When one of the bridge players at the bridge table
opens 1 Club, then that bridge player could be using the Bangkok Club System devised
by Mr.
Somboon Nandhabiwat. This Club System was used with some success in several world championship tournaments. This Club System is not very involved or complicated, but the understanding must be a team agreement. It is very similar to the Vienna Bidding System. The essentials of the Bangkok Club System are shown in the schematic below, but may vary according to following alterations resulting in variations, which have been included as long as they are relevant to the concept.
1  : |
|
12-20 HCPs |
|
Various shapes |
1  : |
|
12-20 HCPs |
|
5-card plus Diamond suit |
1  : |
|
12-18 HCPs |
|
5-card plus Heart suit |
1  : |
|
12-18 HCPs |
|
5-card plus Spade suit |
| 1 NT: |
|
15-17 HCPs |
|
Balanced shape |
| or: |
|
(21-22 HCPs) |
|
(Balanced shape = variation modification) |
| or: |
|
18+ HCPs |
|
Maximum 5 Losing Trick holding |
| 2 : |
|
21+ (23+) HCPs |
|
Any shape (variation = natural and game-forcing) |
| 2 : |
|
6-11 HCPs |
|
6 Hearts or Spades |
| or: |
|
18+ (23+) HCPs |
|
5-card plus Clubs or Diamonds (variation = natural and game-forcing) |
| 2 : |
|
18+ (23+) HCPs |
|
5-card plus Hearts (variation = natural and game-forcing) |
| 2 : |
|
18+ (23+) HCPs |
|
5-card plus Spades (variation = natural and game-forcing) |
| 2NT: |
|
20-22 (23-24) HCPs |
|
Balanced shape (variation = balanced and vulnerable) |
The responder has several options depending on the partnership agreement. The Bangkok Club System allows two different sets of responses for the responder, but only one should be included in the partnership agreement.
A 1 Diamond response is negative.
A 1 No Trump response is an artificial game-forcing bid.
Any other response is forcing or not forcing depending on the partnership agreement.
A 1 Diamond, 1 Heart or 1 Spade response indicates 11-17 points, whereby both High Card Points and Distributional Points are counted.
A 1 Diamond, 1 Heart or 1 Spade response strongly indicates a 5-card suit.
A 1 No Trump response is artificial and strong, showing 18+ points, whereby both High Card Points and Distributional Points are counted.
Bids on the Two Level are natural and also game-forcing.
If you prefer this Club System and wish to make it part of your partnership agreement, please do. But, you must be aware that your opponents have a right to know that you are playing the Bangkok Club System, and it must be revealed on your Convention Card.
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.
