pbleighton

I wonder if the numbers would change significantly in a stronger field? Particularly, what about international and the final round of national events. Do the experts smooth out the results? Peter

"Hunter Thompson would have loved the bidding and the guns!" Do you think he played this hand? Peter (who voted for the gun)

4H. 2H is reasonable, 3D is an overbid. I would bid 2H if there had been no overcall. Peter

4H. 7 hcp, but so what? Peter

"Just what it sounds like.. takeout, but here, shows the other minor, and often mild support of opener minor. " A double which denies the unbid major doesn't sound like "takeout" to me. Not that I think you are wrong as to the facts - I just think "takeout" is a bit misleading. Peter

Ron - For the people who play 1m-1H-1S as 4+, what does 1m-1H-X mean? Peter

"Today ppl shift to 1c (1d) D to show hearts, 1H =spade. So on the same idea, you can play 1d-(D) RDble= hearts, 1h=spades." What does 1S show then? In other words, what are you gaining? Peter

What's your alternative, you with the magic mirror ;) Peter

"I do not see why p must have 15-17 or 17-18 hcp or 4d for rebid of 3nt. Note 3d does not 100% promise heart support, only very often. P bid of 3nt is just showing his values." 1) I said "sounds like 15-17", not "must". You have only shown limit plus values in support of hearts, which may include distribution, so you may have 8 hcp with a singleton, so it would be pretty aggressive to go to 3NT on a 13 count. With 18+, he might not make a "to play" bid. Pd should also have at least one diamond stopper, leading me to think 2542 is a possible distribution. 2) For the purpose of this post/poll, 3D establishes a heart fit unconditionally. Peter

It sounds like pd opened 1H with 15-17 balanced (or maybe 2542). Good enough to use Gerber to check for aces, and go to 6H if he has 2. Peter

"this is not a simple problem: Fit jumps would certainly help. I voted for 2 Spades because 1) I like to bid where my values are located, 2) there's no guarantee that lho is bidding 5D, 3) I can probably find some way to show good hearts and stiff diamond, but 4) I want to hear what my partner's rebid is. ( There is some merit in a 4D splinter [watch partner pass it] After all, where are partner's high cards that warranted a 1H bid to start with? If opener has wasted diamond honors, am I passing 4H, or taking one more try with 4S? and, even without wasted diamond honors, with a mini, is partner necessarily bidding something other than 4H?) At this point, I'll choose to show what I have versus what I don't have." Agree completely. Do we have a double fit in spades or clubs? Peter

"The real problem with this kind of 1♣ bid is about preemptive raises. In "real clubs" systems you are able to raise to 3♣ with five clubs only, if your hand calls for it: you can't be that confident if partner is entitled to open 1♣ with an 11-count 4-4-3-2 with a club doubleton... " In "Precision Today", which advocates 1D as 2+ D, Berkowitz and Stanley say to assume pd has at least 3 in competetive auctions. You will rarely be wrong, and your life will be simpler. Another point about inverted minors with 5 card majors: They work better if you play weak NT. That way you either have 4+ (usually 5+), or enough to drive to 3NT. Peter

What is "constructive", versus "invitational"? If it's ~8-9 hcp with a decent but not great suit, then passing 3D looks good to me. Peter

Declare, either direction. You can get two club ruffs, and finesse the SK, so you lose a club and two spades. If not double dummy, no chance to make. Peter

"I think it depends on the range of the 2C overcall. If it promises an opener and can go up to 16 hcp or so, I'd bid 2NT: I have a potential source of tricks in diamond, tolerance for pd suit and hearts stopped." If pd accepts with 15, that leaves you in 3NT with 23 hcp, and a small doubleton in pd's suit. Also, if I read the auction right, pd's overcall was balancing. No, thanks. Peter

See http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?showtopic=2779 Peter

2C, planning to rebid diamonds after any forward-going bid by pd. This shows a good distributional hand. The hand isn't strong enough for 3D IMO, but 2D is an understatement. Those who use 2NT to show 3H and 6D will be able to crow. Peter

"Perhaps I misunderstood, but it seems a contradiction that you can get a picture of partner's shape after an off-shape NT opener." You should open 5422s if that is your agreement to do so. This gives a picture. Peter

"and we know this how? i think we'll probably have to look back thru the eyes of history to judge whether or not this is true" Theoretically, yes, but the traveller is looking pretty bad so far :rolleyes: Peter

Free - 1NT is the George Bush of bridge openings. George Bush is a MUCH better bridge opening than President. Peter

"Against these players, you have more than one way to win." Agree. "System wont be that important." Disagree. Peter

I open a lot more hands 1NT when I am not vulnerable than when I am vulnerable. I use a 10-13 range NV and a 12-14 range vul, and I'm much more likely to open 5422s and even 6m322s NV. Playing 1NT NV, not doubled, when the field is elsewhere is a big winner overall. Vulnerable, it's much more of a mixed bag. Peter

"3C for me, in line with my aggressive style. 1C if I need a swing." I understand 3C, if that is your style. But why would 1C generate a swing? Where I play (ACBL-land) it would be the field bid. Peter

3C would be fine in the third seat. In the first seat, you have too much risk of missing game by preempting with an opening one bid. Now, make the DQ a low card, and I would bid 3C at any colors. Peter

"So there will be a bonus from this side, and a big benefit at MP for weak NT opener hands with 44M where responder is not strong enough to respond. On the minus side: 1. we have to open 2C more frequently on 5c4M hands, and 2. when we open 2H, weak responder with no tolerance for majors ignores our holding in minors so he is less well placed to give a preference So, IMO, the question revolves around these issues: what is your cost-benefit analysis ?" Mine is that I don't like the Precision 2C opener. Your change would make it more frequent, more likely to have 5 cards, and therefore worse. I play: 1C - 15+, any shape 1D - 10-14, 0+ diamonds, unbalanced, either 1) any 4441, or 2) minor 2 suiter, or 3) 4 of a major and 5+ of a minor 1M - 9-14, 5+ cards 1NT - 11-14 2m - 6+ cards, no 4cM 2M - 3-9, 5+ cards (vul is better) 2NT - 8-12, 5-5 or better in the minors The 1D opener in uncontested auctions is good, the non-fit rebids after 1D-1M clarify the shape quite nicely. The 2m openings are great. If you think this is too light, you could move the ranges up a point, and play a 16 point strong club with the limited openings being 11(10)-15 and NT being 12-15. And 5 card weak 2s are optional, you can play 2H as 4-4 in the majors if you like - I would but I can't because of the ACBL :) Peter