ArcLight

>Martel J2NT: the only version that makes sense but it doesn't come up too often Then by definition, not a really worthwhile convention. :) HOWEVER! I don't think thats true. The Martel structure comes into play every time the J2NT is bid, hence its frequency is 100% of J2NT hands. Hence its probably a good but complex convention. How often does a J2NT come up. Is it once every 20 hands your side declares? 15? 25? 50? That still seems frequent enough for a slam oriented convention to be considered. What I'm curious about is if you took 100 J2NT sequences and compared the final contracts using Traditional and Martel J2NT, how much better is Martel. Do you make 10 extra slams? Avoid going down in 5 slams? Give away information to the defense? I'm not even sure how one would test this, other than by eyeballing some hands. Would 100 hands be sufficient to give a reasonable idea?

1m - 2NT I think the ranges might be slightly different in SA vs 2/1. In SA is 2NT 13-15 or is it 10+ - 12. In 2/1 its 10+ - 12. In 2/1 a 1NT response would show 6-10 or 8-10 depending on what the minor is. So what do you do with 11 or 12, etc? You need to cover those ranges. With more, say 13, you can make a 2/1 This is not available in SA, hence the difference in ranges >Playing a strong 1NT system, the 11 point 2NT is silly. Playing a weak 1NT, I suppose it's silly as well but I haven't thought much about it. Why? Pard opens 1m, you have a balanced 11,12 HCP, what do you bid? What does a Strong NT have to do with it? They may have a 15-17 HCP hand and open a minor with 2 doubletons in teh majors. 2=2=5=4 for example. OR a 4=4=4=1 hand. Something unsuitable for opening 1NT.

This is a side issue, but is the "traditional" J2NT response structure really THAT bad? I've seen 2 versions, by Marty Bergens and Chip Martel. Are they MUCH better in practice than "traditional" or just a little better? (also please don't get side tracked by the splinter suggestion, I'd like to focus on the main issue 2/1 vs J2NT)

40. I played Spades (a Whist derivative) for 1 year prior to that. The GOOD Spades players tended to be bridge players. One of them spent a little time with me teaching me Standard American.

Playing 2/1 If partner opens 1 of a major, and you hold 4 cards in that major, and a good 5 card side suit, what do you respond? Do you bid J2NT showing the 4 card support? Do you make a 2/1 hoping to convince pard of your 4 card support later? How will pard know that your suit is that good? To make it even more complex, what if you are 4=3=1=5 and pard opens 1 Spade. Now you can splinter as well. What criteria would you use in deciding? 1♠ - ? ♠ J 8 5 3 ♥ Q x ♣ A x a - ♦ A K T 9 6 b - ♦ A K J T 9 c - ♦ A K J x x x (4=2=1=6) What about with better trump support? ♠ K 8 5 3 ♥ Q x ♣ A x a - ♦ A K T 9 6 b - ♦ A K J T 9 c - ♦ A K J x x x (4=2=1=6)

Kantar for the Defense, vol 2 by Eddie Kantar Excellent. Must read for all advanced players. Worth reading for Intermediates as well. The hands are quite a bit harder than the first volume. Lots of subtleties, and pitfalls. Nice summary of points and lessons after each hand. Lots of questions on carding agreements, figuring out shapes, tricks, honor location, blocking suits.

A while back I tried the 7 day free trial to OK Bridge. 1. it was hard to get partners becaus eno one wanted to "risk" their rating going down by partnering a new member. 2. when I managed to find a game, my pard pointed out that the opps had lots of conventions on their cards and I didnt. I pointed out that he was concerned about conventions and we had not even discussed leads (4th best, 3/5) or signaling (UDCA , Standard). 3. We played exactly 1 hand. I misplayed the hand, and could have received an extra over trick. I played in a way I thjought would ensure the same. Perhaps my play was not best. In any case pard immediately left. I think with ratings you will not have people willing to take a chance with pick up pards, especially ones you percieve as weaker. On BBO , if I dislike my pick up pard, I leave after a few hands, no harm, no bad feelings. With ratings, maybe some would be upset after 1 hand and leave. I do agree that the self ratings are inaccurate. Many Advanced players are Intermediate or worse. A number of Experts are Intermediate plus. Its hard to get decent pick up games at times

