TylerE

Well, the *legal* way is to probably start enforcing the rules that are already in the book about discussing hands.

Chrome on the PC and Mac at home, Safari at work (older PPC mac, no Chrome)

Personally I don't reverse on these hands at all, because when it starts 1♥-1NT my partner can never have 4 spades.

It's better to at least do a basic search before posting like this, unlike the previous 200 people to post this exact. same. idea.

Only time I'd consider pulling is if it's R/W and I think we can make 3N. Otherwise I trust partner. I also don't expect my partner to X 1N on Kxx Kxx AKxx Kxx. The X *must* contain the expectation of tricks to beat 1N. Any other style is IMO unplayable. Pulling when very weak can be a great way to bypass your only way to win the board. But again, this is predicated on the X being a *penalty* double, and not "equal values" or some tripe like that.

Actually, this one I'll disagree with, quite strongly. While certainly lots of really esoteric stuff (Voidwood, etc) does get brought up that shouldn't, plain vanilla splinters are probably about the 3rd or 4th convention new players should learn.

I think you a few words.

Playing conventions, besides blackwood and maybe stayman, at ghoulash = lol.

Pass here. I will bid 3♥ if they bid 3♦. Might even bid 4/4, esp. if I have a read on my opponents that they aren't the kind to double.

Guideline on hands like this: If you need all 5 KCs to bid *6*, you should't be bidding any sort of Ace ask, because your REAL problem is secondary tricks, not controls.

Wonder who sold my info...

Both X and 2♠ are gross misbids. I like pass and then a balancing 2♦, assuming RHO passes.

EHAA is always fun, especially if you throw in a little bit of modern insanity. Overcall Structure goes great with it, and keeps with the flavor of 4 card one level bids and very light initial actions. It's honestly not terrible either. I've won club games playing it.

I think it is entirely appropriate for the first post in this thread to be downvoted - it's in the wrong forum.

Not to derail the main thread, but just out of curiosity, how exactly do you pronounce ghestem? It just occurred to me that the way I've been pronouncing it in my head is quite probably wrong. (guest-eam, second syllable rhyming with team.)

The REAL problem with something like this is that for it to be worthwhile for BBO to do it, the house cut would need to be fairly large, which makes it rather unattractive to many players. It's REALLY hard to win at a game that only returns 80% of the prize pool to the players.

I think this is called the "bad" club system. I'd play against it for money at any stakes the opponents choose.

Those hands are pretty unlikely though. Like is said, this is hand type where missing a cold game is a much bigger worry than getting to a distributional hand.

Well, to these american eyes, yea. The 2♣ bid would be flat out illegal. 2NT is played as GF. The preemptive raise to 3 is a bit more common, but still in the minority. Note: I didn't really meany anything *negative*, but it's really different from typical 2/1.

You're assuming 1NT is forcing. With such an oddball raise structure, why are you assuming that?

Looks like a 4♠ bid to me. Pretty hard to come up with hands where we're missing slam and partner's only opening♠. Will you miss a slam occasionally? Sure, but on a hand like this I'd much rather be in 4+2 than 2+2...

I think doubling on most 4-4s on that auction is nuts. Opponents haven't found a fit yet. Why do WE feel an urge to declare a hand that's possibly a misfit all around?

1st is clear penalty. To my mind, there is basically no hand that wants to double for takeout over 2♣, that couldn't over 1♣. 2nd t/o ainec.

I think novice games are ok, but I'd seriously limit it to like, 5 sessions, maybe 10 at the max. Beyond that permenant impairment of skills is likely...

The problem with just bashing 3N is that we likely only have hearts stopped once, and opposite a random minimal takeout double, which by far is the hand partner is a favorite to have, I don't see us taking 9 tricks without losing the lead.