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The Vienna System of Contract Bridge Bidding

Copyright 1934
by Vienna System, Ltd

The Vienna System
of

Contract Bridge Bidding

Copyright 1934
by Vienna System, Ltd.

The Vienna System

The object of the Vienna System, which originated abroad, is to portray Quick
Trick values accurately, and at the lowest possible level.

Quick Tricks - not honor tricks - are the basis of the Vienna System. Beginning at
the lowest possible point, bidding rises gradually to the ultimate objective.

All Initial Bids and Responses, both the conventional and the artificial, in this
System, indicate the number of Quick Tricks held in each hand. Possessed of such
knowledge, the partners can determine if the hand should be played for a Partial Score,
a Game, or a Slam. Their subsequent bidding will enable them to arrive at the proper
contract.

Since the vienna System enables each partner to visualize accurately the
weakness or the strength of combined hands in the early stages of bidding, Games and
Slams are rarely missed.

This system is logically and mathematically correct, and will get the most out of
every hand if there is no deviation from its fundamental principles.

Partial Scores are tremendously important When you have forty or sixty on
Game, your opponents may be forced to overdid to save the Game.

Unless it includes a long suit, a combined four and a half tricks will not often
make a Game from no score; it usually requires five or more tricks in combination to
produce a Game Bid.

Six and one-half to seven tricks in combination are nearly always needed for a
Small Slam; while seven and one-half to eight tricks are usually required for a Grand
Slam.

In bidding Slams the Responder should always be guided by his partner, save in
cases of freak distribution. Thus, when the Original Bidder goes to a Small Slam, a
Grand Slam should only be attempted by his partner when it seems unbeatable.

In the long run, users of the Vienna System will get far better-than-average
results from average cards.

The exposition of the Vienna System, which follows, assumes you know as much
about Bridge as the average player. It does not begin by telling you that Bridge is played
by four persons, that the Dealer opens the bid, or that a bid of one Spade is higher than
a bid of one Heart. It assumes you know these and other fundamental rules of Bridge,
and are already familiar with one or more bidding systems in vogue.

TABLE OF QUICK TRICKS

AK AKQ 2 quick tricks
AQ AQJ 1½ quick tricks
A AJ10 1 quick trick
KQ KQJ 1 quick trick
Kx KJx ½ quick tricks

The additional Queens, Jacks and Tens in the second column do not add to the
Quick Trick value but are considered plus values.

The Vienna System advocates an Opening Bid on two and one-half to three
Quick Tricks and Biddable Suit. However, there are a few hands which, due to the lack
of plus values either in intermediate cards or distribution, should be passed.

EXAMPLES
Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

Ax Ax

xx Qx

xx xx

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

KA A x

xx xx

xx x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xA AA

xx xx

xx x

xx

DISTRIBUTION

With such distribution as 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2 more Quick Tricks are
needed to fulfill Game contracts.

With distribution such as 5-5-3, 5-4-4, 6-5-2, 6-6-1 Games are more readily made
in suit contracts and need fewer Quick Tricks.

Hands which are obvious misfits had better be signed off at the lowest level
possible.

BIDDABLE SUITS

Four Card Suits
A four card suit must be headed by at least two honors, the minimum being KJxx

Examples: KQxx - AJxx - AQxx and stronger.

Five Card Suits

Any five card suit headed by the Queen, King, or Ace, or minimum of J10xxx,
with which holding the hand should contain some plus values to offset the weakness of
the suit.

Six Card Suits

Any suit of six cards or more.

ORIGINAL SUIT BIDS OF ONE

Requirements for all Opening Bids are the same for any position at the table. The
conventional bid of one Diamond, one Heart or one Spade indicates a Biddable Suit
with one and one-half to three Quick Tricks only. The one Club bid will be explained
later. With two Biddable Suits of equal length, bid higher suit.

