rbforster

yup

1♦ 1♥ 1♠ 2♣* XYZ, usually an invite 3♦ 3♥ 3N Here when opener accepts the likely invitation by bidding 3♦ (instead of 2♥), responder shows 6 with 3♥ and can more reasonably sit for 3N knowing opener has 0-1 hearts. I like my chances in 3N by N since with a double club stop and serious threats to set up lots of tricks in all the other suits, I should have time to set up diamonds without too many quick losers.

I don't think non-GF artificial bids are GCC after a natural overcall, i.e. 1X-(1Y). The short version is non-jump new suit bids basically have to be natural. The long version... Transfers by advancer as specifically allowed, but not by responder after interference in general. Doubles are special in this regard, in that both 1) you can always use double for anything, and 2) if they double, you can play anything you want (like transfers). Jumps and 2-3NT bids are also allowed as raises (fitted or otherwise) or artificial GFs. I suppose you can still play 1H-(1S)-1N as forcing on a wide range of hands if you really wanted. 1N overcalls also allow any defense, subject to the "no woolsey" rule about known suits for 2D+.

I liked the unguarding diamonds variation. Are there any permutations where playing the J at T1 doesn't work?

This is a doubtful continuation when we hold AKxx. Well they are NV vs V, and I've seen my share of joker 2 card raises in that situation. Not super likely, but not out of the question. In that situation, I think partner is going to need to bid a 4 card major and only double with 44 majors (catering to you being 43, or 40 in this case). So with 3415, he's going to bid 3♥ and we're going to miss a big club fit. Perhaps more likely, he might be 4513 (or 3514) and want to bid his longer suit rather than X, which can end up in the wrong one of 3N or 4♠ depending on what your agreement is there.

3♣. At these colors, I feel like I need to bid but might pass if they were Vul. I do feel that with length/values in the preempted suit, your hand is a lot weaker than it appears on HCPs since those small diamonds will never be tricks (or help establish your partner's suit). I'm not an optimist on this auction after X either. What about after some competition? (2♦)-X-(3♦)-3♥ (P)-? 3N now, and then we're stuck in 4♥ when he pulls 3N? I don't have good agreements about how many of a major my double promises (and how strong partners' checkback), but as advancer I would probably just bid 4M with GF values and a 5 card major, especially since I'm likely to have shortness in diamonds.

On the auction 1♦-1♥ 1♠-? I play XYZ, such that 2♣ forces 2♦ by opener, usually to show an invitational hand or to play 2♦ (2♦ would show a GF hand). My question is whether 2♣ really needs to force 2♦? With a very distributional hand and lots of diamonds, maybe something like this thread with 4x7x it's not like you're afraid of being passed in 2♦ (and you'll make 3♦ with a fit). Especially in standard where opener could still have a pretty big hand, I could see various possibilities: after 2♣: 2♦ catchall 2♥ strong hand with 4351 shape, prefering to play 2♥ over 2♦ opposite weak partner 2♠ strong hand with 5x6x shape 2N 18-19 bal and we always rebid 1♠ with four :lol: 3♦ distributional hand with very good diamonds (and 4 spades) What do you think? Depending on how you play XYZ, I don't think there are any weak hands in the 2♣ relay except those that want to get out in 2♦ (3♣ direct would be the weak x4x6). As such, it seems like showing strong distributional hands with diamonds can't get you in too much trouble opposite an invite or a diamond signoff, although you'd want to discuss continuations after opener's various relay breaks. Thoughts? Do you already do this?

For that hand, key card in spades follorwed by a club asking bid seems best.

18 requires good shape and no wastage 19 requires a little luck (off AK or KKQ) but is worth exploring 20+ bid the slam or at least relay out everything If you don't have a suit fit or a potential source of tricks, you might be a little more conservative.

