perko90

I used to play 1M-2NT as a natural GF a while back. We were usually the only ones in the room not playing Jac2NT. Fred G. brings up some good points in his article on the weaknesses of trying to play just natural 2/1 bids. But as nullve points out, Nebulous 2♣ really does address all of Fred's concerns in a better manner. I'm now playing and loving it. I've found that you get to have your cake and eat it, too. Even your natural club hands seem to have more description by starting with a nebulous 2♣ than just natural. Give it a try. Here's a great place to start: http://bridgewinners.com/article/view/better-21-bidding-the-nebulous-2c-bid/

Dlr: N Vul: E-W Scoring: MP North: ♠KJTx ♥xxx ♦KJ ♣Txxx South: ♠9xxx ♥Q ♦Txxxx ♣Qxx Bidding: P-P-P-1♥; 1♠-2♥-2♠-4♥; P-P-4♠-X; All Pass Result: -800 MPs: 20%; E-W need to find both ♥Q and ♣Q and 4-3 club split to make 7, but most pairs stopped at 4♥. My ptr didn't like my 4-card overcall. I thought he had a text book 3♠ preemptive raise. Or, given the situation, even a direct 4♠ bid at fav with opps showing 25+ HCPs and an 8+ card heart fit. Help us reach a verdict!

Sure, West has more than they could have for the action, but bidding 4♥ is all that should be done given the preemption. But East is sleeping over there! 4 pure cover cards including a beautiful Axxx in ♠'s. Make a move! 100% East.

At Philly, the new Convention chart proposal passed! http://www.acbl.org/about-acbl/administration/competition-and-conventions-committee/draft-convention-charts/ What do you think are going to be the most popular changes to systems/bidding based on these changes? Here's my list: 1) Multi 2♦ 2) Transfer Walsh *** my personal favorite change and biggest reason to celebrate! 3) Kaplan Inversion (after 1♥, the 1♠ and 1NT responses are flipped) Then to a lesser extent ... 4) Multi-way forcing 1♣ systems in general (Polish, Carrot, Tangerine, etc.) combined with some sort of transfer responses (T-Walsh, for ex.) 5) Canape'- responder now can bid next step as an artificial negative And then just speculation ... 6) Forcing 1♦ systems? A 1♥ response doesn't have to be natural any more. 7) Forcing 1NT that promise invite or better values? What else? I don't know a lot of what's out there because I've always tried to restrict my theoretical wanderings to GCC legal topics.

I think you're confusing yourself. "Natural" at the 2 level means 5 or more in the suit and as long as it shows 8+ HCPs, it's allowed. It could promise 11+, 15+, 19+ or whatever.

I was at Philly and I heard from reliable sources that the new Convention Charts passed! It will take effect for the Hawaii Fall NABC.

FYI ... Our opening style in 1st or 2nd is Rule of 20 w/ 2 Quick Tricks. I loosen it up a bit only at these colors specifically (NV v NV), but ptr (North) maintains it at all colors.

Match Points, N Deals, NV vs NV, you're South with: ♠ x ♥ QJx ♦ Jxxx ♣ AQT9x Auction goes: P-P-1C-1S X-4S-P-P X-P-?

There seems to be too much redundancy in the meanings of bids when the opponents start 1X-1Y. Often 1NT, 2NT, 2X and 2Y all show some form of extra shape in the 2 unbid suits (usually 5-5). While we retain the natural meaning of 1NT when NV in my current partnership, we don't have much differentiation among the other bids. Maybe 2X should be natural if X is a minor? I'm curious to hear what others play. Any recommendations?

Agreements can vary by partnership, but I think the most common is that if dummy plays the Q or higher, 3rd hand gives attitude (if they can't beat it). And if it's a J or lower, 3rd hand gives count.

Thanks all for the replies! - Indeed, unfortunately, T-Walsh is not GCC legal. - I find the 1♦ = spades treatment interesting, but probably not to the liking of my partners. - I'm leery of just adopting a 17-19 jump rebid because there's no space for an invite. So, you get imprecise auctions and guesswork. - Thanks for mentioning the 2NT | 2♣-2NT inversion, Kungsgeten. I "invented" that 15+ yrs ago for the same reasons you mentioned and it worked quite well. But I didn't want to mention that in my post to keep it simple. - I really like nullve's suggestions of the Dutch Doubleton treatment w/ Polish style responses (works well with unbalanced 1♦ which I also favor). And the "Delayed Mexican 2♦" is something I've never heard of, but definitely has my attention. With the extra flexibility of having the 2 level artificial 4SF, it's not too hard to unwind the strong balanced hands from the true ♣-♦ reverses.

