pbleighton

They specifically allow any alert you feel is appropriate. Peter

Clear 2S for active bidders. Peter

From the Alert Procedures: http://www.acbl.org/play/alertProcedures.html PART III: PRE-ALERTS Pre-Alerts are designed to act as an early warning system of any unusual methods for which the opponents may need to prepare. Pre-Alerts must be given before the auction period begins on the first board of a round or match. 1) "TWO-SYSTEM" METHODS Some pairs vary their system by position, by vulnerability, or a combination of the two. While this is legal, it is also something the opponents may need to know ahead of time. One example of this is agreeing to play a forcing-club system not vulnerable and "two over one" vulnerable. Minor variations such as varying notrump range or jump overcall strength by vulnerability do not require a pre-Alert. These methods still require normal Announcements (notrump ranges; transfers) or Alerts (forcing Stayman over some notrump ranges) when appropriate. As an aside, please note that it is not legal to vary your system during a session for subjective reasons, such as the skill level of the opponents which you happen to be playing at the time or which member of the partnership is making the call. You may, of course, alter your defenses in response to the opponents' methods. 2) SYSTEMS BASED ON VERY LIGHT OPENINGS OR OTHER HIGHLY AGGRESSIVE METHODS If it is your partnership style to routinely open hands with fewer than 11 HCP, preempt with very weak (frequently worse than Qxxxxx) suits, and/or overcalls with fewer than 6 HCP at the one level, the opponents must be pre-Alerted. 3) SYSTEMS THAT MAY BE FUNDAMENTALLY UNFAMILIAR TO THE OPPONENTS Players are expected to be prepared for the vast majority of systems that they may encounter at the bridge table. Common methods include either strong or weak notrumps with or without five-card majors. The forcing opening bid will most often be an artificial forcing opening of 1 or 2 . When you play a system structured along different agreements than these, you should draw the opponents attention to your convention card before the round begins. In short, if you play a system that most players would not immediately recognize (such as a canapé system) or one the opponents may wish to discuss before the auction begins (a 10-12 1NT range with distributional requirements for minor-suit openings, for example), you are required to pre-Alert the opponents. Peter

It's as applicable as you choose it to be. Peter

I would alert. The ACBL states in their alerting regs that when in doubt alert, and that you can never be penalized for over-alerting. I would not pre-alert, as most people hate it, and want you to alert instead. Phil, you also have to pre-alert any fundamentally unfamiliar systems, such as very light openers, opening at the two level with Qxxxx or worse or the three level with Qxxxxx or worse, or canape systems. Peter

I interpreted this as a semi-forcing NT. Like Tim, I might bid 2H to avoid losing the heart fit. It's very close. Hands like this are why I don't care for 2/1 (though I play it every week). Peter

I agree, though 2D by east is reasonable as well. Peter

Your auction seems fine to me. Peter

Quite true. Peter

You expect four bids to be reserved for one hand type? :P FWIW, I've been playing sandwich NT (1NT = 4-4 or 5-4, 2NT = 5-5) for a year now, and love it, but I would NEVER expect it without prior agreement. Peter

Many, including U.S. players, play SAYC with 2NT as a natural GF raise with 2-3 cards in partner's major. Wayne, good luck on your project, but the fact is that most who play SAYC have never read the booklet, and won't read a cc. SAYC now means strong NT and 5 card majors. After that you're just guessing what partner thinks it means. Peter

This depends on partnership agreement. I don't think you can know what their agreement was. FWIW, I play a double of 4S as primarily penalty. Works for me. Whether to remove the double on this hand would be a close call. I would proably bid 5C, bet I wouldn't blame a partner for passing. Peter

4S. Wtp :D Peter

4C, by process of elimiation. Peter

2NT. Peter

4D, reluctantly. I can't pass with this hand. Another diamond and I bid 5. Peter

Mine too, and it would finish with 3NT, and quite possibly a bad score. Peter

3C. You opened this hand because it has 5 clubs, now show them. I think 2NT is a terrible bid. Peter

Yes, it seems that whining about other players' methods isn't confined to bridge. Peter

Opps, asleep at the wheel :lol: A GF heart raise, then. Without agreements (and i have none), it doesn't show any more information than that. My answer's the same, though. He declined your slam invitation, you don't have a big enough hand to go forward, pass. Peter

I expect an invitational hand with 3+ hearts, or a little better. You asked a question, he gave you an answer, pass. You're definitely not good enough to press on by yourself. Peter

Both hands are close. In one partnership (down the middle, for me) I would bid 1S on 1, though it's close. In the other (wildly aggressive 1 level overcalls, and much else), I would double without a doubt. With a pickup partner I would probably bid 1S. On 2, 3H is the right bid, but double isn't terrible. Peter

Play inverted minors, where a 2 level response is forcing, and a 3 level response is preemptive. In addition, you can play Criss Cross, as Mike says, which distinguishes between invitational and game forcing hands. Peter

I just woke up, I can't figure out a good bidding sequence, I just bid 6D B) Peter

Agree. Peter