TWO4BRIDGE

Can you do better after 1C - ( 3H ) - ??[hv=pc=n&s=s54hqjtdj83ck8654&w=sa9h542da95cajt73&n=st732hak98763d2c9&e=skqj86hdkqt764cq2&d=s&v=e&b=3&a=p1c3h4d4h5dppp]399|300[/hv]

I don't think so. 2NT! is Lebensohl. 3D = GF ...with this hand with the extremely useful ♥ K J doubleton....when partner has shown a 5-6 with a hand that is worth reversing and slam might be more than probable.

There is a "Distribution Ask" system that works well Responder holding a 4441 GF hand. It is also used in place of Stayman auction ( with a GF Responder )... provided Opener does NOT have a 5 card Major : South................... North 1NT...................... - 2S!( GF, asks for distribution ) 3C!(4c + 1 more)... - 3D!( asks for the other 4 carder ) ..3H! ( 4h ) ..3S! ( 4s ) .3NT!( 4d )............ - 4D! ( Minorwood; just in case off 2 key cards ) 4NT(3rd step=2-dQ).. - 6D

This is a problem hand for Responder in 2/1 GF . But, it is a poster child hand for the little used auction of 1H - 2S! as a fit-showing-jump ( first presented to me by Bill Higgins ... who I haven't seen posting here in quite awhile ). ( It is the ONLY FSJ used in the system w/o intervening interference or as a passed hand ... and gives up the WSJ ). 1H - ( p ) - 2S! - (5D) ?? Still the 5D gives us a headache, but at least Opener knows of the double-fit ! ! and will at least get to 5S.

Thx, Zel, I too appreciate your interest. ( My basic system is 2/1 GF ). I also have posted schemes for the problematic auctions ( that you mentioned) of 1C - 1S and 1D - 1S where Opener is shy of a strong 2C open and doesn't have the right shape for a traditional SJS or Reverse ( and chooses NOT to make 2NT! as forcing and/or artificial).... but would like to make a relatively low-level GF rebid. A) Let's first look at the 1C - 1S auction. I also looked at the 3D! jump-reverse [ first presented to me recently by Gerben ( mentar42 at rec.games.bridge )] as a possible articial bid ( ostensibly a splinter ) but I decided it took up too much "room" for the "sorting out" follow-ups, so I settled on the 2D! reverse as "maybe artificial" as the ONLY false reverse that I would use ( all others are natural ): 1C - 1S 2D! - ?? has the unique feature that Responder can bid the lowest possible Lebensohl rebid of 2H! to start a sign-off. .....- 2H!(Leb) ?? 2S = 4s, 18,19 balanced GF ( where Responder is offered a choice of games: 3NT or 4S ) 2NT! = no 4s, but long Cl, GF 3C! = accepting Leb relay with NF natural 4d/5+c 3D! = ( haven't thot about this much but could be a big 5d/6c to decline the relay to 3C!) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - As for other rebids by Responder after Opener's 2D!, well they are conveniently forcing ( GF in fact ) according to accepted Lebensohl principles: 2S/2NT/3C or 3D..... and I have follow-up for those also to "sort out" Opener's hand ( 4s or not; long Cl only; or natural Diam reverse ). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - That's all for now....more to come later....

I wonder if Opener had a big enough hand to be considered GF, but did his best with an ostensibly non-forcing 3C-jump rebid since he was stuck for a GF rebid ?

Thx Zel... A K Q J J x x A Q 9 x x x 9 8 7 6 A Q x x K Q x K x You make a good point; and I re-examined the hand yesterday when you brought up the GF issue. I think I AM a point or 2 short of making a GF with Opener's hand ( maybe replace the Cl Q with the K ). I was a victim of "double-dummy" bidding and over enthusiasm of the "toy". For example if Responder does not have 4 cards Sp and a weaker hand, I maybe in real trouble about finding a satifactory game, much less slam ! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Edit: BTW, I'm impressed with your "Big Club" auction on the other thread: Edit: Bid These...by Phil re. the 1H opening ( http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/42470-bid-these/page__st__20) .... eventho I don't understand the system..... yet .

I'd give Andy's last post a "+"

Another chance to show my system for a 1H open and a 2/1 GF Response. Opener can show 4 cards Sp w/ or w/o "extras".... all by the 3-level. In addition, extra Ht length can be explored at the 3-level: 1H - 2D! = 2/1 GF 2NT!* - 3C! =(3om)= asks if extra Ht length 3H(6+) - 4C! = advance cue for Hts 4D! - 4S! = RKC for Hts 5H( 4th step = 2 + hQ ) - 5S = specific K ask 6H ( no outside K's ) - pass - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * where 2NT! denies 4s but shows "extras"; whereas 2H! rebid shows a minimum opener and Responder's 2S! next would ask if 4s or not; and a direct 2S! ( over 2D! ) would show 4s and "extras".

Same. Then let's say they take the Cl Ace and switch to Sp. They win the first and lead a 2nd Sp. Crossroads. I'm worried about the 4-1 trump split. I think Ill pitch a Diam from dummy on the 2nd Sp. .... That way retain enough Hts in dummy so I can eventually draw trumps ending on board to run the rest of the tricks in Clubs.... .... as long as the Cl are no worse than 4-2. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The risk of trying to set up Diam instead of Cl is a 4-1 Diam split. In that case you won't have the needed transportion to cash the good Diam after drawing trumps. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The latter may give up an overtrick if the Diam are 3-2 and the Q drops ... or is onsides.

