bluecalm

I didn't except this answer (2♣) so I need to change hands a bit o illustrate the problem I had in mind. What about 2-4-5-2 with 15-16hcp ? Say something like: Ax KJxx AKxxx xx Ax KQxx AKxxx xx ?

Wow. In standard system 1♦ - 2♠ is strong so you have to bid 1♠ with every 6 spades. Then you promise 16hcp (or 15) by reversing, responder could still have his 4hcp or w/e for 1♠ and you are forced to play at 3level ? I mean seriously ? The situation is a bit better in OP's system as he can't have 6♠ and weak hand but in "standard" ?

It was pointed out that I should educate myself as to reverses so I am reading this great thread :) My question is: If you play "strong reverse" as you call it what do you bid with: x AJxx AKJxx Qxx or: x AJxx AKJxx QJx after: 1♦ - 1♠ ????

2♠. Not forcing. Partner passes with minimum, bid 2NT with extras, wtp? No matter what's the system after forcing 2♠ the bidding won't magically come back to that partscore. I think forcing 2♠ violates basic bidding principles. We don't have balance of force to go higher than 2NT after reverse and 2♠ is last possible partscore below that. The only other way to be able to stop in 2NT/below would be to play 2♠ as forcing and 2NT as not forcing but this is inferior (I think it's clear why ?).

I have no idea. Simulations won't help me on this one either. Awaiting replies as well...

I think 2♠ should be non-forcing. I mean, what are you going to do with: KQTxx xx xx xxxx ? I see forcing 2♠ as masterminding a system which is both inferior and require artificiality. Not for me. 1♦ 1♠ 2♥ 2NT should be forcing though and can be used as either some kind of general ask or lebensohl. There are many schemes available.

Obviously he won't be happy playing 3NT. I think the plan is to bid 4♦ after 3NT and be in good position to make grand slam move. For example: 2♥ 3♥ pass 3NT pass 4♦ pass 4NT (to play) pass 5♥ hoping partner cuebids his A♣ now.

Yes, assuming standard meaning of 2♠ (limit+) we are not in FP. This is why many players incorporate different bids for exactly limit and gf. Some of them add a bid for mixed raise too. The thing is that if you play standard 2/1 in competition is forcing one round, so: 1♥ - 1♠ -3♣/3♦/3♥ might all be used for different purposes. One scheme could be: 2♠ = limit raise 3♣ = game forcing raise 3♦ = mixed raise 3♥ = purely preemptive This is one area of bidding where I think standard shines comparing to what I like to play (NFB's so jumps have to be natural and strong).

Some polish players play that double at 3level is game forcing (Lesniewski, Martens) although I am not really sure how far they take it. I know they can't stop in 3♠ after 3x overcall but dunno about 4m. I really want to have natural 4NT here playing standard. I mean if somehow 18-19 balanced is not part of 1♦ then we could use it for different purposes but as it is it seems to be the most common strong hand type and I wonder what would one bid not having natural 4NT there.

Also how the hell is it posted in B/I forum :)

In my opinion this style is not only much better but also much easier/safer to play. The reason is that you avoid very awkward balancing situation as well as situations when you first pass and then feel you should somehow show your strong hand. You often penalize partner for his light overcall in the process. For example if you pass with after 1♦. KTxx ATxx xxx Ax and it goes: 1♦ pass - 1♥ - 1♠ 3♦ ??? Here you wouldn't be comfortable bidding only 3♠ but going to game may result in -500 and opponents are in good position to judge it. The same goes for overcalls. It's better to overcall at first opportunity than balance at higher level or worse jump around after partner's action. In short: bid at the first opportunity and then shut up unless you have something really exceptional.

There is also a way to find out about shortness in both hands as well as make help suit game try. 1♠ - 2♠ ???? 2NT = I don't have shortness but maybe you have ? 3♣/3♦/3♥ = shortness in bid suit ! after: 1♠ - 2♠ 2NT - ??? 3♣ = I don't have shortness 3♦/3♥/3♠ = I have shortness in ♦/♥/♣ 1♠ - 2♠ 2NT - 3♣ ???? 3♦/3♥/3♠ = I have help suit game try in: ♦/♥/♣ I've never play this way as I am not big fan of fancy stuff but it seems like the best way to combine various game tries if you want to do that.

