pbleighton

Nonprofit organizations frequently make profits. They just don't have to pay taxes. Peter

Context: I have played for a couple of years , and have become a pretty reasonable club player (I do fairly well in "B" events, but don't yet belong in the "A"s), and am looking to get better. To the detriment of my bridge results, I am far more interested in bidding systems than in learning how to defend well, though I am attempting to change my ways. I currently have 4 partners: 1) My most frequent partner is a friend who I started playing online bridge with. We play a very aggressive homebrew system. 2) I have two partnerships where I play 2/1, who are about my level (one the same as I am, one somewhat weaker). 3) My fourth partner has been playing for 20 years, and is somewhat stronger than I am. We play Precision. They are all nice people, whose criticisms are always constructive, and delivered pleasantly. This is not optional. It is by far the most important attribute. The second thing is level: The range I look for is somewhat stronger to somewhat weaker (I prefer somewhat stronger). The third thing is willingness to try to improve. It could be bidding, it could be defense, but I like to try to do something. Any interest in non-standard bidding systems is especially appealing, even though realistically mucking around may not improve short term results :) Peter

I play 2C as weak (5+ cards, 5-11 hcp). Our major suit openings can be made on a decent 8 count, and if light: 1) can be 4 cards, and 2) can have a longer minor, and 3) won't have a reasonable six card major suit If normal strength, will be 5+ cards, and are unlimited. We do use a cc. Each time an opp sits down at our table, we greet him/her with "Hi opp, we open very light. See our convention card." Some people leave immediately, but that's no loss :) Peter

"i think whereagles is saying that your statement, "You are ignoring conditional probability" is a knowledge claim... he's saying that you can't make such a claim, whether he is or is not in fact ignoring conditional probability... yeah, it's a small thing, but still ... if you want to be a stickler for it, "in my opinion (ie, judgment), you are ignoring... etc"" LOL. Do I detect another English major in the Forum? OK, how about: Whereagles' statement that, in this auction, partner will bid 2C or 3C in response to a takeout double only 15% of the time is in direct contradiction to conditional probability, as applied to this auction. Better? :( Peter

"Here's another statement of fact: you do not know how to distinguish judgement from claims." Big words. You might try looking at my argument. The singleton club (versus 4-4 in the majors) means that a higher percentage of the time partner will be longer in clubs than in a specific major. This is basic, irrefutable conditional probability. It doesn't prove that double is the wrong bid. It does show that a club response will happen more than 15% of the time, as you claimed. Peter

"That's a self-serving statement." Nope - it's a statement of fact. Peter

"1. I very, very much doubt the chance to hear 2/3C is 50%. More like 15% or so if you ask me. 2. Besides, hearing 3C isn't a problem. That's an invitational hand, so you can correct to 3NT and all is well." 1) You are ignoring conditional probability. You are ordering pd to pick between 3 suits. If you were 4-4-1-4, the odds of a club response is somewhat less than 33% (20-25%? - but not 15%), since with equal length in clubs and a major he will pick the major, and with balanced, no 4 card major, and diamond length and a hard stopper he will bid NT. But you aren't 4-4-1-4 - you are singleton in clubs, which makes it more likely that pd will choose clubs. 2) So you are in 3NT with your 13 opposite pd's 9+, with a misfit. Wonderful. And going to 2NT after pd's 2C is REALLY asking for it. Peter

"I would double as well. Better run the slight risk of playing 2C than having to face awkard decisions later." Without running a sim, my guess is that the chances of a 2C or 3C response is at least 50%. Peter

"IMO,dbl 1D with this shape is suitable." And after pd's 2C bid you do what? Peter

Pass. I would have overcalled 1S the first time. I like to have a better suit vul, but the hand is pretty good, with the KJ of diamonds well placed. Peter

1S and 2S are fine, as has been pointed out by others. I would bid 3S if not vulnerable, with a partner who knew my tendencies in the third seat :D Otherwise, I bid 2S, but it's close at IMPs - you could have a game, though it's unlikely. Peter

4C is textbook. West should have signed off in 4H. He has no extra values, a bad 6 card suit, spades are wide open, and partner's singleton is worthless to him. Peter

I agree with those who rebid 3C with any minimum. I would also use this to extend 2NT to include invitational hands, so 3C is any hand which wouldn't accept an invitation (I think Ben plays this way). It can also be a good vehicle to handle very light openings, if you play them. Then 3C is dead minimum, 3D is more than that but still not enough to accept, and all GF hands show shape. You can thus bid 2NT on what "normal" openers would consider an invitation, without making your partner guess where you are. I have been playing this way for about 18 months, and it has worked very well. Putting invitational hands in 2NT frees 1M-3M for a preemptive bid, without giving up jump shifts to Bergen. Peter

