Gerben47

The point is that in Polish Club the opponents don't know if it's their hand and need constructive calls as an addition to destructive calls. I think that a good system is still an advantage even at the highest levels, but less so than on lower levels. However, it is clear that in the 21st century standard 5-card majors is no longer the way to go. Or if you do play a natural system, with lots of gadgets and fixes to make it work (Gazzilli, Transfers in many situations, etc.) Gerben

But in the 60s the next hand would not make a weak jump raise. Gerben

Yes, you have to give back more tricks if the damage is greater than the 2-trick transfer. Doing something like this on purpose is cheating and should be punished severely (like kicking the person out of the tournament).

3♦ is clear for me. If partner is strong enough to volunteer 3♠ I will take the bait. A second double is wrong because you KNOW partner will bid 3♥ now. A question for those that say "I don't like double": Well, what do you suggest? 2♦ with 20 HCP is too much IMHO. 2NT for the minors? Yuck! You are prepared for every auction. If partner voluntarily bids 3♥ at some point you can bid 3NT.

An impressive list before of good conventions that are suggested as "worst". Negative Double of 1h promising four spades ---> Easily improved if you play double showing 4 or more spades and 1S denying 4S. Short minor suit opening in an otherwise natural system ----> If it's so bad then why are almost all good pairs playing this? Blackwood ----> Conventions that people misuse are not per se bad. Blackwood is VERY IMPORTANT in some auctions if you want to avoid a slam with say 30-32 HCP but off two aces. You just need to know when, as with all bids. Weak jump shift not in competition. ----> Not a convention, it's natural bidding ----> If you suggested this go read http://www.tat.physik.uni-tuebingen.de/~di...e/weakjump.html Namyats -----> I think this is a very good convention. Today I held 8 hearts to the KQ and AQx in a side suit. 1H? And let them find their fit cheaply? 4H? And miss slam? No thanks! Namyats please. Exclusion Blackwood -----> See comments for Blackwood. Same applies if you have a void. Gerben

Same here. First of all Meckwell do not play Flannery contrary to what others have said. From their CC: 1st/2nd seat: 2♦: Multi 2♥: 11 - 15 , short ♦ (Some sort of Mini-Roman) 3rd/4th seat: 2♦: 11 - 15, short ♦ (Some sort of Mini-Roman), 2♥ weak 2 Although it might work for those few USA Experts (which tells you it can't be very bad) I cannot imagine playing such a system. If Meckwell have played it before and don't play it now, that tells you: Don't play it! They tried it and rejected it. Also this convention, unlike many others, has had NO success at all to get popular abroad. I'd be surprised if any of the pairs in Malmö play it (if you find someone who does let me know). One last warning. EVERY convention (yes even Gerber) works on the hands it was designed for. In some Vugraph broadcast I saw Flannery preempt opponents out of a game and gain IMPs. So? On this particular hand it worked well to have this convention. On others you'd like another meaning for 2♦. But you can only have one! And many other meanings are much nicer.

I agree with hrothgar. Don't play Flannery. Kaplan Inversion is described on my website: http://www.tat.physik.uni-tuebingen.de/~di...dge/kaplan.html

I bid 1NT followed by hearts at the cheapest level showing a bad raise to 2H. Gerben

Then the question is, if even Istanbul is considered too dangerous, will we ever see the Nickell team in a Bermuda Bowl again. They're mostly held abroad... Or maybe they stay at home. Now that I think of it, don't most accidents occur at home. Well, maybe stay in a hospital bed 24/7 then... BTW, what is the chance of being murdered by an irrational murderer who doesn't know bridge in the US? Better or worse than 1 in 650,000? The last time I visited the US there was a highway sniper on the loose in the region. Very safe indeed.

Hi, although I'm a regular on this forum I never got around to introducing myself in this thread. I'm a junior player (25 next week) from the Netherlands, but currently in Germany for my Ph.D. in Astronomy. As for bridge level, I probably rank between advanced and expert, having won my set of regional tournaments and due to good results in junior competitions. I will play for the German junior team in Prague this summer, partnering a Russian. Favorite Bridge Experiences: * Playing the Forbo International Tournament in Scheveningen and actually winning a 10-board match against one of the favorites. * Junior Bridge Camps. I can recommend these to everyone. Greatest Hand: Making an incredible 3NT during the Individual in the 2002 Junior Bridge Camp (see bulletin for details). Favorite Bridge Book: Adventures in Card Play Special Bridge Interests: Non-standard bidding systems and conventions. Other Hobbies: Other board and card games, recreational mathematics. Favorite non-bridge authors: Isaac Asimov, Stephen Baxter, Greg Bear (sci-fi with the empasis on the sci-part) What I like most in BBO: Live Vugraph. I watch it a lot, was operator, even commentator for a few boards and in the already mentioned junior championship this summer I hope to play on it as well. Motto: There's two kinds of rubber bridge players. Those that hold average cards and those who won't admit it. Gerben "Dutchy" Dirksen

Brink - Oltmans played a 2-system method in the Dutch top teams league. Vulnerable they played what most played: Dutch Doubleton, but not vulnerable they played... OltBrink. 2-level bids were FORCED weak bids with 0 - 7 HCP, so pass shows 8 - 11 ish, 1C was 16+, 1D could be anything without 5card M. In 3rd and 4th responding to the 8 - 11 pass...

