System Summary Form (SSF), 2017 USBC

The following additional SSF forms are also available for this player:
Hemant Lall-Reese Milner-Jeffrey Miller


Team: Miller Last Updated Apr 14, 2017 at 17:15
Players: Jeffrey Miller - William Engel - Joshua Stark

Click here to see their ACBL convention card in a new window

Bids that Require Advance Preparation

Over 1NT we play:
2C=M; 2D=1M; 2H=H+m; 2S=S=m
Double= good hand vs weak NT and values vs strong

1m - 2H = 5S + 4/5H 3-8 HCP

After we open 1 of a Minor:
A jump shift in the other Minor is a crisscross mixed raise with 7-9 HCP (possibly 6-10 HCP with extra trump suit quality or length). This treatment remains in force after an intervening takeout double.

Artificial fit-showing responses after 1M - DBL:
RDBL - 2 or less in support
2C 3-card const; 2D 3-card limit; 2NT GF; 3C 4-card const; 3D 4-card limit; 3 of the Major is weak

General Bidding Style

Balanced hands are opened somewhat conservatively (a bad 12 HCP may be passed) and NT is always rebid at the first opportunity in an uncontested auction. Unbalanced hands are opened far more aggressively (rule of 19 is possible with 2 QT, good suit quality, and favorable vulnerability)

1NT may have 5-card Major with 3 in the other Major. Might have occasional 6-card minor.

Responder often skips longer D to bid a 4 card Major with less than game going values. We may respond to an opening bid with a very weak hand. 1D is opened with 4-4-3-2. In all other cases, a 1D opening shows 4+. 1D is sometimes opened with 9 cards in the Minors. When opener rebids a new suit at the first opportunity in an uncontested auction, that always shows an unbalanced hand.

A 2/1 is game forcing except 2C over 1D.

1NT over 1M could be bad 12. 2C over 1M catch all style.


A 2D opening is an opening bid (11-15 HCP) with 4 Spades and 5 Hearts. Relatively standard Flannery responses are used. Jumps to three of a Major are not invitational. Four of a minor is a transfer.

2H and 2S openings are relatively sound weak two bids that usually contain a six-card suit. Strength (5-10 HCP) varies with vulnerability and position.

Third seat may have 10HCP with a 4-card lead director in major.

4-4 in minors we open 1D.

Upgrade hands freely, some downgrades.

Conventions on (2H response, 2-way NMF) by passed hand.

Responses to opening bids could be as little as 3-4 HCP.

Overcalls tend to be sound, reflecting the space principle or extra suit length. Occasional four-card suit at the one-level with two of the top four honors (but not QJ).

Our pre-empting style tends to be somewhat sound but may vary occasionally at favorable vulnerability in 1st or 3rd seat.

Almost all 2 level doubles are for takeout, as are many 3 level doubles.

In competition, 2/1 is F1. Support doubles and redoubles.

Psyches rare.

Opening Leads AND Leads in the Middle of the Hand

Against suits we lead 3rd and low. We play that vs. suits Ace asks count, K asks attitude, unless the Q is in dummy, or if we can 'see' the king...That switches it.
In NT the Ace asks unblock or count, K atttude.
Suit preference at trick one if dummy hits with shortness.

Against NT we also tend to lead 4th best from a high honor, or 2nd high from a poorer holding.


We return original 4th best. A switch to a new suit is usually attitude oriented, unless a cash out is indicated vs. a suit contract.

Defensive Signals

In order of priority, we signal standard attitude, standard count and standard suit preference. Count is intentionally provided only when deemed relevant to the defense. Standard suit preference is used in the trump suit, when dummy has shortness in the suit led, and in other obvious situations. Our first discard tends to be attitude. Standard present count applies only after another card in that suit has been played. When Smith echo is used, it tends to be a strong expression of opinion.