KWSchneider

My concept was to "cram" the bidding with a weak hand and 4+s knowing that 2S contract would be relatively safe. How does a 1D opening that is easily overcalled showing a balanced hand throw any more fear into the opps than a 1D of 13+? Furthermore, using 1H to show ANY heart hand doesn't get the bidding to the 2level fast enough. As I've indicated before, my intent is to: 1) populate the 1level with spade openers and strong bids 2) populate the 2level with weakish 5card suit bids 3) put together so all of the bids are "natural" in most respects. Kurt

All good points... Let me address them individually 1) 13+ hands - no doubt they allow the opps to pre-empt, this is a weakness - that is why I've incorporated a number of conventional responses, especially to the likely "Card showing" X. However to say that it is a poor place to start is incorrect. After 1C 1D 1H, we are where everyone else is in the "Short club" world. I probably need to describe the planned rebids after a 1C 1D start. Later... 2) Weak 2bid - this is where I strongly disagree. 0-7pt 6 card hands should be pre-empted at the 3level - and 0-7pt 5 card hands will not be opened by the field. 3) I'd be interested in your "well designed" strong club system that effectively handles 8-12 pt hands [with 4spades especially].

This defeats the purpose of essentially having ALL 1level bids be either: 1) Unlimited 2) Contain at least 4 spdaes 3) Or be a mini-1N A "natural" 1H bid does nothing to keep the opps from finding a their own spade fit at the 1level.

1♥-1♠ is forcing for 1rd for the reasons you posited, as well as allowing opener to further define his heart and spade lengths. 1♥-2♠ is to play.

As a system designer, I've always felt that MP is not quite bridge - and hence should have system design characteristics associated with aggression and pre-emption, while focusing on no trump and the spade suit. MP bridge is a WAR – at least at the A and OPEN levels. A bidding system should recognize this and consider overcalls and competitive balancing in its design. The key consideration that many, many system designers fail to recognize is the concept of “SPACE”. Consuming space is critical when you believe that your side has fewer combined points than the opponents. And it is that decision that is extremely important out of the blocks – who’s board is it? For example, if "a priori" I have 8-12 points and 4+ spades, then my partner and I have a 55% likelihood of “profitably” playing 2S [2S off 1 or better]. So, from this viewpoint, I can support the contention that if I have 4+s and 8-12 pts, opening 1S is not only pre-emptive [consumes space] but VERY likely to be a SAFE position. Furthermore, it puts us into a very strong MP position of reaching the magical 2S contract. I often get asked why open 4card majors at all costs – and I respond that IF finding a 4-4 major fit AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE is our objective, what better way to do so then opening a 4card major, irrespective of a longer minor. However, what most people don’t recognize is that opening 1S consumes ALL of the bidding space at the 1level [unless LHO can overcall 1N]. So it is extremely PREEMPTIVE to open 1M [particularly 1S] for that reason – and one very curious one as well. Find me a pair of opponents who can find their OWN 4-4 major fit [or 5-3 fit] when WE have already opened their major… Trying to stay within the aegis of the GCC here in NA (must have 8pts to open 1suit, 10pts for no trump and still use conventions), I propose the following concept: 1♣ = 13+ guarantees 4+ in either major (1♦ response is waiting) 1♦ = 13+ denies 4+ in either major (1M response shows 5+) 1♥ = 8-12, 4+h [by process of elimination, must include at least 4s] 1♠ = 8-12, 4 or 6s [could have longer minor] 1N = 10-12, denies exactly 4s could have 5M332 2♣ = 8-12, 5+c/4h 2♦ = 8-12, 5+d/4h 2♥ = 8-12, 5+h (not 5h332 which is included in 1N) 2♠ = 8-12, exactly 5s (not 5s332 which is included in 1N) 2N = 8-12 55 or better minors You will note that I do not open 10-12 pt unbalanced hands with no 4+m [except 55 or better in the minors], since they have no pre-emptive value. By limiting the 1H through 2N openings to 8-12pts, responder is placed to pass as necessary and support to as high a level as practical. Obviously, a responder with 13 or more points should initiate a 1round forcing auction. This concept is based on a significant amount of simulation showing: 1) The importance of reaching 1N first 2) The importance of bidding spades when you have them 3) The importance of pre-empting the spade suit when you don't have them I'm sure that I might have run afoul of the GCC, but I can support each opening as being natural. Mid Chart approval is certainly not a problem. Comments are welcome. Cheers, Kurt