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EXTRACT FROM CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 8 DEFENSIVE BIDDING Your right hand opponent (RHO) has just opened the bidding with 2♦ which is alerted by your left hand opponent (LHO). Upon inquiry as to what the bid means, you receive the following explanation: “It is an artificial opening bid which could be any of the following hand patterns – • A natural Weak 2♦, a 6 or 7-card suit with 6-11 HCP, or • 6♥ and 4♠, with 10-15 HCP, or • 6♠ and 4♥, with 10-15 HCP, or • A strong 3-suited 4441 hand, with 16+ HCP, or • 5+♣ and 5+♦, with 14+ HCP • The bid is 100% forcing for 1-round without direct opposition intervention unless responder is holding a hand completely useless outside of a diamond contract. Then and only then, may responder pass the opening bid.” You happen to be a seasoned tournament player and know immediately that the bid is 100% legal, i.e. it is not a Brown Sticker Convention (see chapter 12) because whenever a weak hand has been opened, the suit is known to be diamonds. Do you enter the auction immediately or first pass and see how the auction progresses knowing that more often than not you will get a second chance as the auction is forcing for 1-round without immediate intervention from you? The answer to this question obviously depends upon a number of different variables including: • Number of HCP held • Vulnerability • Own hand distribution • Whether partner is an unpassed hand or not Being the seasoned tournament player that you are, you also know something about probabilities, and the probability is 70%+ that your RHO has opened a natural Weak Two in Diamonds. You also know that it usually pays to enter the bidding as early as possible. There are a number of reasons for doing so: 1. It takes up bidding space. 2. It disrupts the opposition from finding their best spot in an uncontested auction. 3. It may assist partner in making the correct opening lead. 4. It may pave the way to a controlled sacrifice bid. 5. But most importantly, if RHO has opened a natural Weak Two in Diamonds, the hand often belongs to your side, be it in a part score contract, game, or even slam. Experience has shown distribution to be more important than HCP held when deciding whether or not to enter the bidding. It pays to be aggressive with extreme distribution combined with a good holding in your trump suit. When deciding to enter the bidding, bid as high as you intend going with your first bid. This chapter on defence will be split into two halves, defending in the direct seat and defending in the fourth seat DEFENDING IN THE DIRECT SEAT Because of its high frequency of occurrence, the defence will be heavily focused towards defending as though a natural Weak Two in Diamonds has been opened. In this regard the following defence is suggested: Dbl a) 12-15 HCP, balanced, or b) Very strong 1-suited hand, or c) 19+ HCP, balanced 2♥ Natural, a decent 5-card suit 2♠ Natural, a decent 5-card suit 2NT Natural, 16-18 HCP, balanced 3♣ Natural, a decent 6 or 7-card suit 3♦ Weak Michael’s cue-bid, 5/5 in the majors, 5-10 HCP 3♥ Natural, a decent 6 or 7-card suit 3♠ Natural, a decent 6 or 7-card suit 3NT To play, diamond stop plus a long running club suit 4♣ 5+ clubs and 5+ in an undisclosed major, 16+ HCP 4♦ Strong Michael’s cue-bid, 5/5 in the majors, 16+ HCP 4♥ To play 4♠ To play 5♣ To play Let us examine some typical auctions for most of the hand types described. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 1 North 2D None Vul S AK97 X P 2H P H 9652 P P D 5 West C 9872 East S QJ5 S T82 H KQJ3 H T87 D T9 D A432 C QJ63 South C AK4 S 643 H A4 2H East D KQJ876 Lead: DK C T5 ___________________________________________________________ Hand 1 is a routine takeout double of a presumed natural weak 2 in diamonds. West has a 12 HCP balanced hand with shortness in the suit opened. After opposition intervention, North is under no further obligation to enter the auction. On this hand East got lucky by landing in a 4-3 heart fit. Often it is in a 3-3 fit. The nuisance value of a natural Weak Two in Diamonds is vastly underrated. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 2 North 2D None Vul S AKT87 2H P 3H P H K6 P P D 764 West C 864 East S QJ S 6542 H AQT84 H J732 D 93 D A2 C QJ53 South C AK2 S 93 H 95 3H West D KQJT85 Lead: SK C T97 ___________________________________________________________ Another routine auction; West has a decent 5-card heart suit and 12 HCP. East, who has 12 HCP and good support for hearts, invites game with 3♥. The unprotected ♠QJ in West’s hand results in the hand being downgraded, otherwise the game invite would be accepted. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 3 North 2D None Vul S T94 2NT P P P H KT62 D 87 West C A842 East S AJ72 S Q83 H AQ53 H 984 D QT5 D K3 C K3 South C JT765 S K65 H J7 2NT West D AJ9642 Lead: D7 C Q9 ___________________________________________________________ Another routine auction; West has a balanced 16 HCP hand which includes a diamond stopper. East cannot improve the auction and passes. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 4 North 2D None Vul S J6 3D P 3S P H J93 P P D K86 West C Q9643 East S K9842 S AQT H KQ875 H A64 D 5 D T93 C J2 South C KT87 S 753 H T2 3S East D AQJ742 Lead: HT C A5 ___________________________________________________________ Another routine example auction; the 3♦ overcall by West is the weaker Michaels cue-bid promising both majors and 5-10 HCP. East is forced to guess whether to signoff on the 3-level or bid game. On this hand game in either major makes, on a different one it will fail. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 5 North 2D None Vul S A98752 3H P P P H 92 D Q73 West C A2 East S KJ3 S Q6 H AKQ763 H J854 D 54 D 96 C 97 South C KJ864 S T4 H T 3H West D AKJT82 Lead: DQ C QT53 ___________________________________________________________ With hand 5, West with 13 HCP and a good 6-card heart suit, bids his hand to the maximum immediately which ends the auction. Here West got lucky as the contract makes. Reverse the ♣K and ♣Q in the East and South hand and the contract fails by 1 trick. __________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 6 North 2D None Vul S AKQ96 3NT P P P H QJ952 D 87 West C J East S 83 S J742 H 63 H A84 D A5 D T94 C AKQ9432 South C 765 S T5 H KT7 3NT West D KQJ632 Lead: SK C T8 ___________________________________________________________ Another example hand where West got lucky; the ♠J in East’s hand stops North from winning the first 5 tricks. On this layout declarer is always going to make 9 tricks. