Gazzilli After 1♠ – 1NT (Forcing or Semi Forcing), how do
you expect to find the heart fit. With ♦Q with
In the year 2005 when I wanted to play Gazzilli in North, there are 12 tricks in a heart contract
my partnership with Amod Rele, not much whereas in Spade contract opponents collected 4
information was available on the possible bidding tricks. With Gazzilli it would be much easier.
sequences. Therefore, I decided to write about it.
Let us have a look at a hand where two expert
The result was an article (in three parts) in
partnerships had a problem:
Newsletters of Delhi Bridge Association. The
article is still available in the internet and has also West East
appeared in the book – “The Two-Over-One ♠ 10 9 8 6 ♠AJ5
♥ ♥ A K J 10 9 6 5
Game Force System by Dr. Neil H. Timm”. ♦8762 ♦KQ5
♣ K Q 10 9 2 ♣-
• What is Gazzilli?
The biddings were (opponents silent):
Gazzilli is an artificial rebid of 2♣ by opener after (1) 1♥ – 1♠ – 3♦ – 5♦ – P
Opening bid of 1♥/1♠ and response of 1♠ or 1NT. (2) 1♥ – 1♠ – 3♦ – 3NT – 4♥ – 5♦ – 5♥ – P
The 2♣ response is forcing and you can no longer
5♦ had no chance and declarer went 3 down.
play there. The 2♣ bid can be used for various
With ♠Q lead (from KQ doubleton) and North
kinds of hands:
having ♥Q doubleton, declarer had no
5-3-3-2 hands of 12 -14, 15-17 and 18-20 HCP. trouble making 11 tricks in 5♥ contract.
5 Major and 4+ Club with 11-15 HCP. With Gazzilli you would just play in 4♥.
Generally all other hands of 16+ HCP (single
suiter, two suiter etc.)
• Which hands require Gazzilli?
Gazilli is more of a “concept” rather than a well
defined convention. Now a days, you can notice Gazzilli is definitely a great idea for hands with
mention of Gazzilli in convention cards of many which are difficult to handle like:
expert bridge players but everyone has a
Hands too weak for 3-level GF jump but too
customized version of Gazzilli suited to their strong for a minimum rebid at 2-level: 16-17
bidding methods. HCP hands two suiter
Single suiter with 3-cards in other major with
• Why do we need Gazzilli? 16+ HCP
Certainly it is not necessary to adopt Gazzilli in Single suiter GF hands
your bidding arsenal. But it definitely helps in Balanced hands with 5-card major and 16-17
bidding certain kinds of hands in a better way HCP
than traditional Standard American methods. Every partnership who would like to add Gazzilli
in their bidding structure need to discuss in detail
Playing Standard system, you open One of a
the various sequences. You can play it simple or
Major and partner responds One No trump. Now
very complicated. One playable structure is
if you have a single suiter major GF hand, there is
available in my article from 2005. However I
no convenient bid. You might jump to 3 of a
would recommend slightly different structure for
minor to force the bidding that means responder
ease of memory.
will not know whether the new suit is of 3 or 4 or
5 cards. The jump has taken away the space Gazzilli also has disadvantages as you can no
which is of paramount importance for exploring longer play in 2♣ or 2♦. This means you may
and finding the right contract. have to play a level higher in minors in misfit
hands. Inspite of its drawbacks, many partnership
Let us look at couple of hands:
are adopting Gazzilli and I would also recommend
West East Gazzilli for serious tournament players.
♠AQ9765 ♠-
♥AQJ ♥ K 10 6 4 3 My recommendation on the possible structure is
♦A92 ♦KJ743 detailed below.
♣3 ♣985
• Gazzilli 2♣: 3♠ – 4 card Spade support, 18+ HCP
3NT – 16-17 balanced with 3♠
My suggestion is not to include all strong hands in 4♣/♦ – Splinter (with 4 spades)
2♣ rebids. With the latest trend in mind, I 3♣/♦ – Natural, 6+ ♣/♦ and 4♠
suggest 2♣ rebid shows any one of the following 3♥ – 3 hearts, looking for slam
hand: 3♠ – 6+ Spades, asks for cue bidding
1. 6 cards in the major 11-15 HCP 3NT – To play 4♠ and 2 hearts, balanced hand
2. 16+ HCP with 5M+4m or 5+M & 4OM or any 4♣/♦ – Self splinter with ♠ agreed
single suiter
1♥ – 1♠ – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2NT (<3♠ 18+) – ?
