olien

For minimum information leakage, you might consider something like this: 1NT - 2♣: 2♦ - no 4M 2♥ - 4+♥, not 4333 2♠ - 4+♠, not 4333 and denies 4♥ 2NT - (43)33 After 1NT - 2♣ // 2♦, can use 2♠ as GF Relay and keep 2♥ as garbage stayman (or whatever you prefer). Assume 2♠ GF Relay, but if not can shift these bids down 1 step: 2NT - 4+♣ (3♣ relay --> 3334 / 3325 / 3235/ 2335) 3♣ - 4/4 minors (3♦ relay --> LH doubleton) 3♦ - 3343 3♥ - 3352 3♠ - 3253 3NT - 2353 After 1NT - 2♣ // 2♥ - 2♠ (GF Relay): 2NT - 4♠-4♥ (3♣ Relay --> 3♦=44(32); 3♥=4441; 3♠=4414) 3♣ - 4♥-4♣ (3♦ relay --> 3♥=3424; 3♠=2434; 3NT=1444) 3♦ - (2)44(3) 3♥+ - 5♥ 1NT - 2♣ // 2♠ - 2NT (GF Relay): 3♣ - 4♠-4♣ (3♦ relay --> 3♥=4324; 3♠=4234; 3NT=4144) 3♦ - 4243 or 4342 3♥+ - 5♠ 1NT - 2♣ // 2NT should be pretty self explanatory. Could even do 2NT as min and 3♣ as max. This would allow responder to bid stayman with 4333 and nobody reveals major when both 4333.

This is why I think a player should be required to ask about the meaning of any alert in a competitive auction. Otherwise a failure to ask typically expresses a 'weak' hand with no interest in competing.

I asked an acbl director about when puppet stayman is alertable and got the following response: "Any club bid over a natural notrump opening that asks for a major is not alertable unless it is a jump."

I think there are notes on Dan Neill's site: www.bridgewithdan.com/systems

Pretty common in these partnerships to play: 1H - 8-11 hcp, <5♠ 1S - 8+ hcp, 5+♠ 1NT - 12+ hcp 5+♥ However, I believe that Kranyak-Demuy play that 1S is 12+ 5+M with relay continuations. Not sure what Bathurst-Moss were playing. Their partnership was a last minute arrangement, so I imagine their stuff was relatively basic in terms of meck lite.

Is partner expected to pull 3NT with AJxxx Kx AQxxx x? If not, I want to relay as 6m is on 1 of 2 finesses while 3NT may need more.

All 12 of my points are working. Qx of spades is nice and my DJ is even backed us by the 10 and with some length

We do this because it got scary responding 1NT semi-forcing with unbalanced 3-card limit raises. This way, at least both hands will be mostly balanced if opener passes.

My junior partner and I play a very similar style (2NT exactly LR with 3+, etc). Except for 2NT to be only 3-card support, the hand must also contain either a singleton or a side 6-card suit. Opener's re-bids over 2NT are as follows: 3♣ - asking for a good side suit 3♦ - some splinter, need perfecto 3M - attempted sign off 3oM/3NT/4♣ - LMH splinter, real slam tries 4M - to play After the 1M - 2NT // 3♣ asking bid, responder's bids are as follows: 3♦ - no 3♥ - good ♣ suit (now 3♠ asks for NLH SPL.) 3♠ - good ♦ suit (now 3NT asks for NLH SPL.) 3NT/4♣/4♦ - good OM, NLH SPL After 1M - 2NT // 3♣ - 3♦, 3♥ by opener asks again and the following steps are used: 3♠ - 4-card LR 3NT+ - 3-card limit raise, NLMH SPL May not be best, but has worked well for us and gotten us to some well fitting slams. May be a way to distinguish 3 and 4-card support and good side suit or not, but we haven't been able to develop such a way. Hope this helps.