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 7 North 2D None Vul S A9653 4C P P P H AJ5 D Q6 West C 854 East S KQ S T87 H KQT97 H 62 D 3 D T942 C AQ932 South C KJT7 S J42 H 843 4C West D AKJ875 Lead: DQ C 6 ___________________________________________________________ In this auction the jump to 4♣ by West shows a strong 2-suited hand, clubs and an undisclosed major, 16+ HCP. East has a tough decision to make, hope for a 5-3 fit in spades at the risk of landing up in a 5-2 fit in hearts when he already knows of a 9-card fit in clubs. Here East chose to pass which was correct, 10 tricks can be made in clubs but only 9 in hearts. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 8 North 2D None Vul S A74 4C P 4S P H J93 P P D AT2 West C 8643 East S K S QJ98632 H AK876 H 54 D 95 D 84 C KQJ75 South C AT S T5 H QT2 4S East D KQJ763 Lead: DK C 92 ___________________________________________________________ Here again the jump to 4♣ by West shows a strong 2-suited hand, clubs and an undisclosed major, 16+ HCP. East has a 7-card spade suit, and apart from the ♣A, the hand is almost useless outside of a spade contract, whereas the West hand has shown 16+ HCP and trick taking strength in two suits. The 4♠ bid by East is a so-called “shut-up” bid, showing the single suited hand. Declarer wins 10 tricks on this layout. On rare occasions East may have bid West’s major suit after which slam exploration will ensue. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 9 North 2D None Vul S 54 4C P 4D X H AKT63 4S P P P D 543 West C 765 East S KJT82 S AQ76 H Q8 H 7542 D Q D 97 C AKQ84 South C 932 S 93 H J9 4S West D AKJT862 Lead: HK C JT ___________________________________________________________ Here again the jump to 4♣ by West shows a strong 2-suited hand, clubs and an undisclosed major, 16+ HCP. This time East has 4-card support for both majors, and by bidding 4♦ is asking West to bid the major. On this layout declarer makes 10 tricks, losing 2 heart tricks and 1 diamond trick. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 10 North 2D None Vul S 732 4D P 4S P H A73 P P D 754 West C A752 East S AKQJ6 S T98 H KQ985 H 42 D 2 D Q93 C K3 South C QJT94 S 54 H JT6 4S East D AKJT86 Lead: DK C 86 ___________________________________________________________ On this hand the jump to 4♦ by West is the strong Michaels cue-bid promising both majors and 16+ HCP. East signs off in 4♠. Accurate declarer play should see the contract home. ----------------------------------------------------- DEFENDING IN THE FOURTH SEAT In the next portion of this chapter we will look at some example hands of defending in the fourth seat. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 11 North 2D None Vul S J97 P 2S X P H 64 3C P P P D 6542 West C Q543 East S K632 S 54 H 3 H AQ95 D AQT98 D KJ3 C 862 South C AKT9 S AQT8 H KJT872 3C West D 7 Lead: D5 C J7 ___________________________________________________________ Utilising the artificial 2♦ opening, the auction will proceed as diagrammed. Without direct opposition intervention the opening bid is forcing for 1 round. North shows his longer major, and East with 17 HCP, makes a takeout double for the two unbid suits, hearts and clubs. South, who has been tipped off about the hand layout, has no idea of North’s actual hand strength and length in the spade suit, passes. If North has any values he will have another opportunity to show them. West is forced into the auction with a bid of 3♣. On this layout declarer can make 10 tricks, losing 1 trick in spades, 1 trick in clubs, and 1 trick via a club ruff. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 12 North 2D None Vul S 8764 P 2S 4H P H QT8 P P D 432 West C T83 East S K32 S 95 H J H AK765432 D J9875 D Q C KJ76 South C A5 S AQJT H 9 4H East D AKT6 Lead: DK C Q942 ___________________________________________________________ Utilising the artificial 2♦ opening, the auction will proceed as diagrammed. Without direct opposition intervention the opening bid is forcing for 1 round. North shows his longer major, and East with an 8-card heart suit, strikes gold when he bids game in the suit. On this layout declarer can make 10 tricks, losing 1 trick in spades, 1 trick in hearts, and 1 trick in diamonds. A contract of 4♠ fails by 2 tricks after the lead of the ♥K, followed by the ♣A and ♣5. East can overruff the fourth club. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 13 North 2D None Vul S JT85 P 2H 3H P H T952 4C P P P D T976 West C 3 East S 73 S KQ2 H 84 H 763 D 43 D AK5 C T876542 South C AKQJ S A964 H AKQJ 4C West D QJ82 Lead: DT C 9 ___________________________________________________________ Utilising the artificial 2♦ opening, the auction will proceed as diagrammed. Without direct opposition intervention the opening bid is forcing for 1 round. With equal length in the majors, North is requested to bid the lower ranking suit first, which he duly does. The 3♥ bid by East is asking for a stopper to play in 3NT. West does not have the stopper and bids his longest suit. On this layout declarer can make 10 tricks, losing 1 spade trick and 2 heart tricks. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 14 North 2D None Vul S K962 P 2S 4S P H T53 P P D 765 West C J52 East S -- S AQJT8743 H Q8764 H AKJ D J9432 D -- C K94 South C T8 S 5 H 92 4S East D AKQT8 Lead: DK C AQ763 ___________________________________________________________ Utilising the artificial 2♦ opening, the auction will proceed as diagrammed. Without direct opposition intervention the opening bid is forcing for 1 round. North shows his longer major, and East with the powerful 8-card spade suit sitting behind North has no qualms about bidding game in the suit in spite of the very real risk that West is void in the suit. All East needs is 1 trick from the West hand to make game. Here he got two, the ♣K and the ♥Q. When North wins with the ♠K he must switch to the club suit before declarer can discard the clubs from hand on the long hearts in dummy. The last four hands were included to illustrate other possible auctions when declarer has opened one of the strong hand patterns. They will be few as more than 70% of the hands opened with the artificial 2♦ bid will in fact be a natural Weak Two in Diamonds. Every partnership is encouraged to keep track of their own encounters of the bid at the table and expand on these defensive suggestions accordingly.

