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This is actually a question about the Android app; couldn't find an appropriate topic. Can the app be used in Landscape orientation? All of the promotional material is Portrait. I need to know before I splurge on a 16:9 10-inch tablet, which I imagine is borderline awkward to hold/navigate in Portrait. Thanks.

Much of this has been previously mentioned. I’ve played a weak notrump for ages, and I think on balance, it is a winning method. I prefer to use an 11-14 range (when vul, just the ‘nice’ 11’s :-) ) because that boosts the frequency by 30% or so (to about 3X that of a 15-17 range), and permits some system creativity by a passed hand responder, because he will no longer be interested in game, just the optimal partial (we open almost all 11’s whether balanced or not, so responder with < 11 will seldom be strong enough to invite). Here are some observations/suggestions: Play “Dutch doubleton” 1C, where you stuff all your 15-19 balanced hands into 1C, including 3=3=5=2 (maybe even 5M(332)?). This blurs somewhat your 1C opener, but sharpens your 1D opener, which is always unbalanced and usually 5+. I like to play a forcing 1NT response to 1D, with a semi-forcing 2C opener response with good hands. Play Transfer Walsh over 1C. I think TW adds more value to weak notrumpers than strong notrumpers. TW for weak notrumpers has two significant benefits. It right-sides most contracts when opener has the 15-19 balanced hands (‘standard’ bidders usually wrong-side when balanced 18-19 so that is a clear win for TW, and TW at least ‘ties’ the siding issue compared to a 15-17 1NT opener), plus you get the additional ‘raise’ of the transfer suit. I like to use the 1-level acceptance as 18-19 4-fit, and the 2-level as 15-17 4-fit, but I can understand reversing those, or using one for an unbalanced 3-fit raise, or maybe for an unbalanced 4441 raise, or maybe for a relay sequence, or whatever … the point is, you get one more raise-type than standard bidders. We use responses of 1S = no majors, 1NT = GF clubs, 2C = GF diamonds, but other methods are possible. You need a good run-out system when they double 1NT. You will extremely rarely get spanked so badly it hurts. The result that hurts most at matchpoints is –200, against a partial. My theory is this: since the partner of the doubler cannot be sure how strong the doubler is (usually played with a huge range 13+ to anything), partner will often (too often) pull the double when weakish and/or unbalanced, so I want to give that guy the maximum chance to make that mistake. I use Pass to force XX (advancer mulls) intending to (1) sit and play or (2) use DONT-type runouts with two suits (advancer re-mulls). I use immediate XX (advancer mulls) to force 2C, responder holding a pass/correct weak one-suiter (advancer re-re-mulls). I use immediate transfers from 2D = diamonds to 2S = clubs, with constructive single-suiters that partner can play at the 3-level if need be, with an appropriate hand. You need a good system when they compete over 1NT. Defenders seem to use Capp a lot, which imo is about the dumbest convention ever, so I welcome the use of it. Over their 2C bid (some 1-suiter) we want to disrupt them whenever possible, so with ’2-suiters’ we X with both majors 54 or better, 2D with any single suiter (forcing 2H by opener, pass/correct), 2M = 4M5m, 2N (can’t be Leb here because overcaller’s suit not known) shows xx54, 3C shows xx45. We use the same system over DONT X with 2C = 54 MM. Responder can always Pass and use Leb after overcaller reveals his suit. As a general rule, we play negative doubles and Leb against ‘natural’ overcalls. For the multi-use defences (Suction, etc), responder can wait and see. Sometimes we can bid their known suit as a takeout or stopper-ask. You need a good system when advancer interferes over your 1C opener. This is the area that will give you the most headaches. It is a difficult spot for standard bidders also (and will happen more often to them because they will open 1m more often than you do, and advancer will more often be strong enough to interfere) but more likely it will cost you a missed game. Say the auction goes 1C (P) 1D(h) (1S); to you. With 4 hearts you ‘raise’ to 2H. With a spade stopper and 2-3 hearts, you can rebid 1NT (but you will probably get a spade lead which will be anti-field at matchpoints, and possibly deadly at imps if your stopper is weak … on the other hand you might improve with a holding like AJx or KJx .. on this auction KJx is very nearly as good as AKx). With just 3 hearts and no spade stopper, we raise to 2H anyway. Responder will know there is a chance he is on a 4-3 fit, and will react accordingly, and he will sometimes have 5+ hearts. With just 2 hearts and no spade stopper, we use a ‘strong notrump’ double, losing the support double, which imo is no big loss anyway. If you have an unbalanced club hand, just rebid your clubs. Now if advancer had pre-empted with (2S), then you might be screwed, but sometimes that happens to any system. I would raise to 3H with a top-of-range 3 or 4 fit, rebid 2NT with top of range, ditto with a strong notrump double, or rebid 3C with top of range and a good suit. Partner will make allowances/adjustments whatever you bid. I include 5-card majors in 1NT openers, and most 5422 hands. There are pluses and minuses. A big minus is playing in 1NT with a 5-4 major fit. This can happen with strong notrumpers too but will happen less often. A big plus is your 1M openers are sharpened. You will not have a minimum 5332, you will be either 15+ balanced, or unbalanced. 1M - 1NT; 2C (could be short) will either be 15+ balanced, or unbalanced. Opposite a less than invitational partner, you will often find yourself in 1NT with a 4-4 M fit. Sometimes it won’t hurt. Sometimes you will miss your 4-4 heart fit, and see they have missed their 4-4 spade fit. A lot of the time ‘you will have gotten to 1NT first’, because both sides hold a combined ~ 20 HCP. A lot of the time their leads into your 1NT contract will be not bad for you, because they are leading blind. Play 1M – 2C as GF 2+, with or without a relay follow-up. Use an opener rebid of 2NT to show the 15-17 balanced hand, anything else to show the unbalanced hand. As mentioned previously, if you use an 11-14 range and open most 11-pointers, then passed hand responder with a maximum of 10 cannot (very rarely anyway) want to invite game. To negotiate the optimum partial with an unbalanced hand, we like to use the defence to Capp outlined above, which allows you to show all your two-suiters. 2C = 54 majors. 2D = any 1-suiter. 2M = 4M5m, 2N = xx54, 3C = xx45. If you use an 11-14 range, you might want to consider a ‘range’ Stayman of some type. We use 2C = invite+, then 2D = 11-12 no 5-card major, 2M = 11-12 5-carder, 2NT = any 13-14. After 2D, invitational responder and opener bid 4-card suits up the line to stop in 4=4 2M or 2NT. After 2NT opener rebid, 3C is GF Puppet. A direct 1NT – 3C is GF Puppet. Obviously no garbage or crawling Stayman permitted. The weak 1NT ‘steals’ a whole level of bidding from your opps. You will open a LOT of them, watch the defenders squirm (they will say they hate it, which makes me wonder why they don’t play it). I hate playing against it. When I do, I use this simple system: 2C = 5-4 or better majors, with a 2D response = no preference. 2D and 2H are transfers. 2S = S plus m, X = H plus m. Since I am rarely hurt when they double my 1NT opening, I assume they can also scramble effectively so I don’t use a ‘penalty’ double. If I did, I would put it to a range, maybe 14-16 or whatever, so partner would better know whose hand it was, and he could judge better what to do with it, instead of floundering about.

I've used them for years in Toronto clubs with no complaints, and permitted by club owners. In mid-chart events, we pre-alert and provide a defense which saves time. Some directors in GC events let us play them if we ask permission beforehand. I've played against them in GC events with no pre-alert and the opps have said nobody really cares, what with all the club systems and Montreal relays etc.