Moscito System

This bidding system was developed and devised first by Mr. Paul Marston and Mr. Stephen Burgess. The designation is an acronym for Major Oriented Strong Club. For its foundation, Mr. Paul Marston and Mr. Stephen Burgess used to a considerable extent the Symmetric Relay system and applied their version especially in auctions where the opening side has the balance of power.

Originally, the Moscito System was a Strong-Pass system, but was altered in 1992 to the following structured bidding sequence.

Opening Bids Only

Pass: This is the required call if the holding is 0 to 5 high card points by favorable vulnerability. By unfavorable vulnerability, the player may also pass with 6 to 9 high card points if the player does not hold at least a 5-4 distribution in two suits.

1 : This opening bid promises 15 high card points plus and an undetermined shape.

1 : This opening bid promises 10-14 high card points and no 4-card Major suit.

1 : This opening bid promises 10-14 high card points, a 4-card plus Heart suit, a 3-card or less Spade suit, and the possibility of a longer Minor side suit.

1 : This opening bid promises 10-14 high card points, a 4-card plus Spade suit, a 3-card or less Heart suit, and the possibility of a longer Minor side suit.

1 NT: This opening bid promises 10-14 high card points, at least a distribution of 4-4 in both Major suits, and the holding may be unbalanced such as a 4-4-4-1 distribution.

2 : This opening bid promises any 6-9 high card points by favorable vulnerability and none of the above mentioned requirements are fulfilled. A catch-all opening bid.

2 : This opening bid promises 6-9 high card points and shows Diamond and Spades.

2 : This opening bid promises any 6-9 high card points and shows Heart and Spades.

2 : This opening bid promises any 6-9 high card points and shows Clubs and Spades.

2 NT: This opening bid promises any 6-9 high card points and shows Clubs and Diamonds.

If the responder has at least game-going values according to the opening bid, the responder generally makes a relay response searching for additional information upon which to base the decision for game or a partial contract. This is done by consuming the least amount of bidding space. The various responses of the responder are not presented here, since they are generally a matter of partnership agreement and no general standard applies.

Note: In the third and fourth position, the high card point ranges are increased since the responder's hand has already been limited by the partner's original pass.

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.


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Opening Bids		Artificial Openings

Pass:	This is the required call if the holding is 0 to 5 high card points by favorable vulnerability. By unfavorable vulnerability, the player may also pass with 6 to 9 high card points if the player does not hold at least a 5-4 distribution in two suits.
1 :	This opening bid promises 15 high card points plus and an undetermined shape.
1 :	This opening bid promises 10-14 high card points and no 4-card Major suit.
1 :	This opening bid promises 10-14 high card points, a 4-card plus Heart suit, a 3-card or less Spade suit, and the possibility of a longer Minor side suit.
1 :	This opening bid promises 10-14 high card points, a 4-card plus Spade suit, a 3-card or less Heart suit, and the possibility of a longer Minor side suit.
1 NT:	This opening bid promises 10-14 high card points, at least a distribution of 4-4 in both Major suits, and the holding may be unbalanced such as a 4-4-4-1 distribution.
2 :	This opening bid promises any 6-9 high card points by favorable vulnerability and none of the above mentioned requirements are fulfilled. A catch-all opening bid.
2 :	This opening bid promises 6-9 high card points and shows Diamond and Spades.
2 :	This opening bid promises any 6-9 high card points and shows Heart and Spades.
2 :	This opening bid promises any 6-9 high card points and shows Clubs and Spades.
2 NT:	This opening bid promises any 6-9 high card points and shows Clubs and Diamonds.