Double !

You called? I doubled, too, but afterward had second doubts. I think X also implies tolerance for minors. Was wondering how many would bring up the issue of opening the hand with 1NT. I wonder what responses would have been if, given the same hand, the bidding had gone 1H-p-1S-p-?...............I know,...2C

2NT please tell me your minor? see what partner rebids

It's still a unanimous vote. One more vote for a shovel.

One more for the "abominable" 2♣ I have 9 tricks in hand. I play 2♣ as forcing to 2NT or 3 of major. I can get out at 3♥. I doubt I would ever be able to catch up if I opened 1♥.

I bid 1♥ lol, when I first saw the hand I thought the purpose was to survey how many might lament not playing Flannery. It's imps, right? I'm pushy at imps when I hold the majors.

There is one very specific reason why lho will never bid on this auction if I pass now. and, yes, we can get a plus from beating the opps on defense, and I think that rho's 3rd seat pass is noteworthy. And, how light are the opps going to bid on seeing how all are red on this hand?

I have been told that I'm wrong on this, but the need to alert the 2S bid as promising 4 card support made me think of the following. I play Bergen or Rev. Brgn raises with several people. I have always alerted single raises as implying only 3-card support and contend that this is an alert albeit of a negative inference (sort of like passing or bidding when playing support doubles implying the absence of 3-card support) because the understanding that the single raise usually has 3-card support is a specific agreement. If the majority of people played Bergen-like structures to the point that they were common-place or a norm such as Stayman, then there would likely be no need for an alert. Many years ago, negative doubles were alertable. Now penalty-oriented doubles of the opps overcall are alertable. I am curious about whether I am correct or not about alerting the single raise. DHL

HI all Matchpoints: I try to play for some sort of plus score, and passing doesn't get me a plus score. I see my lack of aces and stiff spade. That's the downside. I also have a 6 loser hand, more that enough zars, and good internal spots or sequences in my two suits = trick-taking potential. RHO in 3rd seat didn't bid, so I suspect that my P has a few cards over there, and it's not clear yet that the opps necessarly have a spade fit or a black suit double fit. Partner might have a reasonable hand along with some spades, I don't know yet. I can't base my decision to bid or not to bid based on events that haven't even occurred yet. And I think offensive potential is sufficient that I can make a plus score if we declare, and it's not clear yet that the opps can make anything. I have a bid, so why don't I make it. My choice was to bid One Diamond. DHL

Wish this were an "assess the blame" question. I would assess 100% of the blame on playing strong 1NT openers. Regarding what to bid (or not to bid) I am leaning toward the underbid of 1NT. I might miss a close game but at least be in the right strain. If partner passes, there's a reasonable possibility that partner has a balanced or semi-balanced minimum. Even with 25 between us the hand might be a race to establish enough tricks before losing too many in 3NT. With shape and/or a stronger hand, partner might just take a second bid over 1NT, at which point I can show some more life. I don't know if this reasoning is compelling or not, but I suspect that the likelihood of a major error is reduced this way. My decision is predicated on the assumption that partner does not have a balanced/ semi-balanced 14+ to 17. I really do not enjoy playing strong 1NTs- I do not like them Sam-I-Am DHL

sorry, but I very much disagree. Use what the commonly used interpretation of the bidding sequence as your standard or guideline (this might vary, but it's often longer suit first), and offer alerts to anything that deviates. It can't hurt, your partner is unable to see your alerts so that idea of UI seems to be immaterial, and I suspect that you will find that your opps appreciate it and might send back a little "TY" in response. In fact, I can't understand any rationale for not offering alerts for any bids that might be unusual or that differ from what might be expected. Failure to not alert would result in you having information that the opps don't have. Quoting rules and regs as justification for not alerting is pedantic, and might make one wonder why someone elected to not alert. It vouldn't hurt, and it would demonstrate consideration for the opps who might otherwise naturally assume a different meaning than intended. The opps are entitled to this information. DHL

which leads to another interesting question... After you have given your attitude signal, what meanings do people give to the sequence in which they play their remaining cards in the suit. For example, is next card an initial count, a remaining count, an o/e, a Lav/ suit preferance, or what. Curious to know how different people play this. (for now please omit references to Prism signals--lolololol) Thanx DHL

Don't mean to be pedantic but, isn't the person's name Chris Ryall? He with the web site on various 2 bids? DHL

LOLOLOLOL: 1976 sounds just about right. Is that UMass or ZooMass? (LOLOLOLOL A true alumnus will understand the question.) We were playing tornados at a good sized local club in one of the Boston suburbs. Interestingly, I don't recall the opps objecting to the methods, either. However, I remember having some discomfort with the idea of opening wildly off-shape 15-18s with 1NT because I kept forgetting the responses. This brings back a lot of memories, Thanks!. Yeah, Write it up. Why not? ps: I would be very curious to find out who you saw playing this system. Enjoy DHL

Enlighten me. Why would it be impossible to convince parter that I have a decent heart holding if I pull 3NT to 4H's on what, up to that point, sounded like a possible mis-fit auction? How do I say, "Hey P, I have 6 decent spades and some heart support for you but no controls in the minors?" Without decent support, why would one pull 3NT to 4H? DHL

