Chamaco

Ben, I had thought of such scheme. Bit how do you handle sequences 1S-X-p ? In this case, there is no jump available to the 2-level, and with H you can only jump at the 3 level. I actually had toyed with the idea of transfer advances to t/o doubles, allowing for more discrimination, and I am sure there must be already something out there. If anyone has any refs, please post them at: http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?sho...view=getnewpost that could save me some search time :-)

OBAR = Opps Bid And Raise. It is a popular thinking that when opps bid and raise (weak raise), one should bid in the direct seat as if he were in the balancing seat (light), if he has the right shape. The reason for this thinking is that when YOU have the right shape (shortness in opps suit) in the direct seat, if you pass, partner will probably have xxx or so in their suit, so he will hardly balance. And, most of the time, at least at the 2 level, it is losing bridge to sell out. Therefore, you must keep the pressure off balancer and bid with the right shape, even if you are a bit light in hcp.

Responses to 1C are: 1D = 0-7 1H->2C = positive controls step responses in unbalanced hand 2D = Multi (weak hand with long major) 2HSNT = balanced positive, various ranges 3x = positive 4441 hands, various singletons and ranges I understand there are better methods, but that's what we use now, so from our perspective, better improve the specific sequence rather than change the system core. :-)

I bid 2S. If we buy the contract, I prefer to be the one receiving the openign lead, in view of 3 unsupported Ks and AJ of diamonds. If I double, this won't happen.

Ty Ben ! That sounds a good hint !!! :-) We actually play 2 structures, one on 2H/S (11-13/8-10), the other over 2NT (14+). Actually I'd appreciate a lot feedback for improving it whilst keeping it simple :-) 1C:2H(11-13)/2S(8-10) 2S (only over 2H) = "stayman" with 4m + 4M, responder will bid his first minor up the line or bid NT. If opener does not like the minor he bids his major. 2NT = xfer stayman for majors: - responder bids step below major, opener accepts the xfer with support; if opener rebids a minor, he has a slammish Raptor hand (4M+ longer minor) -responder bids 3C with no major, if then 3M by opener shows 5 card in the major bid + 4 in the other ("Smolen-type hand) 3C = 55 hands (not in the minors, may be MM or Mm); asks 3 card support in a major. (if opener has 55 it is a 3 loser hand; 4-4.5 losers hand are opened 2S/2NT) 3D/H = xfer: responder accepts the xfer WOITHOUT INTEREST in the suit, otherwise superaccepts with a cue or 3NT, setting the trump suit. 3S = Minor suit stayman 3NT = to play 4m = natural slam try 4M = undefined 4NT = quantitative 1C:2NT (forcing to 4NT or 5 of a suit) ? 3C = xfer stayman for majors (as above) 3D/H = xfer: responder accepts the xfer WOITHOUT INTEREST in the suit, otherwise superaccepts with a cue or 3NT, setting the trump suit. 3S = Minor suit stayman 3NT = undefined, cannot be to play (we are forcing to 4NT), probably used as "waiting bid, nothing to say", if responder has extra he can invite to slam in NT) 4m = slam try 4M = undefined 4NT/5 of a suit = signoff

Well my idea is that constructive tools are very useful ESPECIALLY when responding to a takeout double because: 1- in modern bidding, opponents will often bid a lot with nothing- ESPECIALLY OVER A TO DOUBLE! - and we need to be able to bid close games even when opps get busy; even if responder passes, it is good practice to anticipate competition by a bid that delivers the most info; 2- if the doubler can have right away from advancer the info that game is not on (and this is usually delivered by a bid which is weaker than invitational, but also weaker than 9 losers) then we can quickly switch from "constructive" mode to "competitive/preemptive" mode, and jumpraise the auction to the appropriate level. Anyways, I just want to keep well-separated invitational hands from weaker hands. So, 8 losers hand shoul have a different bid from weaker hands, that's all :-) If then anyone can come up with a tool to further separate 9 losers hand specifically from even weaker hands, while still keeping the stronger hand well-defined, even better !

