benlessard

VS an east that can bid 4H and X me in 4S i would pass. VS Some east that always have 5 trumps for 4H I might bid 4S. VS random players I would pass in a very weak field (4H is not a preempt for them) bid 4S in a weakish field and pass in a medium or better field (too likely its a trap or they fight correctly over my 4S).

Did another sim based on a hand we had that had the same honnor than Awm hand. North got ATxx 9xxx x AQxx IRL north hand had the T of clubs. opener got 11-12. 2353,2344,3352 wich are the hands consistent with hand where he would pass 2H. There is some 4342 that he would pass 2H but I just was lazy and didnt want to sort out the hands. 2H by north made 64% 2NT by south made 38%. The difference is much higher than I expected. However I find DD sim for 4-3 fits to be highly unreliable because knowing how the ennemy trumps break change everything.

Counting the hand type is clearly the biggest factor of importance because finding a fit and being in 3C instead of 2NT is similar to being in 3S instead of 2NT. Being in 2M with a 5M+4M instead of 3M is very similar to be in 2M with a 44 or rather than being in 3M. By showing 44 in minors or a 5m you simply find more fit and avoid more 2NT than doing the same thing with 5M+4M. Yes the thin game reevaluation is better and more important in a majors than minors but for partscore every shape match one other shape and its a 3+ for one ratio. So for best partscores its not close at all by at least 3 to one. Maybe the -1 imps because of 20pts per tricks minors will be more costly than I think but Im a believer of plus scores. for thin games now... EX 1NT-2D-2H-2NT as 5clubs inv compared to a 5S+4H INV. 1NT-2C-2D-2M (showing just 4H but you hold a 45 either way) vs showign a specific 5M+4M in 2Nt. In both case if opener is max you should be able to the best game via a checkback, there is some small other consideration here but its not a big deal. So the critical cases is when opener is min and one partscore make and the other fail or when you bid a thin game because of the extra information. Using 2C-2D-2H as 4H inv (may be 54,45) you will only miss a thin game when opener got a 3352,3325,32?? facing 54?? or the reverse in H. Bidding a thin game based on a fitted 5m doesnt need those opener extras requirement. The difference is that 5m+4M are out. So its really 54?? vs ???5 without 4M that you have to compare. As for the Garb stayman I mostly meant the 2H bid not 2C with any hand short in clubs. I often heard that 1NT-2C-2D-2H is good for improving partscore wich is IMO a joke compared to the usefulness of a D transfer that stop in 2D. But i agree that its really all the short clubs hands vs the 5D hands that should be compared and the gain that the alternative contracts bring over 1Nt. In Keri yes because the 4-3 fit is random but in my method its a clear no. 4-3 fit when the hand with 3 trumps got a doubleton is just a better contract than 2NT. Ive kept track of case that we we lose imps by being in 2M in a 4-3 fit if there was no game at the other but ive stop because they were too rare. The gain of being in 2M rather than 1NT/2Nt are not too frequent but they are not rare. I just did a sim ATxx,xxx,x,AQ9xx vs exactly 12 HCP with 4S (4??? bal) both EW dont have have opening hands or 7C or 6 elsewhere. I only removed West 2nd round intervention with any 5-5 over south 1NT and didnt remove the lead directing doubles etc.... Game is 47% by N and 48% by south. Since I guess some of the 12 count are raise to 3S and DD is advantageous for declarer in 4M contract there is no reasons to have concern here. Being able to show or ask for 4M and stop in 2M if opener is min is just a major consideration compared to all the other minors stuff especially in 4th seat where the IRL range is mostly 11-14.

Yes but losing the INV with 4M at 2H/2S is to throw out the baby with the bathwater. For one 5S+4H you going to get 2 hands with 5 clubs and about 4 hands with 4M 5422,5431,5413 VS 4333 4342,4324,4351,4315 4234,4243,4252,4225 4144,4153,4135 + some 4(126) In short 1NT-2C-2D-?? 2H 2S 2NT These 3 bids should be used frequently rather than a specific 2 suiter. Also what puzzled me is the number of players who think garb stayman is more useful than a 2 level D transfers. Using the style that its not 54+45 but one major is longer or equal to the other. 5521,5512 5431,5413,5422 vs 3352,3253,2353. 2254,4252,2452 3154,1354,4153,1453,4351,3451 and all the 6 carder where 2D will make and 3D fail. Treating a 54?? to play as a 5??? is costly only facing a 24?? but vs any other shape it will do ok. Its unlikely that 2H is better than 2S when its 54?? vs 23?? and 54?? vs 34?? 2H is just a tiny bit better. While a ??5? is not only 2-3 times more frequent but on the long run you will do better in 2D than in 1Nt with weakish values. However note that if you have sound values being in 2D rather than 1NT will leak too many -1 Imps deal.

