TWO4BRIDGE

Zel... Well, I just realized that the weakness/misfit bid of 1-step BELOW 4M does not help when you wanted it to be a low-level 6KCB and then 4M as sign-off. In some cases you can have a 2-steps BELOW 4M = sign-off and in others you can't.

I'm going to run out of Euros ( royalty payments ). - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5s/5d In your first sentence, if I use the natural 4D, then "4D" is not available for the weakness/misfit call. But "4H" could be used for that. However, if I use your suggestion of 4C! ( = Diam ) , then 4D! would be available... ( or for memory purposes, just keep "4H" as the weakness/misfit call = the suit BELOW the Major in each minor case ). 5s/5c 2NT - 3H! 3S - 4D!( 5c ) .. ?? ... 4H! = weakness/misfit ... etc. - - - - - - - - - - - - - As for the Hearts case ( 5h/5m ), I don't follow what you mean about reversing the 3S and 3NT bids ?... unless... .... do you mean: 2NT - 3D! 3H - ?? .......... 3S! >> relays to 3NT to play ..........3NT! = 5 cards Clubs .......... 4C! = 5 cards Diam Then 4D! in either minor case could be the weakness/misfit call ( the suit BELOW the Major ). - - - - - - - - - - - - - And as for the 5M/4m, slammish cases, I think I'd just bid 4NT ( quant ) after the transfer with the minor suit undisclosed ; whereas, 2NT - TEXAS, then 4NT = RKC . - - - - - - - - - - - - - I haven't thought much about the 6M/5m case.... other than : 2NT - TEXAS 4M - 6m = choice of slams

Below was my hand: Responder Q 10 8 x x A x K Q 7 x x x We got to 6S essentially by brute force. Afterwards, I suggested something I came up with after a similar hand was posted at rec.games.bridge a year ago, in August ( Responder has 5M/5m, Slammish by Stig Holmquist ). If Opener has not fudged his opening, there should be at least a 3 card fit in one of Responder's suits. With little room to work with I felt the pair needs to find out MISSING key cards with BOTH suits in "focus" ( to use a bit of Ken's terminology )in order to ascertain whether slam is even possible. So after the 4m bid, Opener should just rebid as if replying to 6 Ace RKC . My partner in turn suggested that the 4M reply be ommitted in the "step replies" -- so that Opener can make that bid as a "warning" ( a hand that may be offshape or fudged on the hcp or NO high honors in either of the suits in question ). [ Responder with a bigger hand with good "stuff" in both suits would have the option to decline the warning and bid regular 4NT-RKC ] . After 4D , the 5 step replies become: 4H! = 0/3 ( the very next step after 4D ) 4NT! = 1/4 5C = 2 and neither Q 5D = 2 + 1 Q 5H = 2 + 2 Q's So for the given hand: 2NT - 3H! 3S - 4D 4H!( 0/3 ) - 6D ( for pass or correct) 6S - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Now if Opener had the following hand ( also 20 hcp ): K x K Q J x J 10 x A K Q J After Responder's 4D: 5C! = 3rd step = 2 and neither Q And missing 2 key cards, Responder then signs-off: 5D = pass or correct to 5S

I cancelled my original brainfade reply.... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - If Responder had bid 2S ( instead of "waiting"), then I could get excited since 2S would show 5+ w/2 of top 3 . As it is, the 3S bid AFTER the waiting bid just showed a 5+ suit w/o 2 of top 3. 6C looks about right. Hopefully, I can set up the Sp suit for a Diam discard.

That is so true.... not to mention finding the sQ or possibly the hJ . I also feel it is the "( outside) K poor" hand that should NOT do the "asking" ( be in charge ). It is so much easier to find Aces than Kings when you use RKC .

opps silent MP scoring ( if it matters ) Both Vul A K x K Q J 9 10 x A K 9 x 2NT( 20,21) - 3H! 3S ............ - 4D ( natural ) ?? How do you handle this ? ( Responder must have a good reason to go past 3NT, and you assume he must have at least a 5-5, slammish ).

Definitely a 2S! limit raise.

Correct.... ... and after 1H - 2C - 3NT shows 15-17 . In general after a 2/1 GF Response: 1x 2y 2N = 12-14 or 18-19 (18-19 will bid above 3N) 1x 2y 3N = 15-17 1x 2y 2z 2N = 12-14 or 18-19 (18-19 will bid above 3N) 1x 2y 2z 3N = 15-17

The key to finding the cold grand ( 7NT ) is the "3rd Rnd Ctrl ASK" as bucky mentioned ( 6C! here ). After your RKC bid and reply, when you BY-PASS the K-ask ( at least one step past the K-ask ) with a side-suit bid ( usually 6-of-a-suit... ) , then the reply options for this deal are: 6H = no 3rd Rnd Ctrl 7H = doubleton 7C = cQJ 6NT = cQ ( NT shows the feature asked for ) >> 7NT ( Asker can count to at least a sure 13 tricks ) .

I posed the same question... earlier. Phil didn't give me a straight answer either, but made a smart-ass remark. ( Lest I forget... he is so much smarter than you and I ). I think you and I interpreted Phil's "3NT" as an actual place "to play" with the posted hand. But, I guess he means 3NT is always raised to 4M... but then why bother with "3NT" ??

