The Lakebeach NT structure is inspired by Heeman, Notrump bidding the Scanian Way, and Meckwell’s NT structure. The structure has very few asking bids, preferring to show responder’s shape instead. The keystones are 2NT as Puppet Stayman, 2!d!h as transfers (with second round transfer follow-ups) and 2!c as a puppet to 2!d.

1NT

?

2!c

Puppet to 2!d.

The puppet to 2!d is the strangest bid in the Lakebeach NT structure. Responder may have:

• A hand wanting to sign off in 2!h or 2!s.
• A GF unbalanced hand with 4M.
• 4-4 majors with at least INV values.
• A four card major and INV values.

The main purpose of the bid is to invite of force game with exactly four cards in one, or both, of the majors. A somewhat balanced hand game forcing hand with a four card major does not respond 2!c though, but instead responds 2NT.

2!d

Forced.

Pass

Weak with diamonds.

2!h

Weak with !s or INV+ with 4!s.

2!s

Normal bid.

The continuation after this bid is symmetric with 1NT–2!c; 2!d–2NT+, but with 4!s instead of 4!h.

Higher

Super-accept with good max and 4!s.

2!s

INV+ 4-4 majors.

2NT

Minimum, no major.

Pass

INV 4-4 majors.

3!c!d

Singleton, 4441, GF.

3!h

4-4-5-0, GF.

3!s

4-4-0-5, GF.

3NT

To play.

3!c

Max or 4M.

3!d

4-4 INV.

3!h

Short clubs, GF.

3!s

Short diamonds, GF.

3NT

4-4 COG.

2NT

INV 4!h.

3!c

GF 5+!c and 4!h.

3!d

Relay.

The continuation after the relay is symmetric with 1NT–2!c; 2!d–3!h+.

3!d

GF three-suiter, short spades.

3!h

Relay

3!s

1-4-4-4.

3NT

COG.

4!c!d

Natural 5440.

3NT

Suggestion to play.

3!h

GF 5+!d, 4!h and short clubs.

3!s

GF 5+!d, 4!h and short spades.

3NT

NF SI 5+!d, 4!h.

Higher

SI 5+!d, 4!h.

2!d

Transfer. 5+!h.

2!h

Normal bid.

Pass

Weak with hearts.

2!s

INV with 5!h or INV+ 5-5 majors.

2NT

Minimum, not 3!h.

Pass

INV 5!h.

3!c!d

Short minor, 5-5 majors. SI.

3!h

5-5 majors, INV.

4!c!d

Void and 5-5 majors.

4!h

5-5 majors, COG.

3!c

3!h or max.

3!d

5!h, INV.

3!h

5-5 majors, INV.

3!s

5-5 majors, short clubs. SI.

3NT

5-5 majors, short diamonds. SI.

4!c!d

Void and 5-5 majors.

4!h

5-5 majors, COG.

2NT

Transfer. 4+!c, GF.

3!c

Relay.

3!d

Short diamonds.

3!h

Short spades.

3!s

0-5-4-4.

3NT

NF SI.

3!d

Good club fit.

3!h

Good heart fit.

3!s

Double fit.

3!c

Transfer. 4+!d, GF.

3!d

Relay.

3!h

Short clubs.

3!s

Short spades.

3NT

NF SI.

3!h

Good heart fit.

3!s

Good club fit.

3NT

Double fit.

3!d

Transfer. 6+!h, INV or SI.

3!h

No INV accept.

3!s

Shortness, SI.

3NT

SI, no shortness.

4!c!d

Shortness, SI.

3!s

INV accept.

3NT

SI, no shortness or spade shortness.

4!c!d

Shortness, SI.

4!h

To play.

3!h

Transfer. 4!s, GF.

3!s

Spade fit.

3NT

No fit.

4!c!d

6-4, short minor.

4!h

6-4, to play.

4!s

6KCB.

4NT

Quantitative.

4!c

Heart fit.

3!s

Unbal COG, 5!h.