Ty Gonzalo, this is more or less straightforward. What I was confused is the following: in both case A (4NT negative, new suit, cue) and B (anti-cue), how should the bidding proceeed after opener's rebid ? 1. how do you ask for Aces, Keycards and the trump queen after opener shows slam interest ? 2. How does responder inquiries if he has a void ? 3. If opener bids 4NT (negative), how does responder ask for aces if he still wants to bid the slam ? Thanks ! :)

No. In this case it can be invitational. I did not mention this. Yes, I need the 9 losers raise, but not necesarily with limitations in support length. I am strong believer in losers-based raises, at least in major suit contracts. In my view/experince, they reflect more often than not the playing strength much better than most hcp - based methods. Sometimes they do fail -oh well - but less often than common methods. Let's say LTC-based raises wrk well for me because I am no expert, but I understand experts rely on their judgment rather than rigid rules

We do play 2NT lebensohl by advancer (responder to t/o dbl). But using artificial 2NT by the doubler is tricky: Issue 1 we play Raptor, so X +NT might be neded for the strong balanced hand ? Or do u suggest to use Dbl (after opener's rebid) as generic strong hand including the strong balanced and 2NT as artificial? Issue 2 even using 2NT by opener as artificial commits to the 3 level opposite a pard who could hold a yarborough. This is dangerous at red vs white.

I am not sure, you are talking about originally doubler's action here? No, I mean the advancer. I consider the response to the double as a "raise", so the responder to the double could have: - negative hand - preemptive hand - "mixed raise" hand - "invitational hand" - GF hand So far I am playing that jumps are 8 losers, invitational, and a cue is GF. No way to discriminate with a 1st round bid between really bad hands and mixed raises.

I took this style from Lawrence's book on Takeout doubles. He said that a free raise by the doubler should show a better than minimum hand if opener does not rebid, but if opener rebids, it only show support even with a bare minimum. The concept is that the more contested the auction, the more you raise freely.

Thanks to comments so far. However, I am still puzzled. I mean, would you bid 3S with North also with the following ? Hand 1 ♠ QTxxx ♥ xx ♦ AJx ♣ xxx Instead of the actual hand: Hand 2 ♠ QTxxx ♥ xxx ♦ AJx ♣ xx I have only switched 1 heart with 1 club, yet here 3S is down 1 (200 if doubled) Consider also that South's hand could be much worse than the actual hand. Say South hlds: Hand 3 ♠ AKJx ♥ KJxx ♦xx ♣ xxx Instead of the actual Hand 4 ♠ AKJx ♥ KQJx ♦xx ♣ xxx Now, Hand2 + Hand 4 (the actual hands) = 9 tricks Hand 1 + Hand 4 = 8 tricks Hand 1 + Hand 3 = 7/8 tricks Hand 2 + Hand 3 = 8/9 probably I mean, the chances to go down are higher. Also, South's hand could be even worse, say Hand 5 ♠ AKJx ♥ Qxxx ♦xx ♣ Qxx , When we are likely to go down 2, and even undoubled it will be a likely zero.

We have agreed that a jumpbid response to the t/o double would guarantee 8 losers: that allows to jump with less than the oldfashioned "standard" 9-10 hcp, if the distribution allows for it, similarly to your suggestion. However, since here the hand is 9 losers, she had 1 loser too much, so she could not jump, by system :rolleyes:. If the system has to be changed, I'd like to differentiate between: 1. a "mixed" raise (9 losers) 2. limit raise 3. GF hand Any suggestion on either : a. an improved system that satisfies the above requirements ? OR b. the development of the auction given the fact she could not jump?

