mikestar

Yes, you will defeat 4♠ or 5♦ once and a while on a ♣ ruff. What are your prospects against 5♣? How about 6♣? How about 7♣ if either opponent is void in ♥? And as for defending 4♠ or 5♦, isn't that more likely to happen if you open 4♥? At least some of the time they will stop in 3♠ or 4♦ if you let them.

Assuming a modern light but not insane preempting style, 4♥ is a no brainer at these colors. This is an upper end 3♥ bid as dealer at equal vulnerability. Second position is a minus value, the hand's suit quality and total lack of side cards are a plus value which cancel. So 4♥ at favorable.

Pass, with no enthusiasm. Would prefer 4♠ with a fifth spade or a stiff heart.

Agree 100%. As my first bridge teacher said back in the stone age: "4 spades making 6 always outscores 6 spades making 4."

Natural weak bids are allowed under GCC, there is no rule that opening 2m naturally must have 10 points. If you are "weak" (not specifically defined), you need to promise at least 5 cards in your suit and a range of 7 or fewer HCPs in order to use conventions. His 2m bids clearly meet this standard, so there should be no problem. The 2♣/2♦ bids are not deemed natural under the GCC because they promise 4♥. A 2m opening which might but need not have a side major would be legal as a natural bid with <10 HCP.

My though was that in the 4 major, 5 minor case it is more likely that partner would want to bash 3NT in a relatively less revealing auction than in the 5 major, 4 minor case where a major suit fit is still possible.

Kurt, An interesting aggressive system for MP. As for GCC legality, everything should be fine except the 2♣/2♦ openings--these will need to have their minimums increased to 10 HCP.

Thank you for your very intelligent questions. I will answer point by point. Specific question. What do I rebid with x KQxxx Axx Kxxx after a 1S response? Also 1N? In both cases the correct rebid is 2♣. With x KQxx Axx Kxxxx, you would rebid 1NT after 1♠ but 2♣ after 1NT. Is 1D-1H, 2N specifically 1-3-(54) 16-17? or could it be 3H/6D? The sequence is intended primarily for the latter hand (the Bridge World Death Hand). The former hand would be OK but it might be better to rebid 2♣ intending to give a strong ♥ preference later. I guess a couple of things concern me about this system. The first is that 1C seems like it would be underutilized. 1C would usually be 18+ but also less if distributional. Still, it would come up a lot less often than my 15 pt 1C. Your system won't let you open balanced 10 or 11 counts....which I would rather do at least at some vulnerabilities. It would be possible to lower opening requirements across the board at certain vulnerabilities or positions without changing the fundamental structure. The second is the 1D auction. It seems like your responses to 1D are a bit difficult in that you have to be prepared for partner having a weak opener...while suspecting he may have a strong no trump. For example, your 1D-1N (6-9?) is a bit awkward because it's a 4-pt range and opener will frequently (more frequently than standard) want to know if partner is top or bottom of that range. Seems like you will miss game (or be too high in 2N) slightly more frequently than standard pairs. I mean, for example, that a standard 1D-1N, 2N-P auction is rather rare Not that much of a problem. I don't mind missing a possible 16-9 game while risking getting too high, so 2NT will tend to be bid only on a decent 17 count. But if we still are doing poorer than standard here, I expect offsets elsewhere. In any case there can't be as many losing cases as after a nebulous 1♦ opener that might be a stiff ♦ and long ♣.

Still working on competitive sequences. This one can be resolved in a way similar to comparable constructive cases. 1♥-(1♠)-X-(P)-2♣/2♦=5+♥, 4+ minor. 1♥-(1♠)-X-(P)-1NT=4♥, 5 card minor or 1=4=4=4. Doubler can bid 2m as pass or correct.

[inadvertent double post deleted]

Yes canape is used in several sequences. The fundamental concept is to have a big club method without the various weaknesses in Precision. Fundamentally, in Precision you can deal with a severely ambiguous 1♦ or you can open 2♣ with a 5 card suit and a side major. If you want a totally unambiguous 1♦ you a,lso need a wide range 1NT opening. The tradeoffs here are to accept a bit more difficulty sorting out lengths in our major suit openings in exchange for the much less ambiguous natural or strong NT 1♦ opener and having 2♣ promise 6 cards. By having 1M deny balanced shape, we can bid 4 card majors and still use 1NT forcing response and can also use artificial NT rebids by opener to show only 4 cards in the major. Thus our major suit auctions are more precise than in the general 4 card major case. In many of the cases where lengths are not resolved, it is fairly harmless. As an example, it seldom costs much after 1♥-1NT-2♦ to play in our 4-3 ♥ fit rather than our 5-3 ♦ fit: 2♦ will make a bit more often, but 2♥ will score better when it does make. Notice that we never use canape with both majors.

