ucrman

The persons that started this bidding system apparently liked their Standard major suit opening bid structure. Instead of opening 1C with 16+ points with a 5-card major and subjecting them to preemption, they can now open 1H or 1S. Also, it does limit the 1C opener's rebids in a good way. Do you like your bidding structure after a 1H or 1S opening?

A relatively popular system in my area is one with a strong club showing 16 to 20+, but the 1C opening denies a 5-card major. The opening 1NT is 10-12. The major openings are like Standard. The 1D opening is Precision and could be bid on a singleton diamond with a range of 11-15. The 2C opening is like a precision 2C. The strong bid is 2D. Did anyone ever hear of this system?

My Super Canape system is all about distribution first. Here is a summary: The super canape system divides the hands into four types: one-suiters, two-suiters, three-suiters, and balanced hands. One-suiters are opened at the one level in the suit. - A one-suited club hand has 6+ Cs with 11+ HCP and denies a side 4-card or longer suit. - A one-suited diamond hand has 6+ Ds with 11+ HCP and denies a 4-card or longer major and 5 or more clubs. If it is a 4-loser or less hand with 4 Cs, it is treated as a two¬-suiter and is opened 1C. - A one-suited heart or spade hand has 6+ cards with 10+ HCP and denies 4 or more cards in the other major and 5 cards in either minor. If it has a 4-card minor, it is treated as a two-suiter if the hand has 4 losers or less and is opened in the 4-card suit. Two-suiters (5-4, 6-5, 5-5, 6-6, and 6-4) are usually opened in the shorter suit. All 5-4, 5-5, 6-5, and 6-6 hands are considered two-suiters. 6-4 hands are treated as one-suiters (1) when the longer suit is a major and the shorter suit is a minor with more than 4 losers or (2) when the longer suit is diamonds and the shorter suit is clubs with more than 4 losers. 6-4 hands are treated as two-suiters (1) when the shorter suit is a major suit, (2) when the longer suit is clubs, (3) when the longer suit is a major and the shorter suit is a minor with less than 5 losers, or (4) when the longer suit is diamonds and the shorter suit is clubs with less than 5 losers. The only time it is opened in the longer suit is when there is a 6-card minor and a 5-card major -- the emphasis is to show the 5-card major. With 5-5, with one major and one minor, the minor is considered the shorter suit; with both minors usually treat Cs as the shorter suit; and with both majors, treat Ss as the shorter suit. But if there is a big difference in strength of the 5-5 suits, Cs may be treated as longer than Ds and Ss may be treated as longer than Hs. The rule of 20 (length of the two suits plus HCP) is good for determining opening bids. Two-suiters with secondary Cs are opened 2S, 2H, or 2D if less than 16 HCP and are opened 1C with 16 HCP or more. Three-suiters are opened 2C. You should have 12+ HCP (13+ HCP with short Ss). All 4-4-4-1 hands and 5-4-4-0 hands with a 5-card minor are three-suiters. 5-4-4-0 hands with a 5-card major may be treated as a three-suiter or a two-suiter. Holding 5-4-4-0 with a 5-card major and a 4-card major, the hand should in opened in the 4-card major if not treated as a three-suiter. Balanced hands (all 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, and 5-3-3-2) are opened as follows: 12-14 HCP open 1C. 15-17 HCP open 1NT. 18-20 HCP open 1C. 21-24 HCP open 2NT. 24+ HCP (4-3-3-3 and 4-4-3-2) open 1C. 24+ HCP with 5-3-3-2 open one of 5-card suit. Opening bids 1C - Shows one of following hand types, always guarantees 2+ Cs. - balanced hand (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, 5-3-3-2) with 12-14 HCP. - balanced hand (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, 5-3-3-2) with 18-20 HCP. - 6+ Cs without a side 4-card suit, 11+ HCP. - 4+ Cs and 5+ cards in another suit, 16+ HCP (secondary Cs). Could have 6 Cs and a 5-card major. - balanced hand with 24+ HCP, may have 5 Cs with 23+ HCP. 1D – 11+ HCP with 4+ Ds, shows one of the following types of hands: - 6+ Ds - 11+ HCP (usually ignore 4-card C suit unless very strong.) - 4+Ds and 5+ cards in another suit, 11+ HCP (10+ HCP with 5-5). Usually open 2D or 1C with 5 Ds and 5 Cs. Open 1D with 5-6 Ds and a 5-card major. - A strong balanced hand, 23-24+ HCP with 5-6 Ds. 1H – 10+ HCP with 4 + Hs, shows one of the following types of hands: - 6+ Hs - a good 10+ HCP, 6-7 loser hand, generally ignore 4-card m’s. - 4+ Hs and 5+ cards in another suit, 11+ HCP. Usually open 1S with 5 Ss and 5 Hs. - A strong balanced hand, 24+ HCP with 5 Hs. 1S - 10+ HCP with 4 + Ss, shows one of the following types of hands: - 6+ Ss - a good 10+ HCP, 6-7 loser hand, generally ignore 4-card m’s. Usually open 1S with 5 Ss and 5 Hs. - 4+ Ss and 5+ cards in another suit, 11+ HCP (10+ HCP with 5 Ss and 5 Hs). - A strong balanced hand, 24+ HCP with 5 Ss. 1NT - 15-17 HCP. All 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, and 5-3-3-2 hands with 15-17 HCP should be opened 1NT. 2C – 12+ HCP with 4-4-5-0 or 4-4-0-5, usually not a 5-card major, 13+ HCP with short Ss. 2D – 11-15 HCP with 5+Ds and 4+Cs. Ds are longer than or equal to Cs. 2M - 11-15 HCP with 5 cards in the M and 4+ Cs (10+ HCP with 5-5). May have 6 Cs and a 5-card M or a 6-card M with 5 Cs. 2NT - 21-23 HCP, balanced 3NT - Gambling, no outside A or K, solid 7 or 8 card minor. 4NT - Blackwood.

