Mr. Mark Abraham, Mr. Griffith Ware, and Mr. Daniel Geromboux published online the Douche Club bidding system May 24, 2007. The following information can be found at the website of Mr. Mark Abraham.
Note: As to the designation it remains unclear as to significance in relation to a conventional bidding system. If the reader wishes to know the meaning of the term, then the reader should consult various online dictionaries for the various meanings.
The devised bidding system relies heavily on the opening bids, which communicate particular information about the distribution of the holding. The bridge student will discover that the bidding system is marked by the one parameter of shortage in any given suit, which mandates the opening bid.
In the words of the authors: any No Trump opening bid is 14–16 high card points in 1st and 2nd seat. In third seat, we vary the scheme to use a 12–14 high card points 1NT for preemptive impact when favorable, and 15–17 high card points otherwise, so that maximum passed hands have clear direction in all cases. In fourth seat we use a 12–14 high card points throughout.
Note: Any additional information about Mr. Daniel Geromboux , especially photographic material, would be greatly appreciated.
Note: The entire online presentation of Mr. Mark Abraham, Mr. Griffith Ware, and Mr. Daniel Geromboux has only been preserved and archived on this site in .pdf file format for future reference.
Opening Bids Only in First and Second Seat
| Bid |
|
Strength |
|
Meaning |
| Pass: |
|
|
|
Denies the ability or desire to open with a bid. |
1  : |
|
12-13 high card points |
|
Balanced with 2-4 Spades, 2-4 Hearts, 2-5 Diamonds, 2-5 Clubs, or |
| |
|
17-19 high card points |
|
balanced with 2-4 Spades, 2-4 Hearts, 2-5 Diamonds, 2-5 Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 4-4-1-4, or |
| |
|
11-13 high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 1-4-4-4, or |
| |
|
17-19 high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 1-4-4-4, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 0-3 Diamonds, 5 plus Clubs. |
1  : |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 5 plus Diamonds, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 4 Diamonds, 5 plus Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 4-4-4-1 or 4-1-4-4, or |
| |
|
14-16 high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 1-4-4-4, or |
| |
|
|
|
promises game forcing values with 1-4-4-4. |
1  : |
|
12-13 high card points |
|
Balanced with 2-3 Spades, 5 Hearts, 2-3 Diamonds, 2-3 Clubs, or |
| |
|
17-19 high card points |
|
balanced with 2-3 Spades, 5 Hearts, 2-3 Diamonds, 2-3 Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 5 plus Hearts. |
1  : |
|
12-13 high card points |
|
Balanced with 5 Spades, 2-3 Hearts, 2-3 Diamonds, 2-3 Clubs, or |
| |
|
17-19 high card points |
|
balanced with 5 Spades, 2-3 Hearts, 2-3 Diamonds, 2-3 Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 5 plus Spades. |
| 1 NT: |
|
14-16 high card points |
|
Balanced distribution, (unorthodox shapes permitted) |
| 2 : |
|
20 plus high card points |
|
Unbalanced distribution, or |
| |
|
23 plus high card points |
|
balanced distribution. |
| 2 : |
|
ca. 5-9 high card points |
|
Preemptive; 5 plus Spades; undisciplined, but length disparity greater than one card is not permitted. |
| 2 : |
|
ca. 5-9 high card points |
|
Preemptive; 4 plus Spades, 4 plus Hearts; undisciplined, but length disparity greater than one card is not permitted. |
| 2 : |
|
ca. 5-9 high card points |
|
Preemptive; 5 plus Spades, undisciplined. |
| 2NT: |
|
20-22 high card points |
|
Balanced distribution. |
| 3x: |
|
ca. 5-9 high card points |
|
Promises 6 plus cards in the suit bid: (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, or Spades). |
| 3 NT: |
|
|
|
Strong Major suit preempt when vulnerable, or |
| |
|
|
|
shows a four-level Minor suit preempt when not vulnerable. |
| 4 : |
|
|
|
Preemptive. Shows a 7-card plus Club suit when vulnerable, or |
| |
|
|
|
shows a strong four-level Major suit preempt when not vulnerable. |
| 4 : |
|
|
|
Preemptive. Shows a 7-card plus Diamond suit when vulnerable, or |
| |
|
|
|
shows a strong four-level Major suit preempt when not vulnerable |
| 4 : |
|
|
|
Preemptive. Promises a 7-card plus Heart suit. |
| 4 : |
|
|
|
Preemptive. Promises a 7-card plus Heart suit. |
The following outline lists the opening bids, which change in third seat when vulnerable.
