XYZ

Before examining the convention called “XYZ,” we will do well to understand conventions in general. A convention includes five components: its domain (the set of auctions to which it applies), its trigger or triggers (the calls that initiate it), its ranges (the shapes and strengths shown by each trigger) its kit (partner's defined replies) and its caboodle (its defined continuations and implications).

Nearly all bidding conventions involve something else that convention-mongers seldom mention: orphans, the calls (usually natural, but occasionally triggers of rival conventions) that the triggers displace. Before adopting any convention, you’ll do well to consider not only how you can manage without it, but also the harm it brings be creating orphans.

The domain of XYZ consists of 10 uncontested auctions initiated by an unpassed hand, the four “suited” auctions with three suit bids all at the one-level ...

• (CDH) 1-1; 1
• (CDS) 1-1-1
• (CHS) 1-1; 1
• (DHS) 1-1; 1

... and the six suit-openings and responses followed by opener’s 1NT rebid ...

• (CD) 1-1
• (CH) 1-1
• (CS) 1-1
• (DH) 1-1
• (DS) 1-1
• (HS) 1-1

Plain

Let’s see how we’d continue as responder without any gadgetry.

In the “suited” actions, responder’s notrump rebids are natural with high-card-point ranges 6-10 for 1NT, 11-12 for 2NT, and 13-17 for 3NT.

Responder’s raises of opener’s major are natural, presumably with four-card support and defined ranges in “support point” terms: 6-10 at the two-level, 11-12 at the three-level, 13-17 at the game-level (3NT or four of opener’s major).

Rebids of responder’s major have similar ranges. Note that responder can jump to two of a suit at his first turn with slammish hands (18 points or more) except when he has two unbid suits to show and would do poorly to crowd the bidding by jumping at his first turn.

If your Fancy-Dan partner tortures you to play weak jump shifts at the two-level, God help you! That will leave both of you fumbling around and guessing with many strong hands and slam prospects. Are you really so desperate to shut out your opponents when your partner has shown a good hand and you’ve gotten by the opponent behind him and often the other opponent too?

What problems do you have in the CDS, CHS and DHS auctions?

With a good hand and the fourth suit, you can keep forcing by bidding the fourth suit. And with other good hands without the fourth suit that can force to game but cannot yet choose the strain, have game values in opener’s minor, or have slam hopes in opener’s newly-discovered major, you can bid the fourth suit as your only forcing space-conserving rebid. So responder’s fourth-suit rebid must be alerted as “forcing and often artificial.”

It is reasonable to play responder’s fourth-suit rebid as forcing at least one round with only 1-1; 1-2 (a reverse by responder) as forcing to game. That’s the old-fashioned treatment, but it is reasonable and simpler to play all of responder’s two-level fourth-suit rebids as game-forcing, including the jump, 1-1; 1-2, which now denies four spades and allows 1-1; 1-1 to be natural and forcing for at least one round.

This version of responder’s “fourth-suit-forcing” rebids requires his three-level fourth-suit single-jump rebids to be played and alerted as merely invitational in CDS, CHS and DHS auctions.

Enter “XYZ,” reportedly the brainchild of Joe Kivel (as of this writing, late in 2025, still alive and kicking at age 91). It is actually a bit simpler than the more natural methods outlined above that it can replace. As applied to the four “suited” auctions, it defines both responder’s 2 and 2 auctions as artificial and forcing.

2 is a “puppet,” which resembles a transfer but differs from a transfer by not showing diamonds while requiring opener to bid 2 regardless of his hand (no 3 “super accept” nor “jump preference” to three of responder’s first suit, please).

Thus 1-1; 1-2 (*alert, artificial and forcing); 2 (*alert, required) will be the final contract when responder passes (with a hand like K6 QJ98 Q1094 986).

But when responder has a game-invitational hand, he will make a natural third bid over opener’s 2 (if that third bid is not a jump, alert and explain it as invitational).

Thus with QJ85 A10952 93 K4 (almost enough for game), responder may bid 1-1; 1-2 (alert, artificial, forcing, and denying game values); 2 (alert, required)-2. A small advantage over standard bidding, as it leaves an extra level of bidding space for opener to make a game-try of his own.

