Moscito Byte

Moscito is a partial acronym for Major-Oriented-Strong-Club and was first devised by Mr. Paul Marston and Mr. Stephen Burgess. The concept was based on the Symmetric Relay system basically in auctions when the opening partnership has the balance of power. Originally, Mr. Paul Marston and Mr. Stephen Burgess conceived this system of bidding as a Strong Pass system. The Moscito Byte bidding system is a variation based on the system devised by Mr. Paul Marston and Mr. Stephen Burgess.

It is highly recommended that the student of Moscito Byte first acquaint him/herself with the basics of the Moscito system before reading the guidelines of the Moscito Byte bidding system.

The main features of the Moscito Byte is:

No Trump Opening Bids: the range is determined by the system or by partnership agreement, and which varies according to vulnerability and opening position.

Forcing Opening: always 1 Club.

Two Over One, which is an artificial or a natural non-forcing bidding system, depending on the bidding sequence.

Very Light Openings: used only in First or Second Seat.

Moscito Byte was researched and devised with several targets in mind.

1. Entering and exiting the auction as quickly as possible and find a contract, especially in a Major suit.

2. To determine whether game values are present, and if slam should be explored.

3. To increase the difficulty of communication between the opponents.

General Description of Moscito Byte

1 :		shows 15 HCPs plus, any shape
1 :		8-14 HCPs, shows Spades
1 :		8-14 HCPs, shows Hearts
1 :		8-14 HCPs, shows both Major suits
1 NT:		11-14 HCPs, balanced
2 any Minor:		No Major suit, unbalanced, natural

Following are the openings of the partnership employing Moscito Byte, and the various responses of the responder. Whether or not the systems are on or off depends on the partnership agreement and the bidding sequence, by which a situation may arise which demand that the systems are played as off when they would generally be on. Partnership agreement is necessary. It must also be clear to both partners which bids are natural and which are not, especially after interference. The partnership must also be aware as to whether a bid is applicable or if it has become an idle bid with no application within the Moscito Byte bidding system.

1 No Trump: range 11-14 high card points in First and Second Seat

1 No Trump: range 13-16 high card points in Third and Fourth Seat

The imparted information and the meanings of the responses are listed below, and these responses have specific information for the No Trump bidder.

Opener	Responder	Meaning
1 NT		Denies a 4-card Major suit unless 4-3-3-3 distribution
		No 5-card Major suit
		Systems Off
	2	Stayman: this does not promise a 4-card Major suit
	2	Jacoby Transfer: invitational; could promise only 4 Hearts
	2	Jacoby Transfer: invitational; could promise only 4 Spades
	2	4-4 distribution in the Majors or shows weakness in the Minor suits
	2 NT	Natural bid and invitational
	3	Transfer to Diamonds; responder is weak or is 3-suited
	3	Stopper Asking Bid
	3	Natural bid and game-forcing
	3	Natural bid and game-forcing
	4	Transfer to Hearts
	4	Transfer to Spades
	4	Natural bid and end of bidding auction

Conventions, which are not used nor applied are:

Smolen
Lebensohl
Negative Double
Rubensohl: however, applied in competitive tournaments

An opening of 2 No Trump is completely artificial and promises 0-10 high card points. This opening imparts to the partner that the opener has either a Preempt in Clubs or a bad to moderate Preempt in Diamonds.

If the responder bids a Minor suit, the opener either passes if that suit is his suit or corrects to the other Minor suit.

If the responder bids a Major suit, then this response is considered to be a natural bid and is one-round forcing if the auction is still below game.

An opening of 3 No Trump is completely artificial and promises 0-10 high card points. This opening imparts to the partner that the opener has either a Preempt in Clubs or a Preempt in Diamonds, and that the main values are located in the intended Minor suit.

If the responder bids a Minor suit, the opener either passes if that suit is his suit or corrects to the other Minor suit.

If, however, the responder bids a Major suit, then this response is natural and is to play. The opener should pass.

In consideration of the No Trump opening bids, it must be remembered that the range is determined by the system or by partnership agreement, and which varies according to vulnerability and opening position. However, the range of a No Trump rebid after a 1 Club opening, which shows 15 high card points plus and any distribution, is relayed to the partner in the following bidding sequences:

Opener	Responder	Meaning
1		15 HCPs plus and any distribution
	1
1 NT		14-17 HCPs
or
1		15 HCPs plus and any distribution
	1
1 NT		12-14 HCPs

All other rebids of No Trump are artificial on the Two Level.

