Modern Bidding February 2026

The Modern American Bidding Box

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Problem 1

North Deals, Vul: None

BB auction: 1♣-1♦; 1♥-2♣; 3NT (3NT is 11 Mps)

(1) TACO. May be as few as 2, may have longer diamonds than clubs. Balanced 12-14 HCP or Unbalanced, any opening range, with biddable clubs

(2) Transfer to diamonds

(3) Declined, <3 diamonds, 6+ clubs

The TACO system allows this transfer with the intent of stopping at the 2-level. East really doesn't like the idea of a diamond contract and suggests a 6-card suit of their own. 3♣ seems like a reasonable stop for a West with only 6HCP.

MA: 6 Expert1: 6 Expert2: 6

Problem 2

East Deals, Vul: N-S

BB auction: 1♦-1♥; 1NT-2♣; 2♦-4♦; 4♥-4♠; 5♦-5♥;5♠-7♦ (7♦ for 11 Mps)

(1) TACO. May be as few as 2, may have longer diamonds than clubs. Balanced 12-14 HCP or Unbalanced, any opening range, with biddable clubs

(2) Transfer request to hearts. Shows the same hand that standard bidding would

(3) Denies 3 hearts, denies 4 spades.

(4) XYZ game forcing

Even though we have 5 diamonds and only 4 clubs, we open this balanced hand with 1♣. We deny major card support with our 1NT rebid. Then West pushes the auction to a game force with the XYZ 2♦. This artificial bid means the auction will not be passed under a game contract.

East's rebid of diamonds should show that they have at least 4-4 in the minors. The early bids bind their strength between 12-14 HCP. They also do not have a singleton or void in hearts and fewer than 4 spades by not bidding spades. West has some calculating to do.

13 HCP and void opposite a balanced 12-14 HCP. There might be a slam; however, is the void that valuable? Are East's values in that suit? Probably not. Bid the 5♦ game.

MA: 8 Expert1: 13 Expert2: 17

Problem 3

South Deals, Vul: E-W South opens with 3♣

BB auction: (3♣)-Dbl; (Pass)-4♥ (4♥ is 8Mps)

Nothing extraordinary here. West has a logical take-out double, and East has enough extras to jump the bid to the game level.

Flat board, everyone gets 8Mps

MA: 16 Expert1: 21 Expert2: 23

Problem 4

West Deals, Vul: Both

BB Auction: 1♣-1♠; 2NT-3NT (3NT is 11 Mps)

(1) Colorado 2♣. A balanced 18-19 HCP.

(2) Transfer to spades

(3) A small hiccup in the Colorado 2♣. East can't bid 2 or 3NT to show only 5♠. At this point, East would steal the contract and declare since West hasn't bid No-Trump yet. The bid of 3♣ is a temporizing bid. It shows that the spades are only 5 cards in length. It doesn't promise a club suit, though. West should bid 3NT or 4♠ to this bid.

Holding a pancake flat 4333 shape, West chooses 3NT for its matchpoint potential.

MA: 27 Expert1: 32 Expert2: 34

Problem 5

North Deals, Vul: N-S

BB Auction: 1♣-1♥; 3♣-3♦; 3♠-4♣; 5♣ (5♣ is 11 Mps)

Straying from the experts, who decide this hand is too strong to open 4♣. They might be right, but I like 4-level preempts that promise a 5 Losing Trick Count. It makes life easy on our partner and hard on our opponents.

One pair only reaches 3♣, and the other 2♣. So, I'm happy in 4♣ here. Just because the layout falls favorably and it makes a club game, doesn't mean it's a good contract.

MA: 33 Expert1: 38 Expert2: 40

Problem 6

East Deals, Vul: E-W (South will overcall 2♥)

BB Auction: 1♦-(2♥)-pass-(pass); 2NT-(pass)-3NT (3NT is 11 Mps)

(1) Colorado 2♣. 18-19 Balanced. The problem states the South will overcall 2♥, but I expect that might not really happen with this opening vs systems that must open a minor (playing the jump rebid in NT)

(2) West can bid 2♠ over the 2♥ to 'ask' East to bid their 2NT. East will have a chance in the auction to make that bid regardless of West bidding. So, a pass by West shows a hand without enough HCP to make 3NT viable (<7 HCP).

After East gives considerable thought to a penalty double of the 2♥ overcall, the idea that West might not have a single defensive trick sways them to bid 2NT.

West is tempted to wade in with a 3♣ bid. It might be safer than 2NT. However, it would have to score 10 tricks versus the No-Trump, making 8 tricks to get a better matchpoint score. West would have been better off considering that the '5' HCP is augmented by that length in club, and that West with the A♥ probably represents the 2nd heart check in the hand. It would be very likely for East to have at least 3 clubs in their balanced hand (if South has long hearts) and bid 3NT.

Stopping nets 7Mps.

MA: 40 Expert1: 49 Expert2: 51

Problem 7

South Deals, Vul: Both

BB Auction: 2NT-3♣; 3♦-4♣; 4NT (4NT is 10Mps)

(1) Colorado 2♣. 18-19 Balanced

(2) Relay to 2NT

(3) Puppet Stayman

(4) At least 1 four card major

(5) 4 hearts

The Colorado 2♣ shows a hand in between bidding 1NT and 2NT — a 1 ½ NT if you will. This 20 HCP could open 2NT, West chose to devalue one point due to the 4333 shape, and the diamond suit KQJ is probably not worth a full 6 HCP. This gives a little room and means that West would like East to have a good 6-7 HCP to bid game (whereas opening 2NT might cause East to go to game with just 5 HCP)

MA: 50 Expert1: 50 Expert2: 61

Problem 8

West Deals, VUL: None

BB Auction: 1♠-2♦; 2♥-2♠; 2NT-4♣; 4♠-4NT; 5♥-6♦ (6♦ is 12 Mps)

(1) 2♦ Game Force. Artificial, the auction will not be passed out below the game level

Game forcing bids at the 2-level are powerful. Unlike 2/1, which has 6 or so versions of them, MA has combined game forcing to a single response over a major —2♦. West shows their second suit, and East confirms that they have support in spades. West shows a minimal opening hand by jumping to 4♠ (fast arrival). East is on the fence. Does their 18 HCP count justify slam? Two keys is the awkward response. The AK♠ would make it a slam dunk slam. The A♣ and one spade honor should still force for slam. Bad luck to miss both the K♠ and the J♠.

MA: 54 Expert1: 59 Expert2: 65

Conclusion

A moderately poor result this month, but we had many interesting Modern American opportunities come up. Two TACO openings and three Colorado 2♣ auctions, an XYZ, and the GF2♦ response.

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Written by Keith Schwols in Rockstar on Sun 01 February 2026.