These guys have finally cottoned on to the the fact that the better players at the club were exploiting the fundamental weakness of their system i.e. when they open the bidding and our side ends up declaring, we know in which direction to take any required finesse in all four suits. They now have a new system which isn't any better. They have come up with this for their opening bids - 1♣ = 8-10 HCP 1♦ = 11-12 HCP 1♥ = 13-14 HCP 1♠ = 15-16 HCP 1NT = 17-18 HCP 2♣ = 14+ HCP majority of the HCP concentrated in the black suits 2♦ = 14+ HCP majority of the HCP concentrated in the red suits 2♥ = 14+ HCP majority of the HCP concentrated in ♥ and ♣ 2♠ = 14+ HCP majority of the HCP concentrated in ♠ and ♦ 2NT = 14+ HCP majority of the HCP concentrated in ♥ and ♠ Their previous 1-level opening bids has now become their 2-level opening bids, but with more specifics a) the HCP starts off at 14, and b) both the promised suits must now contain a minimum of 4-cards each.

Turns out you were right about this. Having now played many more hands against these guys, I still think it is a dumb system. The opening bid is based on where the MAJORITY of HCP's lie, minimum suit length = 3. The better players in the club are starting to exploit this weakness in their system. It tells you in which direction to take any needed finesse in all 4 suits! To update the first post on this crazy agreement, this is what we now have - 1♣ = majority of HCP's are in the black suits 1♦ = majority of HCP's are in the red suits 1♥ = majority of HCP's are in ♥ and ♣ 1♠ = majority of HCP's are in ♠ and ♦ 1NT = majority of HCP's are in the majors 2♣ = 1 suited hand, 16+ HCP's 2♦ = 1 suited hand, 16+ HCP's 2♥ = 1 suited hand, 16+ HCP's 2♠ = 1 suited hand, 16+ HCP's The only thing about this crazy agreement which (to me) seems to have any merit is this: the more cards you have in the two suits shown with the opening bid, the lower the HCP count needed for the opening bid. Just to illustrate this dumb agreement, last night these guys missed a laydown 4♥ contract. The opener had 5 babies without a single honour. He had (I think) 12 HCP's in total with the majority concentrated in ♠ and ♦. Systemically he opened 1♠, his partner had preference for ♦ and they ended up playing in 2♦ which made. Responder had 3 cards in the ♥ suit, all of them honours. Everyone else bid and made 4♥.

Last night I encountered this crazy agreement at the table - 1♣ = 9+ cards in the black suits, 5-15 HCP 1♦ = 9+ cards in the red suits, 5-15 HCP 1♥ = 9+ cards in ♥ and ♣, 5-15 HCP 1♠ = 9+ cards in ♠ and ♦, 5-15 HCP 1NT = 9+ cards in the majors, 8-15 HCP 2♣ = 16+ HCP, any distribution These guys didn't seem to have any bid for the common 4333, 4432, 5332 hand patterns, 12-15 HCP. No surprise then when they ended up stone last for the evening?

Has anyone experimented with this yet?

I am giving away this book free of charge. If you want it, just pay for the postage PER BOOK to anywhere in the world as follows - 1. USD 12.00 unregistered post 2. USD 15.00 registered post. The book includes chapters on "Suggested Defence" plus "Coping with Interference."

Read this post. The bid should be legal everywhere as it passes the definition on Brown Stickers with flying colours.

