TWO4BRIDGE

Some time ago I heard about another rule -- "Rule-of-18 " -- for 4th seat openers. hcp + # of ♠ + # of ♥ = 18 ( or more ) , then open. This hand is 12 + 1 + 5 = 18 ...

Interesting. What are the standard replies to a 5♥! = GSF for ♦: 5♠ = 0 5NT = Ace 6♣ = King 6♦ = Queen 7♦ = 2 of top 3

4C-jump now over 2H sets good, long ♣ as trump.... demanding cuebids.

I don't know why folks are contemplating the Grand when off 1 key card ! ( not knowing which key card is missing ).

Although I think 4NT should be Ace-asking, let's say you have a "Leaping Michaels" system over 3-level preempts.... such as 4H! = this major and the other minor ( ♦ ). Now partner may just go RKC since he has a fit and 2 bullets. If he then thought his hand was good enough to ask for the ♥ Q , you might assume it guaranteed all the other key cards which would make it easy to bid 7NT. [ If a trump Q-ask does not guarantee all the other key cards, then you can't make the 7NT leap ] .

Even if the ♥ play wins, that would only make the 11th trick. A 2nd ♥ trick would be hard to get. So, you need the ♣ finesse to work in any case. When that wins, you could get another ♣ trick ( 12th ) if the suit splits 3-3.... w/o even touching ♥. If you handle the entries properly, and the ♣ don't split, THEN lead the ♥10 from dummy: ♠ K ♣ to J ( wins ) ♦ K ♣ A ♣ to K ( if they split your troubles are over ) ... if they don't split, then run the next five ♦, pitching two ♠ and three ♥; then lead ♥ 10 ( you need the opp with the ♥ A to be out of ♣ ). ........ if East plays a low ♥, you will have to play West for the ♥A and not the Q.

There are TWO cases where you don't bid up-the-line with 4-4 in the majors -- you bid ♠ FIRST. The first one was covered in the previous thread: 1) Advancer's bid after partner's T/O DBL: ( 1m ) - X - ( p ) - 1S The 2nd one is: 2) Opener's rebid after partner's Negative-DBL: 1m - ( 2om ) - X - ( p ) 2S In both cases: " 'YOU' know that partner ( the doubler ) is NOT going to bid a 4 card suit on the next round, and partner may only have one 4 card Major, so it is up to you to offer ♠ first ( rather than ♥ ). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EDIT ( addition ): In both cases, if the opps' up the ante with another bid, you can compete "cheaply" with your ♥ suit . A "cheap" competitive bid in ♠ would not be possible if you bid ♥ first.

X = Competitive: “I want to compete further but I am not sure what to bid ” ( Richard Pavlicek ) .

This is one of those situations where you do NOT bid up-the-line with a 4-4, weak hand . If you advance 1♥, you may never find your 4-4 Sp fit if partner has made the modest strength, distributional T/O DBL... He will not bid 1♠ over your 1♥ because that would show a big hand with long Spades. If the auction continues with a 2m bid, you can then introduce your Hearts at the 2-level. [ I've been told that this concept has been around since the 50's in the Goren books ] . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On the other hand, you would bid up-the-line when partner OPENs 1m, you respond 1H, partner rebids 1S and you find your fit that way.... ( Walsh folks might by-pass 1S, but that is another can-of-worms ] .

1♠ ( WTP ? )

I like the 4H! splinter ( no matter if it is a stiff Ace ) .

Also, Frances didn't rule out the possibility of Opener holding 4 cards ♠. So, there could be a 3S bid over 2S. [ I hope she posts the actual Responder hand.... soon ] .

I think you can only get ♣ into the picture with a 2♠ rebid after 2♥ ( for the reasons others have stated ). Partner will know you have at least 8 cards in the blacks.... more likely 9 cards.... and possibly 10. 1H - 2C! ( 2/1 GF ) 2H - 2S 3D - 3H 4H - 5NT! ( choice of slams; forget about RKC-ask with your 22 hcp hand ) Even with your original auction, just bid 5NT! ( or maybe 6C would be a clearer "choice-of-slams" bid since Club length had not be clarified earlier ) directly over 4H.

You are right ... [ I lost some sleep over this last night] . Even on my first line ( post # 7 ), the ♣ K needs to come down in at least the 3rd round. [ Leading the ♣ Q as an inducement to cover certainly won't work against a good player with K-4th; and if West over-ruffs the 3rd round w/♠ K and plays another trump, you still have that ♣ loser in hand ( no more trumps in dummy )] .

Part 2 Another line is the ruffing finesse in ♣.... to set the suit up. If it succeeds, you then can play on trumps.