[hv=d=n&v=n&n=sqtxxxhxxxdajxcxx&s=sakjxhkqjxdxxcxxx]133|200|Scoring: MP N....E....S....W p....1D...X....p 1S...2D...2S...p p....3D...all pass [/hv] We set 3D by one, when 3 Spades was cold, for a full bottom. I was south, and I felt my hand was very offensive, but did not dare to go to the 3 level, red vs white, on my own, without any sign of life from North (for her bid she could hold a yarborough). North, on the other hand, did not feel like competing at the 3 level at red vs white (by system, my 2S bid did not promise any extras, could be a featureless 12-13 count with 4 spades). Now, skipping all "Law of total tricks" considerations (at red vs white, Matchpoints, being doubled offsets the law by a lot), who do you think should have bid 3 ?

Well, I play a strong club system too, hehe :rolleyes:

I like a lot "Romex" Namyats requirements: - 4/ 4.5 losers - max 4 controls - at least 2 of top 3 honors in the major - no suit should have 3 losers - no void http://www.bridgeguys.com/RGlossary/RomexNamyats.html It seems to me it combines good definition of the hand (responder has a good idea of controls) whilst relaxing the requirements of suit solidity, allowing for more frequent use. According to the above requirements, the hand posted by Ben has too many controls (5) to open a Namyats.

Justin, I wish most if not all players were like you. I have been playing lot of chess in the last 25 years, and everytime I had a chance to win by some "tricks" (e.g. winning just on time in a draw or lost position), I offered a draw. My point is, social relation comes first, competitive results at 2nd place, and I applied the same phylosophy not only at club level, but at national level too. Even when the rulings would defend your claims, not necessarily everything that is legal or allowed by the laws is nice. It did cost me some points, but everybody knows me as a very nice player and person. In the opposite case, I would be known as a tough player but, nice-behaving only when I win. According to my priorities, my cost-benefit analysis is a big plus :-), and I am trying to apply the same in bridge, the same way you do: give up some points, gain popularity, what an investment! maybe one day you'll be elected as president ! ;-)

Hi all, I'd like suggestion on the following sequences. over strong 1C, balanced positive will bid 2H/S/NT according to range (11-13/8-10/14+). In order not to overburden partner's memory, she begged me to have the same developments regardless of the range of responder. So, opener with a slam try in a minor just bids 4m (all 3-level bids are used for other hand types). So, I need a single method that handles in the same way all of the following sequences (I know having a single method is not optimal from the theoretical viewpoint, but I am more concerned of practice, so I'd appreciate if we could skip the discussion on the inadequacy of this :) ) : Sequence 1 1C:2H (11-13) 4m: ? 1C:2S (8-10) 4m: ? 1C:2NT (14+, in this specific case the auction is forcing to 4NT or 5 of a suit) 4m: ? In these sequences, I need to: a. allow for keycard ask (including finding the trump queen) b. handle hands where opener has voids (sort of Exclusion keycard) c. be able to stop in 4NT to play I thought of the following scheme , which, however, does not involve cues, and has problem in handling hands with voids: Over 4m, responder responds in steps (skipping 4NT) like to RKCB (1st step = 03, 2nd =14, 3rd 2-Q, 4th = 2+Q), if he holds at least Hx or xxx support. Otherwise, he/she bids 4NT, offer to play. Obviously, this can be a problem if opener has a void (the number of KC may not be useful to him) and/or when he has 2 problem suit: the latter case isunlikely if he has a big club hand AND a minor long and strong enough to try for slam, but I think it is anyways a case to be considered. Do you have any suggestions on how to continue the auction after 4m ? (even if your suggestion would be to NOT use 4m as slam try, please let's concentrate on the given sequence, thanks ! :rolleyes: ).

That's why, given the randomness, it is better to be consistent, so partner can know what to expect. When pard is unpassed hand, it is better to try to describe rather than shoot in the dark, at least in borderline cases. And, opposite unpassed pard, consistency pays off (and helps keeping the trust of pard) Having an agrement about side controls may be good or bad, but it does help pard if he has a strong hand opposite our preempt. However, any other agreement is acceptable, as long as it helps pard to decide whether to look or reject slam chances when he has a good hand. Bottomline: either always open such 84 hands as preempts or always one of a suit, or always as Namyats (if it fits your Namyats requirements) but be consistent. [Obvious disclaimer: obviously consistency does not mean we have to bid the same at any vulnerability B) ] Otherwise we turn a partneship game in a "solo" game, according to our mood (and egoistic players will justify their actions by "table feel" B) ).