CHAPTER 11 - BROWN STICKER CONVENTIONS Brown Sticker Conventions are often the topic of much discussion amongst members of the bridge playing fraternity, some wanting them to be banned outright while others want them to be allowed at all levels of competition. The reasons each group gives for their point of view includes, but is not limited to the following – In favour of outright banning: • BSC are usually complex and extremely difficult to defend against • A team cannot prepare themselves properly to play in a tournament where BSC are allowed • BSC do not lend themselves towards promoting bridge and live Vugraph presentations • BSC add nothing to the fascination of the game • Partnerships using BSC do not properly disclose everything they know about how they use a particular BSC • BSC randomise results, but the players that use them have an edge due to their opponents unfamiliarity with the methods • BSC tend to drive many players away from participating in regional tournaments, some quitting the game altogether In favour of allowing them at all levels of competition: • It encourages innovation and experimenting with new methods; by banning BSC the healthy evolution of bidding is prevented • Banning BSC protects the older generation players but at the same time is counter-productive in that the younger generation players are turned off from the game. The number of registered players is steadily decreasing as the older players die off. • Innovation takes the older/established generation players out of their comfort zones giving the younger newcomers to the game a chance of winning as well • Adequate defences to any kind of BSC can be devised within a matter of a few hours, often less as they can be grouped into two or three categories • Most BSC are easy to defend against • Being able to cope with unfamiliar bidding systems is a skill just like superior card play is a skill • By allowing BSC in more events one would gain experience and build up an immunity to them, resulting in them losing their unfair advantage of unfamiliarity, just as has happened with the Multi 2♦ What then exactly are Brown Sticker Conventions? The World Bridge Federation (WBF) Systems Policy paragraph 2.4 on definitions defines them as follows: 2.4 Brown Sticker Conventions and Treatments The following conventions or treatments are categorised as ‘Brown Sticker’: a) Any opening bid of two clubs through three spades that: i) could be weak (may by agreement be made with values below average strength) AND ii) does not promise at least four cards in a known suit. EXCEPTION: The bid always shows at least four cards in a known suit if it is weak. If the bid does not show a known four card suit it must show a hand a king or more over average strength. (Explanation: Where all the weak meanings show at least four cards in one known suit, and the strong meanings show a hand with a king or more above average strength, it is not a Brown Sticker Convention.) EXCEPTION: a two level opening bid in a minor showing a weak two in either major, whether with or without the option of strong hand types containing 16 high card points or more, or with equivalent values. Defensive measures are permitted for opponents as in 6 below. b) An overcall of a natural opening bid of one of a suit that does not promise at least four cards in a known suit. EXCEPTION: A natural overcall in no trumps. EXCEPTION: any cue bid suit that shows a strong hand. EXCEPTION: a jump cue bid in opponent’s known suit that asks partner to bid 3NT with a stopper in that suit. c) Any 'weak' two-suited bids at the two or three level that may by agreement be made with three cards or fewer in one of the suits. d) Psychic bids protected by system or required by system. e) None of the foregoing restrictions pertain to conventional defences against forcing, artificial opening bids or defences against ‘Brown Sticker’ or HUM conventions. f) For the avoidance of doubt an opening bid of one club which may be made on a doubleton or singleton club and which is ostensibly natural and non-forcing should be regarded as natural and not artificial. Additional to the classification of systems in 2.4 above, any partnership using one or more ‘Brown Sticker’ conventions must indicate this alongside its system classification. Why are Brown Sticker Conventions controversial leading to the outcry against them? The answer is really straightforward – they have no known anchor suit, making takeout doubles or cue-bids regarding them very difficult for the opponents. So now we need to determine whether the Lee Two Diamonds convention will be categorised as a Brown Sticker Convention by measuring it up against this definition. We will dissect the definition piecemeal: a) Any opening bid of two clubs through three spades that: i) could be weak (may by agreement be made with values below average strength) AND ii) does not promise at least four cards in a known suit. EXCEPTION: The bid always shows at least four cards in a known suit if it is weak. Paragraph 2.4 a) (i) includes a reference to another portion of the WBF Systems Policy, “…values below average strength…” This is defined in paragraph 2.1 as follows, “Average Hand – a hand containing 10 HCP (Milton Work) with no distributional values.” The definition of “distributional values” is not covered in the WBF Systems Policy so we need to get the definition elsewhere. The one supplied below comes from Wikipedia: Distributional points In order to improve the accuracy of the bidding process, the high card point count is supplemented by the evaluation of unbalanced or shapely hands using additional simple arithmetic methods. Two approaches are common – evaluation of suit length and evaluation of suit shortness. Suit length points At its simplest it is considered that long suits have a value beyond the HCP held: this can be turned into numbers on the following scale: • 5-card suit = 1 point • 6 card suit = 2 points • 7 card suit = 3 points ... etc. A hand comprising a 5-card suit and a 6-card suit gains points for both, i.e., 1 + 2 making 3 points in total. Other combinations are dealt with in a similar way. These distribution points (sometimes called length points) are