BIEDERMEIJER

In The Netherlands, many conventional systems are used and these systems of bidding have been varied, changed, and altered to fit the need and the needs of the partnership agreement. The bridge player in The Netherlands does not entirely conform to a certain standard bidding process, but has rather a wide variety of treatments and methods in his bidding bag.

The Biedereijer treatment is one of the many partnership agreements available to the bridge player, and it must be noted that the word convention, when describing Biedermeijer, is used in its widest interpretation.

As a side note, we would like to mention that the word Biedermeijer itself refers also to a style of furnishings or interior design in German-speaking areas in the early and middle 19th century. The style generally existed as a simplification of the French Empire style usually executed in fruitwood with much use of matched veneers, with accents of ebony inlay or black paint, and often displaying architectural motifs.

The meaning of the word became also later a term for the inhabitant of the house so furnished, and eventually described a morally and politically conservative citizen, and conveyed a rather negative connotation.

The treatment relies heavily on making the first bid in the auction, and each opening bid has a definite significance. The visitor must keep in mind that Biedermeijer has several variants called the Biedermeijer Red variant, which is the most complete, the Biedermeijer Green variant, which is for the Novice player, and the Biedermeijer Blue variant. These web pages have been preserved on this site and have been taken from the Dutch Version. These variations are in their original language of The Netherlands, but we hope to preserve this convention also on this site and hope that we can find a translator, who can assist us in the translation. In addition to these variants played in The Netherlands, variations have been devised by other countries and other partnerships. The visitor should remember that this agreement, called Biedermeijer, is essentially and primarily a partnership understanding for the opening bid. Following is a devised variation, and the information stems from Mr. Hans van Staveren, Amstelveen, The Netherlands.

Biedermeier Opening Bids

Opening		Range		Meaning
1 :		12-21 HCPs		3-card plus Club holding
1 :		12-21 HCPs		4-card plus Diamond holding
1 :		12-21 HCPs		4-card plus Heart holding
1 :		12-21 HCPs		5-card plus Spade holding
1 NT:		15-17 HCPs		Balanced
2 :		22 HCPs		Any shape or distribution
2 :		8-11 HCPs		6-card plus Heart or Spade holding
		or the bid can mean		Range: 22HCPs to 23HCPs and balanced
2 :		18 HCPs plus		5-card plus Heart holding
2 :		18 HCPs plus		5-card plus Spade holding
2 NT:		20-21 HCPs		Balanced

Any 1 No Trump or 2 No Trump opening allows the normal use of the Stayman convention and also the Jacoby Transfer on the Two and Three Level respectively.

Although the opening bids of 2 Hearts and/or 2 Spades do not meet the lesser requirements regarding the point count of the Acol Two Opening Bids, these two opening bids are to be considered under the same aspects with regard to the number of Quick Tricks required and the responses.

 

Mr. Anton van Uitert, from The Netherlands, as of October 21, 2000, has contributed the following as additional, and even perhaps better information for understanding the Biedermeier treatment. Below my personal interpretation of the Biedermeier Red basics. Not guaranteed 100% correct.

Biedermeier is not a convention, but some Standard System containing general agreements, much like Standard American Yellow Card or BWS in the United States, although less advanced and complete than the BWS. Though it contains some conventional opening bids like Multi or Muiderberg, it is essentially a natural system.

So Biedermeier is more than just a system of opening bids, as it also contains a set of conventions and general guidelines about the style of bidding, such as forcing situations. The Dutch Bridge League has issued 3 variants on the system: Green, Blue and Red. The Red variant is the most advanced, the Green variant is mainly for casual and/or beginner play. The list of opening bids should be as follows, according to the Biedermeier Red variant, which is the most complete variant:

Opening		Strength		Meaning
1 :		11 HCPs plus		promises a 3-card Club suit
1 :		11 HCPs plus		promises a 4-card Diamond suit
1 :		11 HCPs plus		promises a 5-card Heart suit or
				promises a 4-4 distribution in both Major suits
1 :		11 HCPs plus		promises a 5-card Spade suit
1 NT:		15-17 HCPs		balanced - a 5-card Major suit is possible

Please Note that the lower and upper limit depend on individual style.

Opening		Strength		Meaning
2 :				Strong 2-Club opening or
				signifies a Weak Two bid in Diamonds*
2 :				multi-colored - individual agreements below:
				Weak Two Major
				Strong No Trump range
				Strong with Clubs and Diamonds**
2 :		6-10 HCPs		Muiderberg: 5-card Heart suit and a 4-card Minor suit
2 :		6-10 HCPs		Muiderberg: 5-card Spade suit and a 4-card Minor suit
2 NT:		20-22 HCPs		balanced
3 NT:				Gambling 3 No Trump
3 any suit:				Natural
4 any suit:				Natural

*Some partnerships skip the strong Clubs and Diamonds variant.
** Some partnerships skip the Weak Two variant.

We are very thankful to Mr. Anton van Uitert for his contribution and hope that he can continue to add to this web page describing Biedermeier.

 

 

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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