Excuse me aguahombre, but we were just trying to add some entertainment during the "boring" hands. If you have some constructive criticism, it would be much appreciated. Commentating is not the easiest tthng, its a fine balance between entertainment and what the commentators are dealt (for lack of a better term).

The structure I play is based on what Fredin-Lindkvist play(ed): 1♠ - 2♣: 2♦ = 4+♣, 5(332), or 5(440) ....2♠ = 5(332) or 5(440) ........3♣ = 5(332) ........3♦+ = 5(440) ....2NT+ = 4+♣ 2♥ = 4+♦ 2♠ = 6+♠ 2NT = 5+♠ 5+♥ 3♣ = 5+♠ 4♥ 0-1♦ 3♦ = 5=4=2=2 3♥ = 5=4=3=1 3♠ = 6=4=2=1 3NT = 6=4=3=0 In general, this has worked well for us.

Then at which point do you establish an average? Some things could end up skewed: i.e. the tournament favourites may have a more difficult schedule at the beginning which would artificially deflate their average, while a weak team may have an easy schedule at the beginning artificially inflating their average.

What about reversing openers bids over 2NT where: 3♣ shows 3+D or C doubt; 3♦ shows 5404 3NT shows 5413 or 5422 with CHx Want to play 3NT when 3-3 in clubs regardless of stopper. Over opener's 3♣ bid, can play natural continuations, or relay...so many options but this particular switch seems obvious on a frequency basis

The structure I posted is similar to what wooldridge and hurd play over a natural 1♠ response. As for the 'bazilli' I referenced, the 1NT rebid includes strong hands

I agree with all of the posts which suggest playing transfer-oriented rebids after a KI 1♠ response as follows: 1NT = 4+♦ or BAL 2♣ = 4+♣ 2♦ = 6+♥ 2♥ = 4+♠ 5+♥ NF 2♠ = natural reverse There have also been past threads suggesting a structure similar to Gazilli in this auction but, to reflect the difference, I believe it was named bazilli

Alright. Will take this into consideration. However, it is difficult to assess how valuable this is without lots of hands of experience (and bidding room doesn't help). I know how great it is to disclose less information about your hand to the opponents. I realize that allowing a 4cM in the 2♣ opening negates any advantage. Will try out both. Hopefully I can convince my partner to try your version first and if he really doesn't like it, then we'll have to figure something out. But, I think I'll be able to convince him otherwise. Thank You for your help. P.S. if the opponents interfere, do you recommend penalty X's?

If you read more carefully, my 'compromise' is that a 2♣ opening can be 6♣-4M. So, your statement about possibly being 4=3=0=6 is incorrect. Can be 4=4=0=5. My compromise is as follows: 1♦ a) 11-13 HCP Balanced, b) 11-15 HCP any 4441 or 5m(440), c) 11-15 HCP 5+♦ 4M or d) 11-15 HCP 5♣ 4M 1M 11-15 HCP 5+M 1NT 14-16 HCP balanced 2♣ 11-15 HCP a) 6+♣ MAY HAVE 4M, or b) 5+♣ 4♦ 2♦ 11-15 HCP a) 6+♦ NO 4M, or b) 5+♦ 4+♣ After 2♣-2♦: 2♥ single-suited (now 2♠=GFR and on track with symmetric) 2♠ 5+♣ 4♦ (now 2NT=GFR and symmetric+1) 2NT 4♥ 3♣ 4♠ min 3♦ 4♠ max 3M 5-card M After 2♦-2♥: 2♠ single-suited (now 2NT=GFR and symmetric+1) 2NT+ 5+♦ 4+♣ and symmetric+1 So, now you can see the compromise (I hope).