5D, but 3NT is close at matchpoints. Peter

3C. Peter

Um, Roland, microcap wrote: "Oops my bad--as usual, we were playing our 13-16 NT, so a 1NT rebid would show 17-18 HCP. Sorry for leaving that out." Apparently they pass 11-12 balanced hands. I would bid rebid 2C, but 1NT isn't that bad. Peter

"I would hope that nobody here would be arrogant to think they actually know what structure is "best"". ROFL. Peter

"they have ways, but don't forget they bid 2S on nothing... matter of fact, the way they used to play this, the opener would pass 2S with as many as 18 points, depending... i don't remember it all but it seems like 2S meant 0-6 with 3 cards" That's fine for them, because for them 2S has that meaning. My comment was based on 1M-2M having the standard meaning. If it does, I don't think you should stretch much because of a double or overcall. Peter

Pass hand 1 at any vulnerability. If you raise to 2S with this, how will you find your games when pd has a strong hand? Bid 3S on hand 2 at any vulnerability, though I am sympathetic to the passers at unfavorable. Peter

In Standard American and 2/1, a new suit at the two level is always forcing. I can't speak for other "standard" systems. Peter

"However, I would be something uncomfortable doing this with 5-4 (or worse: 5-5) in the majors. In fact, I would hate passing with any 5-5. What's your solution to this problem?" Three things: 1) 5-5 in the majors is an enormously powerful shape. You have something in the neighborhood of an 85% chance of a major suit fit. It's almost 80% with 5-4. So we will stretch for a rebid. We would certainly rebid 2H with 5-5 in the majors with a 10 count, and possibly with a perfect 9. With a 5S-4H shape, we are a point up from that. With 5H-4S, after 1H-1NT, you don't have a fit, unless pd has 3 and < 8 dummy points, so we pass. 2) Let's say you pass a 5M-5M 9 count, rather than opening it, because you are worried about having to pass. If pd has a mediocre 12 or less, what chances do you have of showing your shape? Very little. This brute force approach works in spite of the shape suppression (as it does with opening with 4M6m), because you (AND THE FIELD) will rarely get to show it anyway. Passing it a great shape suppressor :( 3) I don't worry about playing 1NT after pd has passed me out with an unbalanced hand. If the opps have half the deck, they'll run a suit on you frequently, and an unbalanced hand mean you have a better chance of a suit of your own. You can also get some VERY helpful leads. There may be a better contract than 1NT available, but if you pass, will you find it? This type of system doesn't treat the light opening hands as well as disciplined, strong club light opening systems. However, it doesn't have the problems of the strong club opener. It doesn't treat them as well as the traditional approach to light openings in a "natural" system, which is to just open light, and be a bit conservative in inviting and driving to game as a responder. In a natural system, the openings at or near the bottom of the range are treated the best by the system, and other hands as a group are treated progressively worse, the stronger they are. When you open Rule of 18 (as I have), unbalanced 15-18 point hands as a group become problematical (I should say more problematical - they are not a delight in standard). My system (which is essentially a lunatic mutation of The Science) sacrifices some performance in the light openings, though they are still effective. In compensation, about 2/3 of "normal" opening hands are opened in the sound 1m openings or 1NT or 2NT, where the light openings don't affect bidding accuracy. The balance of the hands are opened 1M, and 1M-1NT-x guarantees a sound opener. This helps a lot, thoough the sound 1M hands do suffer a bit. "What are your experiences so far with the lack of a forcing opening?" It hasn't been a problem so far. If it becomes one, we can always use 2C as strong. "Do you let vulnerability guide when deciding to open very light?" Yes. As stated: "Suit quality requirements for a light opener: None with 5 cards, or when not vulnerable. When vulnerable with only 4 cards: 1) When 4333, open only with a good suit (AK, KQJ) 2) When 4432, open with an OK suit, (A, K9, Q10, J109) 3) When unbalanced, open with a Q or J10 These requirements may be shaded a bit with an 11 or (especially) 12 count." Thee requirements are a work in progress. We will tighten up further on the balanced/4 cards, if necessary. And of course, 2 bids and preempts vary as well. Peter

