dustinst22

Wouldn't this be a question of partnership agreements more than whether or not you play standard american? I mean logically in any natural system this would have to be a cue bid with slam interest and 3♠ setting trumps , wouldn't it?

Any way to view what the alerts are?

Any downside to using it as 4 card support and 10-11? Jacoby 12+, now you have all your 4 card support raises with fairly tight ranges. 1M-3M 0-6 1M-3D 7-9 1M-3C 10-11 1M-2NT 12+ Then splinters with whatever specific range you use. We are playing a similar system and this seems to work.

Ah true. However it seems you are at least allowing for some misdefense from East in the second case (leading the Q). Maybe he covers the 2nd round. Whereas cashing the ace, you don't allow for that.

Needing all 4, cashing the ace you are obv praying K is singleton. And of course leading Q you hope to pin the jack singleton. However, there's also a small chance East will misdefend on the Q lead and not cover the first round.

I'd lead a trump.

I don't think Arc ever made the claim they belonged in slam. I think his point is, 1NT poorly described his partner's hand and could easily have caused them to miss a good contract (whether it be a game or slam). Certainly as Opener, 1NT wouldn't exactly inspire me to explore slam.

I play it as almost always mandatory, and just recently learned lebensohl works well in this position as well (1m (p) 1M (2M) x (p) __ )

Same, good article.

Interesting "response" article -- "Why American Mothers are Superior" http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/14/american-mothers-superior/

The Lawrence book and software are excellent, I just wish he'd hire someone with an engineering mind to properly structure them (Gitelman comes to mind -- in fact, I hope Gitelman puts together a book or software one day on 2/1). They read too much like a stream of consciousness and it's difficult for one to organize into a system.

Since you will be disclosing this information to your opponents, what advantage does this gain? Now you have announced your weaker suit to the opposition.

♠ [hv=pc=n&s=sa9753hqj8652dcj9&w=sqj86ha97dkj9c642&n=sk2hkt43da863cak8&e=st4hdqt7542cqt753&d=e&v=e&b=6&a=pp1d1n2d]399|300[/hv] How would you bid in this position?

Agreed. If responder has a tough distribution like 1-3-5-4, then I'd prefer 2NT. In fact I think that's what Lawrence recommends with that distribution.

Great thread, Dave. I'd rate myself a 77788. Of course lead aggression vs lead passivity? is completely dependent on the scoring mechanism and situation. When the situation is right, I tend to lean towards the aggressive side. Same goes with bid aggression. Both are situational. p.s. How do you rate number 5 if you regard Bridge as a bloodsport and you like the social aspect? :)

Kudos on the new forum. Much cleaner look. I guess some dislike change once they get used to something, even if the change is an improvement :)

Thanks, going through it now. It's definitely helping to clean up things my partner and I were doing before.

Has anyone used the Two Over One software by Lawrence and Gitelman? Thinking of getting this.

This solution loses if East has J♠ with West having Axxx, correct? why do you think it loses? What 4 tricks is the defense going to take? Sorry was thinking we'd be forced in dimes, but we still have a trump in dummy to avoid that problem.

This solution loses if East has J♠ with West having Axxx, correct?

Yes I see now :) Clearly the best play is to lead the K.

It is east who has the ♦AQ. Sorry, read it wrong :) I think my line if play is still correct though as East is the favorite to hold the Ace. The tough part will come if west overtakes with the ace. Now what to do on the next lead -- play for the drop or the finesse. What kind of hand does LHO have for doubling 4S? Tough to say, some will double with shortness in this spot....but it seems like we're saying he has AJxx or AJx in which case we must just lead trumps immediately.

Giving up 2 trump tricks can give up the contract.

It is east who has the ♦AQ. Sorry, read it wrong :) I think my line if play is still correct though as East is the favorite to hold the Ace. The tough part will come if west overtakes with the ace. Now what to do on the next lead -- play for the drop or the finesse.

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