So 2♣ is basically wilkosz or a strong 2♣ opening? Seems like fun :) and what a demented mind you have to think of this :P

So, before this goes too far off topic, my partner is not exactly a proponent of this method. Not because he thinks the openings are poor, but because he doesn't like 1♦ becoming 0+. I know that in practice this 1♦ opening becomes better defined than playing a 2♣ opening = 6+ and 2♦ = 3-suited short ♦, because there are fewer hand types. He also doesn't like that a 1♦ opening can include very long ♣ with 4M Our current opening structure is as follows: 1♣ Strong (16+ HCP) 1♦ Catchall 11-15 HCP 1M 11-15 HCP 5+M 1NT 14-16 HCP balanced 2♣ 11-15 HCP 6+♣, may have 4M 2♦ 11-15 HCP (43)=1=5, 4=4=1=4, 4=4=0=5 2NT 19-20 HCP balanced So, 1♦ really includes many hand types. However, I'm trying to convince him that changing is an improvement. So, I was actually working on a compromise that looks as follows: 1♦ balanced 11-13, 4M-5+♦, 4M-5♣, any 4441, any 5m(440) 2♣ 11-15 HCP 5+♣ 4♦ or 6+♣ (may have 4M) 2♦ 11-15 HCP 5+♦ 4+♣ or 6+♦ (no 4M) Over a 2♣ opening, a 2♦ response is a relay (which if wclass___ is not a proponent of, if he could please explain why). Over the 2♦ response: 2♥ 1-suiter (then 2♠=GFR) 2♠ 5+♣ 4♦ (now 2NT=GFR, and symmetric+1) 2NT 6+♣ 4♥ 3♣ 6+♣ 4♠ min 3♦ 6+♣ 4♠ max 3M 5M I'm not sure if I like this structure or not, but its a result of trying to compromise with my partner. Over a 2♦ opening, a 2♥ response is the relay and then: 2♠ 6+♦ (now 2NT=GFR at symmetric+1) 2NT+ 5+♦ 4+♣ at symmetric+1 Not sure if this is any good, or if the compromise is worthwhile. Some input regarding competitive auctions after opening 1♦ which can be 4M-5+m, any 3-suiter, or balanced 11-13 would be welcome Thanks

In the context of a precision base with the following opening structure: 1♣ 16+ HCP any or 17+ HCP Balanced 1♦ a) Balanced 11-13, b) any 3-suiter no 5M 11-15 HCP, or c) 4M 5+m 11-15 HCP 1M 5+M 11-15 HCP 1NT 14-16 HCP Balanced 2♣ 11-15 HCP 6+♣ or 5+♣ 4♦ 2♦ 11-15 HCP 6+♦ or 5+♦ 4♣ What does one open with 5+/5+ minors? I know this opening structure has been discussed before, but have not been able to find the answer to my question in prior threads and I apologize in advance if it has been answered. Thanks

If you want a mix of natural and artificiality over an opponents strong club, you might consider a defence that I've heard called 'psycho-suction' where a suit bid shows either the suit you're bidding or the next two suits and notrump bids show non-touching suits. That being said, I am also a fan of bidding naturally and having partner be able to freely raise my suit knowing that its a real suit. Meckwell play X for the majors and notrump for the minors over a strong club and they are clearly not afraid of complexity, so if its good enough for them, its good enough for me.

Yes, they've given up 3M as the stopper ask. And the leaping michaels hands go via michaels. Joe swears by this structure.

(2M)-3M is michaels (2M)-4C is both minors, NF (2M)-4D is very strong jump in other major (2M)-4M is very strong both minors

I will add my favorite stucture which is a combination of landy and meckwell: X=♦ or (♣ + M) 2♣=Majors 2♦=♦ + M 2M=Natural After the X, responder assumes ♣ + M and bids accordingly, the rest makes sense.

Initially I thought it was a good idea to duck the finesse so as to screw with the opponents minds. However, it is only the second board, and I doubt that the opps would panic much. If it were later in the match, it would be very different. I understand that opps may try to swing to regain those 'lost' IMPs but, against decent opps, they will grind it out. Against lesser opps, they'll just jump to 6♦ xD.