DJNeill

See Kokish-Kraft notes on http://www.bridgewithdan.com/systems . He's a great theorist. Thanks, Dan

This "C or range ask" 2S is part of the R-M toolkit many US top players (and juniors) are using - I guess they might have taken it from Sweden if this originated there. I think the structure is fine - you get to try for 3N with either minor, as well as transfer-then-show-shortness. Definitely no better use for 1N-3N than "to play", if I understand you correctly. 1N-2S also allows you to make "good" quantitative tries for 6N and "bad" (via 2S) tries. So, while the whole system is more important over 1N than this little part, it's a reasonable structure I think. Thanks, Dan

X fine. I think 4S is a bunch of spades with a bad hand, more spades than 3S. I Pass. The vulnerability does not make a big difference to me here.

6C. If my partner is random this is correct because he has to have the anti-perfecto not to make I think. If my partner is good, then this may be the wrong bid but it's a close one (and if good I would probably have more information about their tendencies but we were not provided anything).

4N. It's close I think, since 5C will get doubled less frequently in general than a 4N choice and 5D preference, but I think the odds are with giving partner the choice if I have just 4D-5C.

I believe at the tournament+ level this is standard as responsive. But at the club level or below (they have a basement sometimes) it is standard penalty.

5C. I'm just going to bid what I think we can make. I laud partner for pushing to show his values. I think also partner should strain to bid 2N with a spade stopper, sometimes even with 6C, if reasonable, so that weighs against trying to back into 3N (somehow). Partner is quite limited so slam is 50% at best generally, if it's there at all.

I'm with 2D. It's typical to respond aggressively with freaky hands, even if it is a misfit, if the tricks are probably there. Had I a 1-dimensional hand, I would try maybe 1N then invite in diamonds, but this is a bit too freaky, and I like that cJ.

2D. This covers the most bases. If partner goes back to 2H, I rebid 2S to complete the description of my hand - extras, 3S-5H-3+D.

Pass. An immediate 2S would be a weak hand *and* not able to sit for penalty. Pass then pull shows a GF hand with no interest in sitting for penalty. This is a flexible hand. Partner may have the typical BAL 10-11 with doubleton spade, but let's see what happens. So on the given penalty double, I return to 2S.

THIRD SEAT OPENINGS - EXAMPLES 1. Would you open 3rd seat 1♥ with: a) x KT9xx Qxxx Axx - No. What if partner responds 1♠. You cannot Pass 1♠, and if you bid again, partner now knows for sure you have a full opener and may raise you more. b) Axx Jxxxx KJ xxx - No. You now can handle any response (If partner bids 1♠, 1N, 2♦, 2♥ you Pass. If 2♣ (Drury) you return to 2♥). But now you don't want to open because partner will lead the hearts, which you don't want. Also, with bad trumps, it is easier for opponents to just defend and get a good score. c) Axx KT9xx Qxx xx - Yes. You can handle any response (as ), and you want the lead (as [a]). Both conditions together mean we can open this 1♥. 2. Would you open 3rd seat NV 1♠ with: a) AJTx xx xxx AQxx - Yes. Your suit is pretty good, and you are pretty sure it is not your hand, so may as well preempt. Also, you can Pass a 2♦ or 2♥ response. b) Q9xx KQx x Kxxxx - No. Your suit is not good enough. c) KJTx AQx xxxx Ax - No. Your suit is good, but your hand is full strength. You might have game (and partner will put you in 4♠ not 3N). Better to open 1D and get to the natural contract. 3. Would you open a weak two in 3rd seat, both NV, with: a) QJTxx x Kxxx xxx - Yes. Your suit is solid, you have distribution. b) Kxx xxx KQJxx xx - No. Your suit is nice, but 5332 is too balanced - partner will raise to 3♦ with 3 diamonds, and you will lose more tricks than expected. Try 1♦. c) x AQJxxx xx xxxx - No. 3♥! This is third seat after all. Thanks, Dan

How about a question and answer based fit determination like dating websites use. :)

Bigtrain passed away this year. Thankfully we have Al Holland to help with most of that.