I have played the following: 1H=1NT 2S - relay to 2NT. ---2NT ------3m - Shows 4+ ms, forcing. ------3H - Shows 6+ Hs, forcing. ------3S - Shows 5Ss (5-6), forcing. ------3NT - Shows 5Hs, balanced, might have 4Ss. ------4m - Shows 6+Hs, singleton or void in ms, slam interest. ------4H - Shows 6+Hs, singleton or void in Ss, slam interest. 2NT - Invitational, might have 4 Ss. 3m - Shows 5-5, invitational. 3H - Shows 6+Hs, invitational. 3S - Shows 5-6, not forcing. 3NT - Shows 6Hs, balanced. 4m - Shows 6-5, slam interest. 4H - For play.

In the #3 version of the Super Canape system which I do not play with anyone, the 1NT response to 1D doesn't necessarily show 6 Cs. I play the single raise to 2D as inverted, 9+ HCP with 4+ Ds and the 3D raise as weak. I play the 3C response to 1D as 7 Cs with less than 9 HCP. Perhaps it would be better to play 1NT as showing 6+ Cs and less than 10 HCP and use 3C as a Diamond raise. I do have the Super Canape system version #1 in 30+ pages and an older version of #3. My new email is patternman52@yahoo.com if you would like a copy of this great system. It really works well. I have made changes to the system. For example, the 3NT opening is gambling. With 24-27 HCP balanced, I open 1C; with a 5-card suit and 24-27 HCP, I open 1D, 1H, or 1S in the 5-card suit.

It has been many years since I played Roman Club. The 1D, 1H and 1S openings were mostly forcing although some Italians played 1H could be passed with weak 4-card support, and some Brazil pairs played a Roman Club where these bids were not forcing. In response to the 1D and 1H openings, the Super Canape system has three deviations: I play #1 in club games and prefer #3 in ACBL games. 1. The negative step response (1D=1H and 1H=1S) is used to show 0-11 HCP but the 1NT response (1D=1NT and 1H=1NT) shows the negative step response 5+ card major with 7-11 HCP. This is not allowed in ACBL events but is allowed in our club games. 2. The major suit responses (1D=1H, 1D=1S and 1H=1S)show 5-card suits with 0-11 HCP, and the 1NT response (1D=1NT and 1H=1NT)shows 0-11 HCP without a 5-card major. 3. The major suit responses (1D=1H, 1D=1S and 1H=1S)show 3+ card suits with 0-11 HCP, and the 1NT response (1D=1NT and 1H=1NT) deny three cards in the major with 0-11 HCP.

I now call it the Super Canape system. It differs from Roman Club in several ways but is based on the Roman Club which I played back in the 60s. (1) Roman Club uses two bids - 2C and 2D - to show three suited hands. Super Canape uses only 2C. (2) Roman Club uses 2NT to show 5-4 in Ds and Cs with 11-15 HCP, but Super Canape uses 2D to show it. (3) Roman Club uses 1C to show strong hands with almost any shape, but under the Super Canape, the 1C, 1D, 1H, 1S and 2C openings are forcing and used to show distribution first with strength shown second. Super Canape uses No Trump bids as relays to show strength. (For example 1H=1S=2D shows 4 Hs and 5 Ds with 11-15 HCP but 1H=1S=1NT=2C=2D shows 4 Hs and 5 Ds with 16-19 HCP.)