In consideration of a Major suit opening, which in the original Moscito system showed 10-14 HCPs, 4 plus length, less than 3 in the other Major suit, and a possible longer Minor suit on the side, the Moscito Byte system has the following meaning. It must be also remembered that it is permissible to open a 4-card Major suit; the length does not have to be a minimum of a 5-card suit.

1		4-card plus Heart suit, 0-3 Spade suit, 8-15 HCPs, 12-16 HCPs in Third and Fourth Seat
1		4-card plus suit, 4-card plus Heart suit, 8-15 HCPs, 11-16 HCPs in Thrid and Fourth Seat

In relation to a Major suit opening, the systems applied in responding are:

1. A Double Raise is weak
2. After an overcall, a response is weak
3. Other responses are conventional raises

Such as:
1. Over 1 Heart, all No Trump bids and Minor suit bids, except 2 Diamonds and 1 No Trump are conventional.
2. Over 1 Spade, any bid of 3 Diamonds or 4 Diamonds is conventional.

Other responses after a Major suit opening have the following significance:

1	1 NT	non-forcing
1	1 NT	non-forcing
1	2 NT	4-card plus support, invitational, definitely not a Mini-Splinter
1	3 NT	a Transfer to 3 Clubs; may be a Mini-Splinter
1	3 NT	may mean to play and shows any strength; Drury not applicable
1	1	Strong and artificial response
1	2	unbalanced distribution, artificial and constructive response
1	2	invitational raise and/or game-forcing per agreement
1	2	a sign-off in Hearts; or a constructive Spade raise; or invitational misfit

It is important that all Major suit openings are natural and not forcing. Responder may pass any Major suit opening of his partner since the values are between 11/12 and 16 HCPs. With absolutely no values, responder may pass.

Any Minor suit opening corresponds to the original concept devised by Mr. Paul Marston and Mr. Stephen Burgess, but with a slight difference as to the Seat Position.

1 is normally 15 plus HCPs, but 17 plus HCPs in Third and/or Fourth Seat, and any Shape

1 is 4 plus Spades, less than 3 Hearts, and 8-15 HCPs, but 11-16 HCPs in Third and/or Fourth Seat

The responses and other features as a response to a Minor suit opening are as follows:

A Double Raise:		this bid is not applicable
After an overcall:		Rubensohl; however, Transfers in competition
Forcing Raise:		this bid is not applicable
General Limit:		the 4-Level may be exceeded
1 NT over 1 Club:		signifies 8 HCPs plus

Other responses to a 1 Club opening are:

1 :		normally 0-8 HCPs and any shape
1 :		artificial, 8 plus HCPs, and semi-shape descriptive
1 :		artificial, 8 plus HCPs, and semi-shape descriptive
1 NT:		artificial, 8 plus HCPs, and semi-shape descriptive
2 :		artificial, 8 plus HCPs, and semi-shape descriptive
2 :		artificial, 8 plus HCPs, and semi-shape descriptive
2 :		a natural bid and considered semi-inviting
2 :		a natural bid and considered semi-inviting
3 :		a natural bid and considered semi-inviting
3 :		a natural bid and considered semi-inviting
		all other responses are artificial and positive (forcing per partnership agreement

Responses to a 1 Diamond opening are:

1 :		artificial, a waiting bid
1 :		artificial, a strong response
1 NT:		constructive showing 5-6 length in Hearts
2 :		constructive showing a 3-card plus Spade suit
2 NT:		this is an artificial Spade raise
3 :		this is an artificial Spade raise
3 :		this is an artificial Spade raise
3 NT:		this is an artificial Spade raise
4 :		this is an artificial Spade raise
4 :		this is an artificial Spade raise
2 :		a natural and non-forcing response
2 :		a natural and non-forcing response
2 :		a natural and non-forcing response
3 :		a natural and non-forcing response
3 :		a natural and non-forcing response
4 :		a natural and non-forcing response
4 :		a natural and non-forcing response

The issue of openings, especially on the Two Level, have specific meanings. An opening on the Two Level must conform always to the information agreed upon before deciding to make an opening on the Two Level. These bids are individual and verify the holding of certain distributions. They are covered individually with the appropriate significance of the responses.

