32519

The effort expended to overcome the shortfalls of Puppet Stayman is truly amazing. Is the diversity and complexity of the continuation bidding structure (not to mention added memory load) really worth all this effort just to have the luxury of being able to include a 5-card major into your 2NT range? Why not try something much simpler? 2♣ = 20+ HCP unbalanced (which would make room for your 5-card major), or 22+ HCP any 2NT = 20-21 HCP denying a 5-card major The continuation bidding structures could look something like this: 2♣ = 20+ unbalanced or 22+ any ....2♦ = Waiting 5-7 HCP ....2♥ = Double negative 0-4 HCP (because the 2♣ HCP range has been lowered, you can increase the negative response by 1 HCP) ....Anything else = 8+ HCP according to partnership agreement After 2♦ it is easy to show your 5-card major on the 2-level instead of the 3-level. After the 2♥ Double Negative, the 2♣ bidder bids appropriately which can include Pass with a 20 HCP count and a 5-card ♥ suit. Unfortunately the strong hand is on table but you are less likely to go down in a 2-level contract than a 3-level contract. With 5♠, it is easy to correct to 2♠ over 2♥. If you don’t want the strong hand on the table, try this: 2♣-3♣ (double negative). This way you are 1 level higher but with the strong hand declaring with a 5-card ♥ suit. Anything else other than 2♣-3♣ can promise 5+ HCP. [bad idea as pointed out by Zalandakh] With 2NT denying a 5-card major, you get to keep all your old gadgets e.g. Garbage Stayman, Smolen. The reduced memory load is considerable.

Coping with interference again, this time over 2NT. Someone at the recent Vanderbilt got their knickers in a knot after interference 2NT-P-3C-X. Again, some nice suggestions on how to deal with this sort of interference.

It is not good enough to just have an agreement on overcalling the opponents 1NT opening bid. You also need agreements on how to cope with interference over your 1NT bid. Here is a great thread Dealing with NT Interference for you to study as well.

Another reason for 2NT going down = treating big 4441 hands as balanced. Should the opponents find your singleton with the opening lead, you’re in trouble. The expert forum has some suggestions on how to deal with these.

I didn't compile the stats. Just thought they made interesting reading. This is the Conclusion at the bottom of the page. Conclusions • The most obscure contract is 5NT • The odds to end up in one club are 5 in 10000, so don't be afraid to open one club with short clubs • At the two level spades is the most played contract • At the three level spades is the most played suit, but the difference is not as big as at the two level • The most played contract is three no trump followed by four spades, four hearts and one no trump • When you end up in one heart or one spade you have more 70% chance to make it, probably due to strong hands that open one in a major • You are most likely to have missed a manche when you end up in two notrumps or two in a major • Too many two notrump contracts were going down. The opening bid of 2NT followed by three passes is doing very poor, only 40% of these contract are made, you might consider making the 2NT opening stronger. 2NT contracts are often down. • Three hearts and three spades are also often going down probably due to preempts, competition and invites that were too high • Three notrump contracts are often made, because if you belong in four or five NT you stay in three • Four hearts is made more often than four spades, because four spades can be a save against four hearts • At the six level we see that too little minor suit slems are bid, it should have been around 2% higher,I guess those were played in 3NT • 85% of the 7NT contracts are made • The average number of tricks made is 9.1 • In 42% of the deals you will score 9 or 10 tricks • 13 tricks are more likely than 5 or less!

The Vugraph Project has some interesting stats on 130000 bridge boards. Quote: Too many 2NT contracts are going down. The opening bid of 2NT followed by three passes is doing very poor, only 40% of these contract are made. You might consider making the 2NT opening stronger. 2NT contracts are often down. The results of 2NT contracts ...........................................% made..% down 2NT opening bid......................40.24...59.76 2NT bid not opened with 2NT....56.88...43.12 Almost 60% are going down after a 2NT opening bid! Does anyone have any thoughts why so many 2NTs are being passed out and then going down e.g. no Garbage Stayman in the partnership agreement? Do we make the 2NT bid stronger as suggested? If 2NT is already doing poorly, what do we gain from Mexican 2♦ with 18-19 HCP?

