There are many different bidding systems employed in The Netherlands and are considered standard. The following chart offers the most commonly used opening bids with the desired requirements. The reader must be, however, aware of the fact that these opening bids are based on those opening bids decided upon during the 1980s.
Opening Bids Only
| Bid |
|
Strength |
|
Meaning |
1  : |
|
12-21 high card points |
|
Shows 3 plus Clubs. |
1  : |
|
12-21 high card points |
|
Shows 4 plus Diamonds. |
1  : |
|
12-21 high card points |
|
Shows 4 plus Hearts. |
1  : |
|
12-21 high card points |
|
Shows 5 plus Spades. |
| 1 NT: |
|
15-17 high card points |
|
Shows balanced shape. |
| 2 : |
|
22 plus high card points |
|
Shows any shape. |
| 2 : |
|
8-11 high card points |
|
Shows 6 Hearts or Spades, or |
| |
|
22-23 high card points |
|
shows balanced shape. |
| 2 : |
|
18 plus high card points |
|
Shows 5 plus Hearts. |
| 2 : |
|
18 plus high card points |
|
Shows 5 plus Spades. |
| 2 NT: |
|
20-21 high card points |
|
Shows balanced shape. |
Stayman is employed after a 1 No Trump opening as are Transfers. The opening bids of 2 Hearts or 2 Spades are Acol Two opening bids. These Dutch Standard Opening Bids are sometimes, perhaps mistakenly, referred to as Biedermeijer.
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.