I'll tell you what I don't expect from partner: a club control. DHL

Agree, albeit belatedly, with the 2H bid. What is the rush to splinter the hand? I need more information from partner. We're in a forcing situation if I bid 2H followed by diamond support. And.....I don't know at this point that P doesn't have xx in hearts. 4-card suit overcalls (for the lead, P) seem to be getting more common. All I know about partner's hand (I think) is that he/she has 6 diamonds, likely no other 5+ card suit, and fewer than 4 spades. And if the opps bid, will that cause problems? Probably not, it might help to clarify things. I try to avoid by-passing 3NT at MPs unless confident in that decision, and 5 of minor is rarely a very good results. (We had a saying when much younger: "6 Diamonds always makes.) DHL

Will wonders never cease? !!!!!!! I played this system (except for the 10-15 pre-empts) at matchpoints/ local club with one partner eons (30 years) ago. He referred to the 2-bid openings as Tornado Two bids (11-15) with a 4-card suit, no higher ranking 4-card suit, and what sounds like the same 1NT opener as you've described. It was very "interesting", to say the least. It often led to some, shall one say, unexpected and different results. It was sort of what I call a "fix system": we had very good games when the force was with us, and some less-than-optimal games when we fixed ourselves. Funny thing is, I thought that this was some homegrown system that this friend or someone he knew had come up with, he was a good friend, and it was fun to play something different. You have no idea how interesting it is to see someone post this in the forum. I had seen some BBO player have "Tornado Twos" written on his profile. This caused me to wonder if this was a real convention or system, but I was totally unsuccessful in terms of finding anything related to it on the internet. Thank you for posting this. Yes, I definitely remember playing this although I'm not sure that the any-shape-goes 1NT is acbl legal (back then we didn't care!) I would be very interested in knowing more about the origin and development of this system. Thanks Don

Rebound: I am so glad you wrote this posting because it reminded me of a question that I've been trying to get an answer to for a long time. Anyone who knows the answer, please let me know. Question: Are Gardner 1NT overcalls (either a strong NT hand or a WJO) legal in the acbl, are they considered destructive (I can't see why they would be), or are they regarded as being controlled psyches? (Advancer can bid 2C to ask which type of hand the 1NT bidder has.) I asked 2 different directors this question last summer at the NABCs in NYC, and neither was sure of the answer. One didn't appear to even be familiar with the convention..... Gardner NT overcalls have been around for a long time although I've never seen anyone actually have them written on their convention card. I have seen many a 1NT overcall psyche as I'm sure all of you have. But, as a convention, are they legal in acbl events? Sincere thank you in advance to any and all who reply to this. Don

Me eyes are too tired to read your whole proposed system, so my response is strictly philosophical albeit biased by the fact that I, too, have my own little homegrown system. 1) Make sure that you are permitted to play whatever you brew up in the cauldron, and 2) I say "Go for it", Do it, use your creativity, develop it, try it out, work on it, refine it if and where you think it need refining. See what parts work well and under what conditions any part works better or works less well. How does it hold up in competitive bidding including pre-empts. If you don't you may wish at some point that you had. Best of Luck and Success in your endeavor. Don

What Lukewarm said. A definite big 10-4. And don't forget Mrs. Q. !!!!!!

Ben: Have total empathy for the concept of lack of sleep. Been there, done that so many times. Would never word it in any other manner than a polite question, especially to a friend. Get some sleep. You deserve it. Don

Is it possible that there are two issues being combined into one here? Playing attitude signals first, one would typically play the lowest card to indicate low interest in the suit led by someone else. (aasuming standard signals) You might want to double-check with BIL regarding playing the second highest. Is it possible that they were referring to what card to play should you decide to lead this suit yourself as opposed to signaling when someone else leads the suit?

YES! What Patapon said. and there doesn't appear to be any women among the names of BW MSC panelists listed (unless Berkowitz is Lisa, Granovetter is Pam, and Rosenberg is Debbie/Debrose). A great many female stars can often be seen playing on BBO. Just an observation.

another vote for double but also, think about the various rebids you might want to make other than 3NT should partner show some life over there. For example, if partner responds at the 3-level, have you discussed what 3NT and what 4NT by you would mean then?

Please correct me if I'm wrong about this (I'm sure someone will), but my memory is that, at least in it's earlier days (circa late 60s-early 70s), the earlier form of BWS were derived from polls of the various members about various preferences for bidding certain hands or conventions that they used. The majority then won (or ruled), and the resulting preference or convention was then added to what was called BWS regardless of whether or not it integrated well with other components, sort of like creating a clone system. I don't know whether or not this is still the procedure, but I just recall feeling that BWS and some of the voting/ ruling members were a bit strongly committed to certain things. Look at how much resistance there initially was to changing from forcing double major raises to limit----heaven save you back then if you suggested something like Marty Bergen's structure. Heresy!!!! Hopefully, any system or approach that the forum devises or that the polls advocate will be integrated, and not just a clone based upon a multitude of polls. Everyone have a great day: Don