DEVELOPING THE PERFECT BIDDING SYSTEM : THE 10 UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES.......... ( Article by Carp )

1. Make sure your bids convey far more information to partner than they do to the opponents 

2. Keep natural bids to an absolute minimum ( preferably zero ), using artificial bids to describe your hand in a far more obscure but effective way.

3. Use a multitude of rarely known and cleverly adapted gadgets and conventions, not to mention a stack of multiple meaning bids, making sure the majority of them deny the opponents an effective defence or counter-measure.  

4  Fill your system card with as much information and detail as possible, such that the sheer volume of it is enough to put off, or bamboozle, the inquisitive opponent

5. Use at the one level a " forcing a game " bid, which avoids having to use wasteful jump bids. This way,  there is far more time and bidding space to convey additional information about your hand to partner.

6. Bedazzle and bemuse your opponents with a relentless onslaught of " alert " cards, and if the opponents have the effrontery to ask what they mean, then resort to using one or more of the following tactics
(i) give highly complex and technical answers which would blow anybody's mind
(ii)  provide lengthy, long-winded, extremely convoluted explanations which would leave opponents more perplexed than they were before
(iii) state a lot of half truths, which are guaranteed to lead the opponents down the garden path to misunderstanding and misinterpretation

7. During a competitive auction make far greater use of the  pass, double and redouble cards. For instance, the pass card for every situation should have a different meaning, such as
(i)   I really do have absolute crap
(ii)  I've no further interest in this auction
(iii) I'm worth another bid but I'm far more interested in defending
(iv) I would have bid no trumps, but such a contract plays better from your side
(v)  forcing

8. In an uncontested auction ensure that bidding proceeds in a slow and very elaborate way, such that after 20 or more bids to complete the auction, you know exactly what 13 cards partner has got   ( and vice versa ).....even down to the last pip 

9. Use time delays to convey essential information to partner. For instance, after a bidding sequence 1C - 2D overcall - 2H - Pass- ?
An accurately timed response of 3D might well carry the following information :
 0-5 seconds   = sign off in 3H
 6-10 seconds =  looking for no trumps if you can help out in diamonds
11-15 seconds = bid NT partner if you have a guaranteed diamond stop
16-20 seconds = forcing, agreeing hearts                                                         
21-25 seconds = I have 6 clubs and 4 decent spades

10. Make clever use of the imaginary bidding square in which to place your opening bid. Each  of the 4 sides can convey an extra but vital bit of information. For instance, your INT bid ( 12-14)
can be more accurately described if the card is placed down on the correct side :
Top : Good 11
Right : 12
Bottom 13
Left : 14