As the OP says, I am currently playing a “spit and paste” system against my will in a newly formed partnership. I want to switch to 2/1. Until we do, I am stuck playing this “spit and paste” system. The 1♣ opening here is neither natural nor balanced (it could be made with 4441, singleton ♣). So it is 100% forcing, with a 1♦ response promising 0-5 HCP.

I was the loudmouth who queried the reason for NNS. And then I went on to design my own NNS. This I can say: they’re fun to play and fun to play against. You need to think “out of the box” during the bidding if you aren’t prepared for whatever NNS you may meet. Weaker opponents more often than not don’t know how to deal with them.

One of our regular posters gives the thumbs down on Puppet Stayman in this thread (post number 2).

Spot on here! At the Vanderbilt (currently under way) a standard weak 2♦ opener caused some problems on board 18 here, 1 hand overbid and 1 hand underbid.

We need to differentiate here between “Open” and “Seniors” (with seniors now 60+). I am asking the Aussies to come in on this post (shoot it down or provide more info). I read an article once about an Aussie senior woman who took up bridge at a late age. She became a very good player and was invited to a selection tournament (I believe it was in the mid-1980’s) to represent Australia in the Seniors. She didn’t qualify in the end but that fact that she was invited proves that you can still become very competitive. How old was she when invited? Can’t remember.

My regular bridge partner has left our local club forcing me to form a new partnership. My new partner is a competent player (though certainly not world class quality). I hate the system she currently plays, best described as “5-Card Majors,” but basically a hybrid system incorporating elements of SAYC, ACOL and Goren. I want to switch to 2/1 which she has agreed to, but in steps, not overnight. This hybrid system of hers incorporates the Phoney Club (1♠-1♥-1♦ openings all promising 5-cards). The Phoney Club turned out to be quite useful on two hands this week. The first one I was dealt a big 1-suiter. Fearing a pass if I opened the suit, I chose the Phoney Club to find out if partner held anything. After the negative 1♦ response, signing off in 4M was easy which ended up being above average. The second hand I was dealt a big 2-suiter. Again I chose to open the Phoney Club to find out if partner held anything. This time I got a positive response and we reached slam (so did every other table, but my partner removed 6♥ to 6NT which ended up being a top score). Which has lead to this thread, “Phoney 1♣ in a 5-Card Major System.” How much sense does it make to continue using this? What do I gain and what do I lose? Polish Club is a 5-card major based system using 1♦ as negative (0-8 HCP) after a 1♣ opening. Precision is a 5-card major based systems using 1♦ as negative (0-7 HCP) after a 1♣ opening. Other 5-card major based systems use 1♦ as negative (0-5 HCP) after a 1♣ opening. Gains 1. Forces a reply from partner when opener has a big hand. 2. More room for game/slam exploration with big hand. 3. The 2♣ bid can be used for something else. Losses: 1. Cannot use Transfer Walsh which is growing in popularity. 2. Opponents love to pre-empt aggressively over an artificial 1♣ opening. 3. In 2/1 must open 1♦ when dealt 4-4-3-2 The Phoney Club is not part of 2/1, neither should it be necessary if 2/1 is played properly. What do others think about the Phoney Club?

So what are we looking at here? Kamikaze = 10-12 HCP (We will ignore this one) Weak = 11-14 HCP (fairly common at top level) ACOL = 12-14 HCP (if you play in GB or the Netherlands, you see this all the time) Precision = 13-15 HCP (fairly common as well) Precision = 14-16 HCP (less common than the 13-15 HCP range) Standard = 15-17 HCP (my guess this is the most common) Old Goren = 16-18 HCP (rare to see this nowadays) A lot of people play a different defence against a strong NT versus a weak NT. Just make sure you or partner don’t forget or mix them up. Having the same defence against a weak and strong NT reduces memory load. This may prove beneficial in a lengthy tournament. So, pays yer money and makes yer pick!

