An Unassuming Club

[SteelWheel]

I'm a northeast US bridge player (about 1500 MPs, for whatever that's worth) who's been largely inactive the past few years. I'm thinking about returning to the torunament world, and would like to play something a little offbeat. "An Unasuming Club" is just about the kind of thing I'm looking to play--not terribly complex, GCC-legal, has a lot of the benefits of a strong club system, but the 1C open does also signify some intermediate hand types as well, so opponents are taking a chance when they interfere. It's kind of a Polish Club variant, but with a weak 1NT open.

 

If anyone wants to try it at BBO (especially with a view toward building a partnership to play in ACBL regionals and Nationals), send me a return emaill. Links about the system follow (the last reflects the most recent incarnation and is the one I'm most interested in):

 

http://www.bridge.hotmail.ru/file/Red/auc/auc.html

 

http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/auc_don.htm

 

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~goldfarb/auc-notes.txt

[LukeG]

Hello SteelWheel,

 

I share your interest in offbeat systems, and your general geographical location. Although I have no immediate interest in AUC, I do have a bit of advice for you. Most offbeat systems are not GCC legal, and dumbing them down to make them so reduces their effectiveness. I speak from experience, as my partner and I used Svan (a Swedish weak/strong club system not unlike Polish) during this year's GNT Flight B. I was frustrated by the changes that we had to make for GCC compatibility. So my advice is to forgo GCC events and focus on MCC events. Note that for GNT and NAOP, the upper limit for Flight B (GCC) is 2000 master points, so you are not that far from having to play Flight A (MCC) anyway.

 

Luke

 

PS - If you like offbeat systems based on weak NT, check out ETM at Glen Ashton's web site http://www.bridgematters.com/.

[SteelWheel]

Thanks, AUC is (as far as anyone can determine) 100% in compliance with the GCC, and was designed in contemplation of that goal.

 

In any event, I have no great interest in playing Flight B events--only possible exceptions would be things like North American Pairs/GNTs (Obviously, in bracketed KOs, you get "flighted" automatically--nothing you can do about that, except play with teammates who have far more MPs than you do).When I was last really active, I was happy to compete in the toughest events, and on my good days did quite well with them.

[SteelWheel]

Btw, I too have had annoying experiences trying to make offbeat bidding systems come into compliance with the GCC. Generally, the problem has stemmed from relay elements. At one point, I experimented with Ron Klinger's Power System (also a "multi" 1C method). Biggest problem was his 2C and 2D responses to 1 of a suit, which were artificial and either GI or GF.

 

Another problematic system was the controversial "Breakthrough" system, where 2/1 responses were intended TO PLAY; 1NT showed all GI or better hands. For some reason, this is illegal in ACBL-land (1NT responses to 1M are not allowed to guarantee GI or GF values). Apparently KeyLime Precision is using something similar, but evading the rule by having its 1NT response also include some weak raise type hands; although the author's website is very unclear about continuations in these kinds of auctions, so I can't comment about the method.

 

Where did your system run afoul of the-powers-that-be?

[keylime]

I will be issuing an appendix relating to this topic very soon to clarify -evidently there has been some that are a little confused so I want to clear things up.

 

D.

[Dean]

Hi

 

Does anyone have a copy of auc.ps thats readable either with Ghostscript or Distiller?

 

I downloaded a copy from

http:www.bridge.hotmail.ruRedaucauc.ps

 

but can't open it

 

Even better would be a .dvi format file.

 

Thanks

Dean

[bearmum]

WHAT is "An Ussuming Club" system PLEASE - I have NEVER heard of it - Is there a site to explain it?? B)

IF not WHY not ??? And IF i bump into opps playing it HOW can I prepare a defence against it 8)

[Free]

As far as I know it's some kind of polish club, where you bid 1C with real Clubs if you have a normal opening hand, but you don't need Clubs if you're strong.

[SteelWheel]

Anybody who had bothered to actually READ my original post on this topic would have been advised that "An Unassuming Club" is a bidding system in the Polish Club family, but which uses a weak 1NT opening, rather than the strong flavor in use in "generic Polish".

 

You would have been further advised as to all you wanted to know about the system by following this link, which I repeat here:

 

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~goldfarb/auc-notes.txt

 

Truthfully, I wouldn't spend too many sleepless nights worrying what I'll do or how I'll defend if I suddenly come across a pair playing AUC in a dark alley someplace. I'm one of the few people who's making any active effort to play the system these days, although I'm still looking for pards to do so, particularly if such people are interested in playing it in ACBL regional and National events (totally GCC legal, btw).

 

Simple usable defense (although not optimal), would be to play as if your opponents had opened 1C in a standard system, and act accordingly (i.e., make your normal takeout doubles of 1C, constructive overcalls, and 2C "cue-bid" = limit raise or better), except that when you have a big balanced hand sitting over opener, PASS first, as you'll get another chance with these kinds of hands later on in the auction.