Flem72

The structure is 1M-2C = Cs or inv+ M raise. Kitty & Steve Cooper recently wrote "It is illegal to combine 2C as a limit raise or better with possible real clubs and no support. That is because Barry Crane used to play that way." I think they meant only that it is not GCC: Isn't this structure midchart?

WNT structures benefit from some form of mini-Roman. You are worried about 1-4-4-4 and 4-4-4-1. I plya this way with my K-Sish partners: Only with stiff in black suit; AK & A = 12. P,2H = to play 2S = to play with 6+; O may raise with stiff C and max 2N = starts all inv or potentially strong sequences, asks stiff and strength by steps: 3C = C, 12-13; 3D = S, 12-13; 3H = C, 13-14; 3S = S, 13-14. Now: Any 3-level call is to play; R's 4C or 4D is to play Games are to play, even 4S or 5C. 4N = RKCB for non-stiff black suit (i.e., after 3C or 3H, for S; after 3D or 3S, for C). (NOTE: This works also if you hold a solid or one or ½ loser 6+ suit in the stiff.). 3C = to play with 6+; O may raise with stiff S and max 3D = to play, either preemptive or to make 3H = to play, either preemptive or to make 3S = RKCB for H 3N = to-play 4C = RKCB for D 4,5D = to play, either preemptive or to make 4H = to play, either preemptive or to make In ACBL, all non-forcing responses after the 2D opener are alertable.

Fine. Though you have taken this a step farther, I thought that's what I was saying: If according to agreement my hand would bid game after I minisplinter (no alert), and P cues, I bid game, but I can't imagine that, by system or just by bridge logic, I wouldn't cue in response. Forward-going followed by forward-going and all that. Maybe the minisplinter example is not the best; there are probably more ambiguous ones. Maybe I need to think up a truly convuluted example to begin to appreciate the difficulties; maybe abstract examples of what it might mean to actively take advantage are rare ATT; maybe it is much more frequently possible to actively take advantage when the non-alert is a drop-dead kind of thing, or a game invitational kind of thing, than a slammish kind of thing. I do know, however, that my reading of casebooks has not helped articulate the subtleties.

Difficult for me to see what this might mean: if in such cases I assume P's call means what our agreement says it should mean, and bid accordingly, what more is to be done? As I understand this issue, if partner's call after my unalerted call is itself alertable according to our agreement, I must alert it--notwithstanding that then everyone knows what is going on. And now PARTNER may have a huge problem. Correct?

I wonder whether the community can come up with simple, "black letter" statements that prescribe how one should behave at the table when partner has, or may have, violated a Law? Sort of a "Bridge Violations (and How to Avoid Them) for Dummies." (If some previous thread has done this, apologies and please provide a link.) I realize that there are many categories of violations, and that there are distinguishable exemplars within categories; perhaps a heading would help? To start, hoping this will pick up steam: UI: When partner fails to alert an alertable call: Behave as if partner has remembered the agreement and forgotten to alert. Regards and Happy Trails, Scott Needham Boulder, Colorado, USA

I take Route XYZ: 1C-1H 1S*-2H** 4H * = forcing (SNT base, inv+ spl in all suits) ** = weak, 5+H

What are RHO's S cards? if 2, then 62, T2, 92, Q2. If 1, then 6, 9, T or Q. Play low, guaranteeing 3 S tricks, and win with A EDIT: or 7, obv. Now low to JS and start C whenever you take JS. Have to hope the 8D & KD are well-placed, but RHO will start to feel some pain on later S plays, and after your C finesse, will not be happy about discarding C. Maybe a H will drop later; maybe LHO leads a D; but pesky 8 & 9 in C....

+17,395

If you are playing the Wolff 3D checkback as per your other thread, 3S should show slammish, at least 4-5, and 4H usually 4-6. Dontcha think?

Playing a SNT, I like this seq to be forcing (3C = inv+ spl; 2D as weak bailout); playing a WNT, I like this seq to be forcing (K-Sish; 2D = weak bailout). And WTP? Partner knows I can have this much even if we're playing SA. Doesn't s/he?

I like the 3D checkback version of Wolff also, but I thinnk ours would go 1D-1S/3C-3H/3N-4N/6N. I would upgrade the S hand for the solid sequences of honors.

Finally. +2

deleted

Hah!! Very intelligent comment, dontcha think?

Seems funny to me that no one has mentioned this typical form of (unopposed) 2/1 major-suit auction: 1S-2C/2D or 2H-3S, 1S-2D/2H-3S, 1H-2C/2D-3H usually defined as 5+C, 4+ good M, therefore either 2-2 or 3-1 or 4-0. I realize that these forms 1M-2m/2M-3M are now cloudy with respect to shape and quality of support, but 1M-2m/2M-4short is also possible here. Further, I really like the traditional "bid around the stiff' approach with unbalanced hands with strong support; this is a problem with 2/1 structures where responder denies primary support if s/he doesn't bid it at the rebid. Other forms, something like 1M-2m/2M-3om/3N-4M, 1H-2C/2H-2S/2N-4H, can also be used to show this hand type. On the main issue, I would rather reserve J2NT for balanced, HCP kinds of hands; show source-of-trick suits with the 2/1 response; and splinter with less robust side-suits with good support and a control in the 3rd suit. Regards and Happy Trails, Scott Needham Boulder, Colorado, USA

