TylerE

Additionally, for many of us 3♥ and 3♠ are both used for other things. Also, it gives additional auctions that can be useful. For instance, in one partnership of mine, here are our transfer slam options. 1N-2♦-2♥-4♥ - Non-forcing RKC (opener passes with a bad hand for slam, shows keycards otherwise) 1N-2♦-2♥-4NT - A 1N-4N quant. raise, but with 5♥. 1N-4♦-4♥-4NT - Forcing keycard for ♥ 1N-4♦-4♥-Cue - Self sufficient heart heart suit opp. xxx or Hx, strong slam interest

I consider that far far far from obvious.

This hand is one of the reasons I think a 10-12 (11-13/12-14) NT range is a big winner. You avoid all of these awkward auctions - when you open 1m you either have a rebiddable minor or at least strong NT values.

Without discussion I would take it as a strong hand with no obvious bid. Something like a balanced 18-19 with no stopper for instance.

Ditto

That wouldn't affect BBO logins. Basically the answer is: Get faster internet.

Auction begins (uncontested, partner opens in 2nd chair, R v W, IMPS) ♠K9x ♥KJ98xx ♦AKx ♣x 1♣-1♥ 2♠-3♦ (4SF) 3♠ Available agreements: 3N is to play 4♦ is kickback for clubs 4NT is RKC for ♠

Usenet did all this 20 years ago, then someone got the idea to redo it in a web browser, badly, and the lowest common denominator won, as usual.

I like 1m-1x-3NT to show about this hand. I'd like a ♣ card, but can't have it all. Spade lead is reasonably likely. I get doubled I'll pull to 4♦.

Just to expand upon what some others have mentioned, HCP steps is REALLY REALLY bad. Over a strong 2♣, and ace is worth far more than 2 queens. If you really want to play something along these lines, play something such as the following. Note: Controls are: Ace = 2, King = 1. Queens and jacks don't count at all. 2♦: 0 or 1 Controls 2♥: 2 controls (1 Ace or 2 Kings) 2♠: 3 controls, specifically an Ace and a King 2NT: 3 controls, specifically three Kings 3♣: 4 controls 3♦: 5 controls 3♥: 6 controls Any response beyond 2NT is extremely rare.

Old GIB would probably raise 5♠ to 7.

Cueing 5♥ feels right. I want to make a move, and after my 3N bid then cue, partner will have a better handle on where we should be.

2♠. Don't have enough for 4SF, and I'd like a better heart holding (and in context, I'd consider KJx better) for 2NT.

Between 2♣ and 3N, I prefer 3N. I think it implies club tolerance...certianly xx, probably Kx or better. That said, lemme plug my preferred treatment, a sort of reversed crisscross. The single raise is constructive (9-11 or thereabouts), but non-forcing. JS in other minor is a GF. Opener's rebids are conventional. 1st Step = Unbalanced Min 2nd Step = Unbalanced Max 3rd Step = Balanced Min 4th Step = Balanced Max Over the first and second, responder can relay for shortness. I only play this with one partner (he introduced the structure to me), but we've bid at least one good slam that isn't practical to reach playing normal inverted minor methods, which I'm frankly no big fan of (Better than jump = limit, SAYC style thoug). Once heard a pro describing inverted minor auctions as 1♣-2♣-Noise-Noise-3NT.

My ideas are as follows: 4 card majors (Not saying any more, don't feel like starting that holy war today) Entire 2 level natural and preemptive. Forcing minor openings that are more sharply defined than Polish, but less preemptiable than precision.

Well, I guess I was a bit loose with the word solved. What I meant in context is that is possible, without 'cheating' to determine the exact state of match.

People often play 5 card majors...but how about 5 card minors? How does this sound? Haven't given any thoughts yet to the followups, but I like it! The strong hands will be awkward to an extent, but I think this approach has merit, especially for matchpoints) 1♣ - 11-15, 5+ ♣ or 16+ Unbalanced (Promises singleton/void) 1♦ - 11-15, 5+ ♦ or 16+ (Semi) Balanced (6M322, 5422, 7222, etc ok) 1♥ - 11-15, 4+ ♥ 1♠ - 11-15, 4+ ♠ 1NT - 13-15 (Pass with 11-12 and No 4CM, can open 1m with a 5 bagger) 2♣-2♠ - Preempts 2NT - Both Minors, 11-15

Chess is a much, much, much easier game to solve than Bridge, because the entire state of the game is known to both the players and neutral observers. You can basically throw CPU at the problem and it solves itself. That doesn't work for bridge.

Just to clarify, I have no real issue on 4 card overcalls, either on AKxx or in general. I do have a very real issue with doing it on a hand that will quite possible take two trump tricks in the opponents suit.

Put me with the 3♥ bidders. Will be impossible to catch up if we pass now.

shouldn't this be some sort of slam move though? Partner has serveral paths to 4♥ that take over captaincy.

Well, say opener now bids 4♠, and partner bids 5♥. NOW what?

Worst Bid: 1♠ Too much defense, not enough playing strength in ♠. If you're going to force me to bid with that (not my style), I'd bid 1NT.

Look me up sometimes. I know most of that, and can quickly learn anything I can get notes on.

Playing in a fairly strong game (at least one BBO star at the table), playing partner (a self-ranked Expert, and play on the first few boards has shown him to at least not be a complete bozo), you have the following auction: You hold: ♠Axxx ♥AKx ♦ AKx ♣ Qxx You open 2NT, partner puppets, you bid 3♦, partner bids 4♥. What is 4♥?