5M+4M vs 3M+not4M where you make game in the 5/3 is not that frequent and its a drop of water compared to stopping in 2M rather than 2Nt or 3M. Note that if opener is max you can find the 2nd fit later. 1NT-2C-2D-2H (can be 54 or 45) ?? 2S min with 4S. 2NT min without 4S. In both these cases you may miss a 5H+3H fit but since opener is min you shouldnt miss a good game. rest show max without 4H. We usually use 3C as Romex (or doubleton clubs) over all our balanced hand that rebid 2NT or in case like this. So it asking for 5H/5S or 4S. A direct 3D & 3H show max 3 card support and doubleton (D and S) with 3 trumps. 3S show 5S maximum. There is 2 hands that fall throught the crack when opener got 3H maximum but no doubleton nad when its 24?? vs 53(32) and 4H would be better than 3NT. Maybe we could use Romex even with 33(43) shapes with pts concentration in the M. 1NT-2D-2H-2NT should be INV with 5C. Being able to show wich m is 5th is just a lot more frequent than the case where missing a 5-3 fit with a 5M+4M cost. note that 2H is a dead minumum or can be an average hand with only 2H so correcting to 3C is often right. Also we do play 1NT-2C- 2H/2S as maximum with D super accept. if responder had 5D we are ready to play 3D and if hes inv we are GF.

Doubling 2C with a big bal (without good clubs) is similar to doubling 1NT in terms of risk if your side is outgunned. 2Cx(or xx) by opps, 2 elsewhere by you (probably doubled), is about the same than 2 anything by you (probably doubled), 1NTx making by them. However I prefer that pass and X is big bal while X of 2C is decent clubs and values (could be just 4C) this mean that if ive got a takeout of a garbage stayman I have to X and X or X and 2M.

We do play a very similar scheme after our 2C precision (5C+4M possible). Except that 2C-2M direct is 4-5M INV (opener need 3 to pass). 2D is GF with 5M+ or INV 6M, INV 5M+5M (opener bid 2H = refuse a H inv, 2S accept H refuse S etc) This allow us to inv and stop in 2M wich allow for slightly more agressive inv. The invites without 4M or 5M are a bit rare but at least its important to show your minors shapes so that you reevaluate or signgoff in 3m isntead of playing 2NT. Usually a passed hand invite without 4M is based on a 5m or 6clubs, knowing wich minor is 5th is kind of important rather than just inviting with 2NT.

Any 5-5 or better is about 5.5% of hands. You need to divide by 6 for specific both majors. Or divide by 3 if its 5S+5m. so you get 0.9% (both M) or 1.8% (5S+5m) a 6 card suit (not 65) or 7222 is about 15.5% you have to divide by 4 for a specific spade suit = 3.9 % You need to remove a couple of % pts because of a possible side 4 card majors 6430 unsuitable for 2M preempt. We also need to make a little corection since 9-15 is a bit less frequent than 5-10. So not only the bid is easier to defend (only 2 possible outside trumps & 2 cue available) its also less safe (6??? tend to make slightly more tricks that 55??) and less frequent. Also with a 5-5 you have the job to find the best fit or to find the best lead. Especially when its 5M+5m, sometimes its not clear if 3m is going to be better than 2M. You also pay a full trick tax if you play at the 3 level instead of the 2 level. If they declare they are more likely to play double dummy since there is less 55 shapes than 6??? shapes.

Weak NT biggest loss is when its 1NT-ap -1 vs 1m-1M-2M making. Strong NT got an edge because if you bury your 4-4 M its better to be strong than 12-14 because 1Nt is still likely to make anyway (imps). The 2nd main drawback is 1NT-X. Since those 2 drawback are greatly reduced after 3 Pass im simply really happy to open 1NT in 4th seat. In general the main advantage to open 1NT is that its stop a takeout X or a 1M overcall. In 4th seat this advantage is amplified. 1m--(X) vs (P)--P--(P)--1m (X) The light delayed takeout show about 9-11 and a delayed 1M overcall is also 5M 9-11. This range is right on target for the average of pts that hes going to have so delayed take out X or delayed overcall are quite frequent. The other difference about being a passed hand and playing a weak NT is that opps are not worried about game. (P)--P--(P)--1Nt (X) or any other bid can be destructive. but the same could be said about (P)--P--(P)--1m (1M) I believe that the opps being worried about game is more significant over 1NT direct than over 1m direct so 1Nt in 4th seal lose this advantage. So its a small loss for 1NT in 4th seat. But since the 2 main drawbacks are reduced and the main advantage is amplified I dont see why any believer in weak nt in 1st should have doubt in 4th seat.