I've seen this many times but I am not sure if it's the best way to play. I have two reasons for this: 1)Even if we have hand below invitation we still want to find spades 5-4 so we gain on hands when partner has 4♠ 2)I think we lose very rarely. The sequence: 1♥ - 1♠ - 2m - 2♥ promises only two hearts but is quite wide ranging (6-10hcp basically) so partner will be afraid to pass being too heavy (ie. with 15hcp he will strain to bid if he has nice hand imo and definitely he will be very afraid to pass with 16's). That means we won't miss a game too often especially if our hand is weakish (I guess 9's are the worst in general). We may also find a game other people won't as: 1♥ - 1♠ - 2m - 2♥ - 2♠ locates our 5-3♠ fit which people bidding 1♥ - 2♥ will miss. I haven't made any serious analysis on the matter but my feelings are that maybe this part of standard understanding should be reviewed. It's one thing which always bothered me somehow so I would be happy if you (or anybody else) could comment on this.

It makes sense that 4♠ makes slightly more often in your simul as in mine ATxx/KTxx of spades were not allowed. I wonder what are the best constraints and what is the best way to find those 3nt's. Maybe just focusing on trump suit quality is good even without other considerations. One more simul: Opener is 15-17, any 4-4-3-2. Spades : Axxx/Kxxx/Qxxx/Jxxx/xxxx/QTxx/JTxx (still weaker than hanp's assumptions). 4♠ = 65% 3NT = 83% Together with previous result about 4-3-3-3's it looks like considerable edge even without involving any kind of judgment. Just look at trumps and bid accordingly.

Actually not raising with 3 to 2M is modern view :lol:

If opener is 4-3-3-3 with the following spade configurations allowed: Axxx/Kxxx/Qxxx/Jxxx/QTxx/JTxx/xxxx then: 3NT - 92% !!! 4♠ - 59% So yeah... it looks like you are on to something here... I need to make some more research but maybe my assumption about 4-3-3-3 being auto pass is off and it's better to base the decision on trump suit quality instead of shape.

Most strong pass systems don't use precise 1suit openers. They are usually alternative like the scheme I described above or some either short or long scheme.

I think 4-3-3-3 is auto pass. I am not sure about other shapes but I think partner is allowed to pass with 4-4-3-2 weak trumps and strong doubleton. As to your decision it looks very bizarre to me. I am not 100% convinced it's bad though. Opposite 15-17 4-3-3-3 you make 4♠ 72% of the time and 3NT 61% of the time according to my simple simul.

The problem is that if I don't double I often face very difficult decision later. For example: 1♦ pass 1NT pass pass ???? We can have 9card major fit but we could go for 800 as opponents are in good position to apply penalty. Wasn't it better to double round before ? 1♦ pass 3♦ pass pass ??? Are you willing to reopen now ? Aren't you afraid of playing 4♣ on trumps 5-2 ? Wasn't it better to double round before ? 1♦ pass 1♥ pass 3♦ pass pass pass Are you happy ? If yes, what about this one: 1♦ pass 1♥ pass 2♦ pass pass pass 9card spade fit just chilling nearby as they take their +90 in diamonds... It's difficult to win at bridge if you pass with 4-4 majors and 12 count... I don't even consider this borderline double. Take away J♥ and one ten and we are talking about borderline.

You are throwing imps/mp's away if you bid 4♠ with 3 of them imo no matter rest of the hand. It's not like you are happy to play 4-3 fit becaue of ♥xx as your ruffs will be with honors. Why not just bid systemic 2NT, you have 18-19 balanced afterall. Fits perfectly.

As Gerben said the strongest point is good narrow range, aggressive openers. The weakest point is PASS itself as it's very difficult to bid after that in competition (precison or polish club may be difficult but PASS is much much worse). For the record here are openings from classic fp system "lambda" created by Lukasz Slavinsky: PASS = 13+any 1♣ = 8-12, balanced or very weird hansd (7-4 etc) 1♦ = 0-7any 1♥ = 8-12 2suiter; "divided" suits (♠ + ♦ or ♥+♣) 1♠ = 8-12 2suiter, reds or blacks 1NT = 8-12 2suiter majors or minors 2♣/2♦/2♥/2♠ = 8-12 one suiter That's basic version. It's very easy system to learn and play (there are few basic rules about relays and responding (responses are natural, 2nd relay is gf etc.) and after PASS you use the same system basically). After a while it's quite natural to use. I think it's simpler than sayc :( Imagine your club opponents facing that though...

I disagree with that. I think it's common failing to bid stayman with 4-3-3-3. I am not bidding stayman ith 4-3-3-3 even after 1NT opening (where it's easy to have a system which discovers 4-3-3-3 opposite 4-3-3-3) because I think giving away information to opponents outweights any possible gains from accurate bidding in this case. After 2NT I am pretty sure bidding anything but 3NT with any 4-3-3-3 is just bad bridge.

Are you guys serious about not doubling with S hand ? It would not occur to me that one may pass this hand actually :( I also think passing is pretty bad.

1♦ - dbl - pass - 6♥ Hearts will often play better as there will be spade discards. Such bids are discussed all the time at this forum ;)

Yes, you are right. Maybe the field was very weak ?