For various reasons, I've been thinking about trying to fit a 14-16 1NT range into 2/1. FWIW, we liberally include 5332 w/ 5-card major into 1NT and our 2♦ is just a weak 2. I live in ACBL land, so the GCC reigns supreme. To make it fit in, here's 3 possible treatments that come to mind: 1) the 2NT jump rebid = 17-18, 2NT = 19-20, and 2C handles all 21+ 2) the 2NT jump rebid = 17-18, use a Mexican style 2♦ bid for 19-20, 2NT = 21-22, and 2C handles all 23+ 3) cheat the range a bit so that 1NT = good 14 to bad 17, a 2NT jump rebid = good 17 - 19, and the rest standard Any recommendations or creative ideas?

You should not be counting short suit points and whatnot for opening or preempting. With rare exception, an opening hand should always have 10+ HCPs. And with similar rare exception, preempts (below game) should have at most 10 HCPs. While styles vary, Bergen's Rule of 20 is a pretty popular standard for an opening. I like to make sure I have 2 QTs with a bare minimum, too. For preempts, it's all about trick taking. I learned the Rule of 2-3-4 as a novice and I pretty much still stick to it today. At Unfav you should be within 2 tricks of your bid; at equal, 3 tricks; and at Fav, around 4 tricks. As a general rule of thumb, your suit should be headed by the QJ or QT9 or better. It varies by partnership agreement, but that's a good place to start. Also, below game preempts should never have 2 outside A's. If you go with the above, you will occasionally pass 7-card suits. But you should rarely have any confusion on whether to open or preempt.

I respectfully disagree with Helene. There's still enough variability in opener's shape that the responder often doesn't know what's best. I've found that playing in a crappy 4-3 fit at the 2 level (a frequent outcome of a scramble) is no picnic compared to playing 1NT. Also, there are a few weaknesses to the Pass demands a Redbl style beyond not being able to play just 1NTX. If it's intended for business, it can get a bit muddled because 4th hand often throws in a bid and the 1NT opener doesn't know whether the Pass was business or the start of a run-out. Further, it gives the opponents 2 chances to find an escape (immediate or delayed action). In a strong NT context, there doesn't need to be a 1NTXX for business and 1NTX is usually a close call either way. For these I recommend after 1NT-X-?: XX = 5+ C's, 2♣ = 5+ D's, 2♦/2♥ = Jacoby. And then Pass = "doubt". Opener, similar to your OP then bids a 5-card suit naturally, Passes only with a 4333 hand, and Redoubles with 2 4-card suits requesting a scramble. I've run many simulated hands and found that when opener has a 4333, there's usually no better place to be than 1NT. This also has the benefit that 4th seat will panic and run before our side has to scramble (because there's still a threat of 1NTX getting passed out). Having the opponents scramble 1st is usually a favorable outcome. In a weak NT context, I think an immediate Redble for business is best, even though you lose the 2 level Club transfer.

In a standard | 2/1 context, the N hand is well short of a game-forcing 3♦ rebid; 2♦ is fine. But as most people know, the wide range of a 1M-1NT; 2m auction is not a strength of standard(ish) approaches. Nonetheless, on the actual hand in question, the Bridge Baron auction seems very normal without any gadgets. I'll let others comment on the Gazzilli in's and out's and hypotheticals. It's also worth noting that in a Precision context, the North hand is a great candidate for a 3♦ rebid (showing 5-5 shape and a nice 14-15 HCPs (note: here, it's fair to discount the K S by 1 pt but not more)). And in your last example, N is still short of a 3♦ GF rebid. If you're light on HCPs, the hand should be a 4 loser. If you instead just bid 2♦, ptr will strain to keep the auction alive w/ 8+ HCPs. So, you're not going to miss much.

Thx all for the spirited discussion. FWIW, a 2♠ bid by E would be NF constructive by agreement. I also didn't mention this was MP scoring. Interestingly, almost all the points mentioned here were brought up in the postmortem. W knew the 2♣ overcall was a sub-minimum, but thought the favorable vulnerability, stiff H, and 6-card suit w/ 2 of top 3 was enough to stay out of trouble. W never seriously considered passing, but in hindsight thinks 3♣ would be a better call. E considered 2♠ but rejected it because of suit quality. E in hindsight regretted 3NT for the lack of another club. While 2♣ was undeniably a sub-minimum, just how far below wasn't clear. While undiscussed beforehand, E had a higher expectation than W of what a minimum should be.