Thank you for your answer. I agree that in 2/1 or SAYC such an opening would have disadvantages that would not be offset by the advantages. The context I would be using the bid is a big club, weak NT system in which the major suit openings may be four cards but are never made on balanced hands. This treatment of 1♦ has two advantages in this context: 1) It makes the 1NT forcing response to a 4 card major opening workable. 2) The major suit opener's 1NT and 2NT rebids can be used artificially, as they are not needed to show balanced hands. For example, 1♥-1♠-1NT shows exactly 4 hearts and one or both minors, while 1♥-1♠-2♣/2♦ show the bid minor and at least 5 hearts, allowing a safe heart preference on a doubleton. These are far greater advantages than in the the 2/1 or SAYC case at the cost of the same disadvantages.

Jan, I would appreciate your opinion about the GCC legality of the following bid. A 1♦ opening which shows one of two hand types: 1) 10-16 HCP unbalanced, 4+ diamonds. 2) 15-17 HCP balanced, 2+ diamonds, may (but need not) have a 5 card major. The last specification of item 2 is the real issue; there is no question in my mind that if the shape of the balanced alternative were restricted to 4-3-3-3 or 4-4-3-2 that this would be a bonafide all purpose opening.

All purpose really needs a definition. And perhaps an amendment to the GCC which says something like "An opening bid of 1♣ on a shape of 4♠-4♥-3♦-2♣ shall be deemed natural." will protect the often unsophisticated short club bidders but not the more ambitious types with more convoluted all purpose bids.

4♠ wtp assuming fairly normal 1 level overcalls. If your overcalling style is very light or frequent 4 card suits, pull in a notch and bid 3♠ on these colors. In no case is 4♣ useful--they aren't getting to 3NT on this freak deal, so 4♣ effectively takes no more space than 3♠ but gets you as high as 4♠. Never choose a bid that gets you the worst of both worlds. A further point against 4♣--it will cause they enemy to devalue secondary club honors and upgrade red suit honors, which is accurate on this hand. Stick to bidding spades and they just might bid too high or bid when they should double when their ♣ holding is something like KQx opposite a stiff.

The 1♥ Opening 1♥ denies a balanced hand (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2). Responses 1♠=6+ value, 4+♠. 1NT=6+ value, denies 4♠, forcing. 2♣/2♦=5+ suit, GF unless suit rebid. 2♥=6-9 value, 4 card support or 3 card support with a stiff. 2♠/3♣/3♦=weak jump shift. 2NT=Jacoby (GF ♥ raise). 3♥=10-11, 4 card support. 3♠/4♣/4♦=splinter. 3NT=Balanced minimum GF with 4 card support. Choice of games. 4♥=preemptive or minimum game vales, no slam interest. Opener's Rebid After 1♠: 1NT=4♥ and a 5 card minor or 1=4=4=4. 2♣/2♦=5+♥ and 4+ minor. 2♥=6+♥ 2♠=4 card support or 3 card support with a stiff. 2NT=3 card ♠ support, too strong for 2♠. 3♣/3♦ 5-5 or better, strong. 3♥=6+♥, strong. 3♠=4 card support, strong. After 1NT: 2♣=usually 5-4 or better either way in ♥ and ♣; might be 1=4=4=4 or 4=4=1=4. 2♦=usually 5-4 or better either way in ♥ and ♦; might be 4=4=4=1. 2♥=6+♥. 2♠=5+♥ and 4♠, strong. 2NT=4♥ and 5 card minor or 3 suited. 3♣/3♦=5-5 or better in ♥ and minor, strong. 3♥=6+ good ♥, strong. After 2♣: 2♦=5-4 or better either way in ♥ and ♦; may pass 3♣. 2♥=5+♥, minimum or no convenient bid; may pass 3♣. 2♠=4♠, 5+♥ GF. 2NT=4♥, minimum; may pass 3♣. 3♣=♣ support, GF. 3♦/3♠=splinter. 3♥=solid 6+♥, GF. 3NT=to play. 4♣=good ♣ support, strong, no stiff. After 2♦: 2♥=5+♥, minimum or no convenient bid; may pass 3♦. 2♠=4♠, 5+♥ GF. 2NT=4♥, minimum; may pass 3♦. 3♣=5-5 or better in ♥ and ♣, GF. 3♦=♦ support, GF. 3♥=solid 6+♥, GF. 3♠/4♣=splinter. 3NT=to play. 4♦=good ♦ support, strong, no stiff. Standard methods may be used after raises. After a WJS, usually pass but raise or bid no trump with an appropriate hand. Next The 1♠ opening.

