thebiker

Original Pass for me After 1H bid 2NT (good limit raise to 3H) - no "dreary Drury" for us brits - why would 4th hand be on the game? (Suppose 3D fit jump is also possibility but suit guality is not great) regards Brian Keable alias "thebiker"

In my regular partnerships, we use modified Rubensohl as a partial counter to two level overcalls over our weak no trump openers. Say the bidding goes: 1NT (2C) 2NT is used as Stayman 3C Transfer to D 3D Transfer to H 3H Transfer to S 3S Raise to game no C stop (no 4 card major) 3NT Raise to game with C stop (no four card major) The 2NT response promises a 4 card major. 2NT can ask if opener has a C stop and if he has a 4 card major In the majority of cases, a satisfactory landing place is found, but whenever both responder and opener have no club stopper and a 4-4 major fit does not exist, one either has to play in a poor 3NT (with no club stops) or try to stop in an appropriate 3-4 fit if one can be found. It gets worse if the opponents overcall in higher suits than clubs My question is what do other pairs do who play Rubensohl? Do they philosophically accept an occassional disaster, or do they have elaborate methods for finding 3-4 4-3 fits to overcome the problems? Do they perhaps give up on looking for 4-4 major fits and punt 3NT more than others? As a subsidary question, would it worth using takeout doubles of two level overcalls, as another means of trying to find sensible contracts, and reduce the use of Staymanic bid such as 2NT above to being Stayman but promising a stop in openers suit thank you in advance for your advice/input regards Brian Keable alias "thebiker"

I am interested in how players in different countries play responses to one no trump overcalls ie (1X) 1NT (P) ?? I play in England, and most of my friends play 2C Stayman, 2D and 2H Red suit transfers and little else. Because the majority of English players are still playing 4 card (and occasionally 3 card) majors this seems to work reasonably well, we find our major suit fits, and now and then manage to manage to make the openers major our own. Doubtless in a 5 card major environment, there are other methods?? Are there two methods in use: One for (1Mi) 1NT (P) ? and another for (1Ma) 1NT (P) ? thanks in advance for your replies regards Brian Keable alias "the biker"

Hi I would be interested to know how other players counter a Multi Landy 2D bid (normally showing a 6 card major) after they have opened 1NT (weak) What are the best ways (your way) of using an immediate double and a delayed double? (a) 1NT (2D) X? or (b) 1NT (2D) Pass (2Ma) P P X? © 1NT (2D) P 2NT 3Ma P X? thank you in advance for your answers regards Brian Keable (alias "thebiker")

I have just returned from Poland (european open championships) where I bought a book on Polish Club WJ05 A modern version of the Polish Club - written by Krzysztof Jassem translated into English bu Daniel J Neill After reading it a couple of times I concluded that there was no mention of how to open 4414 hands - particularly in the range 12-17 HCP A 1D opener shows 4+ diamonds 1Ma shows 5 cards in the major 1C is either a weak no trump or 18+ or a 15-17 hand with 5 clubs Have I missed something ? What do WJ05 players open with 4414 hands in the range 12-17? thank you in advance for your replies regards Brian Keable alias "the biker"

Thats sounds a very interesting idea Perhaps you could give some examples of sequences that you use over reverses such as 1C 1H 2D, 1C 1S 2D, 1C 1S 2H. Thanls Brian Keable alias "thebiker"

Imagine the following scenario: You are non vul v vul opponents playing imps or total points Partner Oppo 1 You Oppo 2 1C (say) X XX 1S (say) You have something like AQT9,KQTx, AJTx,x You lick your lips with anticipation at the juicy penalty from 1Sx that is about to come when partner bids 2C to tell you he is sub-minimum for his opening bid! So you miss the juicy penalty and merely get the game bonus What went wrong? Would it have been better not to redouble in third seat, and prevent your partner from bidding again on rubbish and just waiting until the oppo gave you the chance to make a 110% penalty double when the bidding came back to you? My question is does anyone play this way ? ie not redoubling with huge hands to prevent partner from getting in the way? thank you in advance for your answers/comments Brian Keable alias "thebiker"