EXAMPLES OF OPENING SUIT BIDS OF ONE

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK J x

QQ x x

Jx x

x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs
AQ K A
x 10 x Q
x xx
x
x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xQ A K

xJ Kx

x Qx

x

x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

JA KK

10 J QQ

x 10

xx

x

RESPONSES TO SUIT BIDS OF ONE

1 With less than 1½ Q T.* Pass - *Quick Trick
2 With 1½ to 2½ Q.T. (no biddable suit). Bid one No Trump
3 With 1½ to 2½ Q.T. (biddable suit). Bid two No Trump.
4 With 3 or more Q.T. (no biddable suit). Bid three No Trump
5 With 3 or more Q.T. (biddable suit). Bid one more than necessary in biddable suit.

EXCEPTIONS TO RESPONSE NUMBER ONE
With one Q.T. and any suit of six cards or more - bid suit.
With one Q.T. and distribution such as 5-5-3, 5-5-2-1, overcall in higher valued suit.
With one Q.T. and void in partner’s suit, overcall in best suit.

EXAMPLE 1

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xA xQ

xx xx

xx xx

x

Over 1D - Pass
Over 1 H - Pass
Over1 Spade - Pass

EXAMPLE 2

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

x AK Q

x xx J

x xx x

x

Over 1D - Bid one No Trump
Over 1H - Bid one No Trump
Over 1S - Bid one No Trump

EXAMPLE 3

Spade Heart Diamon Club

s s ds s

xQ K K

xJ x J

xx x

x

x

Over 1D - Bid one Heart
Over 1H - Bid one Heart
Over 1S - Bid one Heart

EXAMPLE 4

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK KQ

QQ x x

xx xx

x

Over 1D - Bid two No Trump
Over 1H - Bid two No Trump
Over 1S - Bid two No Trump

EXAMPLE 5

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK KQ

xQ Q x

xx x

x

x

Over 1D - Bid two Hearts
Over 1H - Bid three Hearts

Over 1S - Bid three Hearts

ORIGINAL BIDS OF ONE NO TRUMP

An Opening Bid of one No Trump indicates no Biddable Suit and a minimum of
three and one-half Quick Tricks, but may have as many as five Quick Tricks. A hand
containing three and one-half Quick Tricks plus intermediate values may be as strong
as a five trick hand having no plus values of any kind such as:

3½ Q.T.

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK AK

J 10 10 Q

xx xx

x

5 Q.T.

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

KK KA

JQ x x

xx xx

x

EXAMPLES OF OPENING BIDS OF ONE NO TRUMP

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

KA KA

J 10 K

xx xx

x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

KA KA

xQ J 10

xJ xx

x

RESPONSES TO OPENING BIDS OF ONE NO TRUMP

1. With less than 1 Q.T. plus, Pass
2. With 1 plus to 2 Q.T. (no biddable suit). Bid 2NT
3. With 1 plus to 2 Q.T. (biddable suit), Bid 2NT
4. With 1½ to 3 Q.T. (no biddable suit), Bid 3NT
5.With 2½ to 3 Q.T. (biddable suit), Bid 3 in biddable suit
6. With 3½ or more Q.T. (no biddable suit), Bid 4NT*

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK Q x

xx xx

xx

xx

x

7. With 3½ or more Q.T. (biddable suit), Bid 4 in biddable suit.

* The four and five No Trump bid, which has been the source of comments, disputes, and rulings, is not
recognized or required. The opening, responding, and subsequent bids in the Vienna System are
intended to give more complete information.

EXAMPLE 1

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xK Q x

xx xx

x xx

x x

Pass

EXAMPLE 2

Spades Hearts Diamonds Club

AK QQ

xx xx

x xx

x x

Bid two No Trump

EXAMPLE 3

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK Q x

xx xx

xx

xx

x
Bid two Spades

EXAMPLE 4

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK K x

Qx Qx

x xx

x
Bid three No Trump

EXAMPLE 5

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

QK A J

xx Kx

x xx

x

x
Bid three Diamonds

EXAMPLE 6

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK K J

Kx Qx

xx xx

x
Bid four No Trump

EXAMPLE 7

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK XK

KJ XQ

xx

xx

x
Bid four Spades

EXCEPTIONS, RESPONSE No. ONE
With Less than one Quick Trick

Holding any freak distribution such as 5-5-3, 5-5-2-1, 5-4-4 or any suit of six
cards or more, the hand must respond to one No Trump despite any lack of
Quick Tricks.