The 2C opening bid is not too high and the responses to show the various patterns are at a reasonable level. Many people open 2D to show a three-suited hand, and that works well. The one bids are intended as forcing and may be passed. Bridge is a bidder's game. The two-level bids have worked very successfully so far. In fact many of our big gains have come from the two bids. The best bid in this system is the 1C opening, and it is the most frequent opening. I have updated this system with a 33 page document.

1. Are your 1 level openings forcing, since you include 23-24pt balance hands? Yes they are all deemed to be forcing as well as the 2C opening. 2. What do you open 4441's? The 2C bid shows all three suiters and is deemed to be forcing. 3. Your 2C opening as 5440 seems super rare. I'd be inclined to use that for something else that could otherwise improve your system.

I have a system that I call Super Canape with the opening bids as follows: 1C - Shows one of following hand types, always guarantees 2+ Cs. - balanced hand (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, 5-3-3-2) with 12-14 HCP. - balanced hand (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, 5-3-3-2) with 18-20 HCP. - 6+ Cs without a side 4-card suit, 11+ HCP. - 4+ Cs and 5+ cards in another suit, 16+ HCP (secondary Cs). Could have 6 Cs and a 5-card major. - balanced hand with 24+ HCP, may have 5 Cs with 23+ HCP. 1D – 11+ HCP with 4+ Ds, shows one of the following types of hands: - 6+ Ds - 11+ HCP (usually ignore 4-card C suit unless very strong.) - 4+Ds and 5+ cards in another suit, 11+ HCP (10+ HCP with 5-5). Usually open 2D or 1C with 5 Ds and 5 Cs. Open 1D with 5-6 Ds and a 5-card major. - A strong balanced hand, 23-24+ HCP with 5-6 Ds. 1H – 10+ HCP with 4 + Hs, shows one of the following types of hands: - 6+ Hs - a good 10+ HCP, generally ignore 4-card m’s. - 4+ Hs and 5+ cards in another suit, 11+ HCP. Usually open 1S with 5 Ss and 5 Hs. - A strong balanced hand, 23-24+ HCP with 5 Hs. 1S - 10+ HCP with 4 + Ss, shows one of the following types of hands: - 6+ Ss - a good 10+ HCP, generally ignore 4-card m’s. Usually open 1S with 5 Ss and 5 Hs. - 4+ Ss and 5+ cards in another suit, 11+ HCP (10+ HCP with 5 Ss and 5 Hs). - A strong balanced hand, 23-24+ HCP with 5 Ss. 1NT - 15-17 HCP. All 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, and 5-3-3-2 hands with 15-17 HCP should be opened 1NT. 2C – 12+ HCP with 4-4-5-0 or 4-4-0-5, usually not a 5-card major, 13+ HCP with short Ss. 2D – 11-15 HCP with 5+Ds and 4+Cs. Ds are longer than or equal to Cs. 2M - 11-15 HCP with 5 cards in the M and 4+ Cs (10+ HCP with 5-5). May have 6 Cs and a 5-card M or a 6-card M with 5 Cs. 2NT - 21-23 HCP, balanced 3NT - Gambling, no outside A or K, solid 7 or 8 card minor.

The 5C bid should ask for the Diamond Q. If partner has the D Queen, then partner also shows Kings. I like the idea of showing one king or two kings (i.e., 5H shows either the H King or the two black Kings; 5S shows either the Spade King or the C and H King; 6C shows either the C king or the S and H king; and 6D shows the D Queen but denies any side King.) The 5H bid should ask for Kings and shows all the keycards including the D Queen (5NT shows the H King or the two black kings and 6D denies a king).

I prefer to play the following in reply to 3NT: 4C - Gerber 4D, 4H - transfers to 4H and 4S respectively. 4S - transfer to Cs showing 5+ Cs. 4NT - Quantiative raise. 5C - transfer to 5D showing 5+ Ds.

The actual auction was 1H-1S-3S-4D. In this auction there was no slam try below 4H.

After the auction 1H-1S-3S-4C, does a 4H bid or a pass offer more encouragement to go on? 3S was a splinter in support of Hs.