TWO OVER ONE GF vs STANDARD AMERICAN (convenient minor) The Problem with Standard Bidding: too many non-forcing bids force both sides to guess a lot. Examples that demonstrate problems with standard american: Problem 1. Responder must force to game without finding major suit length Playing Standard American, North, opener, has one of these 2 hands: a. AJxxx AJxxx x Kx b. AJxxx AJxx xxx K and the auction begins 1♠-2♣-2♥ as it should. South has a game forcing hand, say, one of these two: c. Q Kxx KQx Axxxxx d. xx x KQxx AQJxxx First let’s consider that opener has (a) and responder has ©. After 2♥, South must choose between 3♦ (4th suit game forcing) to get more information, or 3NT (2NT and 3♣ would be non-forcing, and 3♥ would promise 4 hearts). If South chooses 3N, North should not remove to 4♥ lest South have (d). If South chooses 3♦, North has an easy 3♥ rebid and game is found. So 3♦ is the answer then. But what if North has (b)? Over 1♠-2♣-2♥-3♦, she is stuck. If she rebids 3♥ that shows 5, 3♠ would show 6 (or a great 5), and 4♣ would show at least a doubleton. This might seem a little contrived. For instance often 3N will play well despite a 5-3 heart fit (or 6-2 spade fit), but in general it is better to play in the 8 card major fit when one hand has a singleton. Problem 2. Responder must force to game somehow without stoppers in the side suits. North: AJxxxx x Qx KQxx South: x AQJ AKJxxx xxx 1♠ 2♦ 2♠ ? Here, North rebids 2♠, waiting, and South is stuck. 2NT and 3♦ are nonforcing, but she has a GF hand. 3♣ would not be a problem on length (we all lie about minor suit length sometimes) but it is not descriptive at all (North here could raise clubs). 3♥ is correct in terms of stoppers, but what if North had: AJxxxx xxxx Q AK North raises 3♥ to game and South is stuck when 3N is clearly best. So this is an impossible problem. Problem 3. Opener’s raise of the 2-level response hamstrings responder North: AQJxx x Kxxx Kxx South: Kx xx AQxxx Qxxx North opens 1♠, and South responds 2♦, having too much for a non-forcing 1N response. North has an easy 3♦ raise. Now what should responder do? Is North maximum or minimum? Does North have 3 or 4 card support? Does North have a ♥ stopper or 6 spades? Another impossible problem. Problem 4. Opener’s 2NT rebid is impossible to read. North: AJTxx Kxx xx AQx South: xx Qxx AJ9xx KJx North opens 1♠ and South responds 2♦. North has a classic NT rebid – all suits stopped, tolerance for partner, only 5 in the opened suit. Does South continue to game or not? North may have 12 HCP or may have 14 (or a bad 15 if played that way). Or should North have anticipated this problem and rebid 3NT. What should opener have rebid with 17-19 balanced then? This is a tricky subject, and SAYC leaves these questions unanswered. Problem 5. Showing stoppers and finding the best fit is a complete guess. North: AQJxxxx Kx A xxx South: x Axxx KQxxx AQx North opens 1♠ and South responds 2♦ and North rebids 2♠. South, to cater to opener’s 6♠-4♥ rebids 3♥. North, with no ♣ stopper rebids 3♠. South now is not sure if North is showing a 7+ card suit (or great 6) or just denying a club stopper, so South must guess whether to raise to 4♠ or bid 3N, not to mention whether slam is in the offing or not. If South rebids 3N, then North passes 3N and finds partner with just one club stopper, or bids 4♠ and finds partner with the actual hand (a perfecto for declaring – protecting the clubs from the lead). Problem 6. Showing slam interest is near-impossible. North: AJxxx KQxxx Kx Q South: Kx AJxx AQJxx Jx The auction begins 1♠-2♦-2♥, and South now cannot bid 3♥ (nonforcing) but is a bit too good for 4♥. What if North has 16 HCP? Basically both sides are about 12-16 HCP and there is no way for either side to do anything cooperative. Maybe South could bid 3♣ (GF) and then 4♥, but without prior agreement, it’s anybody’s guess. North: AJxxx xxx AQJx K South: Kx Ax Kxxxxxx Qx Here it is not responder but opener that has extra values, but no intelligent way to show it after 1♠-2♦. To bid 3♦ is to risk partner passing, and to bid 4♣ is not even well-defined, but it might even be a 5-5 ♠-♣ hand. What can North do? South is not going to take any steps towards slam. The result of all these little problems is one of three solutions: 1. Practice, discuss, and develop arbitrary agreements (and thus not Standard American) to minimize the number of guesses. (e.g. 1♠-2♣-3♣ = game forcing by agreement). 2. Bid quickly to avoid giving unauthorized information to partner, but the decision tends to be hasty and without full due consideration. 3. Bid slowly, choosing the least harmful guess, at the cost of giving lots of unauthorized information to partner. I have seen #1 in use to good effect – a bad system played well is better than a good system played badly. I don’t think I would be writing this article if I thought that was an acceptable solution. #2 is the best solution on-the-fly with a new partnership. #3 unfortunately is the norm at the club level, whether they know it or not. But it is not their fault. The system is to blame! Some of these problems apply to precision as well, but it's a lot better at least. I believe the answer is to use 2/1 game forcing. Thanks, Dan