Mark me down for 5♠ as well.

I prefer 4♠ assuming our partnership's expected minimum 3rd seat opener is similar to Justin's. 2NT is enough opposite an opening that might be substantially weaker. Slam requires partner to have solid trumps and substantial extra high cards--the chances of this is DNZ (damn near zero) in this auction. When slam is out of the question, blasting to game whenever it is reasonably likely to be right tends to do well--you will make all of the games you should and not a few that you shouldn't.

ACBL GENERAL CONVENTION CHART Suggested revision by Mike Nelson (mikestar) DEFINITIONS 1. An opening suit bid or response is considered natural if in a minor it shows three or more cards in that suit and in a major it shows four or more cards in that suit. A no trump opening or overcall is natural if not unbalanced (generally, no singleton or void and only one or two doubletons). 2. An overcall in a suit is considered natural if, by agreement, it shows four or more cards in the denomination named. 3. A sequence of relay bids is defined as a system if, after an opening of one of a suit, it is started prior to opener’s rebid. 4. A normal opening hand is any hand with 10+ HCPs or conforming to the rule of 19 (HCP + the length of the hand’s two longest suits is at least 19). 5. A strong opening hand is any hand with 15+ HCPs or conforming to the rule of 25 (HCP + the length of the hand’s two longets suits is at least 25). ALLOWED Unless specifically allowed, methods are disallowed. OPENING BIDS 1. Any opening bid except ONE HEART or ONE SPADE which is forcing and shows a strong opening hand. 2. ONE CLUB or ONE DIAMOND may have any meaning which shows a normal opening hand, provided that the bid does not promise length in any specific suit other than the suit opened and does not deny length in the suit opened. 3. TWO CLUBS or TWO DIAMONDS indicating a three-suiter with a normal opening hand. 4. OPENING BID AT THE TWO LEVEL OR HIGHER showing two known suits, a normal opening hand and at least 5–4 distribution in the suits. It is not required to specify which known suit is longer. 5. OPENING THREE NOTRUMP BID indicating one of a) a solid suit or :P a minor one-suiter. 6. OPENING FOUR-LEVEL BID transferring to a known suit. RESPONSES AND REBIDS 1. ONE DIAMOND as a forcing, artificial response to one club. 2. ONE NOTRUMP response to a major suit opening bid forcing one round; cannot guarantee game invitational or better values. 3. CONVENTIONAL RESPONSES WHICH GUARANTEE GAME FORCING OR BETTER VALUES. May NOT be part of a relay system. 4. TWO CLUBS OR TWO DIAMONDS response to third or fourth-seat major-suit openings asking the quality of the opening bid. 5. SINGLE OR HIGHER JUMP SHIFTS AND/OR NOTRUMP BIDS AT THE TWO LEVEL OR HIGHER to indicate a raise or to force to game. 6. JUMP RESPONSES TO AN OPENING BID OF ONE IN A SUIT at least 5–4 distribution in two known suits. It is not required to specify which known suit is longer. 7. ARTIFICIAL AND CONVENTIONAL CALLS after strong forcing opening bids and after opening bids of two clubs or higher. 8. ALL CONSTRUCTIVE CALLS starting with the opening bidder’s second call. 9. CALLS THAT ASK for aces, kings queens, singletons, voids or trump quality and responses thereto. 10. ALL CALLS AFTER A NATURAL NOTRUMP opening bid or direct overcall. COMPETITIVE 1. CONVENTIONAL BALANCING CALLS. 2. CONVENTIONAL DOUBLES AND REDOUBLES and responses (including free bids) thereto. 