• Rebids after 1H Opening: 3♣ – Relay
1♥ – 1♠ – ? . Opener’s rebids are: 3♦ – 5♥ & 4♦, (3♥ further relay)
1N – shows a balanced hand of 12-14 HCP 3♥ – Single suiter heart
2♣ – Gazzilli 3♠ – 5♥ & 4♣,
2♦ – Natural 4+ cards, 11-15 HCP 3NT – 18-19 balanced (2533 hand)
2♥ – 5♥ & 4+♣ 11-15 HCP 3♦ – Natural, 5+♦ and 4♠
2♠ – 3/4 card support, 11-15 HCP 3♥ – 3 hearts, looking for slam
2NT – 6♥ and 4m, 16+ HCP 3♠ – 6+ Spades
3♣/♦ – Natural 5♥ and 5♣/♦, 16+ ORF 1♥ – 1♠ – 2♣ – 2♥ (sign-off) – ?
3♥ – Natural 6-cards, 14-15 HCP Pass – Generally with 12-17 HCPs
3♠ – 4 card Spade support, 14-15 HCP 2♠ – 18+ HCP, 3+ Spades, Forcing
3NT – 6♥ and 4/5♠, no void 2NT – 6-7 HCP, 4-card Spade
4♣/♦ – 6♥ and 4/5♠, void ♣/♦ 3♣/♦ – Natural, sign off
3♥ – sign off
1♥ – 1♠ – 2♣ (Gazzilli) – ?
3♠ – 5♠ to play
2♦ – Relay, 8+ HCP (creates GF if opener has 16+)
2NT – 18-19 HCP, two card in Spade
2♥ – Preference, weak hand, (1-2 hearts), opener
3♣/♦ – Natural, 5♥ & 4♣/♦ 18+ HCP
will have 6-hearts in a weak hand
3♥ – Single suiter, 18+
2♠ – 5/6 Spades, short ♥, to play
3♠ – Natural Inv, 5♥ & 4♠ 16-17 HCP
2NT – singleton or void ♥ and both minors
3♣/♦ – Natural, sign-off 6-cards 1♥ – 1♠ – 2♥ (5♥ & 3+♣ 11-15) – ?
3♥ – 3+ card heart support, GF 2♠ – To play
3♠ – Invitational with 6+ spades 2NT – Invitational
1♥ – 1♠ – 2♣ – 2♦(shows 8 + hcp) – ? 3♣ – Sign-off
2♥ – 6-hearts 11-15 HCP 3♦ – Forcing
2♠ – 16+ HCP, 3+ Spades, Forcing 3♥ – 3-card support, limit raise
2NT – 18+ HCP, one or two card in Spade 3♠ – 6+ ♠, Invitational
3♣/♦ – Natural, 5♥ & 4♣/♦ 16-17 HCP
1♥ – 1♠ – 2NT (6♥ & 4m 16+) – ?
3♥ – Single suiter, 16-17, without 3 spades
3♣ – Relay
3♠ – Natural, 5♥ & 4♠ 16-17 HCP
3♦ – 6♥ & 4♦, 16-17
3NT – Balanced, 16-17
3♥ – 6♥ & 4♣, 16-17
1♥ – 1♠ – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2♥ (6♥ 11-15) – ? 3♠ – 6♥ & 4♦, 18+
2♠ – 5+ Spades, one round force 3NT – 6♥ & 4♣, 18+
2NT – Invitational 3♦ – Natural, 6+ ♦
3♣/♦ – Natural, GF 3♥ – 3+ card heart support, GF
3♥ – Invitational 3♠ – 6+ Spades GF
1♥ – 1♠ – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2♠ (3+♠ 16+) – ? 1♥ – 1♠ – 2♣ – 2NT (sign-off both minors) – ?
2NT – Relay 3♣/♦ – sign-off
3♣/♦ – Natural, 5♥ & 4♣/♦ 16+ HCP 3♥/♠ – Natural, NF
3♥ – Single suiter (6+♥) with 3 spades 4♥/♠ – To play
• Rebids after 1♥ Opening: 3♦ – 5♥ & 4♦, (3♥ further relay)
3♥ – Single suiter heart
1♥ – 1NT – ? Opener’s rebids are: 3♠ – 5♥ & 4♣,
2♣ – Gazzilli 3NT – 18-19 balanced
2♦ – Natural 3+ cards, 11-15 HCP 3♦ – Natural, 5+♦
2♥ – 5♥ & 3+♣ 11-15 HCP
2♠ – Art., 5♥+5m 18+ or 6♥+5♠ 12-17 1♥ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♥ (sign-off) – ?
