These opening bids were devised by Mr. James D. Horn, (aka Stormy) of El Paso, Texas, United States, and Richard Reed, aka Dick, of Boulder, Colorado, United States.

Pictures of these two bridge players presented below are from the back cover of their publication The System: Bidding Techniques of Reed - Horn, first printed in the year 1976 by Consolidated Printers, Inc., Berkeley, California, United States, and first published by BPA Publishers of San Francisco, California, United States. The Preface is by Dr. George M. Pisk of Austin, Texas, United States, dated February 25, 1976.

Note: One source of their opening bids is posted at Source.

Opening Bids Only

The opening bids are based on the two bidding flowcharts pictured above.

Bids		Strength		Meaning
1 :		18 plus high card points		Promises opening values and any distribution.
1 :		13-17 high card points		Promises a 3 plus Diamond suit, or
		15-17 high card points		shows a balanced distribution.
1 :		13-17 high card points		Shows a 5 plus Heart suit.
1 :		12-14 high card points		Shows a 5 plus Spade suit.
1 NT:		14-17 high card points		Shows a balanced distribution.
2 :		13-17 high card points		Shows a 5 plus Club suit.
2 :		13-17 high card points		Promises a 4-4-1-4 or 4-4-0-5 pattern with Diamond shortage.
2 :		8-12 high card points		Promises a 6-card plus Heart suit.
2 :		8-12 high card points		Promises a 6-card plus Spade suit.
2NT:		21-22 high card points		Shows a balanced distribution.

Additional Information About the Authors

Mr. Richard (Dick) Reed was born in the year 1932, and was a teacher of the game of bridge, which was a major achievement at the time of the 1960s through the 1980s. He earned this privilege through his play and victories at bridge tournaments.

Mr. James D. Horn was born in the year 1929 and is of El Paso, Texas, United States, but formerly of Dallas, Texas, United States. He is the co-author of The System: Bidding Techniques of Reed-Horn. This publication was co-authored by Mr. Richard (Dick) Reed of Bolder, Colorado, United States, and published in the year 1976. Source: OEofB, Newly Revised, Fourth Edition, page: 906.

Note: The Australian Bridge Federation has the publication listed under: Reed, Dick & Horn, Stormy (James Dehaven). Neither the Library of Congress nor the Australian Bridge Federation lists a publisher, which preempts the conclusion that the publication was privately published in the United States by the two authors.

Bridge Achievements of James D. Horn
Year		Placed		Tournament
1970		First		Rocky Mountain Men's Pairs
1973		First		Spring NAC secondary Men's Pairs
1974		First		International City Swiss Teams
1975		First		Knockout Teams
1976		First		Pikes Peak Master Pairs
1978		First		Open Pairs Flight A.
1979		First		Open Pairs Flight A.
1979		First		Master Pairs
1981		First		Swiss Teams Flight A

 

 

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.