So I have established a permanent link to "View New Content" that I use many times a day. It purports to show me all new forum postings since my last check. In the last couple of days, i ahave noticed that there are a significant number of posts in the forums that do not make it on to this New Content listing page. What determines what makes it to New Content and what does not? Is there something I can do on my end to get more inclusive listings on New Content? Is the link I have established to this New Content page somehow a bogus way to update new content? Regards and Happy Trails, Scott Needham Boulder, Colorado, USA

--and by this I mean: Is a player allowed, during the auction, to look at the scoring tables on the backs of the bidding cards as an aid in deciding among possible contracts? I've never heard this discussed, and I KNOW there is a law somewhere.

OK--not playing any ForcingClub or similar stuff, and not putting them into 2D, but forced to open them 1X or 2C or 2N with a stiff honor (blech)-- anyone have a structure? This one befuddled me the other day: x AKQx AKQx AKxx and I'm tired of being befuddled. I'll say it so no one will have to: What a great argument for a forcing club system!!! Regards and Happy Trails, Scott Needham Boulder, Colorado, USA

There's a split. Some, like the waterman, want to prepare for the 3M rebid with a weak 6-4, so that bidding a lower 4-carder, then rebidding the 6-carder shows extras. Some make an exception for S then H, so that 1S-2m/2H-3om/3S is ambiguous as to strength, while 1S-2C/2D-2N/3S would be extras. Similarly 1S-1FNT/2C-2X/2S as opposed to 1S-1FNT/2S-2N/3C. I like the limiting value of the 2M rebid, and putting the onus on R to bid the 4-carder if s/he holds it, but if you have the Serious/Frivolous and cuebidding tools available to limit the hands, and especially then, pattern bidding in the 1S-open-2H-rebid situation seems just as efficient -- and more so when R can support S at the 2 level. But 95% of 2/1 pairs, at least around here, don't have those tools, so it is important to limit the hand asap to eliminate the issue, at least partially. And slam is roughly 52% playing the drop line, right? You pays yer money and you makes your choice. Regards and Happy Trails, Scott Needham Boulder, Colorado, USA

What he said.

I understand this objection as stated -- but it all comes down to a frequency thing, right? So you lose on some percentage of hands where 3rd hand doubles 3S and declarer can't find his way to 9 tricks with just one stopper? And maybe gain a bit when O can pass 3S? Or warn O to avoid 3N? and isn't there an issue re: just how strong R might be? (Not doubling 3S would seem to be of questionable value negativeinferencedwise? If leader has S, he can guess 3rd hand doesn't have good S?) I of course bow to the 10,000+ hands you have played that I have not (and maybe Bluecalm also) but this seems to be an issue that could not reasonably be resolved without some humungous number of simulation deals. I hate 2N openers.

Don't get this: a 3N hand = a 3N hand, and the two relays are jsut too valuable to waste. Anyhoo, playing Muppet we can describe just about anything we want to describe. Don't want to type out all the possible altrnatives, but using any of a number of variations on: 3S-->3N = to play or 4m = minor suit Smolen, stiff in corresponding M, variety of contracts possible; 4M = slammish w/long corresponding minor (4N = xx support, else RKCB) 3N-->4C = to play 4m; 4M = slammish 5-5 minors, stiff; 4N or 5C = slammish 5-5 minors, Exclusion in corresponding M. or, by way of illustration, another (this one gives up the minor suit smolen, which I happen to like a lot), 2N-3S relay to 3N 2N-3S/3N-P to play: Only way to play 3N 2N-3S/3N-4m R is long in m 2N-3S/3N-4m/4M cue agreeing m with min xxx or Hx support 2N-3S/3N-4m/4N only xx support. If R bids, s/he claims a very good suit and is responding RKCB 2N-3S/3N-4M 5-5 ms, stiff M, SI 2N-3S/3N-4M/4N to play 2N-3S/3N-4M/5m agrees m, RKCB 2N-3N relay to 4C 2N-3N/4C P to play 4C 2N-3N/4C-4D to play 2N-3N/4C-4M 5-5 minors, SI, void M: O's 4N = to play, cheap agrees C, next = agrees D; now cheap = Exclusion In any case, 2N-4S 5/5 in ms, weak: pick Also, in terms of basic structure (not Puppet or Muppet) there's one called Niemeijer and there are a variety of 5-Card Major Stayman kind of thingies that allow pretty much the same descriptions. Regards and Happy Trails, Scott Needham Boulder, Colorado, USA

Nope, I use the same login stuff.

I have trouble displaying some features when using IE8, so I decided to use Safari. BBO won't let me log in to the forums under Safari. Why dat?

Today, in first seat in a Swiss: x AKQJTxxxx AK x Got to open 4N, and he had 'em both. You'd think it would be a push, but at the other table my hand opened 2C. Partner responded 3C = controls, but opener thought it was natural. Played in 6H.