This is a derivative and modified form of the original Blue Club bidding system devised by Mr. Benito Garozzo, which was employed by the famous Blue Team or squadra azzurra. The Blue Team represented Italy in international contract bridge tournaments, winning sixteen world titles from 1957 through 1975.

From 1964 to 1969 and during a 1972 comeback, the team comprised three regular pairs: Walter Avarelli partnering with Giorgio Belladonna, Pietro Forquet partnering with Benito Garozzo, and Massimo D'Alelio partnering with Camillo Pabis Ticci. Eugenio Chiaradia and Guglielmo Siniscalco played in early years. Dano De Falco, Arturo Franco, and Vito Pittalà played in later years. The long-time coach and non-playing captain through 1966 was Carl'Alberto Perroux.

Opening Bids and Explanation

Strong Club System:	1 openings promise 17 or more high card points, with step answers showing controls.
Four-Card Major Suits:	1 and 1 and 1 openings are limited to approximately 12-16 high card points.
Canapé bids:	This is a concept which shows a two-suited holding, whereby the second bid shows the stronger suit.
1 No Trump Opening:	The range is from 13-17 high card points. It can be either 13-15 points, which is essentially a replacement bid for a balanced Club suit with two specific shapes, 3-3-3-43 and 3-3-2-5, or the bid means 16-17 points and balanced distribution.

The concept of precise or multiple opening bids was not the the original foundation for this opening bidding style or approach. All opening bids on the one level were based on the strong, artificial 1 Club as in all Precision bidding forms, and included was the concept of Canapé opening bids. The No Trump range was extended and, to some degree, confined to certain patterns.

Note: The Austrian Blue Club is also represented as an Internet Forum as Austrian Blue Club (Note: Login required). Since the original concept of Mr. Benito Garozzo has been changed over the past decades the visitor should not become too alarmed at the changes made.

Mr. Stefan Zijlstra has composed an Austrian Blue Club Writeup. He has compiled and posted this information in 1999 to the Forum, and the visitor can download this information. He has also included the preface that the included conventions and their sequences are a personal view of the author. The reader should bear this in mind.

Note: Whether or not this this information reflects the original intent of Mr. Benito Garozzo has not been established. This information is also only preserved and archived on this site in .pdf file format for future reference.

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.