3. NOTRUMP OVERCALL for either a) two-suit takeout showing at least 5–4 distribution and at least one known suit. It is not required to specify which known suit is longer. At the four level or higher there is no requirement to have a known suit. or B) three-suit takeout (at least three cards in each of the three suits). 4. a) JUMP OVERCALLS INTO A SUIT to indicate at least 5–4 distribution in two known suits and responses thereto. It is not required to specify which known suit is longer. B) SIMPLE OVERCALLS INTO A SUIT to indicate a normal opening bid, at least 5–4 distribution in two known suits and responses thereto. It is not required to specify which known suit is longer. 5. TRANSFER ADVANCES (responses to overcalls) where the call shows length or values in the suit of the transfer. 6. CUEBID of an opponent’s suit and responses thereto, except that a cuebid that could be weak (less tan a normal opning bid) directly over an opening bid, must show at least one known suit. 7. DEFENSE TO: a) conventional calls, B) natural notrump opening bids and overcalls, except that direct calls over ONE NOTRUMP, other than double and two clubs must have at least one known suit. c) opening bids of two clubs or higher. 8. Numbers 4 through 10 under RESPONSES AND REBIDS above APPLY TO BOTH PAIRS. DISALLOWED Any method explicitly disallowed may not be played even if it also fits a definition of an allowed method. 1. Conventions and/or agreements whose primary purpose is to destroy the opponents’ methods. 2. Psyching of artificial or conventional opening bids and/or conventional responses thereto. Psyching conventional suit responses, which are less than 2NT, to natural openings. 3. Psychic controls (Includes ANY partnership agreement which, if used in conjunction with a psychic call, makes allowance for that psych.) 4. A Pass in a position to open the bidding or make a direct overcall of an opening bid whose meaning does not include all hands with 4-3-3-3 or 4-4-3-2 shape and fewer values than a queen less than a normal opening bid. 5. Relay (tell me more) systems. 6. Opening one bids which by partnership agreement could show fewer values than a queen less than a normal opning bid. 7. CONVENTIONAL RESPONSES, REBIDS AND A CONVENTIONAL DEFENSE TO AN OPPONENT’S CONVENTIONAL DEFENSE after natural notrump opening bids or overcalls with a lower limit of less than a normal opening bid or with a range of greater than 5 HCP (including those that have two non-consecutive ranges) and weak two-bids which by partnership agreement are not within a range of 7 HCP and do not show at least five cards in the suit. CARDING Dual-message carding strategies are not approved except on each defender’s first discard. Except for the first discard only right-side-up or upside-down card ordering strategies are approved. Encrypted signals are not approved. In addition, a pair may be prohibited from playing any method (such as suit preference systems at trick one), when they are deemed to be playing it in a manner which is not compatible with the maintenance of proper tempo (much like dual message signals). This decision may be appealed to the tournament committee.

When in a position to open the bidding or make a direct overcall of an opening bid the meaning of Pass must include all hands with 4-3-3-3 or 4-4-3-2 shape and less than 8 HCP. This rule would allow wild preempting but unambiguously ban ferts and strong pass.

