dake50

Do you intend some catchall continue-to-explore as NmF, Checkback, XYZ? Or natural rebids not reserving some rebid to explore? Rather a seat-of-the-pants scheme. Reserving some general exploring bid frees up other bids to be clear. Flesh it out that way seems best.

Does rebid 2H if that is available distinguish 8 with 5xH from opener values with rebiddable hearts? I think yes. Let X first show game try opposite useful 7.

because i DO have a rebid with 16-17 with a 5xM bal hand.

Backward strategy: Trying to make VUL opponents guess their game/partial when they only need about 38% to try game. Their decision should be to try the game with those odds. Preempts to push VUL into a 38% or better game don't pressure their decision. Whereas, opponents *nv*, they need a 46+% to try game. Now their decision is much more keen. Get in there against *nv*. This is converse of prevailing strategy to obstruct VUL opponents. That's what I mean by backwards strategy. Not emphasizing *nv* safe against VUL, but emphasizing the more keen decision when they are *nv*.

Strategy is backward. Original 1S thought was nearer. Get in there esp vs nv. quit low or game on is your systemic decisions. Give opponents -110/-140 compared to their 110/140 for 5IMP; 200 compared 420/140 (which?) for 1/6 IMP. They are almost forced to be game-trying not competing.

Unlucky! You got to 7S, C:5-0 and the opening C-lead was ruffed. Oops 5-0 clubs gets a C10 anyway. Unless red A (K setup on Opening lead) in dummy. Goulash is like that.

Wha-a-at? Y'all fear 6H when 5H bid had 4N,5C,5D to try for 6H??? This is a simple 5S-X nv compare to 5H VUL. 5S cheap, bid it.

How likely is that given that our side has at least 7 cards in spades and they have at least 8 cards in hearts? Without hindsight I would have been more worried that they have a cheap save in hearts against our likely spade game. -- Rainer Herrmann *** How likely is it that given 2D: MM and double intends penalty against at least one major that we won't find Sp:5-3 fit? AND keeping a rare bonanza when they step into Spades. I would hate the disaster of 4H failing against their 5xH in 2D when we had a penalty vs 2S/3S.

Raptor 1NT: 4xH with 5+ minor. Stops hand waits or dbls then NT.

The funniest ('funny' strange) system I've played AGAINST is tempo-adjusted StAm. eg. (hesitate) 1C p 1H p, 1NT:10-12 (in tempo) 1C p 1H p, 1NT:13-14 (hesitate) 1C p 1H (hesitate) p, 1NT:15-17 Three ways to show bal opener, all seeming the same auction. And responder knows what to continue on: 13? 11? 8?

Look at 'Yellow Rose of Texas'. Take those shapes out of 4NT quant. Now what system have you got for 5-3 minor suit slam try?

1m-1NT-, -X: 10 with MM: 4-3. 1M-1NT-, -X: 10 with 4oM.

I want to bid 4S, but your 3S might have intended to bounce them. Did it? No, then go 4S.

Is double here a 'good defense' support double? I try that. Why would this double be 'maxpass without fit'? Pure 'cards' hand just lets us defend unless partner reopens.

Jump other minor improves on Raptor 1NT: 4xH(unless 4xS over 1H) w 5+minor how? Or do you insist 1NT natural? Or Raptor not allowed?

Am I looking at the kiss-of-death Spade holding? Easy defense to get a couple Spade tricks and signal what next. I'm going tame Pass.

Systemically, my partner does not have 4+H with a S-singleton (T/O Dbl or Q-bid), nor 4+H with 5+D (Raptor 1NT), nor 15+. So I try 3C. Let me guess, your team's T/O Dbl got 3D response on D:4-2, doubled to run to 4C?

Consider.... xx ...... xxx :: AKJ10x ...... Qxx My count lead from 3 is lowest. Partner wins A, returns J to put declarer to an immediate guess. Known in NT contracts, but may be testing win Q now against discard on Q later. On other similar layouts top of nothing takes away these put-to-a-guess. I like count certainly shown on opening lead. Top of xx? xxx? xxxx? xxxxx? Which?

Let 1D be a 2nd step in your NT ladder: 1NT opener: 12-14 1D, 1NT rebid: 15-17 1C, 1NT rebid: 18-20 Also systemically take eg. 4441 w 15-18 to be shown by 1D opener and jump to show short. Or what ever else pains after 1C-force: eg. 15-18; mm, H+m. The jist being to clarify 1C rebids by putting some types of middling bal, 1-suiter, 2-suiter, 3-suiter into opening 1D. So making use of 1D rebids (esp. jumps) that lie undefined.

So 1D has minimum values T/O Dbl? That seems to plainly blab my hand when I take no space AND have only slight chance to win the contract. To have an anchor suit have 1D promise 4xS - rather like Raptor 1NT: 4+H with a 5+minor. Like 2D jump for 1-suiter source of tricks for 3NT YET little urge to explore anything else. Use 2C Q-bid as weak (< 13) T/O Dbl hand. Then Roman-like 2H for MM hands replacing Michaels Q-bid.

Theory is backward at IMP. nv vs VUL and VUL vs VUL they only need a 37.5+% (10::6IMP)to try their game (maybe up to 40% if double is possible). Conversely, VUL(nv) vs nv, they just have to make the right game decision (6::6). Their game payoff is at 45+%. Thus, if your system guards against too high VUL, opponents have a tougher game decision: 45%::38%. VUL light @IMP makes more sense. Just guard against too high. Little swings of -200 against -140 are acceptable. Win those -200 against -420/-620 game decisions. Especially against 1NT, THEY nv Is in it to win it. -90,+50,+100 all swing goodly for them - get in there. They VUL has the option to defend for +200 - a much dearer decision.

Instead of summing %-success cases, try %-failing. Seems that failing cases is a much easier calculation.

Even if I did on a regular basis, I'd be tired - just like I'd be tired running a 10K every day :) *** Nah, 10K is only 6.2 miles. That's only 42 miles per week.

5-hour energy drink. That stimulant is allowed. Other OTC caffeines? Have you tried blood-doping? Won't be caught. (sorry couldn't resist a dig on cycling) Fish oil for the brain: big doses up to 1 day before game day? Cardio between sessions - even as little as 20 min brisk walk. Get your body revved after much brain demand and sitting.

4NT = Invitational to slam, 5(332). Asks "Are you good in context?" So, are you? *** What would 4C,4D,4H then some rebid mean? Partner didn't do any of those. Is 'yellow rose of Texas' (Texas transfer and rebid to slam try) ON? So partner could have done that and his rebid now shows what to evaluate as golden. This 'in context' invite must be very distinct as no other try was chosen. I go 6NT. Mostly to keep my reputation for bidding 120% of slams.