vang

if in theory it's a penalty double, i see no reason to trust opps instead of part. pass.

bridge world standard http://www.bridgeworld.com/default.asp?d=b...bwsall.html#VIH If a player who passed over the opening bid next A. [...] B. doubles a one-notrump response, one-notrump rebid, or simple rebid in opener’s suit, that is for penalty.

I pass at the table. here, i'll bid a "3nt wtp" ;-)

transfer then 4NT quant seems ok to me.

pass. obvious with a passed hand partner.

you are not entitled to information but to what agreements opps have. in main bridge club or individual contests, it's usual to have no (special) agreements. in other words, when someone says "No information available" (they do this by refusing to write something in explain box) it means "i have no special agreement with partner. you and my part shall understand whatever bridge logic says.".

polish 5431

why not? Zia does that sometimes.

1a. 5 hearts and 4 diamonds (2-5-4-2). i see no pther reason for not transfering. 2. part has psyched and has long clubs, not 1nt opener. 1b. same stuff. run to 3d of course

great, thanks Ulf!

opponents bid 1♣ (natural or balanced some range) - pass - 1♦ = hearts (equivalent to natural 1♣ - 1♥). which is your proposed defense here? what is double? what is 1♥? double=diamonds and 1♥=takeout to hearts seems ok but pretty rudimentary. other options?

Karen and I have been trying something out the last two months that I haven't written about since I'm not certain how effective it will be. It is called the Majority raise, and targets these 90%+ hands only. Essentially 2NT is 10+ to 14 with a hand not appropriate for a Bergen raise (which cover game invites with four+ trumps) or a splinter or a direct raise to game. With 14/15+ one uses 2/1 with 3 or 4 trumps, and with 5+ trumps one uses two-way Bergen - the constructive Bergen does double duty and handles these, since if opener jumps to game after the constructive Bergen, responder if 14+ and 5+ trumps can take another bid. The main idea is to have lots of 1M-2NT;4M sequences. I got tired of 1M-2NT followed by showing or denying shortness and then ending in 4M, or 1M-2/1;rebid followed by show M, then end in 4M. It seemed we stopped in 4M on a whole bunch of hands, but only after telling the opponents more about what opener had. We now find that the sequence where responder bids 2/1, then rebids M, which shows 14/15+, is quite useful - opener knows responder has at least a little extra, and so cuebidding is helpful now, not just a courtesy. Just to repeat, this is something we are using for better or worse, and it may not be the best approach to raises. that sounds very interesting, i'm not sure i understood exactly. so, 1M - 2NT is fit3 or fit4? INV or GF?

http://bridge.df7cb.de/ an older and similar effort it seems.

(in Romania) only the opening in first 2 positions must have either at least 10 hcp OR the rule of 18 (which means 10hcp 4333 is ok; 8 hcp 5521 is ok etc). you may open anything in 3rd pos (except psyhic strong system opening).

imo, for B/I, best would be to have almost the same system as over 1NT. this means - no puppet. simple/normal stayman - transfers - 4x the same meaning as after 1NT (4♣ gerber if they play gerber over 1NT) - 3♠ to be discussed. one or both minors?

so, there ARE 9 top tricks (they are there) but you HAVE 7 top tricks (since 9 tricks are there but you cannot take them always). both mike777 and jdonn are right ;-)

hello, for those who play 1M-2NT as invitational or better with 4 card fit, there are many systems for further development. it was about time to invent my own (joking, it seems nothing is new in bridge ;-). basically, you give the losing trick count (LTC) in steps: 3♣=minimal hand, 7 losers or worse 3♦=6 losers 3♥=5 losers 3♠=4 losers or better after this, the responder can see if there is any slam posibility and continue in accordance (cue-bids, stop in game, stop in 3M). a small article on this method: http://VangOnBridge.blogspot.com/2007/04/m...ter-1m-2nt.html

I usually like Marshall Miles books, but from your description, it's seems i won't buy this one. Can you post an overview of the system (all openings, not just 1c)?

great writing, thanks!

i prefer pass, i don't see this hand as an offensive one.

if 2NT is either weak or strong, DBL now just shows the strong variant, i guess...

errr. i'll choose between 2D and going to restrooms to find the player who left ;-)

yes, i'll balance. i'll assume i didn't look at vulnerability since you didn't mentioned it ;-).

how funny, i have just started to play chess a month ago (after years of pause) on http://www.redhotpawn.com . i like this more than FICS or other "instant" chess online, this one is like corespondance chess (fastest setup is 1 day per move).

(1♣) - DBL - (1♠) - 4♦ partner bids 4♦ after your takeout double. in an unregular partnership, you'll consider this to be natural weak? natural invitational? natural GF? something else? in your regular partnership this is...?