Double quietly, showing better hearts than spades :D

3♦ multi :D

Zenko - you're right that the 1C-1S artificial response is not GCC. If it is used as a non-constructive bid, it might not even bid MidChart as you say, although I imagine the definition of "constructive" could include some pretty weak hands. As a matter of practice, if it contains some constructive hands I expect this would probably be fine for Midchart. (Note that you can't claim to psych an artificial suit response when you bid this with a very weak hand). It would be Superchart legal under a laxer standard which merely requires it to be non-destructive, rather than constructive. The committee considered the issue of allowing transfers over 1C (as GCC), but apparently there wasn't enough support to even consider it:

Much in the same way saying "Precision" or "SAYC" or "TOSR" will still lead to plenty of disasters when you play slightly different versions of the "standard" system.

I don't know if this was meant to be funny, but it was. :ph34r:

In this situation, I play high from a singleton (encouraging), low from length. Some people prefer upside attitude however and reverse these. :)

Just to elaborate a little on this one, there are 2 threats against East - first, he must guard clubs by keeping all 4, and second, he must keep at least 2 hearts to protect his partner's 8 from being finessed on the 3rd round. Together with this, he must also try not to be endplayed in clubs, so he wants to keep at least one non-club card in the 5 card endposition. So on the run of the diamonds, East must make 2 pitches - what can they be? Any clubs and 2 hearts are out. So he pitches two major cards, leaving him with 3 left (SHH or HHH) after counting the first spade trick. At this point, he's essentially been squeezed out of his exit card since you can now cash 2 hearts and a spade to strip his hand for the endplay.

Nice article, but what makes you think you're allowed to "quit your membership" under the new rules?

Partner and I have the following auction tonight: 1♦-(P)-1♠-(2♣) P-(P)-? Aside from bidding game or cue'ing here, what else is forcing? 2 of a new suit forcing, or just competitve? 3 of a new suit (jump) forcing, or just invitational 5/5? jump raise of partner (3D)? double could include GF hands, but which/any besides those you hope partner will sit with?

Or play that 2♦ shows just hearts, 6+ and no side suit. A lot easier to judge if you want opener to introduce his own suit over that.

I agree with Nigel. Hand 3 looks bad, especially since I'd be opening 2♣ (or nothing). I'm otherwise happy to open my longest suit with ~10 points and/or good shape.

LOL at pass over their NT requiring a known suit... maybe one of the rules lawyers should bust that one out on Meckwell next time they pull some technicality on their opps. The BoD tabled the "woolsey" motion for consideration at the Summer NABC, when the C&C Committee is meeting.

You can just play transfers starting with XX. Using 2♥ and 2♠ as good/bad spade raises is quite useful. I don't know about showing 4♥ being so important when they've doubled and usually have 4 themselves.

1♣? That's crazy talk. Now Pass wtih 0-7 or 15+ could be workable :).

A club game should not be all about you. It should be about letting weaker players flounder their way to the wrong game on their own, and/or go down on your spectacular defense by breaking up the automatic squeeze they wouldn't have noticed happening by shifting at T2. If you jump start this process by making a preemptive 2 or 3 level bid, it's just not fair. It's clearly allowed under competitive bids on the GCC. No special defense is required. If the opps don't know where the red card is when you overcall 1N and they have a 10+ hand, they're hopeless even if they didn't understand or ask about the alert. Never mind that shortness is not required here, so that technically 3334 is takeout of clubs... As for prealerting, if you do overcall at the one level with less than 6 HCPs, that's prealertable. If you played RUNT with a range of 6-10 instead of 0-10, a prealert would not be required. Read more about the ACBL Alert Procedures if you care - ACBL Alert Procedures.

I'll write it up later and maybe post a link. It does only cater to 4333/4432 shapes, following TOSR's approach of including 5332 as single-suited. While I don't really agree with that style (I think 5332 is "balanced" generally), putting an extra 12 hands into your 2D+ balanced relays will result in higher shape resolution on all these common hands while the single-suited hands (which are much rarer) will resolve lower. So on a frequency basis, it's probably better to exclude 5332 from balanced for practical relay purposes, even if it's not ideal from a theoretical perspective.