MickyB

I'm not a fan of VFP either. The 16+ hands are much worse placed in competition than after a strong club or swedish/polish club. http://dcrcbridge.blogspot.com/2007/03/dbt11-breaking-homogeneity-part-2.html

The basic idea is good, arguably you are underusing 1H:1S, 1N though. You could so something like - 1N = diamonds; or extras with hearts - 2C = weak or GF --- 2D = diamonds ----- 2S = GF relay --- 2H = hearts ----- 2S = GF relay - 2D = good preference for diamonds - 2H = good preference for hearts 2C = natural 2D = spades 2H = natural, limited There are better ways of doing it than the above - spade hands are pretty messy, that's easily fixed - but it demonstrates the basic idea. No need for Flannery and can be played with wide-ranging openings, indeed it makes opening light pretty playable. Obviously the trade-off is that you have less space for your relays.

The hands you make a WJS on, I can bid - 1C:1D, 1N:2H - to play 1C:1D, 1N:2C, 2D:2H - invitational 1C:1D, 1N:4H On these hands, you are bidding 1C:2H, 3H or 1C:2H, 4H - you don't get to stop in 2H and you've less accuracy when deciding between 3H and 4H.

Ok, so no need for Flannery here. Just play weak jumps or invitational jumps.

In that case, I suggest that over 1C you play - 2D = invitational jump in either major 2H = 5S4H 5-9 or so 2S = both minors, 6-10 or so [to play in 3m opposite a weak NT and in game opposite a strong balanced hand] awm has covered why invitational jumps are good. I strongly recommend against playing WJS with this method, 1C:2H [4-8 6+hearts] leaves you terribly placed compared with 1C:1D, 1NT where you can now bid 2H to sign off, 2C:2D, 2H as an invite or jump to [or transfer to] 4H on a maximum WJS. Only one Flannery bid is required IMO; there's nothing wrong with bidding 1C:1H!, 2C:2H on the invitational hands. That leaves 1C:2S somewhat in search of a meaning. I think the one I've suggested is quite effective, although 1C:1S to show 5+diamonds is already a reasonable start on those hands, so maybe there's something better available. Ok, follow-up question. What is 1D:1S, 1NT?

More information about your system would be useful. What do you open on a balanced hand with four diamonds? Can you spare 1C:2C, i.e. put your club hands in 1S or 1NT? I like to play that 1S implies diamonds, while 1NT shows 5+clubs any strength. After 1C:1R, what's your rebid with a strong balanced hand? If it is 1NT then WJS are much less useful, possibly even counter-productive. How do you play completing the transfer? I think you mean "demisemiforcing".

Double then 2N is a huge overbid. I quite like what your correspondent says about the meaning for X then 2S, but it doesn't fit in with our system; as mentioned, we play NFB here. In the partnerships where I play transfers, X then 2S as 4S NF - possibly showing 4-4 in spades and diamonds - sounds excellent.

Eh? The auction so far, combined with the knowledge of our hand, makes it more likely partner is 4-4-3-2. We have a moderate hand and oppo are playing in our best suit, why rock the boat?

3♠. Can't stomach 4♠ on such a bad suit.

I kibitzed this hand and instinctively wanted to bid 2♠, not sure if I'd have talked myself into bidding 2♦ at the table though. Glad to see I'm getting some support here! The best player I've asked away from the forums was a 2♦ bidder, and the other six or so [including two world champions] were all doublers.

I don't really understand 2D on the North cards, even playing Acol. Seems like a good shot at turning a plus score vs 2C into a minus score vs 2H [or in 3D].

Which means the county only needs one trophy to cover all events, sounds perfect.

[hv=pc=n&s=sqt64hat5dak9532c&w=sa75hk64dckqt7654&n=sj983h98dq87caj92&e=sk2hqj732djt64c83&d=s&v=n&b=15&a=1d2cppd3cdppp]399|300|FWIW, double led to -470 at the table.[/hv]

Unless there's some evidence that West (unwittingly) usually does this when he wants a ruff I don't see why there should be an issue. Agree with those that say there's no alternative to East playing another diamond.

11-13 NTs pass 2♠ unless they are decent with four-card support. I'd expect a 2♠ bid to think it had chances of making opposite the weak NT, particularly holding some club length.

The full deal, especially the East hand, could be helpful. Edit: Sorry, cross-posted.

I like this a lot. Did 1NT deny three hearts in your methods? Could 2C have been short? If so, partner is 3253/3244/2254 and 3C rates to be much the better spot. Invitational 5H5C hands could start with an ART 2S bid. If partner could have a weak three-card raise then obviously pass is clear. Also, at risk of stating the obvious, this logic only applies for auctions starting 1H-P-1N.

How much more would you need for 2♠?

You've lots of space to sort this out if you want to make it a priority - I don't currently. 1C:1S!, 1N = 17-19 1C:1S!, 2C = unbal, can be 4414. As you say, this will find a seven-card fit unless partner is 3352. 1C:1N = 5+clubs 0+hcp, now 2C = any 17-19 NT No, once again, you've plenty of space over the 1C opening to show C+D and stop in 2m. One possible scheme - Completing the transfer = bad 2C rebid or C+D any strength 2C = good 2C bid 2D = some kind of raise

Reasons why it's better to open 1D on the weak NTs and 1C on the strong balanced hands: - 1C:1S!, 1N and 1C:1R, 2M can show 17-19 NTs. I suspect Phil is getting higher on these hands having opened 1D - The 17-19 NT usually gets to declare in responder's major, especially if you play transfers after 1C:1R, 1N - You get to preempt more on your weak NTs. This may sound silly, but 1D-P-1N is much more preemptive than 1C-P-1S. Likewise 1D-P-1S rather than 1C-P-1H!. Overcalling 2C over 1D can preempt yourself out of a major fit. Oppo can choose to play (1C) 2C as natural and 1C (2D) as majors; there's no equivalent method over a 1D opening. - You can choose to make 1C forcing, removing club hands from the 2C opener I disagree with Phil's argument that you want to use T-Walsh as much as possible. T-Walsh exists because the most frequent responses to 1C should show [4+spades] and [4+hearts]. This is already the case over a 1D opening! Weak NTs don't need the extra space, they don't gain from declaring, and auctions like 1C-(P)-1D!-(1S); 2H are often brutally wrongsiding when you've got, say, a weak NT with three low spades.

You open 1C, showing clubs or 11-13 NT or 17-19 NT. Next seat makes a WJO. Partner has to be relatively conservative, as the default assumption is that you'll have an 11-13 NT. You may struggle to express the values of your 17-19 NT without getting overboard, especially if the next hand raises. In contract, if you open 1m showing a 17-19 NT or an unbalanced hand, partner can be very aggressive, and take a lot of pressure off your balanced 17 counts.

Yes, it is a TriBal 1D [natural or any 11-13 NT], but that's not really relevant - any 11-13 NT that would have opened 1C playing Better Minor isn't going to make a reopening double of 2C.

I think it's nice to be presented with them but don't usually take them home. Presumably many of the trophies have been donated by players or in memory of players - surely selling them would be poor form?

QTxx ATx AK9xxx void Unfav, IMPs. 1D-(2C)-P-(P); ?? Edit: 1D-(2C)-2M would have been natural NF, if that makes any difference.

Yeah sorry I edited while you were replying. Brainfart, declarer would've gone off even with diamonds 3-2, I just forgot they weren't!