Responder’s 2 rebid is artificial and game-forcing, after which natural bidding resumes. Thus with A8 QJ4 QJ1042 K104, responder can bid 1-1; 1-2 (alert, artificial and game-forcing), leaving room for opener to bid 2NT (thus right-siding the notrumps when opener has Q65 or KJ3

Responder’s 2 rebid is natural and discouraging, just as in standard methods, and so is 2 when it’s a raise. That leaves higher bids, starting with 2 if it’s not a raise, as forcing and slammish.

For example, after 1-1; 1, responder may bid 2 with 986 QJ9852 A7 98 or 2 with K874 A532 1097 54, but after 1-1; 1 responder may bid 2 with AK853 6 KQJ1042 7 (opener will know that aces and spade “quacks” can produce slam).

XYZ distinguishes between responder’s game-invitational and stronger hands cheaply in both suited auctions and those in which opener rebids 1NT.

You lose a 2 preference after a 1-1; 1 start. You can’t bid 1-1; 1-2 with K6 K1098 653 Q976 and similar hands. You create many orphans.

“XYZ” works just like the popular "New Minor Forcing (over Notrump Rebid)" in the six auctions involved. But you lose the simple retreat to 2 after a 1-1; 1NT start. Isn’t that where you want to be with KQ98 J76 42 Q972 or similar?

You also lose the ability to play in 2 after a 1-1; 1NT start with a hand like A1042 76 53 QJ1086 or a similar hand after a 1-1; 1NT start. Natural bidders can rebid 2 to urge opener to pass while letting him take a preference to the bid major with three-card support and a doubleton in clubs.

You also lose the ability to elicit a preference to your major after a 1-1; 1NT start with a hand like 98 A8642 A8642 7 or similar 1-1 start, as a 2 rebid will result in a forced 2 from opener.

The loss is slightly more severe than the loss incurred by either “NMF” or a similar 2 checkback, as two natural rebids, 2 and 2, both become orphans.

Yes, but perhaps not any of the ones you might think. Here are two.

Second Round Stayman (the simplest)

2 asks first for four cards in an unbid major, second for three-card support for responder’s major, else 2. Then responder’s third bid is invitational if a raise of a bid major or at the two-level, else game-forcing. Only one orphan: a natural 2.

Hi-Ro-Jerum (the fanciest)

Hi-Ro-Jerum incorporates The Spade Inversion: in response to 1, 1NT shows spades, substituting for a standard natural 1 response, while 1 denies spades, substituting for the “forcing 1NT response” that is an essential part of modern Strong Two-Over-One systems.

So opener can bid 1-1; 1NT not only with balanced minimum hands, but also with the thorn-in-the-forcing-notrumper’s-side 4=5=2=2 minimums. Now we have only five run-ups to opener’s natural 1NT rebids, as responder has denied having a four-card major and can show a “three-card limit raise” by jumping to 3 next.

Do we need any check-backs after 1-1; 1NT? I think not.

Next consider the hearters: 1-1; 1NT and 1-1; 1NT. Responder’s jumps to 3, 3 and 3 are all natural and invitational. How can responder force to game? By rebidding 2, a reverse by responder.

At opener’s third turn, he can raise to 3 to show four spades, implying 4=3=3=3 shape, the only shape with which he would bypass a four-card spade suit to rebid in notrumps. With other shapes he can rebid naturally, bidding three of his minor with five, three of the unbid minor with four, or 3 with three cards in the suit.

Finally, consider the spaders: 1-1; 1NT and 1-1; 1NT. Let responder’s jumps to 3 or three of either bid suit be natural and invitational, and use his jump to three of the unbid minor as artificial and game-forcing.

After 1-1; 1NT-3*, opener shows four hearts by bidding 3 (first priority) or three spades by bidding 3. With neither, he bids 3NT.

After 1-1; 1NT-3*, opener has an additional option, 3 to show five.

Glory Hallelujah, Hi-Ro-Jerum!

Though there are deals where XYZ, and checkbacks over 1NT rebids are useful, more harm comes from their creation of orphans. As I raise 1 and 1 responses more freely than anybody except Bob Hamman), in all the times that I’ve had checkbacks available, I’ve never used any. Look Ma, no orphans!