7NT is only 50% ( the Diam hook ) 7S : Ht split 3-3 .... 35% ..................4-3 .... 48% .............................83% Add to that falling back onto the Diam hook: 50% of remaining 17% = 8.5% .......... or over 91% . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Both need 3-2 trump split ( 68% ) or 4-1 w/stiff J ( add 5% ) or 73% 7NT: = 73% x 50% = about 37% overall 7S : = 73% x 91% = about 66% overall

Zel.... My 2S! is not your ordinary SJS.

Thx billw and Bbradley... ... that makes the odds higher for 7S.

My sequence is similar to Mike's ... except that my "cheapest K-ask" is a specific K-ask and if I by-pass the cheapest K-ask, then it is a 3rd Rnd Ctrl-ask in the bid suit ( Q or xx doubleton ): 1S - 2H ( 2/1 GF ) 2S(6+) - 3S ( 2 or 3 cards ) 4C - 4D 4NT(RKC) - 5H ( 2 - sQ ) 5NT - 6C ( cK ) 6D( cheapest 2nd K-ask) - 6H ( hK ) ?? counting 6s, 2h, 2d, 2c = 12 -- 7NT needs Diam hook -- 7S needs either a 3-3 Ht split, or hQJ bare, or fall back on Diam hook ( Either needs 3-2 Sp split )

This always reminds me of Justin's recent post reply: http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?showtopic=41586&st=15 QUOTE (manudude03 @ Sep 14 2010, 07:04 AM) I've heard people say that the best way to improve slam bidding is to not have any ace asking bids at all, then you can phase in whatever to avoid the slams off 2 aces, it will show you how rarely blackwood is actually needed. Justin Lall : "Lol what?" "Keycard is bid on almost every slam hand at all levels, and when it isn't it's usually because there was a quantitative auction like 2N-4N-6N, or the opponents preempted you out of being about to bid keycard. This is not for no reason, keycard is absolutely vital to slam bidding, GL trying to cuebid your way into every slam correctly."

Use 1m - 4m! = RKC And 1m - 4NT as "Specific Ace Ask " ( Google it )

Switching the RED suits in ONE of the partner's hands... same auction, but slam doesn't look so good :blink: :(

Below is an auction using Gwnn's suggestion that South should Overcall with 2S. Now, if you are playing Rubens Transfer Advances, the (1C)-1S auction has the MOST room for Transfers by partner( who can transfer to every suit[ other than Opener's ] if he so desires : 2C>> 2D, 2D>>2H, 2H>>2S But, there is another bid in the Transfer Advances arsenal and that is 2NT! by Advancer which is a 4 card limit raise+: (1C) - 1S - (p) - 2NT! (p) - 4C! -(p) - 4NT ( RKC ) (p) - 5NT -(p) - 6S where: 4C! = splinter 5NT = 2 + void, obviously Cl - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Note: if Opener did not have shortness in Cl and just rebid 3D, then North could bid a 4H! splinter which overcomes the problem in splintering in a suit other than opps' suit ( another Gwnn concern ).

I mostly hate it.... since I can't "highlight-copy-paste" from the Hand Display. I have to completely retype it.... ugh. ( And I don't need the suggestions of taking a picture of it with my phone and e-mailing to myself ) . As far as the Tuna's problem goes, I have not experienced it. I think you might have hit some other "key" to cause your typing to "disappear".

I have a way to show a minimum 1H open w/no 4s but extra Ht length. But North with his big hand is still going to "ask" via RKC and reach this fine slam: North........... South A K Q x......... x A x................ K Q x x x x K J T x x....... x J x................ A K T x x .................................... 1H 2D!(GF)......................... 2H! ( minimum w or w/o 4s ) 2S!(asks)...................... 2NT! ( no 4s, but may have extra Ht length ) 3C!( other minor asks) .... 3H!( 6+h whereas 3NT = only 5h ) 4S!/4NT( RKC for Hts)......5H/5S ( 4th step = 2 + hQ ) 6H Now that a natural Sp bid has been avoided,as well as a natural Cl bid, you may actually get a Sp lead or Cl lead ( or any non-Diam lead ) and thus, be able to discard your losing Diam ! !

(1D) - 2D! = Cl and a Major.. that's a new one on me... but so be it. What is your "asking bid(s) " ?? although 3D!/4D! = "bid your major" seems reasonable here.

Transfer. ( It may be the only way to take tricks in this hand ) .

There is another Convention which the Fit-show-jumps are a part of. And that is Rubens Transfer Advances ( which you may have noticed I've mentioned in a few threads recently ). A relatively new twist in the convention is a "Cuebid-DBL"... much like Robson/Segal Cuebid DBLs. They are NOT Responsive DBLs but are like a "stolen bid DBL" in the Transfer Advance system. For example with the given hand the auction could go: 1H - 2C - 2H - DBL* p - 2S - p - 3C where DBL* = transfer to 2S ( since the Responder's 2H raise interfered with Advancer using 2H! as a transfer); and the subequent Cl raise of partner's suit would show a limit+ raise with a Sp side suit. --The difference between the cubid-DBL auction and the FSJ is that the transfer auction would NOT guarantee 5 cards Sp, whereas FSJ would. --Advancer with a weaker hand could pass partner's "simple accept" of 2S. --Any new suit ( or cuebid ) by Advancer after Opener completes the transfer would be GF.

If you use Rubens Transfer Advances, then 2♥ = forcing 1 round ( because there is "no room" for transfers). But in Frances' examples, both are solved with Transfer Advances. In addition, you can show a weak, invite, or GF ♥ raise in her examples with the Transfer structure; OR show the Diam suit AND a Ht fit at the 2-level: 2♣>> transfer to 2♦, then bid 2♥.