EXAMPLES

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

QJ xx

xx x

xx

xx

xx

Bid two Spades - if partner bids three Spades - pass. If partner bids two No Trump, bid
three Hearts. Should declarer bid three No Trump, bid four Hearts, which he may pass
or bid four Spades.

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xJ Qx

xx xx

xx

x

x

x
Bid two Spades - If partner bids two No Trump, bid three Spades - a definite sign-off.

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs
x QK
x xx
x xx
xx
x
x

Bid two Diamonds - If partner bids two No Trump - bid three Diamonds - a definite sign-
off.

ORIGINAL BID OF ONE CLUB

Holding between three and one-half and four and one-half Quick Tricks and a
Biddable Suit - an Artificial Bid of one Club is made in any position requiring a response
from the partner.

EXAMPLES OF OPENING BIDS OF ONE CLUB

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AA K x

Qx Qx

xx

xx

x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

KK AQ

xQ K J

Qx

xx

x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xK AK

xQ KQ

Jx

xx

x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xA KA

Q QK

x xQ

xx

x

RESPONSES TO OPENING BID OF ONE CLUB

1. With less than 1½ Q.T.
Bid one Diamond/

2. With 1½ to 2½ Q.T. (biddable suit or not)
Bid one No Trump

3. With 2½ to 3 Q.T. (no biddable suit)
Bid two No Trump

4. With 2½ to 3 Q.T. (biddable suit)
Bid two Clubs, two Diamonds, one Heart or one Spade

5.With 3½ or more Q.T. (no biddable suit)
Bid three No Trump

6. With 3½ or more Q.T. (biddable suit)
Bid three Clubs, three Diamonds, two Hearts or two Spade

EXAMPLE 1

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

JQ K J

xx xx

x xx

x x

Bid one Diamond

EXAMPLE 2

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK x x

Qx xx

xx x

x

x
Bid one No Trump

EXAMPLE 3

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

KA KQ

Qx Jx

xx 10 x

x
Bid two No Trump

EXAMPLE 4

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xK AQ

xJ Kx

x xx

x

x

Bid two Diamonds
Change D. to S. holding bid one S.
Change D. and C. holding bid two C.
Change D. and H. holding bid one H.

EXAMPLE 5

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AA K J

Qx Qx

x xx

xx

Bid two Diamonds
Change Diamond and Club holding - bid three Clubs
Change Diamond and Heart holding - Bid two Hearts
Change Diamond and Spade holding - Bid two Spades

INTERVENING BIDS

Do not overcall an opponent’s bid unless holding close to an Opening Bid. When
Vulnerable have as good as an Opening Bid and a hand strong enough either in Quick
Tricks or distribution so that you can stand being doubled with little or no harm to
yourself. Never overcall in a four card suit. By passing you may lull your opponents into
bidding unnamable contracts which you can double profitably.

INTERVENING BIDS BY OPPONENTS

After an overcall by the opponent to the left of the original bidder - partner has a
choice of two bids. He may make his conventional response if able to do so or he may
pass. In the event his partner opens with one Clubs and an overcall of one Spade is
made, holding between one and one-half and two Quick Tricks, he should make the
conventional response of one No Trump, which may or may not indicate a stop in the
Spade suit. He should pass if his holding indicates a one Diamond response. The
accuracy of the Vienna System enables players to make many successful doubles even
of low contracts. Example, opening bidder bids one Club - partner responds with one No
Trump (the combined holding is at least 5 Q.T.). Now should right hand opponent put in
an overcall of two in any suit the original bidder can double if that seems more profitable
than a Game. After partner has responded to Original Bid any double made by either
player is for business.

SIGN-OFF BIDS

There are times when a player must indicate a minimum holding by use of the
sign-off bid. The original bidder must heed this warning and proceed further entirely at
his own risk. For instance - original bidder bids one No Trump , partner responds with
two Clubs, original bidder bids two No Trump, and the next response is three Clubs.

This says, in effect: Partner, I have a weak holding, have no assistance for the No
Trump, and believe this to be the best contract. The original bidder should pass.