I have recently started playing a somewhat similar system. We call it Major Mania :) Opening Bids A light opener is defined as a decent 8 to 11 (bad unbalanced 12) hcp. A sound opener is defined as 12 hcp or better. It includes strong 11s and exceptional 10s. 1 of a minor = 12-37 hcp, 3+ cards. Will only have 3 cards if balanced. 1 of a major = first two seats - 8-37 hcp, 4+ cards. If light, may have a longer minor, and won't have a decent 6 card suit. If sound, will have at least 5 cards. 1 of a major = 3rd and 4th seats - 12-37 hcp, 5+ cards 1NT = 11+-14 hcp 2 of a minor = 5-11 hcp (8-11 in the second seat), 5+ cards (6+ if vulnerable in the first two seats) 2 of a major = 5-11 hcp (8-11 in the second seat), 6+ cards (may be 5 in the third seat) 2NT = 20-21hcp 3C and above - 3-10 hcp, may be 6 cards when NV and in the 3rd seat vul A light opener in the majors won't have a reasonable 6 card suit. When light, 6+ card major suits are opened at the two level or above, except with a bad suit. They are always opened at the one level when sound (decent 11 or better). For light openers: 4441s, hands with 4 of a major and 5+ of a minor, and balanced hands with a 4 card major may be opened in a major, as may hands with 5 or a bad 6 card major suit. Two suiters with hearts and spades are opened in the longer suit when 5-4. If 4-4, open hearts. If 5-5 or 6-6, open spades. If 5 spades and 6 hearts and not strong enough to reverse (14 hcp with this distribution), open 1S. Suit quality requirements for a light opener: None with 5 cards, or when not vulnerable. When vulnerable with only 4 cards: 1) When 4333, open only with a good suit (AK, KQJ) 2) When 4432, open with an OK suit, (A, K9, Q10, J109) 3) When unbalanced, open with a Q or J10 These requirements may be shaded a bit with an 11 or (especially) 12 count. Bidding after 1 of a minor is fairly standard. Bidding After 1 Of A Major In The First Two Seats: 1H/1S - 4+ hcp, 4+ cards, forcing for one round. 1NT - 4+ to mediocre 12 hcp. May have 3 (but not 4 unless flat and vulnerable) trumps if less than 8 dummy points Raise to 2 of a major - 3+ cards, 8-12 dummy points Raise to 3 of a major - 4+ cards, 0-7 dummy points. Usually not made with 4432 or 4333 shapes when vulnerable. Raise to 4 of a major - 6+ cards, 0-7 dummy points. Can be made with 5 cards and a singleton when not vulnerable. 2/1 responses - 13 or a good 12, forcing for one round 2NT - 4+ trumps, 13+ dummy points Jump shifts - 16(15)+, 5+ cards (6+ for 1S/3H), forcing to game Double jump shifts - splinters, 4+ trumps, singleton or void in the suit, 17+ dummy points. After 1M-1NT, a light opener always passes. Any other bid shows a sound opener. Responder can then comfortably invite to game with 10-12 hcp. 1H/1S is the bad sequence in the system, as a 1NT rebid shows 15-17, and thus we may have to rebid a 3 card suit. 1NT is 15-17. 2H shows a sound opener. 2m and 2S are ambiguous. After one level responses, reverses are 17+, jump rebids and jumps in responder's suit are 16(15)-18, and jump rebids are 19(18)+ and forcing to game. A rebid of 2NT is 16-18. A rebid of 3NT is 19-21. After 1M-2NT, the opener revalues his hand in light of trump support. Rebids are: 1) 9-10 points - 3C 2) 11-12 points - 3D 3) 13-14 points (forcing to game) - 3 of the bid suit 4) 15+ points (forcing to game) - 4 of the bid suit if no singleton or void, otherwise bid the shortage - 3 of the other major or 4 of a minor. After a 2/1 response, the opener's rebids are: 1) A rebid of a suit shows 8-mediocre 11 and 5 or bad 6 cards, not forcing 2) A jump rebid of a suit shows decent 11+ and 6+ cards, forcing to game 3) 2NT shows 8-mediocre 11 and exactly 4 cards in the bid suit, not forcing. May be unbalanced if necessary. 4) A raise to the 3 level in partner's suit shows 8-mediocre 11 and 4+ cards, or 3+ cards with 1S-2H, not forcing 5) A new suit at the two level is forcing, and may be any strength 6) A new suit at the three level is forcing to game, and shows a decent 11+. 7) 3NT shows exactly 4 cards in the bid suit, and 12+ (occasionally unbalanced decent 11) In a 2/1 auction, responder will almost always show 3 card support for partner's first suit in the rebid, unless the rebid is 2NT, which denies 5 cards. Peter

"What is ACBL?, I am not very good with the modern conventions." Neither are they. Peter

"If you are of the school that responds super light (guilty) then you know the rebid you fear the most is 2N by partner." Justin - How light is super light? I respond with all 4 counts myself. Peter

No book I know of. 1NT-2NT is the minors, the way I play it. Hand strength is up to the partnership. I play very aggressive not vulnerable (2 suiters 4-4, 1 suiter 5+, 6+hcp), and normal vulnerable (2 suiters 5-5, 1 suiter 6+, 11+hcp). Responses more or less the same as DONT: 2C after dbl, 2H after 2m if you want pd to pick a major. I like 2M as natural, and you still get the 2 suiters. Peter