The weak NT can give you great results against pick ups who are unfamiliar how to play against it (that would include me too :ph34r: Fred Gitelman has some good posts somewhere on the Forums about not using it. Probably using anything other than the "normal" whatever can give you good results against intermediates and below because they are unfamiliar with it. I'll bet you intermediate Acol players can do well against intermediates who use SAYC and are unfamiliar with 4 card majors. I thought the Andy Stark book was ok as an overview. I didn't think there was enough coverage on how it would affect the other bids, and othe implications. Its worth reading, I just didn't think it was all that great a book. There is another book titled "How I became a Life Master using the Weak NT" that I thought was dreadful.

Winston, I may be misunderstanding, but I think in the Mike Lawrence system: 1S - 2D, 2NT - 3D is forcing to game or 4 Diamonds. 1S - 2D, 2H - 3D This is NOT passable. Its forcing to game or 4 Diamonds as well.

I bid 3♦, an invitational jump shift showing 9-11 and 6-7 ♦ which is what I have. The problem with a 2/1 game force is game is unlikely unless pard has a really good hand or a well fitting hand. Pard will have around 2♦. If he has 5 Spades, then there are 7 and they may be split badly, meaning the suit wont be easy to set up. Maybe pard has 6 ♠, it will still be an uphill struggle. What about hearts? If pard has 5-6♠, 2♦, that leaves room for 6 cards. Pard may be 5=3=2=3. NT would probably be down. Only if you get lucky and pard has 4 hearts or some diamonds will game make. Bid 3♦ and pard can carry on with the right hand. The 2/1 will get to too many bad games. If you have an agreement like Winston suggests 1M - 2m - 2NT - 3m as non forcing, then a 2/1 can work out as you will discover the 4-4 Heart fit. BUT what if this is the auction 1S - 2D 2S - ? 2S in Mike Lawrences system does not show extra spade length, it just denies the ability to bid NT or show something else. What does 3D mean? Is it forcing, or can it be passed also? In Mike Lawrences system I believe it shows a strong self sustaining Diamond suit. Because of the risk of opener not bididng 2NT, I think the Invitational Jump Shift is better.

>Well, you didn't say you were going to bid 5♦ directly, but you did say you were going to bid a game forcing 2♦. Were do you think the auction is going to end up? It really will not stop short of 3NT or 5♦. Why not? With the Mike Lawrence version of 2/1 you can stop in 4m with no fit if 3NT unsuitable. Its rare, but it does happen. >In fact, I guess you will end up in 5♦ (or more) a great percentage of time. Could be, and in those cases I think we have a >50% chance of making it. Pard won't get us there with a ♦ void and no aces. >Second, I disagree with your premise that 3♦ "will probably end the auction." Do you play invitational jumpshifts at all? This is not a preemptive jump shift and the auction does not stop in 3♦ when partner has a diamond fit very often, and NEVER when he has a diamond fit and extras or any number of strong hands, as I said, for me the invitational jump shift promises around 11 hcp (good 10 to bad 12), and I guess partner bids again as often as he passes. I should rephrase that. It may end the auction, and it may end us in a horrendous 3NT. I guess I can pull 3NT to 4♦ If pard has a ♦ fit he may play in 3NT rather than 5♦. After 1♠ - 3♦, 3NT - ? What do we do? Pass? Bid 4♦? What will pard do over 4♦? Pass or 5? The problem with the Invitational Jump Shift is it usually shows 6-7 cards in that suit. We have 8, with fillers. Will pard expect this hand if we bid 4♦ over 3NT?

>Why should they sacrifice when it is unlikely 5D is making? I did not say to bid 5♦ directly, that would be foolish. I said bid 2♦. I said 5♦ has a fair chance, and by bidding 2♦ we have a way to get there. I think 3♦ would probably end the auction, and 3NT may not be right for this hand, unless pard has just the right cards. By bidding 2♦ we can always end up in 4♦ if we cant play in 3NT. The opponents may choose to get involved and might be doubled as well.