The 1♦ Opening 1♦ shows two distinct hand types: natural and unbalanced with at least 4♦ and strong NT. The NT type may have a 5 card major. Responses 1♥/1♠=6+ value, 4+ suit. Other responses deny a 4 card major. With both majors bid the longer suit, 1♥ if 4=4, 1♠ if 5=5. 1NT= good 6-9 value fairly balanced. 2♣=10+ value, 4+ ♣. 2♦=10+ value, 4+♦ (inverted raise). 2♥/2♠/3♣=weak jump shift. 2NT=13-15 balanced. 3♦=6+♦ or 5♦ with a stiff; no game interest opposite a strong NT. 3NT=16-18 balanced. Opener's rebid Balanced 15-17 After 1♥/1♠, raise with 4 or 5 card support or bid 1NT. Responder uses 2 way checkback over 1NT. After 1NT, pass with a minimum, raise to 2NT with a maximum. After 2♣/2♦ bid 2NT GF. After 2NT, bid 3NT. After 3NT, bid 4NT or 6NT. Normally pass after a weak jump shift or weak 3♦, but raise or bid NT with a maximum and a good fit. Unbalanced hands with 4+♦ After 1♥: 1♠=4♠, unable to raise ♥. 2♣=5-4 either way or longer in minors. 2♦=6+♦ 2♥=4 card support, or 3 card support with a stiff. 2♠=5♠ and 6♦, strong. 2NT=3 card ♥ support, too strong for 2♥. 3♣=5-5 or better in minors, strong. 3♦=6+♦, strong. 3♥=4 card support, strong. After 1♠: 2♣/2♦=same as after 1♥. 2♥=4♥, 5+♦, reversing values. 2♠=4 card support, or 3 card support with a stiff. 2NT=3 card ♠ support, too strong for 2♠. 3♣/3♦=same as after 1♥. 3♥=splinter 3♠=4 card support, strong. After 1NT: 2♣=usually 5-4 either way or better in minors; might be 4=1=4=4. 2♦=6+♦. 2♥/2♠=5+♦ 4 in major, strong. 3♣/3♦=same as after 1♥. After 2♣: 2♦=Waiting. Any minimum or a hand not convenient for another bid. 2♥/2♠=same as after 1NT 3♣=♣ support, GF. 3♦=6+♦, GF. 3♥/3♠=splinter. 3NT=to play, solid ♦. After 2♦: 2♥/2♠=same as after 1NT 3♣=both minors, GF, possible slam interest. 3♦=minimum 3♥/3♠=maximum, stopper in bid suit. 3NT=maximum, stoppers in both majors. After 2NT: 3♣=both minors, minimum. 3♦=6+♦ minimum. 3♥/3♠=5+♦, 4 card major, strong. 4♣=both minors, GF, slam interest. 4♦=6+♦, slam interest. After 3NT: 4♣/4♦=same as after 2N. 4♥/4♠=5+♦, 4 card major, strong. Next The 1♥ opening.

Opening bids 1♣=18-20 or 23+ balanced, rule of 26 unbalanced. Forcing. 1♦=15-17 balanced, 4+♦ and rule of 20 unbalanced. 1♥/1♠=4+ suit and rule of 20 unbalanced. 1NT=12-14 balanced. 2♣=6+ clubs and rule of 20 unbalanced 2♦=Flannery, no void. Rule of 20. 2NT=21-22 balanced. Other=preemptive, play however you like. Balanced means 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2 regardless of whether the 5-carder is a minor or major. All balanced hands must open 1♣, 1♦, 1NT, or 2NT depending on range. It is OK to open off shape with something like ♠Kx♥Kx♦AJxx♣Qxxxx. 1♦, 1♥, 1♠, 2♣ and 2♦ will be covered in depth. Your preferred Big Club and NT response systems can be used. Choice of Opening Unbalanced hands not strong enough for 1♣ One suiters Open 1 of your suit (2♣ if your suit is ♣). Two suiters Treat 6-4 shapes as one suiters. If one of your suits is ♣, open one of the other suit. With ♥ and ♦, open 1♦ with 4=5 and strong enough to reverse; otherwise open 1♥. With ♠ and ♦, open the longer suit; open 1♠ with 5=5. With ♠ and ♥, open 2♦ with 4=5 not strong enough to reverse; otherwise open the longer suit or 1♠ with 5=5. Three suiters Open 1♠ with a 5 carder. Open 1♦ with short ♥. All others open 1♥. Next The 1♦ opening.

3NT, wtp? Partner will have some few cards and LHO will be easy to endplay. I expect to make 10 tricks more often than 8.

Depends on you agreements. Usually partner's double is a demand to lead his suit rather than your own, but some partners agree the contrary on the assumption that opening leader will tend to choose partner's suit over his own unless otherwise instructed. With no agreement, this is a tough one--the "lead my suit, not yours" interpretation is more common, but less likely on the cards: partner doesn't know about you ♠QJ and doubling on ♠AKxxxx for example is risky.

Agree quite fully except for this point: I have found that 5-3-3-2 opposite 4-3-3-3 very often takes the same 9 or 10 tricks in NT as it does in the major. Admittedly, the field is very likely in the major on a nine card fit, so bidding 3NT is playing top or bottom--but I seem to get more tops than bottoms on this.