EXAMPLES

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xx xJ

xx xx

xx x

x

x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

Jx xQ

xx xx

x xx

x

x

Other examples of the sign-off bid: - Declarer one Club, partner one Diamond,
declarer one Spade, partner two Hearts (sign-off).

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs
xQ x x
x xx
x xx
xx
x

Declarer two No Trump, partner three Diamonds, declarer there No Trump,
partner four Diamonds (sign-off).

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xJ xJ

xx xx

x

x

x

x

x

ORIGINAL BID OF TWO CLUBS

An opening bid of two Clubs is an Artificial Bid to which the partner must respond.
The hand contains a minimum of five Quick Tricks and a Biddable Suit.

EXAMPLES

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AA KA

xK Q x

xx xx

x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK AK

KJ Kx

xx Q

J

x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

KA AK

QK xQ

xx x

x

x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK AA

xQ x K

xJ Q

x

x

RESPONSES TO ORIGINAL BID OF TWO CLUBS

With less than 1 Q.T.
Bid two Diamonds

2.With 1 to 2 Q.T
Bid two No Trump

3. With 2 to 2½ Q.T. (no biddable suit)
Bid three No Trump

4. With 2 to 2½ Q.T. (biddable suit)
Bid three Clubs, three Diamonds, two Hearts, or two Spades

EXAMPLE 1

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

Kx Qx

xx xx

x xx

x x
Bid two Diamonds

EXAMPLE 2
Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

JA KX

XX XX

X XX

X X
Bid two No Trump

EXAMPLE 3

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

Kx QA

Qx xx

xx xx

x

Bid three No Trump

EXAMPLE 4

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xK AQ

xx Qx

xx J

x

x

Bid three Diamonds
Change Diamond and Club holding - Bid three Clubs
Change Diamond and Hearts holding - Bid two Hearts
Change Diamond and Spade holding - Bid two Spades

ORIGINAL BIDS OF TWO NO TRUMP

An Opening Bid of two No Trump guarantees five Quick Tricks plus (*See
Paragraph on Quick Tricks.) or more, having no Biddable Suit in the hand.
*See Paragraph on Quick Tricks.

EXAMPLES

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

KK AA

QJ Kx

10 10 10 x

x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK AA

10 Q KQ

xJ xx

x

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

AK AK

Q 10 K Q

Jx Jx

x

RESPONSES TO OPENING BID OF TWO NO TRUMP

1. With less than ½ Q.T. (biddable suit or not), Pass
2. With ½ to 1 ½ Q.T. (no biddable suit), Bid 3 N.T.
3. With ½ to 1 ½ (biddable suit), Bid 3 in a suit
4. With 2 Q.T. or more (no biddable suit), Bid 4 N.T.
5. With 2 Q.T. or more (biddable suit), Bid 4 in a suit

EXAMPLES 1

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

Qx xx

xx xx

xx xx

x

Pass

EXAMPLES 2

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

Jx Kx

xx Qx

xx xx

x
Bid three No Trump

EXAMPLES 3

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

Ax xQ

Jx xx

xx

xx

x
Bid three Spades

EXAMPLES 4

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xK A J

xQ x x

xx x

x x
Bid four No Trump

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

QA K x

JQ x x

xx x

x

x
Bid four Spades

EXCEPTIONS TO RESPONSE NUMBER ONE
Of Opening Bid of Two No Trump

Holding any freak distribution, such as 5-5-3, 5-5-2-1, 5-4-4, or any suit of six
cards or more, a response must be made to the Opening Bid of two No Trump.

EXAMPLES

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xJ Qx

xx x

xx

xx

xx

Bid three Spades. If declarer bids three No Trump, bid four Hearts. Declarer can not
pass or bid four Spades.

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

xx xx

xx xx

x

x

x

x

x

Bid three Clubs with six or seven Clubs. If declarer bids three No Trump, sign off with
four Clubs. If declarer bids four Clubs, or five Clubs, instead of three No Trump, pass.

Spades Hearts Diamonds Clubs

x Qx

x xx

x xx

x xx

x
Bid three Diamonds. If declarer bids three No Trump, sign off with four Diamonds.