I think this ♦ suit is too strong for an invitational jump shift (3♦). despite the potential wastage in spades, I would bid 2♦ GF in 2/1. 5♦ has a fair chance. Let the opps try sacrificing at a high level, and going down doubled.

Based on the 2 Clubs overcall, the lead of the ♣ Ace and follow up mark the Clubs as Ax - KJxxx Why didnt East continue the suit? Maybe because he was looking at the trump K and it would give away information if west couldn't ruff high enough. Further, with KQ♠ its better for west to lead K than to lead an unsupported ace. The ♠ honors are split, or maybe both with East Go up with the ♦ ace. Over to ♠ ace. Finesse in hearts. after trumps pulled - play club Q discarding the dime loser. Then you can cross ruff the rest

>The usual way is to play 3H over 3D as forcing, promising a strong 5 card suit, and 3S instead of 3H should also show some interest in playing hearts. Is this standard? I never heard of 3♠ over a 3♦ rebid showing heart interest in this auction. I would assume pard is looking for 3NT and showing a spade stopper. Or asking for one? Would you bid 3NT with ♥ and ♠ stoppers and hope 3NT makes? Does 3♠ show a good 4=5 hand? I would bid 3♦ in general. BUT It would greatly help if you would display the exact hand. >Last night my partner held a nice 17 count 2-3-6-2 xx KQJ KQJxxx AQ Spades are a concern in 3NT Kx Qxx AKQTxx Kx 3 NT can work out well.

4♠ is unlikely to make. Game is not assured for the opps so 4♠ is unlikely to be beneficial for us if the opps can't make game. If they are insane and always bid at teh 5 level pard will have a chance to double them. Pard wont expect this good a hand if I bid 3♠. I open 1♠. I can out bid the opps, till the 3 level, then they can have the 4 level and see what pard can do to them.

In Mike Lawrnces writings on 2/1 he would say with 4 spades and 5 clubs, respond 5 clubs. I don't think there is any promise of a good suit. With 4-4 I think he would bid spades not clubs.

I can see 1♥ or 4♥. - It takes little from pard to make game. - RHO passed, so there is less need to preempt the opponents. Bidding 2♥ or 3♥ risks pard passing, or misunderstanding your hand and bidding something else, or doubling the opponents. 1♥ risks letting the opponents into the bidding, but it allows exploration for slam. It would take a bit form pard to make slam, like the aces of ♠ and ♦, plus a ♦ suit or the ♥ king. Not likley, but possible. If you bid 4♥, will pard bid 6 with: ♠ Axxx ♥ Kx ♦ Axx ♣ xxx What if pard has ♠ Qxx ♥ Kx ♦ Axx ♣ AKQxx Bidding 1♥ may let the opps compete and they find a save, but you still get a plus score. OR you may find slam.

It seems like an interesting idea. I'd like to hear people positive and negative experiences using it.

What was 4NT - was is RCKBW? You have 4 key cards. Pard will now know what to do. Did you bid 7D over 4NT? Thats too unilateral for me. Pard asked a question, why not respond and see wahts up?

>As a help to get good posts on this forum more attention: some forum software allows users to give "stars" or ratings to posts they find excellent. I think that would be great for BBF, but I don't know whether (this verions of) Invision PowerBoard allows it. I like this idea, if its possible.

Not using Inverted Minors or Criss Cross How about: 1♣ - 3♠ Splinter - Game force, slam interest Opener is unhappy with the Spade wastage, lack of trumps, and trump quality. They might bid 3NT, making. Or 5 Clubs - making.

Thank you all for responding. At the table I bid 3♣, opps ended up in 4♥ down 1. My pard thought my hand was too good for 3♣ and thought 2♣ was a better bid.

IMPS Vuln against NonVuln RHO opens 1♥ you hold: ♠Kxx ♥ ♦Jxx ♣K Q J T 8 x x do you bid: 2♣ (showing a good hand, good suit) 3♣ (premeptive)? 4♣ 5♣ Pass What?

Is this hand good enough for a 2♣ - 3♣ response? Also, what consitutes the 2nd negative (i.e Bust) 2♣ - 2♦ 2♥ - 3♣ (since 3♣ wasnt bid earlier this is either a club control or a club suit, no?)