Oren Goren Posted October 5, 2006 Report Share Posted October 5, 2006 [My partners-seeking efforts being so highly dependent on WELOS, this is aparently the right place to put this.] MIDI Twos: Prologue================ Stephen Pickett, programmer of BRidgeBRowser and compiler of a huge database of hands played on OKBridge and BridgeBaseOnline, has run studies showing that a 1NT opener with a flattish hand and a five-card major is highly advantageous both at IMPs and matchpoints, as compared to one of a major with the same HCP count and the same distribution. He believes the reason lies in the many gadgets used to respond to 1NT, and to the limited range of that NT opener. This is good news for WELOS, which has always preferred to open flattish hands of the right strength with 1NT, even with a five-card major. Opening all flattish 12-14 HCP hands with a MIDI/weakno and all distributional hands with a MIDI 12-15 TP Two (enabling the extra-lite MINI openers) means that many standard One-of-a-Suit (OOAS) openers must be opened with a two-bid, a MIDI Two. This loses a round of bidding on these hands (although it gains a round on more hands, the MINIs). This space problem can be a huge pain in spades, and a biggy in hearts. But if the 5-card major is in a flattish hand, one without at least two distributional points (a singleton or two doubletons) a NT opener with 12-14 count is called for (if the hand isn't really a MINI or MAXI OOAS, deservedly counting only 11, or as much as 16). Partnerships need to make their own agreements. What about 5-4-2-2, with or without the five being a major, or the five and the four? With or without both doubletons protected by Qx or better? The gadgets-over-NT theory says we can do what ever we need to do. Examples of MIDI Twos==================A. ♠T ♥A8632 ♦6 ♣QT9864 Count it as 14, high cards, long suit, distribution. Open 2♣[/size]. B. ♠AQ8 ♥J9543 ♦Q842 ♣K Count it as 14 or 15, depending on what you give to the king singleton. Open 2♥ C. ♠85 ♥98 ♦AKT6 ♣QJ932 Count it as 12 (13). Open 2♦. D. ♠AK7 ♥K9863 ♦QT76 ♣4 Count it as 14. Open 2♥. E. ♠J9543 ♥QT84 ♦K6 ♣A4 Count it 12. Open 1♠. F. ♠5 ♥J964 ♦KQ6 ♣KJ972 Count it as 12 and wish the hearts had a K instead of the clubs. Open 2♣, and hope partner responds 2♦ or 2♥. G. ♠72 ♥KQJ92 ♦- ♣T97643 Count it 12 or 13, including 1 point for the 5th heart, and at least one for the sixth club. Open 2♥ or (if you have come to a previous meeting of minds with partner about it) 2♣. H. ♠QT72 ♥KJ83 ♦AJ52 ♣J Count it 13 and open 2♥. Fine rebids no matter what happens. Clearly, using the long-suit count (even conservatively) makes the WELOS MIDI Twos 12-15 in trump play strength rather than in the standard quick-trick defensive strength one-bids show in many systems. So, as responder, don't make borderline/hair-trigger doubles of overcallers. Remember, too, that by opening with a Two instead of a one has made things extra-difficult for the opponents. Examples too strong for MIDI Twos========================== I. ♠Q8 ♥QT4 ♦Q2 ♣KQJ864 Count it a horrible 16 (no ace) or 17. Yes, it is the kind of hand you may like to open two with, but it is a MAXI, so open 1♣. Or listen to yourself and decide it should be opened 2♣. J. ♠5 ♥KQ83 ♦AJT952 ♣75 Count it 16 and open 1♦. K. ♠95 ♥2 ♦AK ♣QJT98643 Count it way more than 15 and open 1♣. Three-bids (first and second seat) are reserved for game force hands. Example too weak for MIDI Twos========================= L. ♠9853 ♥6 ♦K98 ♣AQ532 Once you have played WELOS for a while you will 'know' this hand is too good to be a MINI, but that is what it is. Count it 11 and open 1♣. Or listen to yourself and either count the 5th ♣, or the fact that you have such a great rebid available. Responding to MIDI Twos===================Responses to WELOS Twos are not WELOS per se, and different partnerships may have different approaches, just as they might in responding to opening Weaknos. The critical choice is about two-level takeouts: escaping, constructive, or forcing? In any case, a relay can be very helpful. But in this incarnation we reject the cheapest suit relay. Points to consider: a. finding the fit, especially the major fit, when game is not on. Therefore, responder tends to bid up the line, and opener rebids up the line, certainly not supressing a side suit to show a (even a) 6-card opening suit. b. finding the/a game, while letting part-score fits be found. Responses to 2♣----------------------2♦: 4+ (usually 5+); NF.2♥: 4+ (usually 5+); NF.2♠: 5+; NF.2N: general, unspecified hand, forcing on opener to 3NT or 4 of a suit. 3♣: pre-emptive. Responses to 2♦----------------------2♥: 4+ (usually 5+); NF.2♠: 5+; NF.2N: general, unspecified hand, forcing on opener to 3NT or 4 of a suit.3♣: natural, forcing on opener to 3NT or 4 of a suit.2♦: pre-emptive Responses to 2♥----------------------2♠: 5+; NF.2N: general, unspecified hand, forcing on opener to 3NT or 4 of a suit.3♣: natural, forcing on opener to 3NT or 4 of a suit.2♦: natural, forcing on opener to 3NT or 4 of a suit.2♥: NF, invitational. Responses to 2♠----------------------2N: general, unspecified hand, forcing on opener to 3NT or 4 of a suit.3♣: natural, forcing on opener to 3NT or 4 of a suit.2♦: natural, forcing on opener to 3NT or 4 of a suit.2♥: natural, forcing on opener to 3NT or 4 of a suit.3♠. NF, invitational. Many of the responses are forcing on opener to 3NT or four of a suit but not on responder because he/she knows much more about the overall hand than does opener. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oren Goren Posted October 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2006 Ahem. That's Responding to WELOS MIDI-twos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.