| Bid |
|
Strength |
|
Meaning |
| 1 : |
|
14-16 high card points |
|
Balanced, showing 2-4 Spades, 2-4 Hearts, 2-5 Diamonds, 2-5 Clubs, or |
| |
|
17-19 high card points |
|
balanced, showing 2-4 Spades, 2-4 Hearts, 2-5 Diamonds, 2-5 Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 4-4-1-4, or |
| |
|
17-19 high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 1-4-4-4, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 0-3 Diamonds, 5 plus Club. |
| 1 : |
|
11 high card points |
|
Unbalanced with 5 plus Diamonds., or |
| |
|
11 high card points |
|
unbalanced with 4 Diamonds, 5 plus Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 4-4-4-1 or 4-1-4-4, or |
| |
|
11-16 high card points |
|
game forcing with 1-4-4-4. |
| 1 : |
|
14-19 high card points |
|
Balanced with 2-3 Spades, 5 Hearts, 2-3 Diamonds, 2-3 Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 5 plus Hearts. |
| 1 : |
|
14-19 high card points |
|
Balanced with 5 Spades, 2-3 Hearts, 2-3 Diamonds, 2-3 Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 5 plus Spades. |
| 1 NT: |
|
12-14 high card points |
|
Balanced (unorthodox shapes permitted). |
| 3 NT: |
|
|
|
To play. |
The following outline lists the opening bids, which change in third seat when not at favorable vulnerability.
| Bid |
|
Strength |
|
Meaning |
| 1 : |
|
14-16 high card points |
|
Balanced, showing 2-4 Spades, 2-4 Hearts, 2-5 Diamonds, 2-5 Clubs, or |
| |
|
18-19 high card points |
|
balanced, showing 2-4 Spades, 2-4 Hearts, 2-5 Diamonds, 2-5 Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 4-4-1-4, or |
| |
|
17-19 high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 1-4-4-4, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 0-3 Diamonds, 5 plus Club. |
| 1 : |
|
11 high card points |
|
Unbalanced with 5 plus Diamonds., or |
| |
|
11 high card points |
|
unbalanced with 4 Diamonds, 5 plus Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 4-4-4-1 or 4-1-4-4, or |
| |
|
14-16 high card points |
|
game forcing with 1-4-4-4. |
| 1 : |
|
12-14 high card points |
|
Balanced with 2-3 Spades, 5 Hearts, 2-3 Diamonds, 2-3 Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 5 plus Hearts. |
| 1 : |
|
12-14 high card points |
|
Balanced with 5 Spades, 2-3 Hearts, 2-3 Diamonds, 2-3 Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 5 plus Spades. |
| 1 NT: |
|
15-17 high card points |
|
Balanced (unorthodox shapes permitted). |
| 3 NT: |
|
|
|
To play. |
The following outline lists the opening bids, which change in fourth seat by any state of vulnerability.
| Bid |
|
Strength |
|
Meaning |
| 1 : |
|
15-17 high card points |
|
Balanced, showing 2-4 Spades, 2-4 Hearts, 2-5 Diamonds, 2-5 Clubs, or |
| |
|
18-19 high card points |
|
balanced, showing 2-4 Spades, 2-4 Hearts, 2-5 Diamonds, 2-5 Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 4-4-1-4, or |
| |
|
17-19 high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 1-4-4-4, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 0-3 Diamonds, 5 plus Club. |
| 1 : |
|
11 high card points |
|
Unbalanced with 5 plus Diamonds., or |
| |
|
11 high card points |
|
unbalanced with 4 Diamonds, 5 plus Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 high card points |
|
shows a three-suited holding with 4-4-4-1 or 4-1-4-4, or |
| |
|
14-16 high card points |
|
game forcing with 1-4-4-4. |
| 1 : |
|
15-17 high card points |
|
Balanced with 2-3 Spades, 5 Hearts, 2-3 Diamonds, 2-3 Clubs, or |
| |
|
18-19 high card points |
|
balanced with 2-3 Spades, 5 Hearts, 2-3 Diamonds, 2-3 Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 5 plus Hearts. |
| 1 : |
|
12-14 high card points |
|
Balanced with 5 Spades, 2-3 Hearts, 2-3 Diamonds, 2-3 Clubs, or |
| |
|
18-19 high card points |
|
balanced with 5 Spades, 2-3 Hearts, 2-3 Diamonds, 2-3 Clubs, or |
| |
|
11 plus high card points |
|
unbalanced with 5 plus Spades. |
| 1 NT: |
|
12-14 high card points |
|
Balanced (unorthodox shapes permitted). |
| 2 : |
|
9-13 high card points |
|
Shows 6 plus Diamonds with 2/3 top honors and no Major suit, or |
| 2 : |
|
9-13 high card points |
|
Shows 6 plus Hearts with 2/3 top honors and no Spade suit, or |
| 2 : |
|
9-13 high card points |
|
Shows 6 plus Spades with 2/3 top honors and no Heart suit, or |
| 3 x: |
|
13-16 high card points |
|
Shows a 7-card plus suit in the bid suit with no side Major suit. |
| 3 NT: |
|
|
|
To play. |
| 4 : |
|
|
|
(Idle bid?) Possibly specific Ace ask? |
| 4 : |
|
|
|
(Idle bid?) Possibly specific King ask? |
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.