2NT – 6♥ and 4+m, 16+ HCP Pass – Generally with 12-17 HCPs
3♣/♦ – Natural 5♥ and 5♣/♦, 16-17 2♠ – 18+ HCP, 4 Spades, Forcing
3♥ – Natural 6-cards, 14-15 HCP 2NT – 18-19, balanced
3♠ – 6♥ and 5♠, 14-15 HCP 3♣/♦ – Natural, 5♥ & 4♣/♦ 18+
3NT – You can decide 3♥ – Single suiter, 18+
4♣/♦ – 6♥ and 5♣/♦, 14-15 HCP 3♠ – Natural, 6♥ & 5♠ 18+
1♥ – 1NT – 2♣ (Gazzilli) – ? 1♥ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♠ (Inv with a minor) – ?
2♦ – Relay, 8+ HCP (creates GF if opener has 16+) 2NT – Sign-off
2♥ – Preference, weak hand, (1-2 hearts), opener 3♣ – Pass or correct
will have 6-hearts in a weak hand 3♦ – To play with ♦ suit, GF if clubs
2♠ – 6 card minor, Inv hand 3♥ – To play
2NT – both minors
3♣/♦ – Natural, sign-off 6-cards 1♥ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2NT – ?
3♥ – 3-card heart support, limit raise 3♣/♦ – sign-off
3♥/♠ – Natural, NF
1♥ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ (shows 8 + hcp) – ? 4♥ – To play
2♥ – 6-hearts 11-15 HCP
2♠ – 16+ HCP, 4 Spades, Forcing 1♥ – 1NT – 2♥ (5♥ & 3+♣ 11-15) – ?
2NT – 18+ HCP, without 4-card Spade Pass – weak hand
3♣/♦ – Natural, 5♥ & 4♣/♦ 16-17 HCP 2♠ – Inv with 6+ minor
3♥ – Single suiter, 6+ hearts, 16-17 2NT – Invitational
3♠ – Natural, 6♥ & 5♠ 18+ HCP 3♣/♦ – Sign-off
3NT – Balanced, 16-17 3♥ – 3-card support, limit raise
3♠ – 6+ clubs and singleton ♠
1♥ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2♥ (6♥ 11-15) – ?
2♠ – Inv with spade values 1♥ – 1NT – 2♠ (5♥+5m 18+ or 6♥+5♠) – ?
2NT – Invitational with both minors 2NT – Relay
3♣/♦ – Inv with values in ♣/♦ 3♣/♦ – Natural, 5♥ & 5♣/♦ 18+ HCP
3♥ – Invitational 3♥ – 6♥ & 5♠ 12-15 HCP
3♠ – Natural, 6♥ & 5♠ 16-17 HCP
1♥ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2♠ (4♠ 16+) – ? 3♣/♦ – Constructive 6+♣/♦
2NT – Relay 3♥ – sign-off (better hand use 2NT relay)
3♣ – 5♥ & 4♠ 16-17 HCP (3♦ Relay for
further distribution) 1♥ – 1NT – 2NT (6♥ & 4m 16+) – ?
3♦ – 5♥ & 4♠ 18+ HCP 3♣ – Relay
3♥ – 6♥ & 4♠ 16-17 HCP 3♦ – 6♥ & 4♦, 16-17
3♠ – 6♥ & 4♠ 18+ HCP 3♥ – 6♥ & 4♣, 16-17
3NT – 18+ 4522 distribution 3♠ – 6♥ & 4♦, 18+
4♣/♦ – Splinter (with 4 spades) 3NT – 6♥ & 4♣, 18+
3♣/♦ – Natural, 5+ ♣/♦ 4♣/♦ – 6♥ and 5♣/♦, 16-17 HCP
3♦ – Natural, 6+♦
1♥ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2NT (<4♠ 18+) – ? 3♥ – 3+ card heart support, GF
3♣ – Relay
• Rebids after 1♠ Opening: 3♥ – 5♠ & 4♣
3♠ – Single suiter spade
1♠ – 1NT – ? Opener’s rebids are: 3NT – 18-19 balanced
2♣ – Gazzilli 3♦ – Natural, 5+♦
2♦ – 5♠ and 3+♦, 11-15 3♥ – 6+ heart forcing
2♥ – 5♠ & 4+♥ 11-15 HCP
2♠ – 5♠ and 3+♣, 11-15 1♠ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♥ (5+ ♥, sign-off) – ?