How about taking your side-suit winners and X-ruff.... and just give up the trump K near the end. [i.e. Don't lead trumps ] . You need ♥ no worse than 5-3 You need ♦ no worse than 4-3 And ♣ no worse than 4-2 ---- you need to be able to ruff the 3rd round of each red suit in hand w/ 7 and 2 of ♠ ---- and ruff one ♣ in dummy with the 4 of ♠ ---- then continue the X-ruff using high ♠ ( except for the King of course ). If the Opp w/ the ♠ King over-ruffs early and leads another ♠, your high trump in dummy will win. Your tricks will be ♥AK, ♦AK, ♣A, 3 ruffs w/small trumps and 4 separate high trumps ( between hand and dummy ) = 12 .

I thought that is what you had in mind earlier. With a slammish Responder's hand, rebid options are scarce when holding only 5 cards of the Major and NO 2nd 5 card suit (or good 4). You could have the agreement of rebidding 3C! ( could be artificial ) to game force. If Opener has 3 cards M , he will rebid 3M, and you can start cuebidding or RKC. I have a borrowed system for Opener's replies ( which I've mentioned before ) : For example: 1NT - 2D! 2H - 3C! ?? .. 3D! = cheapest new suit = agree Clubs ( 4 or 5 cards ) and only 2 cards Hts .. 3H = 3 cards Hts .. 3S! = next cheapest new suit = 4 (or 5 ) Clubs AND 3 cards Hts .. 3NT = accept neither If Opener agrees Cl ( 3D! ), you can bid 4NT! = Quantitative If Opener agrees Hts ( 3H ), you can start cuebidding, and eventually use 4S! ( kickback RKC ). If Opener agrees BOTH Cl and Hts( 3S! ), you can bid 3NT! ( serious, asking for cuebids ) or 4C! = 6 Ace RKC and settle in some number of Hts. If Opener agrees neither ( 3NT ), you can bid 4NT! Quant.

Sorry I didn't reply earlier.... I must have missed your question. Normally, if there is suit agreement, then 4NT = RKC for Sp; and if Hts are trump, I prefer 4S! = RKC. [ I'm still trying to recover from the shock of Zelandakh's suggestion to DROP Gerber..... OMG ! ] .

5♥ ( for the reasons already stated ) ..... ( eventhough the 5-level belongs to Nigel ).

You don't need a "jump" I subscribe to EricK's position ( post # 19 ) of Opener rebidding 2H! ( artificial ) with ANY minimum. I go further with Responder then using 2S! to artificially "ask" for further description : 1H - 2m! 2H! - 2S! ?? ..2NT = NO 4 cards Sp ..3C/3D/3H/3S = all show 4 cards Sp as well overall shape... analogous to some type of Flannery reply: ..3C = 4 5 3 1 ..3D = 4 5 1 3 ..3H = 4 6 , then can further "ask" where shortness is located. ..3S = 4 5 2 2 Alternatively, there is the added bonus for Opener to show "extras" ( w/ or w/o 4 cards Sp ): 1H - 2m! ?? ..2NT = NO 4 cards Sp, but extras .. 2S = 4 cards Sp and extras

Another problem with NOT playing Flannery , besides the 1NT!(forcing) response, is the 2C!/2D! GF response after a 1H open: 1H - 2C!/2D! ?? If Opener now rebids 2S, Responder won't immediately know if Opener has "extras" or a "Flannery type" hand . Whereas, with Flannery on your card, 2S would show a true Reverse ("extras" as well as shape ) .

... Then, when you have a long, strong Major, you give up an "early" bid of 4NT as RKC instead of Quantitative....[ See Mike's post # 21 ]

Side Issue: If 4♦ shows 5/5 in the Majors, how does Responder handle a hand with 4 cards M / 6 cards ♦, slammish ? [ I've seen this problem with Puppet (or the better Muppet ) over and over again ] . It is just another reason NOT to play Puppet ( Muppet ): 2NT - 3C! ( regular Stayman ) 3D! ( no 4 card M ) - 4C/4D ( natural )

The final contract using RKC will depend on who does the asking: 2NT - 3D! 3H - 3S 4H - 4S = ?? ...........If 4S is a Ctrl cue , Opener will go 4NT-RKC with his hand and the 5S ( = 2 + ♥Q ) will confirm all key cards; but 5NT next will reveal no outside Kings and Opener will stop in 6H. ...........However, if 4S! = kickback RKC, then 5S! next will be the K-ask >> the 5NT reply will show the ♠K and there is still room for a 2nd K-ask of 6♣, and Opener will reply 6NT showing the ♣ K .. and Responder has no qualm in bidding 7H.

For me the "rule" is NOT to play Stayman ( or Puppet/Muppet ) with 5/5 in the Majors. With 5/5 start with a transfer : 2NT - 3H! 3S - 4H = 5h/5s, pass-or-correct for play whereas: 2NT - 3D! 3H - 3S ( ostensibly 5h/4s ) 3NT ( ostensibly 2h/3s ) - 4S ( 5h/5s, slammish ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - And use Texas-over-Puppet for 6/4 in the Majors: 2NT - 3C! 3NT ( no 4 or 5 card M ) - 4D!/4H! ( Texas-over-Puppet; 6h/4s or 6s/4h respectively )