In The Netherlands, many conventional systems are used and these
systems of bidding have been varied, changed, and altered to fit the need and the
needs of the partnership agreement. The bridge player in The Netherlands does not
entirely conform to a certain standard bidding process, but has rather a wide variety
of treatments and methods in his bidding bag.
Note:The defining and explaining the content of this web page made by Mr. Anton van Uitert .
The Biedereijer treatment is one of the many partnership agreements
available to the bridge player, and it must be noted that the word convention, when
describing Biedermeijer, is used in its widest interpretation.
As a side note, we would like to mention that the word Biedermeijer
itself refers also to a style of furnishings or interior design in German-speaking
areas in the early and middle 19th century. The style generally existed as a simplification
of the French Empire style usually executed in fruitwood with much use of matched
veneers, with accents of ebony inlay or black paint, and often displaying architectural
motifs.
The meaning of the word became also later a term for the inhabitant
of the house so furnished, and eventually described a morally and politically conservative
citizen, and conveyed a rather negative connotation.
The treatment relies heavily on making the first bid in the
auction, and each opening bid has a definite significance. The visitor must keep
in mind that Biedermeijer has several variants called the Biedermeijer Red variant, which is the
most complete, the Biedermeijer
Green variant, which is for the Novice player, and
the Biedermeijer Blue variant.
These web pages have been preserved on this site and have been
taken from the Dutch Version. These variations are in
their original language of The Netherlands, but we hope to preserve this convention
also on this site and hope that we can find a translator, who can assist us in the
translation. In addition to these variants played in The Netherlands, variations
have been devised by other countries and other partnerships. The visitor should remember
that this agreement, called Biedermeijer, is essentially and primarily a partnership
understanding for the opening bid. Following is a devised variation, and the information
stems from Mr. Hans van Staveren, Amstelveen, The Netherlands.
Biedermeier Opening Bids
| Opening |
|
Range |
|
Meaning |
1  : |
|
12-21 high card points |
|
Promises a 3-card plus Club holding. |
1  : |
|
12-21 high card points |
|
Promises a 4-card plus Diamond holding. |
1  : |
|
12-21 high card points |
|
Promises a 4-card plus Heart holding. |
1  : |
|
12-21 high card points |
|
Promises a 5-card plus Spade holding. |
| 1 NT: |
|
15-17 high card points |
|
Balanced shape. |
| 2 : |
|
22 high card points |
|
Any shape or distribution. |
| 2 : |
|
8-11 high card points |
|
Promises a 6-card plus Heart or Spade holding. |
|
|
or the bid can mean |
|
Range: 22 high card points to 23 high card points and balanced. |
| 2 : |
|
18 high card points plus |
|
Promises a 5-card plus Heart holding. |
| 2 : |
|
18 high card points plus |
|
Promises a 5-card plus Spade holding. |
| 2 NT: |
|
20-21 high card points |
|
Balanced shape. |
Any 1 No Trump or 2 No Trump opening allows the normal use of the Stayman convention and also the Jacoby Transfer on the Two and Three Level respectively.
Although the opening bids of 2 Hearts and/or 2 Spades do not meet the lesser requirements regarding the point count of the Acol Two Opening Bids, these two opening bids are to be considered under the same aspects with regard to the number of Quick Tricks required and the responses.
Mr. Anton van Uitert, from The Netherlands, as of October 21, 2000, has contributed the following as additional, and even perhaps better information for understanding the Biedermeier treatment. Below my personal interpretation of the Biedermeier Red basics. Not guaranteed 100% correct.
Biedermeier is not a convention, but rather a Standard System containing general agreements, much like Standard American Yellow Card or BWS in the United States, although considered by several more experienced bridge players less advanced and complete than the BWS (Bridge World Standard). Though it contains some conventional opening bids like Multi or Muiderberg, it is essentially a natural system.
So Biedermeier is more than just a system of opening bids, as it also contains a set of conventions and general guidelines about the style of bidding, such as forcing situations. The Dutch Bridge League has issued 3 variants on the system: Green, Blue and Red. The Red variant is the most advanced, the Green variant is mainly for casual and/or beginner play. The list of opening bids should be as follows, according to the Biedermeier Red variant, which is the most complete variant:
Please note that the lower and upper limit depend on individual style.
*Some partnerships skip the strong Clubs and Diamonds variant.
** Some partnerships skip the Weak Two variant.
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.