2NT – 6♠ and 4+m, 16+ HCP 2♠ – 6+ Spades, short heart, to play
3♣ – Art., 5+♠ and 5any 18+ 2NT – 18-19, balanced
3♦/♥ – Natural 5♠ and 5♦/♥, 16-17 3♣/♦ – Natural, 5♥ & 4♣/♦ 18+
3♠ – Natural 6+ cards, 14-15 HCP 3♥ – Invitational, 3+ heart support
3NT – You can decide 3♠ – Natural, 6♠ 18+
4♣/♦/♥ – 6♠ & 5♣/♦/♥, 14-15 HCP
1♠ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2NT (both minors) – ?
1♠ – 1NT – 2♣ (Gazzilli) – ? 3♣/♦ – sign-off
2♦ – Relay, 8+ HCP (creates GF if opener has 16+) 3♥ – Natural, 6♠ & 4♥, NF
2♥ – sign-off, natural, 5+ cards 3♠ – Natural, NF
2♠ – Preference, weak hand, (1-2 spades), 4♠ – To play
opener will have 6-spades in a weak hand
2NT – both minors, sign-off 1♠ – 1NT – 2♠ (5♠ & 3+♣ 11-15) – ?
3♣/♦ – Natural, sign-off 6-cards 2NT – Invitational
3♥ – 6-card heart, 9-10 hcp 3♣/♦ – Sign-off
3♠ – 3-card spade support, limit raise 3♥ – 6-card heart, to play
3♠ – 3-card support, limit raise
1♠ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ (shows 8 + hcp) – ?
2♥ – 16+ HCP, 3+ hearts, Forcing 1♠ – 1NT – 2NT (6♠ & 4m 16+) – ?
2♠ – 6-spades 11-15 HCP 3♣ – Relay
2NT – 18+ HCP, without 3-card heart 3♦ – 6♠ & 4♦, 16-17
3♣/♦ – Natural, 5♠ & 4+♣/4♦ 16-17 HCP 3♥ – 6♠ & 4♣, 16-17
(5♠+5♣ 16-17 hand has to be covered here) 3♠ – 6♠ & 4♦, 18+
3♥ – Natural, 5♠ & 4♥ 16-17 HCP (5422) 3NT – 6♠ & 4♣, 18+
3♠ – Single suiter, 6+ spades, 16-17 4♣/♦ – 6♠ and 5♣/♦, 16-17 HCP
3NT – Balanced, 16-17 3♦ – Natural, 6+♦
3♥ – Natural, 6+♥
1♠ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2♥ (3+♥ 16+) – ? 3♠ – 3 card spade support, GF
2♠ – Relay
2NT – 4 hearts, 16+ 1♠ – 1NT – 3♣ (5+♠ & 5any 18+) – ?
3♣ – Relay 3♦ – Relay
3♦ – 5♠ & 4♥, 16-17 3♥ – 5♠ & 5♥
3♥ – 6♠ & 4♥, 16-17 3♠ – 5♠ & 5♦
3♠ – 5♠ & 4♥, 18+ 3NT – 5♠ & 5♣
3NT – 6♠ & 4♥, 18+ 4♣/♦ – 6♠ and 5♣/♦
3♣ – 5♠ & 4♣, 16+ HCP 4♥ – 6♠ & 5♥
3♦ – 5♠ & 4♦, 16+ HCP 3♠ – 3 card spade support, GF
3♥ – 3♥ & 6♠, 16-17 HCP
The idea expressed above is playable. Certainly a
3♠ – 3♥ & 6♠, 18+ HCP
3NT – 16-17 balanced partnership can modify the structure or make it
2NT – Both minors, forcing simple or even more complicated.
3♣/♦ – 6+ ♣/♦ You don’t have to try to memorize the complete
3♥ – 5+ Hearts, GF structure if you understand the logic behind it. The
4♥ – 5+ Hearts, min hand structure may seems little bit difficult but highly
recommended for serious partnerships.
1♠ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2NT (<3♥ 18+) – ?
Sudhir Aggarwal
3♣ – Relay
3♦ – 5♠ & 4♦, (3♥ further relay)
