The Moscito system

Moscito introduction

In the bidding you want to find any major suit fit and bid to the right level as quickly as possible. By getting to the right level quickly you give the opponents the minimum information about your hands and you prevent them communicating with each other about theirs. Consequently, you might steal a contract that belongs to your opponents or goad them into overbidding. Moscito is designed to satisfy these objectives.

First there is the opening structure:

  • Moscito divides opening hands into two groups. Thus responder is generally facing a known 9-14 HCP, instead of the usual 11-20.
  • Moscito looks first at the major suits. Standard systems look first at the minors.

    The second strength of of Moscito is in the responding structure: The cheapest bid in response always shows a strong hand an initiates a relay. This leaves all the other bids free for weaker hands. You might develop the bidding along natural lines or guess the contract. This is the opposite of normal systems where one bid is used to show all weak hands and all the other bids are used for strong hands.

    Moscito overview

    It is impossible to give a detailed overview of the Moscito system in this Help. We will post more information on Jack's website. Soon there will be a book about Moscito written by Paul Marston. If you are interested, please let us know.

    Moscito uses besides HCP, QP to describe the strength of the hand. Definition QP='queenpoints' (also known as 'slempoints'): Ace=3 King=2 Queen=1

    First and second position

    1 = 15+ HCP

    Responding to 1

  • 1 = gameforcing (QP=6+, might be QP=5 with lots of distribution); not 5440
  • 1 = semi positive (QP=3-5); balanced OR unbalanced without fivecard major OR any 4441 (not a onesuiter diamonds)
  • 1 = negative (QP=0-2)
  • 1NT = semi positive; 5+ hearts with a minor OR a onesuiter diamonds OR any 5440 with fivecard major
  • 2 = semi positive; 5+ spades with a minor OR a onesuiter hearts
  • 2 = semi positive; 5+ spades and four hearts OR a onesuiter spades
  • 2 = semi positive; 5+ hearts and four spades
  • 2 = semi positive; 5+ hearts and 5+ spades
  • 2NT = gameforcing; any 5440 with a void in a major
  • 3 = gameforcing; solid sevencard in unknown suit
  • 3 = gameforcing; any 5440 with void diamonds
  • 3 = gameforcing; 4=4=5=0
  • 3 = gameforcing; 4=5=4=0
  • 3NT = gameforcing; 5=4=4=0

    After 1 opener can start a relay sequence with 1 to reveal responders hand. With a relative weak hand (QP=9-11) opener should generally describe his own hand (1 up).

    1 = 9-14 HCP; 4+ hearts

    Hearts is not necessarily the longest suit. 1 is the right opening with 4-4 in the majors or with 5+ hearts and fewer spades. With fivecard in a minor and four hearts you should always open 1. With a 6+ card in a minor and four hearts always show the minor first. After 1 responder can ask opener to describe his hand, starting with 1.
    Other special reactions to 1:

  • 2 = invitational with heart support (at least fourcard)
  • 3 = threecard hearts, 6+ clubs; 6-8 losers (LTC)
  • 3 = threecard hearts, 6+ diamonds; 6-8 losers (LTC)
  • 3 = semi preemptive
  • 3/4/4 are splinterbids
  • New suits without a jump are a one round force.

    1 = 9-14 HCP; 4+ spades

    Spades is not necessarily the longest suit. With fivecard in a minor and four spades you should always open 1. With a 6+ card in a minor and four spades always show the minor first. After 1 responder can ask opener opener to describe his hand, starting with 1.
    Other special reactions to 1:

  • 2NT = invitational with spade support (at least fourcard)
  • 3 = threecard spades, 6+ clubs; 6-8 losers (LTC)
  • 3 = threecard spades, 6+ diamonds; 6-8 losers (LTC)
  • 3 = threecard spades, 6+ hearts; 6-8 losers (LTC)
  • 3 = semi preemptive
  • 4/4/4 are splinterbids
  • New suits without a jump are a one round force.

    1NT = 11-14 HCP; balanced (fivecard major is allowed)

    2 = 10-14 HCP; 6+ clubs; at most fourcard in a second suit (but not in diamonds)

    2 = Multi; weak two hearts OR spades

    2/2 = weak twosuiter (Muiderberg)

    This opening shows a fivecard in the opened suit and 4+card in a minor; with 2NT responder can ask for the minor.

    2NT = weak with both minors

    Third and fourth position

    In the third and fourth position a lot changes. Because partner already passed both 1 and 1NT are stronger. 1 and 1 no longer tranfers but are real. A short summary:
  • 1 = 17 + HCP; Responses are the same as 1 in first or second position.
  • 1 = 10-16 HCP; 11-13 balanced OR a Precision 1
  • 1 = 10-16 HCP; 4+ hearts (no longer suit)
  • 1 = 10-16 HCP; 4+ spades (no longer suit)
  • 1NT = 14-16; balanced (no fivecard major)
  • 2 = 10-16 HCP; 6+ clubs
  • 2 = onesuiter diamonds 10-16 HCP in third position, 13-16 HCP in fourth position
  • 2 = 6-10 HCP in third position (fivecard possible), 10-12 HCP with sixcard in fourth position
  • 2 = 6-10 HCP in third position (fivecard possible), 10-12 HCP with sixcard in fourth position
  • 2NT = 4-9 HCP in third position, 13-16 HCP in fourth position