Here are two summaries of the system. I renmaned it Super Canape. The Best Super Canape uses negative step responses to the 1D and 1H opening bids; otherwise, they are the same. bob's puter/my documents/super canape My link Super Canape.doc Best Super Canape.doc These are my attempts to show my system. If it doesn't work, email me at patternman52@yahoo.com and I will send you a copy including my Canape Club system.

In the system I am proposing, the 1D, 1H, and 1S bids are unlimited. They show either a 6+ cards one-suiter or a two-suiter canape style. All these hands would be opened 1H: xx,AKxx,KQxxx,xx AK,AKQx,KQJxx,Qx Ax,AQJxxx,xx,xxx AK,AQJxxx,AQ,Kx All one suiter Hs are opened 1H and all two-suiter with 4 Hs and 5+ Ds are opened 1H with any strength. I just need to know if the above 1H, 1S, and 1NT responses to 1D and 1H are allowed ny the ACBL.

Of course, I mean if the ACBL will allow the bids. Too bad that forcing 1H and 1S bids are not allowed.

I would like to play a canape system in which I would like to play all one of a suit bids as forcing one round. In conjunction with these opening bids, I would like to play negative step responses (less than 12 HCP) over these opening one bids (i.e., 1NT/1S, 1S/1H, 1H/1D, and 1D/1C). The 1D over 1C is completely legal in the ACBL, and the 1NT over 1S can be played as forcing one round and I think is also legal. However, a problem exists for the 1S/1H and 1H/1D. I could play 1NT forcing over the 1H opening but not over 1D. My proposed solution is to play 1S showing 3+ Ss and 1NT denying 3+ Ss (nonforcing) over the 1H opening, and 1H showing 3+ Hs, 1S showing 3+ Ss, and 1NT denying 3+Hs or 3+ Ss (nonforcing) over the 1H opening. The 1NT over 1D would guarantee probably 6+ Cs. 1H-1NT could be passed with a hand like S-QJ10xx,H-KJxx,D-Kx,C-Qx. 1D-1NT could be passed with a hand like S-QJ10xx,H-KQx,D-AJxx,C-x. Passing the 1NT response would be rare. Are the proposed 1H, 1S, and 1NT bids over the 1H and 1D openings legal?