I just happen to have DANIEL'S 2/1 Structure in my files.... http://www.geocities.com/daniel_neill_2000/sys/

The top player ( jobanjo ) in the old MSN Bridge Club always guaranteed at least 5 cards in the 2/1 GF suit. Subsequently, she overloaded the 1NTF(orcing) response with as much as 18 hcp. ( I never did find out her follow-ups to that system ).

I've always thought the CAPP DBL as mandatory penalty was useless if you have a hand such as this. All it does is alert the opps to "pull". So, I've felt the DONT DBL is more productive. BUT on this hand, I PASSED...hoping Responder might invite to 2NT or bid 3NT.... However, he passed too but, lo and behold, my partner made a DONT-DBL with a long Ht suit.... and it was passed out! ! 1NTX down 3 for a top. [hv=pc=n&s=skq4haj64daj62c75&w=s72hdqt53cakqj843&n=sjt86ht32dk84ct96&e=sa953hkq9875d97c2&d=s&v=b&b=7&a=1nppdppp]399|300[/hv]

Playing Support Doubles , this Redouble shows 3 card Sp support ( regardless of strength ); a Sp raise would show 4 cards with the level depending on strength.

This came up last night.... Righty opens 1NT ( 15-17 ) What's your bid playing: 1) CAPP ( all seats ) 2) DONT ( all seats ) ( 1NT ) - ?? ♠ x x ♥ void ♦ Q 10 x x ♣ A K Q J 8 x x ( Both Vul, if it matters ) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Edit: MP scoring... if that matters. Also, Re: The CAPP DBL.. there seems to be 2 versions: a) Penalty.. a hand ( in direct seat ) that can defeat 1NTX on its own with no help from partner. Partner is supposed to pass. b ) T/O ...showing a hand that would have opened 1NT.

I'll be looking forward to his post next time he uses your 3NT, and he has those black suits reversed.

Again, I'll post Justin's ( jlal , JLOGIC ) comment about these SJS auctions in general: Here is what he says about 3H ( HIS CHOICE ... could be as few as 2 card support ) vs 3NT ( from another thread http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?showtopic=37712 ):

Thx again, Zel.... I've got work to do... going thru my files for 1H openings that I've compiled over the years and test your suggested system.... ( which looks good on the surface ). I came up with my treatment when an expert posed the question ( on the old MSN Message Board years ago ): How does one distinguish between Opener's hand strength for the following 2/1 auction: 1H - 2C! 2S Opener hand # 1 (Reverse strength ~17+ hcp ) A K Q x A K J x x x x x x Opener hand # 2 ( Flannery type hand ( ~ 12-15 ) J x x x A K Q x x Q x x x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - And I also like your suggestion for my system: switching the 3H! and 3S! rebids by Responder over Opener's 2H! = minimum rebid. Will you require royalties if I incorporate it into my system ? ( If so, where do I send the checks ? )

I agree with Mike. The agreement I have is that Responder's DBL is like an "immediate 2nd-negative" = no A, no K and or 2 Q's. It is the weakest action.... ... whereas a Responder PASS = forcing ( since 2C ostensibly put you in a GF auction ) showing at least an A or K or 2 Q's but no 5+card suit w/2 of the top 3 honors.

Who has not read whom? Granted, it took me little awhile to figure out that the "underlines" were really Ken's replies to Mike's points. But the following is priceless... and true no matter what:

4th seat should bid Michaels. Common practice when opps have bid two suits is to have 2C! = Michaeals and 2S = natural. Anyway, Opener may still bid 2S ( since they apparently aren't playing Support DBLs ) but at least you've gotten your 2 red suits in . Partner ( Advancer ) will bid 3D ( over 2S ) and you could bid 3H to show additional length . This might be enough to induce partner to bid 4H with his stiff Q.

This is what Ron Anderson ( in his book on Lebensohl ) recommends ... ie. does not guarantee any stop(s). I think the reasoning is that you rely on the partner ( the 1NT opener ) to have Diam-stop(s). However, let's say Responder doesn't have a long Major or even a 4 card Major, then over 2D interference, a direct 3NT denies a Diam stop whereas the slow 3NT shows Diam-stop(s).

Zel..... I see you have another good idea. Even if Opener does not use 2D! as "could be artificial", I like the suggestion of using 2S! over 2H!(Leb ) to show the natural reverse bid ( instead of 3C )... thus, allowing a pass by Responder having a "total donkey" w/spades.

I'll let others plan the play. I'll just showcase my method for 1H openers and a 2m! GF. Note the given auction: 1H - 2D! 2S :: how do you distinguish between a minimum Opener or "extras" w/4s ? With my "home grown" method ( at least I know Zel will appreciate ): 1H - 2D! 2H!( minimum w or w/o 4s ) - 2S! (asks which?) ?? ..2NT! = no 4s, but may have extra Ht length ) ..3C! = 4s/5h, Cl shortness ..3D! = 4s/5h, Diam shortness ) ..3H! = 4 5 2 2 ..3S! = 4s/6+h, ergo shortness in a minor After 3D! - 3S 4C ( courtesy cue ) - 4D ( cue ) 4S - 5C ( cue and must at least have trump A & K to go past 4NT-RKC ) 5D ( stiff dA or void ) - 6S - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Note: if Opener had "extras", he rebids a direct 2S! or 2NT!: 1H - 2m! ?? ..2S! = 4s + extras ..2NT! = no 4s, extras, but couldn't open 1NT w/5+h.

I thought Wolff is only used after: 1m - 1M 2NT What are Wolff sequences ( do they really exist ) after 1C - 1D 2NT - ??