For non fit hand or NT hands I agree that showing general values of the hand with a AKQ scheme is sensible but usually when your end in 3S-3NT you have a lot of shape. Ex I hold a 6421-5521 is the Q of D or a stiff king of club really useful cards for slam ? I would just prefer to not count these cards and know how many keycards my partner have rather than his overall strenght or his QP. As i see it whats important 1- fixing trumps suit 2- keycards + Q of trumps 3- overall strenght ask/QP 4- cuebids/control ask. 5- specific card ask. Your goal is mostly to avoid duplication (giving the same informations twice) or giving useless information (information that will be used against you especially). I feel that 1-2 first is always useful and rarely redundant. While cuebidding or strenght ask followed by keycarding later is often redundant or pointless. When you learn you have all the keycards the control showing bids information is worthless. When your missing 2 keycards strenght ask is only useful for the opps. Even if I know my partner got the Ks (we have all the keycards and he cue in a suit where I had the A and i know hes not a stiff) when im going to ask for side K he will still show me this king. If i ask for a specific king I can skip this card that i know by inference but i wont save a step anyway. ex (HSCD is the order) 4C= ask for KS 4D= ask for KC 4C--?? 4D no ks 4H Ks no Kc 4S Ks+Kc no Kd etc I know by inference that my partner got the Ks. So he will respond 4H without the Kc and 4S with KC no Kd If I skip the Ks ask. 4D= ask for KC --- ?? 4H no Kc 4S Kc no Kd So knowing by inference that my partner had the Ks was worthless. So cuebidding followed by rkc was redundant. Another cases is when your lacking 2 keycards,knowing if my partner is maximum or minimum is also pointless and information that will be only useful for the opps. I have no problems with strenght ask but why not as a last train just after the keycards ? Even with jacoby 2NT (that I hate) responding keycards or showing voids rather than showing min/max.singleton is sensible because the keycard information is more likely to be useful than overall strenght because we are in a suit contract. Also I feel that hands without fit or NT hand you can just wing it and use 4NT quant by either players and it will work well. I dont remember last time I went down in 4NT while 3NT would have made (made a try for 6nt, unlikely 4nt go down). In trumps however going down in 5M can happen (made a try for 6M, 5M can go down if your a bit unlucky.) I dont exactly know how to explain it but in NT the number of tricks is less random while suit contracts the number of tricks available got more variability.

I think i can risk 2S because of my method. We play an Ogust scheme after a 2M responses to a 2red preempt. 2red---2S--?? 2NT= 0-1S (after that a new suit is not forcing) 3C = bad hand bad support (only xx in S) 3D = bad hand good support (Hx or xxx in S) 3H = good hand bad support 3S = good hand good support no shortness 3NT = good hand good support low shortness 4C = good hand good support high shortness rest is voids.

Why ? when you have all the keycard or you missing 2 keycards the cuebidding mostly help the opponents rather than yourself. Its only when your missing exactly one keycard that cuebidding/zooming can dominate scanning methods. When you scan in some case there is only one suit that you can be worried for a control so you can also ask for a control rather than cuebid stuff that youll know after RKC anyway. Note that its one of the reasons why im working into a 6keyc scheme to know if im lacking the K of trumps or an ace is quite useful to scan without being worried about a suit wide open. I dont have a lot of experienced with QP but for me a Q in a unknown suit is not that useful.

Im a huge believer in weak NT everytime its safe. Playing weak NT in 3rd seat vul is the only time I think weak NT is probably inferior to strong NT or to 14-16 all other systemic things being equal. I think weak NT best positions is 4th any vul & 1st not vul. I much prefer to open weak NT in 4th than in 2nd VUL or not or that in 1st seat vul. Ive never understood those who play weak NT only in first or 2nd. The argument that in 4th seat you are as likely to be 15-17 than 12-14 is nothing compared to stopping 1M overcalls. Also the stronger I am the more im willing to open 1m and deal with their overcall.

Dont confuse this with Keri (Ok at best IMO) where they often play in random 7 card fits. Here you need 3 trumps and ruffing values to pass. 1NT-2C-2D-2H ?? With 4333 il bid 2S With 33(43) ill bid 2NT With a AQ doubleton i will also bid 2NT. Note that in close case you may choose knowing who is going to declare. I agree that the cases where 2M make and 2NT go down is not that big a deal but its still a plus. The problem with stayman is that you will play 3M not 2M and this is a big deal especially if your 3rd seat 1NT is 11-14. With 23-25 pts You lose more imps playing 3M instead of 2M than by not bidding a 60% game.