added to the HCP to give the total point value of the hand. Confusion can arise because the term "points" can be used to mean either HCP, or HCP plus length points. This method, of valuing both honour cards and long suits, is suitable for use at the opening bid stage before a trump suit has been agreed. In the USA this method of combining HCP and long-card points is known as the point-count system. Suit shortness points Once a trump suit has been agreed, or at least a partial fit has been uncovered, it is argued by many that ruffing potential as represented by short suits becomes more significant than long suits. Accordingly, in a method devised by William Anderson of Toronto and popularized by Charles Goren, distribution points are added for shortage rather than length. When the supporting hand holds three trumps, shortness is valued as follows: • void = 3 points • singleton = 2 points • doubleton = 1 point When the supporting hand holds four or more trumps, thereby having more spare trumps for ruffing, shortness is valued as follows: • void = 5 points • singleton = 3 points • doubleton = 1 point Shortage points (also known as support points or dummy points) are added to HCP to give total points. Summary When intending to make a bid in a suit and there is no agreed upon trump suit, add high card points and length points to get the total point value of one's hand. With an agreed trump suit, add high card points and shortness points instead. When making a bid in notrump with intent to play, value high-card points only. Regarding the first part of the WBF definition of Brown Sticker Conventions, the Lee Two Diamonds convention passes with flying colours in that – 1. Whenever a weak hand is opened (a hand with values below average strength), the suit is always diamonds, and 2. It always promises at least 6-cards in the suit (two more than the minimum requirement of four). The rest of paragraph 2.4 a) (ii) says – ii) does not promise at least four cards in a known suit. EXCEPTION: The bid always shows at least four cards in a known suit if it is weak. If the bid does not show a known four card suit it must show a hand a king or more over average strength. (Explanation: Where all the weak meanings show at least four cards in one known suit, and the strong meanings show a hand with a king or more above average strength, it is not a Brown Sticker Convention.) Two of the three possible strong hand patterns included in the Lee 2♦ opening bid meet this requirement without the need for any further comment. These are – 1. The big 4441 hand pattern, 16+ HCP, and 2. The big 5/5 hand pattern in the minor suits, 14+ HCP The hand pattern that may need to be analysed further is the third one, which is – 3. The hand pattern showing a 6/4 holding in the majors, 10-15 HCP The WBF Systems Policy says, “If the bid does not show a known four card suit it must show a hand a king or more over average strength.” To get to the king or more over average strength, it becomes necessary to apply the full definition of an average hand, repeated here, “Average Hand – a hand containing 10 HCP (Milton Work) with no distributional values.” By adding in the distributional values of the 6/4 hand pattern, we get to the “king or more over average strength” as follows – 1. 10 = the minimum number of HCP held 2. 2 = suit length points for the 6-card suit 3. 3 = suit shortness points, either for a 2-1 or a 3-0 holding in the minor suits 15 = minimum number of total points 4. A further, very compelling argument which can be raised is that, any holding of 6/4 in the majors with a minimum of 10 HCP must surely be regarded as “over average strength.” The opponents are being relegated to competing in the minor suits which automatically pushes them 1-level higher. 5. Should any regulating authorities nitpick about point 3 above, it is easy to alter the minimum HCP to 11-15 HCP, plus 2 suit length points, to bring the hand total to the required “king or more over average strength.” Paragraph 2.3 of the WBF Systems Policy deals with the “Classification of Systems.” This is what it says for a system classified as Red: Red Artificial: this category includes all artificial systems that do not fall under the definition of Highly Unusual Methods (HUM) systems [see definition below], other than Strong Club/Strong Diamond systems (see ‘Blue’). Examples would be a system where one club shows one of three types - a natural club suit, a balanced hand of a specific range, or a Strong Club opener; or a system in which the basic methods (other than the no trump range) vary according to position, vulnerability and the like; or a system that uses conventional 'weak' or 'multi-meaning' bids (with or without some weak option) in potentially contestable auctions, other than those described in the main part of the WBF Convention Booklet. According to this definition, anyone including the Lee Two Diamonds convention into their system can get their system classified as Red, and then play it freely under WBF regulations without the need to adjust the 6/4 hand pattern to 11-15 HCP. The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) is often criticised for its draconian regulation policies. By applying the WBF definition of Brown Sticker Conventions to the bid, it should also be permitted in the ACBL without any restrictions.

Call me a "cynic." These are mostly computer dealt hands. From actual data gathered it would appear that the computer loves dealing the king stiff offside with hand situations similar to the OP. It may actually have even been programmed to do that. I have no idea. But until the numbers (for me anyway) start swinging in the opposite direction, finessing no longer features.

I got some homework for you. Forget about playing the % game (13% here from your post). Start collecting actual data from actual hand records from actual tournaments/club games you have participated in where the king is stiff "offside" in situations similar to the OP. I do, and was surprised to see the high percentage for a stiff king. The end result from actual data collected? Until the numbers start swinging in the opposite direction, finessing no longer features in the equation.

