These opening bids were devised and developed by Mr. Johan Alex Fransz from Indonesia and Mr. Ronald Denny Klinger, aka Ron Klinger, from Australia, which was published in the book Medium Club Relay: A Revolutionary Bidding System Employing Ultramodern Approaches And Strategie, published in the year 1988, and played by both in international competitions.

Note: The following photograph of Mr. Johan Alex Fransz was contributed on April 10, 2012, and isby courtesy of Cynthia Dey, the daughter of Mr. Johan Alex Fransz. The photograph is from the year 1995, the year in which Mr. Johan Alex Fransz died. Her contribution to this presentation of the Medium Club Relay Opening Bids is greatly appreciated and to the mutual benefit of our visitors.

The system employed opening of 5-card Major suits, a weak No Trump opening, four distinct interpretations of the 1 Club opening, and several interpretations of Major suit openings on the two level. The first responses to a 1 Club opening are generally considered under the aspect of showing point count with step responses.

Consideration also has to be given when the opening occurs in Third and/or Fourth Seat after a passed hand by the partner. A 1 Club opening then always shows 15 plus high card points and the No Trump range is raised to 15-17 high card points and definitely balanced shape. Mr. Joan Alex Kransz authored the publication Medium Club Relay: Updated Version in the year 1994.

Note: It remains unknown whether these conditions also pertained to the state of vulnerability. Also, the multiple meanings of a 1 Club opening made it difficult for the defenders to compete since the actual meaning of the 1 Club opening bid would first be made clear via the rebid.

Opening Bids Only

Bid		Strength		Meaning
1 :		7-9 high card points		Promises a 5-card plus Club suit and 6-card plus Major suit, or
		12-14 high card points		shows a 6-card plus Club suit, or
		12-14 high card points		shows a 5-card Club suit and 4-card plus Major suit, or
		15 plus high card points		shows any shape; see also vulnerability.
1 :		9-14 high card points		Shows a 4-card plus Diamond suit.
1 :		9-14 high card points		Shows a 5-card plus Heart suit.
1 :		9-14 high card points		Shows a 5-card plus Spade suit.
1 NT:		12-14 high card points		Shows balanced shape.
2 :		9-14 high card points		Distribution: 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0.
2 :		15-17 high card points		Distribution: 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0.
2 :		9-14 high card points		Distribution: 6-4 plus in Hearts and unspecified Minor suit, or
		12-14 high card points		shows a 7-card plus Heart suit.
2 :		9-14 high card points		Distribution: 6-4 plus in Spades and unspecified Minor suit, or
		12-14 high card points		shows a 7-card plus Spade suit.
2NT:		10-13 high card points		Distribution: 6-5 plus distribution in both Minor suits.

 

 

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.