With my pet system and my experimental 6Keyc scheme the 1st one is interesting. 1C (15+)---2NT (exactly 2245 9+) 3C-4C (keyc in clubs -- 2 keycards + ♦K+ odd number of ♣KQ of trumps & denies ♥K ?? 4D ask ♠K 4H ask ♦Q 4S ask ♥ Q 4NT ask for Qs/extras its an interesting problem. Ive wrongside NT but ive rightside clubs. So I think i can ask for Qs/extras rather than asking for the Qh and enplay myself. Tough hand.

In reality its an acceptance not a super acceptance. The super accept would be P-P-1NT-P 2H-P-3H 2H is to play not invitationnal 3H should be my hand is really a strong NT now. AQx xxxxx Ax Axx

Playing a weak NT facing a passed hand a GF hands is no longer possible so its pointless and costly to play xfer. 3C to play 2NT inv with 4-4 in both minors. 2M to play 2D INV with a long M or 5C (can be 5S+5H) 2C transfer to 2D, to play, INV with 4M or INV with 5D. if your 3343,3334 and arent strong enough to open you should pass 1NT anyway. 1NT–2D ?? 2H i refuse a 5 long H inv 2S I accept a long H INV but refuse a 5+ long S inv 2NT I accept INV in both majors but im minimum and not too fond of clubs 3C = I accept both majors INV im minimum and got at least 3C rest is maximum 3NT= at least 3-3 in both M 3D = short (2) in one major 3M = 5M there. This is superior to transfers scheme its not even close. pros 1- D transfer lead to signoff at 2D 2- Inv and stop in 2M with a long M rather than 2NT. 3- Inv with 4-4 or better in both minors 4- Inv and stop in 2M even if you have a 4-4 or 4-3 M fit (if the hand with 3 trumps got ruffing values). 5- you can play game in a 4-3 fit quite easily 6- your 2M signoff are direct. 7- opener can have 5M and still open 1nt 8- you can bid a thin game because you know wich 5m responder got. 9- if you play 3NT, opener 4M will often be undisclosed. 10- you can Inv and endup in a 53 or 54 fit in a minor 11- deal well with light inv 5-5 in both M. Cons a bit memory intensive. Lose garbage stayman (wich is worth less than the D signoff)

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I feel that with a 5521 or 6421 at 3S/3NT its simply better to us forget about the terminator puppet (that ive played for a long time). 5521. 4C=H keyc 4D=S keyc 4M to play 4NT D rkc 5C last train D. this turn out so much better than 2 or 3 scheme where 4D is a signoff relay that ive tried even if the range of the 5521 hand is quite wide. with 5152 or hand with a stiff or singleton in a majors its even better. Im assuming that the opposite hand had a chance to break a relay with a good suit of its own and that only 2 or 3 trumps suit is possible.

IMO a bid that show a two suiter = 10, 3♣ = 8, 2♠ = 6

2 - 17.4% 3 - 26.5% 4 - 28.0% 2 - 12.9% 3 - 22.8% 4 - 28.5% Agree that the average doesnt tell much but these numbers tell a lot. 36% that opener got 2D or 3D vs seems like a number high enough to consider stuff like 2S= 5S+5m(any) and 2NT for 5H+5m(any) or a suction defense.

I feel that high level doubles should be mostlty for the same level suits especially at imps. (4D)--X--(P)--?? i feel that playing a style where the X doesnt promise clubs is sensible. 5521,5422,5431,4621,4612 etc. IMO you can double with 46 as long as partner bid 4H with 3S/3H. After 4H i feel the same way I think 4S or pass should represent at least 95% of partner responses, he should bid 4NT/5m with a 7 card suit or 55. Ive been playing like this for a quite a while with medium success. We avoid some pretty horrible 5m contracts but sometimes its 4 double making. I think it will take some time before we finetune the right middle ground between values and how many spades we should hold. Its really somehting that i would like to sim to know if its a good method or not.

IMO it just confirm that two suiters with D are almost as important as 5C+5M. Like (1D)--2NT for 5H+ one minor make some sense.

openings 2D = 4415 -1 card 2C = 6C 1D = could be 2. Im wondering if the numbers of clubs will significantly be lower than the number of diamonds after a 1D opening. Im hoping that some hand pattern frequencies already exist. Im thinking about a suction defense something like (1D)--?? 1NT= clubs or 5S+5m 2C = D or 5S+5H 2D = D+H

I think I slightly prefer my opps play P/C so i would slightly suggest penalties. Its one of the reason why I prefer that the 5-4 preempts are done by my opponents and not by my teamates. One of the strenght of a preemptive action is that it force your opponents to overbid a little wich eventually lead to a good wack on the head from time to time. Losing the penalty X remove a lot of pressure on the overcaller especially when he is vul. I guess it would be sensible to play they are vul X = penalties otherwise pass or correct.