Say the bidding goes 1C P 1H P 2D P ? What does a 2H Bid by responder show? In most of the sources I have seen, I'm told it is natural and F1 - a fairly vague answer So presumably this means it shows at least 5 hearts, and what sort of values? What would be the minimum point count and the maximum point count? Would anyone care to describe how they play this bid and give some examples of suitable hands? Lets assume that one also has a negative bid available (2NT Ingberman, or 2S if playing Blackout) Assume that one is playing a natural system, and that opener has now shown longer clubs (5+) than diamonds (4+) and extra values ie 16+ Thanks in advance for your answers Brian Keable alias "thebiker"

Suppose partner and I have the following arrangements after s sequence such as 3Mi (X) (a) 3Mi (X) 3NT means (1)I may have the values for a punt at 3NT or (2) I am interested in saving in 5Mi if the oppenents bid game but only if partner has a genuine prempt with 7+ trumps Presumably if we had discussed this then the 3NT bid should be alerted? (b) 3Mi (X) 4Mi means I am lying in wait for the oppo to bid on, and may be looking to take a penalty and partner is not permitted to bid on Under the current alerting rules ie alert bids below the 4 level, our side is a a total disadvantage if we employ method (a) We have to alert and if the oppo are interested we have to tell them we are probably on the game, without them having to employ any skill in working that ou for themselves If we use method (b) where we are setting a trap for the opponents - no alert is needed, and even when the opponents ask the meaning of our bid, we only have to answer something like "competitive" Now look at things the other way Suppose we reverse the meanings of the two sequences © 3Mi (X) 3NT being either to make or the trap Do we have to alert? After all both options would require values. So if we were questioned about things we wont have to give a complete explanation "values" would be adeguate, the oppo would have to take their chances if they bid on (d) 3Mi (X) 4Mi) Looking for the save. No requirement to alert (above 3NT) and if the opponents do ask the meaning - an answer of "competitive" or "preemptive" would probably be adeguate (but full disclosure would be unlikely) The point I am trying to make in a roundabout way is when Alerting is necessary below an arbitary level - in this case the 4 level ? If alerting is necessary why not any any level or perhaps below 3NT only or maybe not at all? In the case where alerting was played as only operational below 3NT there would be absolutely no way the opponents would be given a headstart warning about what ones methods were about. Now that might not be fair and not full disclosure but it would make the game more interesting and would probably bring more into line with the way it is played at many levels of the game If any one does reply to this query - I would be interested to know if they play method (a) and whether or not they have ever alerted the sequence 3Mi (X) 3NT and whether they have ever met opponents who alerted that situation? thank you in advance for any replies regards thebiker

I understand that (1C) Pass (1S) 2S is often played as natural since the 1S bid may often made on only 4 spades but (1C) 1H (1S) is a different start point. Many people who play negative doubles always use double to show 4 spades , and have at least 5 spades when they come in over the overcaller, so why should 4th hand want to bid 2S as a natural bid when spades are known to be breaking rather badly regards Brian Keable alias "thebiker"

I understand that (1C) Pass (1S) 2S is often played as natural since the 1S bid may often made on only 4 spades but (1C) 1H (1S) is a different start point. Many people who play negative doubles always use double to show 4 spades , and have at least 5 spades when they come in over the overcaller, so why should 4th hand want to bid 2S as a natural bid when spades are known to be breaking rather badly regards Brian Keable alias "thebiker"

I have just read my Xmas copy of "the Complete Book on Overcalls" by Mike Lawrence (the updated version) An excellent book One thing puzzles me (1D) 1H (1S) 2S? ML says that 2S should be natural Why is that? In the UK we would play it as cue bid raise of some sort for hearts As ML's audience is probably North American - what is the reason fo playing 2S as natural? Something special about the 1S bid?? A possible pysche? or?? Another point: nowhere as far as I can tell does ML mention Fit Jumps as possible responses to overcalls Does this mean that in North America fit jumps are not perhaps as well known / popular as in the UK (and possibly Europe) Thank you in advance for any answers regards Brian Keable alias "thebiker"

An interesting idea originally from English expert David Burn is to play double as two-way ie Takeout or Penalty The theory is that the opponents normally tell you whether the opener has hearts or spades If they run - it was a penalty double - otherwise a takeout double Yes they could double cross you but they are already in a doubled contract so probably won't regards Brian Keable alias "thebiker"

I am well aware that there are regional differences I would like to know what expect standard is in various places As yet we have insufficent replies to persuade me that your views are "expert" I am not complaining - however I consider that your latest reply was bordering on being rude