EXTRACT FROM CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 6 OPENER HAS THE BIG 4441 HAND PATTERN The 4441 hand pattern is notoriously hard to bid, even for Acol players who open 4-card suits. Acol players are often taught to open the bidding with the middle suit, followed by the higher ranking suit, followed by the lower ranking suit. The problem with this approach is, you need three bids to describe your hand and by then you are often already on level-3. Acol players have another problem. In most natural bidding systems, opener’s first two bids, by far, contain the most amount of information that is imparted during the auction. These other natural systems incorporate a suit opening followed by a second bid in 1NT to show a fairly flat hand in the 12-14 HCP range. Acol players cannot do that because the suit openings and 1NT rebids are reversed. Acol incorporates a Weak NT, 12-14 HCP. A suit opening followed by a second bid in 1NT shows 15-16 HCP and a fairly flat hand. Therefore with the 4441 hand pattern in the 12-13 HCP range, Acol players are fixed, often being advised not to open the auction at all. Precision players had a problem bidding 4315, 3415, 4414 or 4405 hand patterns, where the singleton or void is in diamonds. In the Precision system the 2♦ opening bid was dedicated to showing one of these hand patterns in the 11-15 HCP range. But the Precision system also has great difficulty in bidding 4441 hand patterns with 16+ HCP. The 16+ HCP hands get opened with 1♣, but the continuation bidding soon gets distorted as opener is unable to accurately describe his hand pattern. Many Precision players solved this problem by moving all the 11-15 HCP hands into the 1♦ bid and dedicating the 2♦ bid for all 4441 hand patterns with 16+ HCP, irrespective of where the singleton is. Other systems were experiencing similar problems. The Roman System is believed to be the first system to dedicate a specific opening bid to show 3-suited hands. In this regard, the 2♦ bid was dedicated for 4441 or 4450 hand patterns in the 17-20 HCP range which deny a 5-card major. The Blue Club System of the very successful Italian team, which won 13 of 16 successive world championships, dedicated the 2♦ opening bid to describe 4441 hand patterns (any shortness) in the 17-24 HCP range. The problem here is that hands which fell into this range are extremely rare, effectively wasting the 2♦ bid. Few players would include the bid in their system. The Mini-Roman evolved from the Roman System, showing hands with normal opening strength, hands in the 11-15 HCP range or adjusted according to partnership agreement. This was far more popular, simply because the frequency of occurrence is much higher. However, most players shy away from dedicating a specific bid to the 4441 hand pattern because of its low frequency of occurrence. Fertile minds keep looking for ways to address these shortcomings in any bidding system/partnership agreement. Perhaps this was part of the reasoning behind the creation of the once popular Multi 2♦ opening? Before any new convention can be played anywhere, it either needs to, a) pass the definition of “Brown Sticker Conventions and Treatments” as defined by the World Bridge Federation, or b) be licensed and approved by the national bridge union of the country, or c) unless specifically exempted. When the Multi 2♦ convention first appeared in the late 1960s, early 1970s, it failed the Brown Sticker definition. Undaunted Terence Reece is on record as the first to apply for a license to have the bid approved by the English Bridge Union in 1970. It was refused, but he and others never gave up, and four years later it was given a restricted license in 1974. The following was agreed upon: “Multicoloured Two Diamonds opening bid In view of the numbers of applications received for the licensing of this bid, the fact that it is now widely played in international events, and the amount of publicity which it has received, the committee decided on its own initiative to give it an ‘A’ license for a strictly limited period until the 31st December, 1975.” The convention as licensed covered three types of holdings: a. A weak two-bid in the majors b. A balanced hand of either above or below a 2NT opening bid, by decision of the partnership c. A Roman 2♦ type, with 4-4-4-1 shape, with 17-20 points if the singleton is in the minor suits, and with 21-23 points if the singleton is in the major suits The ‘temporary’ license has never been revoked, but has been amended to allow the 2♦ opening to include other types of hands, including: d. A one-suiter – 11 to 14 points e. A one-suited Acol two-bid f. A Flannery-type two-suited – 17+ points The Multi 2♦ opening has also been given a specific exemption from the definition of a Brown Sticker Convention by the World Bridge Federation. This is how that exemption reads: EXCEPTION: a two level opening bid in a minor showing a weak two in either major, whether with or without the option of strong hand types containing 16 high card points or more, or with equivalent values. Defensive measures are permitted for opponents as in 6 below. This chapter covers how the big 4441 hand pattern is included into the 2♦ opening bid. Various continuation bidding structures were considered, bearing in mind that the 2♦ opening is forcing for one round without direct opposition intervention. The first two of these structures are merely mentioned without the inclusion of example auctions for the reader to evaluate for themselves should they dislike the third option favoured by the author. The first of these alternatives can be used every time responder has a poor hand, defined as 0-7 HCP. Whenever the auction starts off as follows: 2♦-2M-2NT, the 2NT second bid by opener reveals the big 4441 hand pattern. After 2NT, a 3♣ second bid by responder announces a hand in the 0-7 HCP range. The continuation bidding now becomes Baron, with both partners bidding 4-card suits up the line in search of the first 4-4 fit. Often responder will make a judgement call to pass in a known 4-3 fit every time there is danger of the auction getting too high and no fit found. Conversely, after 2NT, a 3♦ second bid by responder announces a good hand, defined as 8+ HCP, and becomes game forcing. After 3♦, opener is requested to bid the suit containing the singleton if it is in a major suit. If the singleton is in a minor suit, opener’s next bid will be 3NT as that may well be the last making contract. With the singleton known (majors) or where it is (minors), the intention is not to be prescriptive to any partnership on how to reach the optimal game or possible slam contract, beyond saying the following – • 3NT after 3M (the singleton) is to play. Responder has the singleton adequately covered • 4M in the suit first bid by responder is to play on a known 4-4 fit • 4m is in search of a safer contract, opener’s singleton is not adequately covered by responder The second of these alternatives is to simply reverse the meaning of the 3♣ bid by responder i.e. every time responder bids 3♣ second time round he is announcing a hand containing 8+ HCP, which also becomes game forcing. As in the first alternative, opener is requested to bid the suit containing the singleton, or 3NT with a ♣ singleton. From that point forward the auction progresses as in the first alternative. With a hand in the 0-7 HCP range, responder bypasses 3♣ and starts bidding his lowest 4-card suits up the line. Obviously if opener removes the first suit bid by responder, that will be the suit containing the singleton. The third option is the one favoured and which will be demonstrated in the example hands.

Muiderberg also needs some rethinking! EXTRACT FROM CHAPTER 1 • Depending upon which version of the Multi you play, up to 4 different hand patterns can be covered with a single bid • This in turn frees up the 2♥, 2♠ and 2NT bids to be used for something else, the most popular being – o Muiderberg Two-Bids which are descriptive and (supposedly) very effective. Supposedly, because experienced players have recognised that a Muiderberg 2♥ opening bid more often than not roadmaps a ♠ contract by the opponents who have been given a lot of information regarding the hand layout and HCP distribution. Consequently these players only incorporate a Muiderberg 2♠ into their bidding agreements, reserving the 2♥ bid for something else, of which 2♥ as weak promising both majors being very popular.