A few guidelines: a. obviously 3rd seat anything goes, and 4th seat you are seldom worried of missing slams; b. however, there is a big difference between 1st and 2nd seat; 1st seat you have 2 chances out of 3 of preempting opps, and 1/3 of preempting pard; 2nd seat it's 50-50% chances, so in the 2nd seat preempts should be VERY disciplined, regardless of the style you have chosen. 1st seat preempts may instead "take a chance" occasionally. c. some indications that suggest against preempting when in doubt is about controls (AK or voids; singleton is a control, but most of the time you'll have a singleton when holding a suitable hand for preempts): if you have 2 aces, or an Ace and a void, if in doubt it is better to open 1 of a suit.

Hi all. I have read in Danny Kleinman's "The Notrump zone" that he suggest using the 4m response to 2NT as natural single suited slam try. Now, regardless of whether you like this approach or not (say you are forced to play this with a gun pointing at your head :lol: ), what should be the logic of the following auction ? E.g. 2NT:4D ? Now what are the obligations of opener ? a. cuebid if he likes the minor suit ? What shd he bid in case he does not like the suit ? 4NT to play ? b. say opener cuebids and responder cues again. .... b1. How do you ask for keycards and how do you ask for trump queen ? .....b2. How do you deal with voids by responder ? E.g., How do you deal with voidshowing keycards responses and can you use Exclusion keycard BW ? c. Besides, WHO should be asking for keycards ? 1- both should have the option; 2- only opener because he is the strong hand 3- only responder because he is uinbalanced and he is likleyt to have shortness 4- Neither player :-) Thanks !

sry I had not noticed Alberto had posted already in the english forum

PLEASE SOMEONE ADDS "DOUBLE" TO THE LIST OF CHOICES :) !!!

Scoring: Unspecified VULN vs. NOT VULN Partner opens 1st seat 1♣ (better minor) and RHO overcalls a preemptive 3 ♠ What do you bid with: ♠ Ax ♥ QJ9xxx ♦ AJ9xx ♣ --- No special gadget available. S.....W.....N.....E 1♣...3♠....?

Il contre tende a non promettere nulla a fiori, e mostra forza nei 2 pali non dichiarati. Pertanto, in risposta al contre, la dichiarazione 5 fiori dell'apertore (nonostante il rispondente possa non avere nulla a fiori) deve mostrare un palo di fiori chiuso/semichiuso, tipo AKQTxxx o KQJTxxx. Se l'apertore salta a 5 fiori è probabile che sia un contratto fattibile. Quanto acercare la "migliore manche", ci sono 2 discorsi da fare: 1. dipende dal tipo di competizione: siamo a coppie o a squadre ? Il quesito originale non lo specifica. A squadre, meglio giocare la manche piu' sicura; 2. quando gli avversari sbarrano, spesso bisogna arrangiarsi, ovvero, secondoi i testi sacri, non cercare di chiamare la "miglior manche possibile" sperando nella mano perfetta del p, ma accontentarsi del miglior risultato possibile utilizzando le informazioni disponibili sul momento. Quali sono le info disponibili al momento ? - Il p ha aperto 1 fiori, probabilmente ha valori a fiori, sprecati. - Ci sono buone probabilità che le atout siano divise male, e probabilmente KQ di quadri sono fuori impasse. - non sappiamo se il p abbia appoggio a cuori, ed il nostro colore di cuori, sia pure 6o, NON è autonomo; In questa circostanza, a mio avviso, la prudenza è d'obbligo, ed è importante mantenere la possibilità di penalizzare gli opps. Se contriamo, il compagno non deve aspettarsi nulla a fiori (il cointre promette solo i colori rossi), quindi se salta a 5 fiori avrà i suoi motivi. Se invece dichiara 4 fiori, dichiareremo 4 cuori.