dake50

What hands does partner pass: 'up to you, partner' on? Which bid before me? Now, I can 'see' witch hands are possible for partner. So what I do cooperatively.

Clubs in a max-pass 'useful hand'. So at least D-Hx if C-HHxxx. D-xx iff CAKQxx. Max-pass not D-tolerant doubles. But 2S?? could be just 6xS.

We have 6+16(+) of 30 working points in SpadesDiaClubs. 6D on or 4HX-3. Pick. WTP?

Try xfer advances here. Always a 2nd bid if wanted. Super-accept finds that fit to advance/not. Refuse xfer is very unusual hand: 5-5-3-0, 7-4-1-1 eg. I think this handles the weak signoff hand, the 2-suiter, the help suit raise, and adds an immediate raise to contrast a xfer raise. And freeing 'above xfers' to be picture bids.

Jump the Heart + 2nd suit hands. The Spade + 2nd hands then slowly/later jump explore. Opponents Spade fit obstruct/barrage are then defused. We know our fit(s) immediately and can bid Spades at level they go. Fewer cases to consider whatever they do.

As hrothgar, what do you expect from 2C? A source of tricks if partner can punt 3N? Then it's excellent. A space taker when they have majors to barrage 2C, 3C+? Again excellent. A constructive bid to find our best game, slam? Much poorer.

Can I also do a stop card only when weak? Can I ask only when strong? Must I ask every alert so opponents never get mistaken about what they are doing because the explanation jars memory? I want to know their sequences before play to never ask. This should be detailed write-ups supplementary to the convention card. I can look for Jacoby rebids, NY escapes, eg.

4N. If 1xA, 5D. If 2-3A, 6D.

1. Did partner know my 1NT denied 4cM and too weak for inverted minor raise? Y=Pass. 2. Double at any scoring. Do they have S-tricks? not if 'good' suit. H-tricks? not if I'm looking at AKJ. C-tricks? thru KQ maybe. Surprise if they make even 9 tricks.

Get this essential asking done lower in auction. Even if a bid is reserved just for slam asks initiator.

Typical to heave all strong(or weak, but forced) into a catchall bid, intending more clarity in non-catchall bids. Systemically this makes sense, but always a cost for the lost 'natural' bid. I like a Herbert-like 1st step may be 'stay low. partner' so others promise some values. 1NT is too valuable to replace as catchall, trying, if no future in this hand, to play 1NT (until doubled). The need for 1NT (F1) in OC-structure was a rare bid as the expected simple OC was much weaker. The hand trying to run was likely, but why run before axe?

Is RHO 4C looking at 0-1 spades so encouraging 5C sac likely? Yup, that sways me SA, run SJ.

So, an indexing function to a 'data base' of bal GF hands. Add an index function for 4x singletons; 4x voids; 6x 2-suiters. With, of course, re-indexing that modified data base, eg. bal except for single Spade, or 2-suiter with single Spade. A theoretical exercise I enjoy. But esoteric except to information theorists, isn't it ?

Don't I have other forces available? jump cue eg. Can I use this to get best choice on 5-7 4-4M? No continue? How about 5-5M 4-5? Would 2N force by either partner? Expect to show suits next? Isn't 3M clearer if cheap cue is allowed?

I think this is a simple recognition that of three ways to have tricks to support partner: ruffs(splinter), long side suit(help suit/fit bids), honor tricks may be sure winners(value raise) or scattered developers (mixed raise). Which way tricks are helping partner is FA-A-R more valuable than 'how many pieces?' I remember 30Y ago this 'mixed' idea. Usu as 'devalue because one of your 2xQ isn't working' so not up to a min GF.

Best guess after opponents were so kind: 3NT. Having Kxx in partner's suit, Axx tempo(holdup) stop in opponents suit, and only 4S if 4-4 might be inferior game.

Partner bid my worst Major, opponents bid their worser Major. I showed my big club suit. Leave this decision to partner.

Interesting if pard superaccepts. Shall I fake cue a Major Ace trying to steal 6D? Where S(H)-losers go on Club tops. Imagine that.

AS awm, I won't be out stupided, yet may be outsmarted by a clever call.

I too, play forcing passes here, BUT FP announces Spade tolerance/fit. Here that's what I do. Switch S/H, then X. I think this is good enough to remove partner's X to 5D, hope 15+ is all outside clubs with 3xA and he slams, or 2xA with 5D/5S on.

Xfers on in competition into all 4 suits (into their suit asks opener's direction). With super accepts, and rejects/breaks and a guaranteed rebid, continuing decisions become well informed. Eg. show S, then nt tells partner where to go if 1-stop is too few. 2-suiters are no-problem (if space permits) rebids. Jumps above xfers show good long suits. Jump cue asks stop where resp places the contract failing 3N.

gwnn, Bust opposite 2N IS AN UNANSWERABLE WIN for 1C force. Try to find 0-4hcp hands where "the vast majority" (= gwnn test) is not a win by staying a trick lower. So that meets the gwnn criteria for 'unaswerable win'.

On this auction, Partner has Hearts; RHO has Spades; I have K+K+K behind RHO; 6-5 distribution; as last gasp even Kx if partner can rebid long Hearts. This is GF hand start bidding out my shape 3C now, 4D next, unless partner goes for H-slam (okay for that). I even think a Spade exclusion ask may be warranted after 4D and 4H from partner. Surely if 3C gets 4C raise.

To gwnn, Of course if you posit the 1C system is foolish enough to get just as high as 2N openers, you're correct: NO advantage. That non-sequitor always holds --if I, an effigy inventor, say what happens to a superior method then it won't be superior. The fact is lower can/should be an advantage v high catching zip. I've heard the same type argument for Flannery has slam tries after 2N response(eg.) wins since other methods WON'T HAVE SLAM TRIES! Astounding! I assure you my partnership ends in 1NT. Maybe 2-suit if long suit responder. At least 1 trick lower than 2NT auction can stop. Further GF values are still found; slams are still explored. The higher level opener cannot match up unless it is *NOT* FACING A BUST. That IS an unanswerable (not by an effigy) gain for 1C force. Maybe you know some 1C force methods which choose to give this advantage back, but it their system MIS-choice not inherent in 1C-force.

Partner can direct this hand.