It depends how you count, of course. Even in standard bidding you might be playing at least 3 different "systems". For most pairs there are hands a) and :rolleyes: such that: In 1st seat you open :) but not a). In 3rd seat you open both In 4th seat you open a) but not :). This is probably a good exercise trying to think of hands a) and :o with your partner. I would also count the original MagicD as two different systems. However, the way I play it (with the point range shifted two point upwards) I'm basically doing what everyone else does in a natural system so I would count this as one system. After two passes the 1C and 1D as I play it are very nice, after three passes they are great. And it saves you the trouble of learning the 2nd Magic Diamond system for 3rd and 4th seat. (Note that on my website the ranges are somewhat different. I'm still not sure what range I like best).

I'm no fan of playing two seperate systems at the same time. Have you considered raising the requirements of the strong club in 3rd and 4th seat? 1C (1st / 2nd) is 15+ 1C (3rd / 4th) is 17+ This is more suitable to Magic Diamond, for example I currently play it like this: 1st / 2nd seat: 1C = 13 - 16 any (14 - 17- NT) 1D = 17+ any 1NT = 10+ - 13 Rest = 9 - 12 3rd/4th seat 1C = 16 - 19 any (17 - 20- NT) 1D = 20+ any 1NT = 13+ - 16 Rest = 12 - 15 This way you have your suit opening bids at the top of your frequency distribution at all times. In 3rd seat your minimum requirements are shaded as a minimum opening bid would have had no game interest opposite anything that justified a pass by partner. In 4th seat you might pass hands that others open. Your HCP expectation when others open rule of 20 is: 1st seat: 10.0 HCP 2nd seat: 10.9 HCP 3rd seat: 12.1 HCP 4th seat: 14.7 HCP (15.2 HCP if one previous player opened rule of 19 systematically) Playing an agressive strong club system, 50% of your 4th seat opening bids will be 1C (as your average will be even above 15.2 since both partner and 3rd seat might've violated rule of 20). That can't be right.

Double and bid 4S is my approach.

Easy pass in West: Your 1NT range is 11+ - 14. This is a BAD 11. Easy FOUR ♠ bid by East. 2♠, whatever it was, was wrong. I usually count HCP and add judgement for balanced hands. Almost any 5332 11-count counts as 11+, and 4432's with good intermediates. 4333 hands are terrible and unless exceptional (AT9 KT9x AT9 xxx ?) I pass.

I bid Stayman and bid 2H over 2D forcing partner to pick a major. This auction shows 4-4 or longer and no interest in game. For all the opponents know I could have 5-5. This will also reduce the doubling because double by my LHO probably means Clubs now.

Okay here goes. Partner's hand is: x AQx AKTx QJTxx 3♣ is a violation of Burn's Rule and will be doubled by LHO, he has K9xxx. Hearts are 5-0 but that does not matter much because you can crossruff, elope and whatever. Or you can go down in 2♦ or 2♠ undoubled. Or in 2NT or higher doubled. 3♥ would be 530 but do you dare?

To all the 2NT bidders, natural or not: LHO doubles, pass, pass, any thoughts?

Okay, it's IMPs and no one is vulnerable. You have: ♠ AJxxx ♥ Jxxxx ♦ Jx ♣ x and you hear the following auction: Pd RHO You LHO 1♣ 1♥ 1♠ 1NT 2♦ pass ? What do you bid and why?

Excellent advice Misho! All this talk of CAB and TAB makes me wary in a competitive auction. It's just like a 2/1 GF situation now. As to what to bid: I don't like bidding 2♥ now for Support with ♣ side suit with this hand. Double shows a PENALTY double of one of their suits which you don't have. Pass is out with 20 HCP. What's left? 2♣ = I have clubs. Then next round I show my 3-card support for spades.

I bid 5♦ to steal maximum room away from my opponents. They don't know if they can make 6 like on Misho's deal or if 5 goes down. 4NT might work as well but could go wrong if partner has no hearts. Pass would be "pick a minor" and redouble "2NT redoubled is okay and if you bid something I'm gonna double ya". Gerben

In the Netherlands the term "Muiderberg" is used to signify exactly a 5-card major and 4 or more in a minor. If you regularly open it with a 6-card major you cannot call it Muiderberg. So anyway, whenever people deviate the director has to assume it's not the first time and assume deliberate misinformation and you get awarded a point penalty. They do the same for Ghestem mistakes. Gerben

Opening this 1♦ is misleading partner and leaving opponents all the room they like. A clear 4♦ for me.

I'm sure he means 11 - 36 not 11 - 40. 38 - 40 hands don't exist and with 37 you don't need a special opening bid. I think opps should have a link to their convention card (not BBO CC) and post that so you can read that. Besides, what system has 6 meanings? 1C (Polish) has only 3 or 4 depending how you count. Unless you count every distribution as a meaning: then even SAYC has 6+ meanings for 1C!

Well I played it showing 5 until something like this came up: KJTx Ax xxx KQxx (1♦) 1♥ (p) ? Do you a) Bid 1♠ anyway? B) Bid 2NT without stopper? c) Bid 2♦ which is forcing but shows something completely different 1st question: I like raising 4-card suits to the 2-level. 2♠. 2nd question: 4♠. Gerben