Hoo-boy!! The probability of being dealt 2♠2♥4♦5♣ and 0-5 HCP = 0.12%. The probability of being dealt 2♠2♥5♦4♣ and 0-5 HCP = 0.12%. So with real crap and no further opposition intervention, if you want to avoid getting to the 3-level at all costs, take your chances and pass with 2♠2♥5♦4♣. That leaves you with a 0.12% chance of the worst possible hand as advancer with 2♠2♥4♦5♣. Yes, you lose here. The probability of being dealt 4♠5♥?♦?♣ and 11-15 HCP = 0.74% The probability of being dealt 4♠6♥?♦?♣ and 10-15 HCP = 0.32% The probability of being dealt 6♠4♥?♦?♣ and 10-15 HCP = 0.32% The total comes to 1.38% versus the downside of 0.12%. A net gain of 1.26%. Add to this the 4th major suit holding which I can show 5♠5♥?♦?♣ and 10-15 HCP = 0.42% for a total net gain of 1.68%. If you are afraid of a 0.12% chance of ending up in a 5-2 fit opposite a bust hand, my defence to a 1NT opening bid isn’t for you.

Before answering your questions: 1. After 2♦, advancer is forced to bid 2♥ allowing overcaller to say which of the 3 hand patterns is held. 2. With 6+ ♦ and a bust hand, advancer is allowed to pass the 2♦ bid. 3. Likewise with a ♣ bust, advancer is allowed to bid 3♣ with long ♣ and nothing else. 4. Why allow bidding like this? Easy, advancers hand is useless outside of the suit bid whereas the 2♦ overcaller has a trick taking hand in the majors. 2♦ or 3♣ has a reasonable chance of making. Your 2♦ bid is fatally flawed by an incredible common hand type. 1. What is advancer supposed to do with a poor hand with 3-3 in the majors? I'd rather play 6-3 fits than 4-3 fits. The problem is even worse with 2-2 (and maybe even 3-2). And don't say you pull 2♥ to 2♠ with the 6♠4♥ hands, why would you want to push it up a level for no reason when advancer is 4-0 in the suits. ...a) 2-2 or 3-3 or 3-2 hands are the easiest to cope with when holding 6♠4♥. Advancer is forced to bid 2♥ to allow 2♦ overcaller to say which hand pattern is held. With 6♠4♥ it will always be pulled to 2♠. ...b) Showing the 4♠6♥ or 4♠5♥ will always go to level 3 WHEN THERE IS NO FURTHER OPPOSITION INTERVENTION. Further opposition intervention would indicate that advancer is very weak. If advancer’s RHO made further intervention, pass is now easy with a bust. The hand belongs to the opponents. ...c) Playing a 4-0 fit has real playable options for obvious cross-ruffing reasons. 2. The problem is exasperated when the opponents compete further. Say partner bids your 2♦ and RHO bids 2NT Lebensohl (most good pairs won't play double=diamonds), what do you do with 3-3 in the suits? If you pass, what do you do if 3♣ is passed around to you? If you want a full hand, I'll give you AQx xxx Axxxx xx. Lebensohl or a 3♣/3♦ overcall is easily handled when advancer has competitive values and 2-2 or 3-3 or 3-2 in the majors. Advancer simply bids 3♦ (or X a 3♦ bid) conveying this message: Bid your 6-card suit. I have competitive values. 3. If you double with the above hand (and have it defined as no preference), then you have no way of penalizing since the 2♦ bidder will never double. 3♣X would be for penalty. 3♦X = competitive asking the 2♦ overcaller to bid the 6-card major. You are correct in saying that a 3♦ bid from the opponents can never be doubled for penalty with our current continuation bidding structure. 4. While 2NT for the minors tells the opponents a lot, it also tells partner the same information, and can make a proper decision most of the time. Your perception of people bidding 2NT with both minors is that they all have fused dynamite belts attached to them. I'd like to think even the most aggressive bidders would know to stay out of the way with x xx Qxxxx Kxxxx, at least if vulnerable. I will leave you to continue with 2NT for the minors with 5-10 HCP. I still rate it as one of the poorer options for describing your hand to partner. It just becomes too easy for declarer to count out the hand (both in HCP and distribution).