Didnt see that this helped? I'm not playing 2C 2D as waiting - but as a negative Maybe oldfashioned but in the UK many of us play 2D as negative (sometimes might be a waiting bid) and make positives regards the biker

Lets suppose you play the following style of responses after the sequence 2C 2D 2NT 3C Stayman or 5card Stayman 3D/3H Transfer 3S Minors How do you organise your responses after 2C 2Ma 2NT Is system still on, or do you revert to natural responses? What do you think is "expert" standard in this situation?? Does it vary from region to region? Ie in North America or Europe or Great Britain For the purpose of this discussion assume 2C Big Hand 2D negative response 2Ma natural positive response many thanks in advance for your views Brian Keable aka "the biker" 2NT

QUOTE] barmar Posted on May 12 2010, 10:24 PM I don't see the benefit of the balancer having to lead. Against a strong NT, balancer should have a weak hand, they're betting on their partner to be sitting over the NT hand with most of their side's points. It doesn't pay to balance with a good hand, because most of your points are sitting under the strong NT hand, reducing their value. So if you're going to compete, it's still a good idea to get opener to declare, so the strong opponent has to lead

One partner and I play Rubensohl in the following situation after 1NT is overcalled 1NT (2X) 2NT upwards are transfers - Rubensohl style So 1NT (2S) 2NT Trf to 3C 3C Trf to 3D 3D Trf to 3H etc I have always played that in the Rubensohl did not apply if 1NT was passed by responder and then 4th hand protected ie 1NT (P) P (2S) say P (P) ? 2NT competitive - both minors 3C or 3D natural I thought that this was our agreement and also the way the majority of players would play in this situation Recently partner told me that we had no such agreement and that standard Rubensohl transfers should still apply in this situation. Clearly we alone have to sort our agreement out, but I would be interested to know the views of other players? My main reasons for playing as above are: (1) We gain the use of 2NT as a competitive bid (2) by playing 3C and 3D as natural we get the benefit of the overcaller having to lead away from their holdings Thank you in advance for your input/views Brian Keable alias "thebiker"

I have recently begun trying to understand the Ambra system. I have a copy of Version 2.6 (orginally devised by contributions from: Benito Garozzo, Davide Tavoschi, Ron Klinger,Daniel Neill,Sharon Guy,Gijs van Haarlem) I would be interested to know if there are any BBO players who are knowledgeable about this system - its often difficult to work out some of the sequences and possible omissions in the text. It would be useful to know if this system was still being actively developed, by whom and how one might be able to update from version 2.6 thank you in advance best regards Brian Keable alias "thebiker"

Here is the hand opposite the problem hand 2D ? P ?? ♠QXX ♥987XXX ♦X ♣TXX Both auctions started with a double Both tables ended up in 4H -4 . -200 at one table, -1100 at another 3NT would not make once defence worked out to switch to hearts Spades were 5-1 with a singleton J in the 2D hand Thank you all for your suggestions/theories - A very difficult hand not just for the players at the table, but many others at their keyboards the biker Brian Keable

IMP Vul versus NVul Dealer opens 2D weak Your hand ♠KT9x ♥- ♦AKxx ♣AKQxx Your move ? regards thebiker Brian Keable

Thank you all for your replies My reason for posing that question what should East do, was a follows: East (who is a friend of mine, I was South) doubled and 4S made up 1. East did not get much sympathy from his team - mates - and I wondered whether or not he was right to double and how much support he would get from the panel In the other room our teammates bid a no play diamond slam - with two top hearts missing and a potential heart ruff. The contact made on the wrong lead The 4 hands were somthing like this: North JTxxxxx Axx - Txxx West East - A Qxx JT9xx Jxxx AKQxx AQJxxx Kx South KQxxxx Kx xxxx x A really freaky hand Was my friend East's double so bad? regards Brian Keable alias "thebiker"

Playing IMPs the bidding goes East (you) South West North 1H 1S 2C 4S ?? Back to you NS are vulnerable EW are not You are playing 4 card majors, weak no trump. A new suit at the 2 level normally shows a minimum of 10 HCP or the distributional equivalent Your hand is A, JT9xx, AKQxx, Kx Your move? (note pass would not be forcing under your methods) thank you in advance for your answers regards Brian Keable alias "thebiker"