SLAM BIDDING

The accurate count of Quick Tricks, accomplished through the use of the Vienna
System, enables you to arrive a=t many Slam Bids which would be difficult under other
systems. It is important to remember that with twelve certain tricks, every suit stopped
with K Q or A, that a six No Trump contract is safer than six in a suit. Similarly, with
thirteen tricks seven No Trump is safer than seven in a suit - as it eliminates the
possibility of a first round ruff.

EXAMPLE

North
Spades - KQJ10xxx
Hearts - K
Diamonds - AK
Clubs - AKx

West East
Spades - xx Spades: - x
Hearts - J10x Hearts - Qxxx
Diamonds - void Diamonds - QJ10xxxxx
Clubs - QJ10xxxxxx Clubs - void

South
Spades - Axx
Hearts - A10xxx
Diamonds - xxx
Clubs - xx

Summary
Initial Bid
One Diamond, one Heart, or one Spade (2½ to 3 Q.T.
Responses
1. With less than 1½ Q.T.

Pass
2. With 1½ to 2½ Q.T. (no biddable suit)

Bid one No Trump
3. With 1½ to 2½ Q.T. (biddable suit)

Overcall in the biddable suit
4. With 3 or more Q.T. (no biddable suit)

Bid two No Trump
5. With 3 or more Q.T. (biddable suit)

Bid one more than necessary in biddable suit)
Initial Bid
One No Trump (3½ to 5 Q.T.) no biddable suit.
Responses
1. With less than 1 Q.T. plus

Pass
2. With 1 plus to 2 Q.T. (no biddable suit)

Bid two No Trump
3. With 1 plus to 2 Q.T. (biddable suit)

Bid two in biddable suit
4. With 2½ to 3 Q.T. (no biddable suit)

Bid three No Trump
5. With 2½ to 3 Q.T. (biddable suit)

Bid three in biddable suit
6. With 3½ or more Q.T. (no biddable suit)

Bid four No Trump
7. With 3½ or more Q.T. (biddable suit)

Bid four in biddable suit
Initial Bid
One Club (with ½ to 4½ Q.T.) with biddable suit.
Responses
1. With less than 1½ Q.T.

Bid one Diamond
2. With 1½ to 2 Q.T. (biddable suit or not)

Bid one No Trump
3. With 2½ to 3 Q.T. (no biddable suit)

Bid two No Trump
4. With 2½ to 3 Q.T.

Bid two Clubs, two Diamond, one Heart or one Spade
5. With 3½ or more Q.T. (no biddable suit)

Bid three No Trump
6. With 3½ or more Q.T. (biddable suit)

Bid three Clubs, three Diamonds, two Hearts or two Spades.

Initial Bid
Two Clubs (with 5 Q.T.or more (with biddable suit.
Responses
1. With less than 1 Q.T.

Bid two Diamonds
2. With 1 to 2 Q.T.

Bid two Diamonds
3. With 2 to 2½ Q.T. (no biddable suit)

Bid three No Trump
4. With 2 to 2½ Q.T. (biddable suit)

Bid three Clubs, three Diamonds, two Hearts or two Spades.
Initial Bid
Two No Trump (with 5 plus or more Q.T. (no biddable suit)
Responses
1. With less than Bid three Clubs, three Diamonds, two Hearts or two Spades.

Pass
2. With Bid three Clubs, three Diamonds, two Hearts or two Spades.

Bid three No Trump
3. With ½ to 1½ Q.T. (biddable suit)

Bid there in suit
4. With 2 Q.T. or more (no biddable suit)

Bid four No Trump
5. With 2 Q.T. or more (biddable suit)

Bid four in suit

The preceding pages present in a simple and clear manner the essentials of Contract Bridge and
Contract Bridge Whist Bidding.

The Vienna System in a few pages presents sufficient information for any Contract player of a
known system to step forward from his or her present system to they advanced system of bidding.

As the years roll by the toll of Contract Bridge systems continues to be heavy, and as each
system outlives its usefulness,credit must be given it for its use in furthering correct Bridge. We wish to
pay tribute to the systems of bygone years and to the two popular and excellent (to the extent of their
scope) systems of today, expressing thanks for the good work they have done in the past toward creating
interest and popularizing Contract Bridge, thereby creating a place for this modern and advanced book on
bidding.