2 Clubs:

1. shows 10-15 HCPs and no biddable Major suit
2. shows a 6-card plus Club suit or 4-5 in the Minor suits

Responses:
1. a 2 Diamond response is strong and artificial,
2. all other responses are generally natural

2 Diamonds:

1. shows 10-15 HCPs and no biddable Major suit
2. shows a 6-card plus Diamond suit or 4-5 in the Minor suits

Responses:
1. a 2 Hearts response is strong and artificial,
2. a 3 Clubs response is a Splinter Raise,
3. all other responses are generally natural

2 Hearts:

1. shows 9 HCPs and is considered a natural bid showing a 6-card plus Heart suit

Responses:
1. 2 NT is a strong asking bid,
2. 2 Spades is a natural bid,
3. a 3 Club or 3 Diamond response are Transfers
4. a 4 Club or 4 Diamond response are Fit-Showing Jumps

2 Spades:

1. shows 3-9 HCPs
2. considered a natural bid showing a 6-card plus Spade suit

Responses:
1. 2 NT is a strong asking bid
2. a 3 Club/3 Diamond/3 Hearts response is a Transfer bid
4. a 4 Club or 4 Diamond Jump response is a Fit-Showing response

To gain a partnership agreement, which includes the Moscito Byte bidding system, it is important to remember which other conventions are compatible. It is also important to agree whether after an overcall whether or not other systems are on or off, as mentioned above when opening No Trump. Several of the conventions listed below are designated as applicable or not applicable in general partnership agreements.

Fourth Suit Forcing:		Not applicable
Weak Jump Shifts:		Depends on the competitive event
New Minor Forcing:		Not applicable
Rubensohl:		Transfers only in competitive events
Negative Doubles:		Not applicable
Responsive Doubles:		Not applicable
Support Doubles:		Not applicable
Maximal Doubles:		Not applicable
Card-Showing Doubles:		Applicable

In the following bidding sequences, when the opponents bid first, the general partnership agreement is listed below:

Opponent	Partner			Meaning
1 any suit	1 NT			15-18 HCPs and systems on
1 any suit	pass	pass	1 NT	10-16 HCPs
1 any suit	2 NT			promises the 2 lowest-ranking suits

If the requirements for a No Trump overcall are not fulfilled, the auction can still be entered with an overcall even though the opponents have opened the bidding;

Opponent	Partner Overcall	Meaning
1 any suit	On the One-Level	8-16 HCPs and a 5-card suit
1 any suit	Any new suit	Not forcing for partner, but constructive in nature
1 any suit	Any Jump Raise	a weak overcall, preemptive

Regarding other conventional features, it is important to note that Jump Overcalls are definitely weak, Opening Preempts are light in nature. Concerning cuebids, the general partnership agreement is that direct cue-bids vary according to the nature of the opening bid by the opponents.

Michaels Cuebid:		applicable over a natural opening bid
Cuebid:		considered natural after an artificial opening bid

The partnership can also enter the bidding after the opponents have opened the auction. Since the strength and distribution of the opponent is already known, with the proper distribution and sufficient values, the bidding of the opponents can be disturbed. The proper distribution are shown with the following bids after a No Trump opening by the opponents.

2 :		shows Hearts and a second suit
2 :		shows Spades and a second suit
2 :		shows Hearts and is a natural bid
2 :		shows Spades and is a natural bid
Double:		this bid is for penalty
2 NT:		is the Unusual No Trump and all higher bids are natural

In the case that the opponents double after an opening, and the double of the opponents is definitely a Takeout Double, then the responder can bid a new suit at the One-Level, which then becomes a Forcing bid. If the responder Jump Shifts to a new suit, then this is weak. A redouble shows absolutely no fit in the suit of the opener. A response of 2 No Trump over the Takeout Double by the opponents show a Limit Raise for the suit of the opener, but only if the suit of the opener is a Major suit. This does not apply if the suit of the opener is a Minor suit.

Other defense mechanisms are definitely available to the individual partnership, and these must be agreed upon by the partnership.

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.