The 6M/4M hand pattern 10-15 HCP has a low frequency of occurrence. However if you know about it early enough in the auction, it assists in bidding games and/or slams with hands low in HCPs but a good distributional fit otherwise. Refer to the OP. There slam was reached on a combined HCP holding of only 18. I have plenty of actual hands where game was reached and making because the hand distribution was known, where others stopped short of game. My 1M openings promise a 5-card suit. 5/4 Flannery type hands are all opened 1M. The 6M/4M hands get opened as part of this convention for the reasons stated above.

CHAPTER 10 WHY ALSO A 7-CARD DIAMOND SUIT IN THE OPENING BID? The hand below occurred during a club game at the beginning of 2014. The actual bidding and result are included: ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 1 North P P E-W Vul S AKJ543 P 2C P 3H H 7 P 3S P 4S D AKQT97 P 4NT P 5D West C -- East P 5H P 5S S Q S T62 P P P H T8652 H AQ D J65 D 842 C A532 South C QT874 S 987 H KJ943 5S North D 3 Made 6 Lead: D8 C KJ96 +480 ___________________________________________________________ Our system agreements for the continuation bidding structure after a 2♣ opening bid are briefly summarised as follows – • 2♦ = any positive response, 4-7 HCP • 2♥ = the so-called “double-negative,” 0-3 HCP • 2♠ = natural, 5-card suit, 8+ HCP • 2N = natural, balanced, 8-10 HCP • 3♣ = natural, 5-card suit, 8+ HCP • 3♦ = natural, 5-card suit, 8+ HCP • 3♥ = natural, 5-card suit, 8+ HCP • 3N = natural, balanced, 11-13 HCP, forcing to small slam In the auction posted, 4NT was asking about keycards, 5♦ showed zero, 5♥ was asking about the ♠Q, and 5♠ was a signoff denying holding it. The hand was soon forgotten until a few weeks later a similar hand was picked up at another club game. This is what happened: ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 2 North P P 2C None Vul S J732 3C P P 3D H 98742 P 3H P 3S D -- P P P West C 8653 East S 95 S 64 H KQ53 H JT6 D J D KQ873 C AQT972 South C KJ4 S AKQT8 H A 3S South D AT96542 Made 6 Lead: HK C -- +230 ___________________________________________________________ Both contracts made 12 tricks, although slam was bid in neither. In hand 1 at least we reached game, not so with hand 2. Hand 2 was further muddied by West’s overcall. With both hands, at minimum you want to drive to game in either of your two suits. It was after hand 2 that we started sharing ideas with each other about how our system agreements need to be amended to adequately describe these big 2-suited hand types. We also embarked on a process of collecting actual hands from actual club games to see whether our amended system agreements would get us to the optimal contract. Our initial ideas have already undergone a number of further modifications as more actual hands exposed new problems in bidding them. At this point it needs to be emphasised that our current system agreements which follow for bidding these hand types is by no means final. They are presented here for two reasons, a) why the 2♦ opening bid may include a 7-card diamond suit, and b) for others to consider and develop further for possible inclusion into their own partnership agreements. This is where we currently stand regarding big 2-suited hands which want to, at minimum, drive to game in either suit. Thus far it is always for a major/minor 2-suiter, and always at minimum a 6/5 holding. • 3♠ = natural, 7-card suit, 6-11 HCP NV, 9-11 HCP V • 3♥ = transfer to 3♠, big 2-suiter, spades and an undisclosed minor • 3♦ = transfer to 3♥, one of two possible hand patterns o a 7-card heart suit, 6-11 HCP NV, 9-11 HCP V, or o a big 2-suiter, hearts and an undisclosed minor • 3♣ = natural, 7-card suit, 6-11 HCP NV, 9-11 HCP V • 2N = natural, 20-21 HCP, balanced This scheme does have two downsides, a) we lose a natural 3♦ pre-empt which has a much higher frequency of occurrence than big 2-suited hands, and b) it allows the opponents to double the 3♦ bid to show holding the suit at no expense to themselves. The upside is that we don’t lose the 3♦ pre-empt altogether as the 7-card suit lands up in the 2♦ opening bid. Let’s look at some more hands from actual club games and the further modifications which this scheme has already undergone. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 3 North 3H P 3S 4D None Vul S A86 5C P 5S P H Q8532 P P D 43 West C 972 East S KQJ753 S T42 H J6 H AT74 D -- D 876 C AKQJ8 South C 654 S 9 H K9 5S East D AKQJT952 Made 5 Lead: DA C T3 +450 ___________________________________________________________ On this hand the transfer opening bid worked well. East had a 3-card fit in both of opener’s suits and knew that the ♥A was covering one of the 2-cards outside of the big 2-suiter. A final contract of 5♦X only fails by 1 trick. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 4 North P E-W Vul S AJT65 3D P 3H P H 9 4D P 4H P D 75 P P West C QT982 East S K S 9742 H AK643 H 82 D AKQT98 D J43 C 5 South C AJ74 S Q83 H QJT75 4H East D 62 Down 1 Lead: HQ C K63 -100 ___________________________________________________________ On this hand East tried for the heart game, knowing again that the ♣A was taking care of one of opener’s 2-cards outside of the big 2-suiter. The contract failed by one on a bad trump break, compounded by the fact that declarer was playing in a 5-2 trump fit. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 5 North 3H P 3S E-W Vul S AKQT763 P 4D P 5D H 3 P 6D P P D AQJ72 P West C -- East S J8 S 954 H 94 H Q872 D T654 D K C AKQ93 South C T8765 S 2 H AKJT65 6D North D 983 Made 6 Lead: CT C J42 +920 ___________________________________________________________ Here South has an obvious preference for the diamond suit which North raised to 6♦ based on the club void. Only 7/14 tables managed to reach the slam. The final two hands presented in this chapter are included to show the modifications which the original ideas have undergone. They too are actual hands from club games. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 6 North P None Vul S T753 3H P 4C P H 98752 5C P P P D 52 West C A9 East S AKJ864 S 9 H A H QT6 D AKT93 D J7 C 3 South C KQJT842 S Q2 H KJ43 5C East D Q864 Made 5 Lead: H3 C 765 +400 ___________________________________________________________ In this hand, East, who can see a major catastrophe looming on obvious misfitting hands, breaks the transfer by bidding his own long suit. The premise is straightforward; the hand is going to be of little use to West in either a spade or diamond contract, whereas the West hand is going to be able to provide tricks for the East hand in the said suits. Despite holding only the measly ♣3, North raises to game as he can provide 5 top tricks in the three remaining suits. ___________________________________________________________ West North East South Hand 7 North 3H Both Vul S -- P P P H Q9876432 D QT53 West C 9 East S KJ75 S 932 H AT5 H K D K9842 D AJ76 C 6 South C Q7532 S AQT864 H J 3H South D -- Down 1 Lead: D2 C AKJT84 -100 ___________________________________________________________ With this hand North has an 8-card heart suit but no guarantee that South’s other suit is diamonds, and passes. When dummy comes down declarer can see that the hand is a hopeless misfit. On the diamond lead the contract fails by 1 trick. The scheme presented here requires virtually no memory load other than the following, a) a 3-level opening bid in the black suits is natural, and b) a 3-level opening bid in the red suits is a transfer bid. After that everything is logical and straightforward. To close off this chapter it needs to be repeated again: this scheme is by no means final. As more problem hands are encountered at the table it will undergo further refinement. Anyone wishing to experiment with this scheme are encouraged to also gather actual hands with actual results and make any additional modifications to that which is presented here.

EXTRACT FROM CHAPTER 9 THE LEE 2♦ AS A DEFENCE TO THE OPPONENTS 1NT Over the years literally dozens of different defences to the opponents 1NT opening bid have been developed. Most of these defences have two things in common, a) they attempt to describe as many different hand patterns as possible by the player sitting in the direct seat, and b) they are focused towards showing major suit 2-suited hands. The Lee 2♦ convention can be added to this long list of defensive agreements by making some minor adjustments as to what a 2♦ overcall of the 1NT bid promises, and then adding a meaning to what the following bids mean, a) double, b) 2♣, c) 2♥, d) 2♠ and e) 2NT. Any bid above 2NT would be considered to be a natural pre-empt based on suit quality and vulnerability. Retentions, adjustments and additions to what a Lee 2♦ overcall means: 1. As the opponents have opened the bidding with 1NT, the natural weak 2♦ option falls away. 2. The strong major suit orientated hands and the strong minor suit orientated hands need to be separately identifiable to facilitate the continuation bidding. To this end a 2♦ overcall is reserved for all major suit orientated hands of opening strength or better, with some further adjustments and additions – a. The big 6/4 hand pattern, 10-15 HCP is retained b. Big 5/5 hand patterns, 10-15 HCP get included c. Big 5/4 or 4/5 Flannery type hand patterns, 11-15 HCP get included d. The big 4441 hand pattern, 16+ HCP is retained but with the following adjustments, a) it guarantees that the singleton is in either minor suit, and b) the HCP range gets lowered to 12+ HCP in order to raise the frequency of occurrence. When the singleton is in either major suit, the player in the direct seat may have no other choice than to defend. All of the above hand patterns have been adjusted to meet the requirements of the Rule of Twenty. 3. The big 5/5 hand pattern in the minors, 14+ HCP is retained but it gets moved out of the 2♦ bid into the 2NT bid. Since the opponents have opened the bidding with 1NT, a natural overcall of 2NT is not required. 4. The natural Weak Two in Diamonds is not altogether lost, as, in the same way as the rest of the convention, partner is allowed to pass the 2♦ overcall with a hand that is completely useless outside of a diamond contract. The meaning of the additional bids included into this defensive agreement to the opponents 1NT opening bid are – 1. Double = single suited hand in either minor suit. Partner is requested to bid 2♣ as pass/correct. 2. 2♣ = any 5/4 or better holding in a competitive hand better suited for offence than for defence, whether that be above or below opening strength values, but with this proviso – it guarantees that the 5-card suit is in either major. A 5/4 holding in the majors below opening strength values is also possible. 3. 2♥/2♠ = natural and a 6-card suit 4. 2NT = 5/5 in the minors, 14+ HCP Let’s look at some typical auctions: A takeout double of the 1NT opening bid shows a single suited hand in either minor. Partner is required to bid 2♣ as pass/correct, unless holding a single suited hand in the majors. Obviously major suits score better, and partner can choose to play in his own suit. The author does not want to be prescriptive to any partnership as to, a) the overall suit quality of the minor, and b) the overall hand strength required for the takeout double. The times when the opponents allow you to play in 2m will be few, and then more often than not, every time opener’s partner is very weak implying that between the doubler and his partner, a fair amount of the remaining HCP are held.