3NT

Bal COG, 5!h.

4!c!d

Void, 6+!h.

Higher

Super-accept.

2!h

Transfer. INV+ with 5+!s.

Please note that weak hands, intending to sign off in 2!s, does not transfer to spades via 2!h. Instead these hands start with 2!c.

2!s

Does not accept INV.

Pass

INV.

2NT

Transfer. 4+!c, GF. Symmetric with 1NT–2!d; 2!h–2NT.

3!c

Transfer. 4+!d, GF. Symmetric with 1NT–2!d; 2!h–3!c.

3!d

Transfer. 4!h, GF.

3!h!s

Fit.

3NT

No fit.

4!c!d

6-4, short minor.

4!s

6-4, to play.

3!h

Transfer. 6+!s, INV+.

3!s

No INV accept.

3NT

No shortness, SI.

4!c!d!h

Shortness, SI.

3NT

INV accept.

4!c!d

Shortness, SI.

4!h

No shortness or short hearts, SI.

4!s

To play.

3!s

Unbal COG, 5!s.

3NT

Bal COG, 5!s.

4!c!d!h

Void, 6+!s.

2NT

Accept.

3!c

4+ minor.

3!d

Relay.

3!h

Clubs.

3!s

Diamonds.

3!d

Transfer. 4!h.

3!h!s

Fit.

3NT

No fit.

4!c!d

6-4, short minor.

3!h

6+!s, SI.

3!s

Unbal COG, 5!s.

3NT

Bal COG, 5!s.

2!s

Range ask. Bal INV/SI or weak/GF with clubs.

2NT

Minimum.

3!c

To play.

3!d

Balanced SI. CONFIT.

This bid asks for the number of controls in opener’s hand (ace = 2, king = 1). Then responder may sign off in 3NT/4NT, or suits are bid up the line. Both opener and responder confirms fit by raising.

3!h

2–4 controls (suggestion for 15–17 range)

3!s

Asking again.

3NT

2–3 controls.

Higher

Suits up the line, 4 controls.

3NT

To play.

3!s

5 controls

3NT

To play.

Higher

Suits up the line.

3NT

6 controls

Pass

Not enough.

Other

Suits up the line.

4!c

7 controls

4NT

To play.

Other

Suits up the line.

Other

Suits up the line, 8 controls.

3!h

6+!c, short hearts, GF.

3!s

6+!c, short spades, GF.

3NT

Mild balanced SI.

4!c

6+!c, no shortness, SI.

3!c

Maximum.

Responder’s rebids are the same as when opener shows minimum, but pass is weak with clubs and 3NT is to play.

2NT

GF Puppet Stayman. Asking 5M.

This bid is used when responder wants to know if opener holds a five card major, but also when responder wants to check if opener have four cards in one of the majors, and if responder has a GF 5431 hand type with 5-4 minors.

3!c

No five card major.

3!d

5431 with 5-4 minors.

3!h

Relay.

3!s

3-1-(54).

3NT

1-3-(54), NF.

4!c!d

1-3-(54), forcing.

3!h

4!s, COG.

3!s

4!h, COG.

3NT

To play.

3!h!s

Five card major.

oM

SI with major support.

4!c!d

Singleton in opener’s major, 5-4 minors and 3oM.

3!c

6+!d, preemptive or GF.

3!d

Forced.

Pass

Long diamond suit.

3!h

6+!d, short hearts, GF.

3!s

6+!d, short spades, GF.

3NT

6+!d, no shortness, SI but NF.

4!d

6+!d, no shortness, SI.

3!d

6+ minor and short other minor, GF.

3!h

Relay.

3!s

6+!c, short diamond suit.

3NT

6+!d, short club suit, NF.

4!c

6+!d, short club suit, forcing.

3!h!s

GF 5-5 minors, short major.

3NT

To play.

4!c

South African Texas. Wants opener to declare 4!h.

4!d

South African Texas. Wants opener to declare 4!s.

4!h!s

To play.