Here is a summary of what I like to play over our 1NT opening. After bidding Stayman 2C, I use rebid of 2NT to show Cs and a rebid of 3C to show Ds. Rebids after the 2NT and 3C bids show short suits, forcing. Also I use the 2D transfer to show 4 or 5 Hs invitational or 4-4 in the majors, and the 2H transfer to show 4 Ss invitational. 2S asks whether min or max. I have the complete system in Word. The summary is below. I divided it into weak hands, invitational hands, game-forcing hands, and slam hands. WEAK HANDS one-suiters bid 2D to transfer to 2H bid 2H to transfer to 2S bid 2NT to transfer to 3C bid 2NT to play 3D two suiters both majors - bid 2C followed by 2H (with longer Ss, may instead bid 2H to transfer to 2S) both minors - bid 2S and bid the lower 5-card minor major, longer minor - bid 2C and transfer to the minor unless major fit (2NT transfers to 3C and 3C transfers to 3D) INVITATIONAL HANDS one-suiters with 4 Hs or 5 Hs, bid 2D followed by 2S with 4 Ss bid 2H followed by 2NT with 5 Ss bid 2C followed by 2S with a 6+ major, transfer (2D/2H) and raise to 3H/3S with a 6+ minor, bid 3m two suiters with 4-4 in the majors bid 2D followed by 2NT with 5-5 in the majors bid 2C followed by 3D if no fit is found with 5 Ss and another 4+-card suit, bid 2C followed by 2S with 5 Hs and 4 Ss, bid 2H followed by 3H with 5-4 or 4-5 in the minors bid 2S. Then after 2NT bid 3C or 3D, or after 3C or 3D, bid 3NT with 2-2 in the majors or bid 3H/3S which shows 3 cards in the other major and a singleton in the major. with 5-5 in the minors, bid 3H or with 3 cards in a major, bid 2S followed by bidding the void (3H/3S) with 4 Hs and a longer minor, bid 2C and signoff in the minor (2NT or 3C) if no heart fit is found, or bid 2D followed by 2S with 4 Ss and a longer minor, bid 2C and signoff in the minor (2NT or 3C) if no spade fit is found, or bid 2H followed by 2NT GAME FORCING HANDS with 4 Hs or 4 Ss with a singleton/void in the other major, bid 2NT followed by 3 in the short major with 4 Hs, bid 2C followed by 3NT with 4 Ss, bid 2C followed by 3D over a 2H response or by 3NT over a 2D response one-suiters with 5 Hs or 5 Ss, transfer to the major (2D/2H) and then bid 3NT with a somewhat balanced hand with 6+ Hs or 6+ Ss, bid 4D or 4H with 6+ Cs, bid 2C followed by 2NT, etc with 6+ Ds, bid 2C followed by 3C, etc. two suiters with 4 Hs and 4 Ss, bid 2C followed by 3NT if no fit is found with 5 Hs and 5 Ss, bid 2C followed by 3D if an immediate fit is not found with 5-4 or 4-5 in the majors, bid 2C followed by 3 of the 4-card suit if no immediate fit is found with 4-6 in the majors, bid 2C and over a 2D response bid 4M. with 4 Hs or 4 Ss with a longer minor, bid 2C, etc. with 5 Hs or 5 Ss and a 4- or 5-card minor, bid 2D/2H followed by 3C/3D with 5-4 or 4-5 in the minors, bid 2S followed by 3 of the singleton major with 3-1-5-4 or 3-1-4-5, or bid 2NT followed by 3NT with 2-2-5-4 with 5-5 in the minors, bid 3H or 3S, or with 3 cards in a major, bid 2S followed by bidding the void (3H/3S) with 5 Hs/Ss and 6 Cs/Ds, bid 2C followed by a transfer to the minor (2NT/3C), followed by 4H/4S SLAM INVITATIONAL HANDS one-suiters with 4 Hs or 4 Ss, bid 2C and if a fit is found bid 4D, if no fit is found bid 4NT with 5 Hs or 5 Ss, bid 2D/2H and then bid 4NT with a somewhat balanced hand with 6 Hs or 6 Ss, bid 2D/2H, and then bid 4Ms with no singleton or void or jump to the singleton or void with 6 Cs or 6 Ds, bid 2C, then transfer to the minor (2NT = Cs, 3C = Ds), then bid appropriately with a flat hand bid 4NT (bid slam unless very minimum) or else bid 2S and bid 6NT over a 3m response two suiters with 4-4 in the majors, bid 2C and if a fit is found bid 4D, if no fit is found bid 4NT with 5-4 in the majors, bid 2C followed by 3 of the 4-card suit if no immediate fit is found with 5 Hs and 5 Ss, bid 2C followed by 4m (singleton/void) over 2D or followed by 3Mo over 2H/2S with 5 Hs or 5 Ss and a 4- or 5-card minor, bid 2D/2H followed by 3C/3D with 5-4 or 4-5 in the minors, bid 2S followed by 3 of the singleton major with 3-1-5-4, or bid 2NT followed by 4NT with 2-2-5-4

I remember seeing someone's system where after the 1D response to 1C, the 1H and the 1S bids are forcing, possibly being only 4-cards in length. Does anyone have any information on this?

I was sitting West in a club game, and partner sitting East raised my 1S opening to 2S. I had enough to bid 4S, but why not “misdescribe” my hand to the opponents. So after showing a help suit game try with a singleton, the opponents’ defense was confused and cost them a trick. The director was called, and the director’s wife who was sitting North complained about my bidding. The director asked my partner if I had ever psyched like this before, and partner did not think I had. I said that yes I did about 14 years ago with this partner. I said that I have made a similar bid about a dozen times in the 40+ years that I have been playing bridge. The director said that partner should alert such bids in the future. I disagreed saying that I consider it gamesmanship. Anytime I know where the contract should be played, I like to misdescribe my hand to the opponents. For example, if partner opened 1NT (15-17) and I had 20 good HCP, I might show a suit I don’t hold and then force to 7NT. Should the help suit game tries be alerted?

I had no constraints. I actually used Visual Deal which is part of Bridge Buff. I just gave the auction and inserted the hand above as East. Bridge Buff decided the other hands. In a recent team event, I held QJ,AJ98,AJ10764,7 None Vul The bidding went 1C-3S-5C - I doubled and it made. 5S goes down 1 or 2.

I used Bridge Buff to generate hands for the above auction, and these were the results for 20 deals. 13 had both 5H and 4S making 2 had 5H down and 4S making 3 had 5H making and 4S down 2 had both 5H and 4S down I voted for 5H.

Is there any more information on the Internet about this Ultra Club? It is an interesting system.

The pair mentioned above (Jack Hawthorne and Paul Spier) won the Red Ribbon pairs at the recent St Louis nationals using "pattern precision" which they credited as giving them a big step up. They had 4 sessions of 57% or better to win it. See page 1 of the daily bulletin on Saturday, March 17, 2007.