For example, a response of 1 Spade, after his partner's double of 1 Club, shows a 1-suited hand in Diamonds. The doubler now has the option of bidding the indicated suit with support, in this case, Diamonds, or passes the 1 Spade response owing to good values in Spades. A jump by the responder is a matter of partnership agreement as t whether it shows increased values and/or strength.

2. both Major suits and an interest in preempting, then the responder will respond with 2 No Trump, forcing the auction to the Three Level, knowing also that the doubler has support in at least one of the Major suits.

3. both Minor suits and an interest in preempting, then the responder will respond with 3 No Trump or higher, forcing the auction to the Four Level, knowing also that the doubler has support in at least one of the Minor suits.

4. a constructive holding with 9+ HCPs and is two-suited, the responder will bid 1 No Trump. The doubler will now proceed to bid up the line if there is no interference. Without interference, the normal bidding sequence can proceed without hindrance. If there is interference, then the doubler should double again to show shortness in the bid suit by the opponents. If the doubler has, however, moderate to excellent values in the suit bid by the opponents, then the double must pass to communicate this information to his partner, who still has the opportunity to bid.

5. a two-suited holding with Spades and Diamonds, then the responder will jump in either suit, which promises the second suit. If the responder has a specific two-suited holding with Hearts and Clubs, then the responder will jump in either suit, which promises the second suit. If is a matter of partnership agreement as to whether, in this case, bidding the lower-ranking suit first shows weaker values and bidding the higher-ranking suit first promises stronger values.

This, in essence, is the foundation of the Instant Destroyer And Killer and/or Instant Destruction Against a Club concept. Since much is a matter of partnership agreement, the details of the concept and the strength-showing responses and/or rebids should be first agreed upon.

 

 

Wonder Bids are also a defensive bidding system against a strong artificial Club opening and sequences. The Wonder Bids are used primarily when the status of the defense is vulnerable as in contrast to the IDAK or IDAC defense bidding system. After a strong artificial Club opening and/or response to such an opening, the defense can enter the auction, using the following guidelines of the Wonder Bids.

A. Any non-jump suit bid, the Wonder Suit, shows that particular suit or the other three suits, a 3-suited holding, which can include Clubs since the strong Club opening is totally artificial and may show no Clubs at all. The responder is more or less guessing (or wondering) as to the options of 1 intended suit or a 3-suited holding, but with an interfering bid before defense takes action, the guess is somewhat eliminated. However, instead of raising his partner, the responder can continue the auction to gather additional information. The responder can:

1.	bid No Trump on the corresponding level with four or better cards in the Wonder Suit. This response is not forcing to game or even one round if his partner has a 3-suited holding with a stopper in the fourth suit.
2.	bid 2 of any suit with four or more cards if he has support and tolerance for the Wonder Suit. In the case that his partner has support and tolerance for this suit, then the partner will pass. If the partner does not have support for this suit of the responder, then the partner rebids his long suit. In the case that the responder bids a new suit and is doubled by the immediate opponent, the partner of the responder can, having no support whatsoever in the suit bid by his partner, redouble for Takeout.

B. A double promises both Major suits. C. A bid of No Trump promises both Minor suits.D. A jump in Diamonds promises a two-suiter in Diamonds and Hearts. A jump in Hearts promises a two-suiter in Hearts and Clubs. A jump in Spades promises a two-suiter in Spades and an unknown Minor suit. A response of No Trump by the partner asks for a bid of the unknown Minor suit.

 

 

This, in essence, is the foundation of the Wonder Bids, but the values, strength and length, and the distribution shown through non-jump and jump defensive overcalls are a matter of partnership agreement. This fact must not be overlooked. If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.

 

 

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