Not 100% sure the book was from my notes, but Bill told me the system he played was based on my notes, so I'm pretty sure the book was a polished version of the notes. Why reinvent the wheel? Anything that helps get the word out (a la WJ and all the other free notes I have out there). Thanks, Dan

Check out Kokish-Kraft weak NT system notes on www.bridgewithdan.com/systems Kokish has very clear definitions of every sequence, and why each bid should be what it is. I believe here he suggests responding to 1D with a 3crd major whenever it would wrongside the contract to respond 1N. But over 1C, responding 1D is like a catchall, 3+ cards. Thanks, Dan

Requirements are similar as normal. Note the difference between a negative double of (2♣) and a negative double of (2♥) since one forces you possibly to the 3-level (or an uncomfortable choice) while the other leaves a lot of room to stay/wiggle at the 2-level. In your case, 1444 7 count, you've got about half the deck, but without a fit, and good defense, you don't mind defending so much. Partner's double is unfortunate but you don't get rich defending 2H, especially at MP. Unless partner can Pass (now you might have them sunk in a 5-1 fit). I think 3 of your best minor (if your hearts are Jxxx) is definitely best - your stopper is shady and both hands have ruffing values.

Pass. I don't like being aggressive with length in their suit, particularly with this shape.

I would open the South hand 2♣, and so North, whether responding 2♦, 2♠, or 3♣ will always fumble to 6N I think (the clubs are tricks).

6♥. I think 3N by a weak partner is 3244'ish but I have more faith in partner having a doubleton heart than a tripleton spade (he won't have 4 spades). Several random minimums give reasonable slam chances. I think the field will probably be bumbling their way towards slam too.

THIRD SEAT OPENINGS The best time to open light is in 3rd seat: - partner has passed, and therefore it is likely the opponents' hand - if the opponents are to win the auction, we need to remove space, and possibly direct a lead (surely they will find the best contract most often when we Pass) How light is light? - if you would overcall at the 1-level, it is probably an ok hand to open light on (9+ decent suit) Warnings: - if you have 0-2 spades, and you open light with 1 of another suit, partner may bid 1S, what then? - make sure you can Pass any response partner makes - use Drury so as not to get too high with a fit, if 4th seat Passes - BUT - in competition, use all normal raises - it is *probably* not a light opener, so do not assume so - open a nice 4 card major if light, but not if full strength (then it might be your hand) Weak twos: - Third seat weak two NV can be a reasonable 5 cards with a singleton or void - make sure partner knows this, and does not raise based on 6 cards Light openings in third seat do not have to be alerted. It is expected. Consider odd actions after 2nd seat opens as well - jump overcall at the 2-level with a 5 card suit, e.g. Make a takeout double at fav with 1 HCP. In general: when partner has Passed, jump in as third seat! Thanks, Dan

All that is known about the system is here: http://www.bridgewithdan.com/systems/Fantoni_Nunes.txt

How do commentators know which tables (and whether voice/text) they should be at for a given session?

Pd indeed had the nuts, but I got it wrong and Passed. ♠x ♥AKTxxxxx ♦x ♣AQJ

IMP's, both white. [hv=pc=n&s=sq92hqjda952c9653&d=e&v=0&b=14&a=pp1s4h4sppdp]133|200[/hv] Your call. Partner is a good player.