2♣ overcall is at favorable vul: E-W are NV; N-S are Vul.

South opened 1♥ and had a full opener w/ 5 H's

Vul: N-S Dlr: S West: K9 7 T765 KQ8742 East: Q8764 AJ62 J43 A The competitive auction went: 1♥-2♣-2♥-3NT; All Pass S led low spade from ATxx; N held Jxxx of C's. Down 3. BTW, only 3rd time playing together.

Adjustments will be needed depending on whether we're in a strong Club context or a Standard(ish)/Polish one. I'll assume the latter with "natural" meaning 1♦ = 4+ D's. Even in this context, I believe the 4 D's & 5 C's hands are best opened 1♦. I like after 1♦-1M: 1♠ over 1♥ = natural, 4 S's 1NT = 11-15 HCP "natural", <3 in M (usually a stiff) and < 6 D's (the most usual distribution is (13)(54), but 1444 possible over 1♠ as is 22(54) with weak majors) 2♣ = D's, either a 6+ D suit or various strong hands w/ 5+ D's (reverse, 5/5 minors, BWDH (long D's and 3-card support) etc.) 1-under raise (2♦ over 1♥ or 2♥ over 1♠) = minimum 3-card raise 2♦ over 1♠ = 5+ D's & 4 H's 2M = 4 pc raise 3♣ = 5/5 minors, invite (like Precision) [if playing Strong Club, this could be the weak 5/5 and going thru 2C could show the invite version] After the 1NT rebid: 2♣ = pass or correct (always to a 5-card minor, except 1444 over 1♠) 2♦ = similar to NMF, but opener can bid 2M w/ a 2-card tolerance other bids natural, including: 3♦ = sign off

This. I didn't even vote because this 4NT is so unnecessary. If it's intended as RKC, keep it simple and set the suit with a forcing 2♣ bid first. If intended as "quantitative," how would you expect a pick-up partner to know what range? Why not start with 1♦ and hear partner's rebid?

I think N has an easy 3NT bid. And if ever there was a tie breaker, having 4 K's should highly incentivize N to become declarer. That said, I don't really like S's decision to bid 3D w/ only 5 D's and 15 HCP. Sure, the stiff C is a concern, but ya can't play scared bridge.

I guess it's about as fair as it can be. But there's still an element of luck. There will always be cases like the one you describe above. Or the slam that comes down to a pure finesse - making you either look like a genius or a dud, depending on which way the finesse goes. Sometimes poor bidding/play gets rewarded - a shaky overcall catches partner w/ a great dummy. Even forgetting conventions can be an unexpected boon. Imagine having the opponents open 2♦ and alerted as Flannery (5-4 H&S w/ an opening hand). But your side misses a cold 4♥ because the opener forgot they agreed to Flannery and instead had a weak 2 bid w/ just diamonds. There's no adjustment either because the alerter gave proper info according to their agreements. All you can do is take comfort in knowing that there's plenty of room for skill to win the day. And in the long run, playing the percentages will win out. But on any given day, luck can be with or against you. And sometimes there's comfort there, too. Having a bad round can't ALL be your fault, right? ;)

N: Axx Kxx AKQ AQxx S: x xx Txxx KJTxxx NV vs NV IMPs, W deals: 2♠ - X - 3♠ - P P - X - P - 5♣ All Pass

No. The 16-18 1NT was from the Goren age when a minimum balanced opener had at least 13 HCPs more often than not. With a 12 HCP min, having a 4-point range on the 1NT rebid (12-15) is a bit unwieldy. And no matter how you slice it, a 1NT opener, regardless of range, is an advantage to the opening side. So, a more frequent 15-17 is also more desirable. Now with that said, you can still remove hands that would jump rebid NT from the 1m openings, with a Mexican 2♦ showing 18-19. There's not enough info here to track why you think minimum club hands are troublesome in short club systems. But regardless, moving these hands up a level to 2♣ does not make them easier. They are more difficult. PC borrowed the 2♣ treatment from the original Precision. But there's a reason modern Precision has shied away from including the 5C + 4cM hands in 2♣. It's because those auctions are really troublesome. Perhaps you can give some examples of what you find troublesome about starting these type of hands with a 1♣ bid so we can explore it more in depth.