Ken, you've introduced something else here I've never heard of before (R.U.N.T). Can you fill in some more details? Or a link to your discussion? Sandwich 1NT I know. Maybe there are newbies who don't?

I would like to hear some more on your reasoning here. Offhand from your post, this is what I understand: P...1M...P...P 1NT.? It looks as though opener has a big hand? 1NT has reopened the bidding with a 4M-5m bid?

Which option do you choose? Raptor NT or Natural NT overcall? Both have their merits. Frequency of occurrence and effectiveness should weigh in heavily. I don't know which one occurs more frequently after the opponents have already opened the bidding. A chunk of the available HCP has already been consumed. Any thoughts?

I have added the link to Robot Leads here for my own benefit. This is currently under discussion in the Expert Forum. Studying more comprehensive threads later helps me to improve my bridge knowledge and my game. “Obvious Shift” and “Switch-in-time” are two terms mentioned in this thread. I believe they have to do with signalling and not opening leads per se. Can someone provide more detail on these two methods of signalling? When and how are they used?

Regarding your point 1, isn't this known as "The Singleton Switch?"

This thread got me wondering: Does BWS2001 (Bridge World Standard) need to be revised. It is now 11 years old. New gadgets and new trends keep evolving. We have plenty of experts in these forums. The revised BWS2001 gets our name attached to it “BBO2012 Expert Standard.” If there is sufficient interest, suggestions can be made how to tackle the project. Possibly the easiest would be deciding what needs revision and just revisit that leaving the rest unchanged. Once the task is completed, I am willing to create a summary CC of what THE MAJORITY agreed upon. From there I can send the summary CC to Inquiry and he can create a default convention card for use in the MAIN BRIDGE CLUB for any wishing to use it.

This statement is absurd. Many defences to 1NT are major suit orientated. My 2♦ overcall incorporates 3 different major suit holdings: 1. 6S-4H 10-15 HCP 2. 4S-6H 10-15 HCP 3. 4S-5H 11-15 HCP (Flannery) When partner has nothing (or not enough) to push for game, it still becomes a part-score battle. In 2/3 of these hand patterns you end up in 3 of a major. How bad is that compared to a 2NT overcall promising 5-5 in the minors and 5-10 HCP? You end up on level 3 (often doubled) with less HCP. What makes the 2NT overcall A HUGE GAIN FOR THE OPPONENTS is this: you have just succeeded in telling them the hand layout and HCP distribution. They can now bid a thin game in the majors, finessing partner for the major suits. My 5-10 HCP hands guarantee a 5-card major. When the major is ♠, I can still push the opponents out of their comfort zone into level 3. When I show 5-5 in the minors 11-13 HCP, partner at least has something to work with now. At favourable vulnerability, 4mX down 1 obviously scores better than the opponents making 3M.

Can someone kindly explain to me what an "Alarm-Clock" lead is? I saw reference to this type of lead elsewhere and have no idea what is being referred to.

This discussion is starting to get interesting. Regarding your point 1 above what is your gadget? You have already said you open 1NT if the 4441 hand pattern is within your NT range. But what if it isn't? What do you do now? Do you pass with 11-12 HCP or do you employ the gadget? Let's hear what the gadget is. Regarding your point 2, kindly post the detail here for the benefit of others as well. Start with your favourite, the Cambridge complex that you use (forget the variations). I would love to hear what the other 3 methods are that you have used in the past. Somewhere amongst all that I can optimise my own methods for the 4441 hand pattern. Thank you.

So the 16-17 HCP 4441 hand pattern falls into your 1♦ opening? That’s fine if you have a 4-card ♦ suit. How do you deal with 16-17 HCP 4441 hand pattern and a singleton ♦? After a 1♦ opening, I presume 1♥ shows the weak responder which kicks in the sequence "bidding 4-card suits up the line until some kind of fit is shown?"