RuflRabbit

Play Vugraph sets. Sit the same direction as a pair that's using a similar system and try to replicate their bids (and plays). If you play 2/1, you might start by looking for sets played by Levin and Weinstein, for instance.

I and my BBO friends have not been having any trouble at all joining tables initiated on the main server. I'm not sure I understand what problem others have been having. I do, however, have some friends who are on the legacy versions and they can't join me if I set up a table on the casual server. Other than through use of the legacy versions, is there a way that I can set up a table on the main server?

Playing SA, I think you have it right. Not enough spades to raise a spade rebid (promising only five) or to bid 2♠ after heart rebid, not enough stuff to raise notrump, and no need not to show where you live opposite an extras-showing 3♣ rebid.

Whether or not partner shows 6 spades (partnership agreement), you'll have trouble catching up if you don't show support now. This hand is too good not to give you and pard the chance to explore for slam. The hardest question here, imo, is what 3NT shows over 3S. For some it's a slam try, for others it's an offer to play. There are merits to either POV, it's just key that the partnership has a clear rule. (Fwiw, my preference is that 3NT is non-serious/mild slam try when we have a major suit fit and 2NT was not bid naturally.)

This is well worth it if you're playing 4-way transfers. Not only does it give away less info, but it means that 2C promises a major. This means that responder doesn't have to rebid 2S with four spades and invitational values after 1NT-2C-2H, so that bid is freed up for other valuable things.

Whether 2C then 2S as any 5 spades invitational makes sense depends on what else you might be doing with 2S over 2H. It's a bid with many valuable potential uses.

We do open 1NT with 5cM, but even so, simulations support your suggestion that transfer is almost as good for 4=5s as crawling/scrambling. In a small sim, crawling/scrambling was only better on a few % of the weak 4=5s. The bigger advantage of crawling/scrambling is on the weak 4-4s, where you gain significantly more frequently (in a small sim, ~ 1/6 of the time) relative to passing 1NT. You can get some of this back with garbage stayman when holding at least three diamonds, but do lose out on other hands.

I'm not sure it's clear that it's quite *that* bad at MP - it's all going to depend on the frequencies, beginning with how often we actually *get* to scramble into something in an uncontested auction - but I agree that the downside risks are greater at MP. I should have perhaps made it clear in the OP that this is part of a system that's really designed for IMPs.

Playing a strong notrump against opps with good tools for competing and the willingness to use them, is anyone finding that they get to *use* the crawling/scrambling Stayman sequence with any appreciable frequency? I can't even remember the last time I played in 2H on this sequence so am thinking of giving it up to make 2C-2D-2H the 4=5 invite. That would have two advantages over using 2D-2H-2S for the 4=5 invite: a) it'd free 2D-2H-2S for other things, and b) it'd make it easier to allow aggressive invites on 4=5 hands, with 2H still a possible contract and 3H available as a counter-invite.

I didn't see anything about in the description or FAQ, but just thought I'd ask - might free basic bot rental be included in BBO prime? Thanks! RuflRabbit

Pard and I have the agreement that a 1NT rebid normally promises at least two or a Q single, but you did give me the J for a reason, right?

Almost makes you want to interfere more with their 2NT. :)

Bridge in the Menagerie was the first bridge book I read. For me, everything else pales in comparison. :) RuflRabbit

I'm interested in gathering suggestions for methods when the opponents interfere with a natural 3-level suit call over our 2NT (20-21) opener. If it matters, if the opps interfere at the 3-level over our 1NT (15-17) openers, we play negative doubles and Texas transfers through 4♣. Thanks for your thoughts!

These are the special methods (e.g., Gazzilli) to which I cryptically alluded, but you do have to have agreed that 2C is an artificial force and on the follow-ups to it.

I believe very strongly in partnership trust. With less than this, I will trust partner to know when to raise a 3H rebid or to strain a bit to keep the auction alive after a 2D rebid. But partner will in turn trust me not to make a non-forcing rebid on a 4 loser hand.

I might even make opposite that. But IMO if I'm that pessimistic, I'm going to miss a lot of games before my pessimism is justified.

IMO, this is too strong for 2!D or 3!H. Game rates to make opposite QJ of !D and out. Absent special methods to force, i rebid 3!D.

I would think surely this should be Good-Bad 2NT, for those who play it under *any* circumstances. With any kind of balanced hand, I'd be giving pard a chance to hit it.

"The defence in the OP is a reasonable method for B-I players wanting a simple option" Zia-Rosenberg will be glad to know they've made it into B-I. :)

Agree with others on 2-5, but 1 is less straightforward. Modern 2/1 players will all or almost all play this as invitational, but in SAYC it's GF. IMO, GF is actually better, since you don't preempt your partner on what could turn out to be a slam hand. If you look at the history of 2/1's evolution, 1♣ - 2NT was originally GF in 2/1, and it changed not because invitational is better but to be consistent with 1♦ - 2NT, which had to be invitational to provide a bid for hands not suitable for any other call.

How do you play 3!H?

Thanks, Stephen. I can't seem to find it referred to that way anywhere else. Wonder where D Stevenson got it from?

Over 1NT: 2♣ = majors 2♦ = ♦ and a major 2♥ = ♥ 2♠ = ♠ Anyone know what this is called, if it has a name? Thanks!

Interesting. So what do you do with minimum unbalanced hands holding hearts and a minor?