X Y Z Basics
A 21st Century Replacement for New Minor
Presented by Mike Savage
XYZ is a convention similar to New Minor Forcing or Two-way New Minor Forcing. Here is how it works: Over any (x-y-z)
sequence of bids when opener rebids at the 1-level, responder invokes XYZ by bidding an artificial 2C to show all invitational
hands and 2D with most game-forcing hands.
XYZ always begins the checkback process over a 1H or 1S rebid by opener and this version incorporates playing the same
continuations after a 1NT rebid by opener as well (the continuations after a 1NT rebid are also known as Modified Two-Way Stayman).
X and Y can both be minors, both
can be majors, or (most frequently by far) X will be a minor and Y
will be a major. In this version
of XYZ, you can play the same checkback structure over Z – whether Z is 1H, 1S or 1NT.
XYZ has many advantages over New Minor such as you can make an invitational bid in a major and if partner doesn’t accept, still
be at the 2-level. You also can show six diamonds and a four-card major with invitational values after bidding 1D over 1C, followed
by bidding 2C over Z and then bidding your major over the forced 2D rebid. Another advantage of this version is that you can
early on distinguish between various types of game-forcing hands – which you can’t if you play New Minor.
Here is the basic structure after any one-level rebid by opener if you play this version of XYZ:
2C = Forces opener to bid 2D which responder may pass or follow up with an invitational bid
2D = Game forcing, responder's hand pattern not yet disclosed, leaving a lot of bidding space. After
1X-1M 1Z-2D: opener should show 3-card major support or without it, bid 2NT, if appropriate
2H or 2S = Not invitational if responder is rebidding his major or bidding 2H after having bid 1S
2NT = Invites 3NT
3C = It’s always to play – a signoff bid whether it’s opener’s minor or not
3D, 3H, 3S = Game forcing, good suit quality with slam potential whether a new suit or a suit rebid
To invite game in opener’s suit after bidding his own, responder rebids 2C over Z and after the forced
2D response by opener, responder bids two of opener’s suit with support and invitational values
To invite game in his own suit, responder rebids 2C over Z and after 2D by opener, he rebids two of his
suit with a fair to good 5-card (or poor to fair 6-card) suit and jumps to three with a good 6-card suit
Here are some ways with game forcing hands to show if responder has good suits or if he doesn’t
To force to game in opener’s suit when both responder’s suit and support are not great, after bidding his
own suit responder rebids 2D over Z and supports opener’s first suit on his next turn to bid
To force to game in opener’s suit when responder has a very good suit of his own along with very good
support for opener’s suit, over Z responder simply jumps to three of opener’s suit on his 2nd bid
To force to game in his own suit when his suit isn’t very good, responder bids 2D over opener’s rebid
and then rebids his suit. If a major, other suit bids now are cue-bids and 3NT and 4M are sign-offs
To force to game in his own suit when it is very good, responder simply jump-rebids three of his suit
If responder’s suit is a major this sets trumps, suit bids by opener are cue-bids and 4M is a sign-off
To force to game with two suits and both are not very good, responder rebids 2D and then bids his
second suit (usually at the three-level) on his next turn to bid
To force to game with two very good suits, responder simply jump-shifts into his 2nd suit on his rebid
Most partnerships play that the XYZ 2C invitational relay sequences are still “on” by a passed hand
XYZ might be
played over 1-level interference but if so, needs partnership discussion and
agreement
Legend
|
m = Any Minor Z = Any Suit (including 1NT) M = Any Major 2X = Two of the same suit (X) X = Any Suit 2Y = Two of the same suit (Y) Y = Any Suit 2Z = Two of the same suit (Z) |
meaning on various rebid sequences.
Here are some suggested agreements
that allow you to more precisely define
the differences between these sequences
1m-1Y 1Z-2NT = Natural and invitational and denies 4-card support for opener’s minor
1m-1Y 1Z-2C 2D-2NT = Natural and invitational with at least 4-card support for opener’s minor
1m-1Y 1Z-2C 2D-3m = Invitational with at least 5-card support for opener’s minor and is shapely
1C-1M 1NT-2C 2D-3D = Shows five of the major and five diamonds with invitational values
1H-1S 1NT-2C 2D-3D = Shows five spades and five diamonds with invitational values
1m-1S 1NT-2C 2D-2H = Shows five spades and four hearts with invitational values
1m-1S 1NT-2C 2D-3H = Shows five-five in the majors with invitational values
1m-1M 1Z-3NT = To play and doesn’t show a five-card major
1m-1M 1Z-2C 2D-3NT = Shows a five-card major and a balanced hand (giving a choice of games)
1C-1D 1S or 1NT-2H = Game forcing with four hearts and five or more diamonds
1C-1D 1S or 1NT-2C 2D-2H = Invitational with four hearts and six diamonds J
1C-1D 1Z-2D = Game forcing and can have various hands. For instance it could be made with long
diamonds and slam interest or could have both diamonds and club support with more interest in game or slam in a minor than in
3NT or could have support for either one of opener’s suits and slam interest
After 1m-1Y 1M-2C opener could refuse the “forced” relay to 2D when he has a four-card major and a one or no-loser six or
seven-card minor and a minimum – and rebid his minor instead of bidding 2D.
Splinters by Responder:
A direct splinter by responder when opener rebids 1NT is always in support of opener’s suit
Responder must go through the 2C-2D relay in order to make a splinter with his own suit as trumps
Examples:
1C-1H 1NT-3S = This is a splinter raise of opener’s suit (clubs in this case)
1C-1H 1NT-2C 2D-3S = This is a splinter raise of responder’s own suit (hearts in this case)
If opener rebids one of a suit (not 1NT), a direct splinter by responder is in support of opener’s 2nd suit
To make a splinter in opener’s first suit, responder must go thru fourth suit first
Examples:
1D-1H 1S: 4C = This is a splinter in support of spades
1D-1H 1S-2C 2D: 4C = This would be a splinter in support of diamonds
Remember in order to play in diamonds with a weak hand with a four-card major and six diamonds, bid your major and then
bid 2C over opener’s 1-level rebid and when opener bids the forced 2D – pass
In order to play in clubs at the cheapest level possible with a weak hand with a four-card major and six clubs, after openers
one-level rebid, simply jump straight to 3C – which is to play
XYZ is basically a simple convention used after opener has rebid at the one-level. Its structure keeps the bidding low in order
to more precisely explore the best part-score or game contract while facilitating slam bidding after a game force is established
at a low level. In some expert partnerships there are different (often more complicated) meanings to some of the continuation
subtleties suggested above. Your partnership needs to agree on what meanings for these continuations seem best to you.