Raise structure over 1H

[hrothgar]

I'm considering the following as a response structure over a 1♥ opening

 

1♥ shows 4+ Hearts and ~ 9 - 14 HCP

Opener could hold a longer minor

Opener could hold a balanced hand with 4-4 in the majors

 

Comments are welcome (I'm especially interested in whether or not folks think that the 2NT response is playable)

 

4♦ = Splinter

4♣ = Splinter

3N = To play

3♠ = Splinter

3♥ = Value raise, 4-5 Hearts

3♦ = Fit showing, 6 Diamonds and 3 Hearts, non-forcing

3♣ = Fit showing, 6 Clubs and 3 Hearts, non-forcing

2N = Strong Jump shift, unknown suit

2♠ = Limit+ in Support of Hearts

2♥ = Value raise, 3 Hearts

2♦ = 3+ Diamonds, forcing to 2NT

2♣ = 3+ Clubs, forcing to 2NT

1N = Natural and non-forcing

1♠ = Natural and forcing

 

The 2♣ and 2♦ bids are the lynch-pin of the structure and include a number of different hand types (Neopolitan type raises, canape reverse, and the like)

[Guest Jlall]

The 2N bid seems awkward, you have to show which suit you were jumpshifting in and then describe what kind of jump shift it was and you're already pretty high. Overall it seems ok, it seems like your 2/1 auctions will be awkward, but I'm not familiar enough with light canape openers or the followups of your structure to say that with confidence.

[hrothgar]

It seems like your 2/1 auctions will be awkward, but I'm not familiar enough with light canape openers or the followups of your structure to say that with confidence.

I agree that the follow-ups to the 2/1 are going to be awkward.

 

Unfortunately, system regs make it extremely difficult to play this style here in the US. I'm hoping that I can come up with something playable, but its going to be quite tricky.

 

Ultimately, we're going to need to test things at the table...

[rbforster]

Hi Richard,

 

I play 1♥-2♠ and 1♠-2NT (e.g. 1M-[2M+1]) as a "Compressed Jump Shift," featuring an unknown suit over my limited 5 card 1M openings. This is a little lower than your 1♥-2NT unknown jump shift, which would allow for more room/hand types. I play 1♥-2N and 1♠-3♣ (e.g. 1M-[2M+2]) as Jacoby, a balanced GF raise with 4+ trumps (opposite a 5cM opener). This is similar to your 2♠ limit+ raise, and I know people who like "Jacoby" as limit+ rather than GF so you could probably play it that way if you added appropriate range rebids by opener. Effectively, switch your 2♠ and 2NT responses to 1♥.

 

Aside from minor issues from your 4 card major style, I think this "Compressed Jump Shift" could work well for you. The idea is to include most of the hands from playing Solloway strong jump shifts, specifically

 

1. A slam invite or better single suiter

2. A min GF with a 4+ card fit for opener's (5 card) major and a good side suit (at least 2/3 top 5+ suit, typically)

 

The common theme here is that responder "knows" what the strain wants to be and wants to tell opener about his hand rather than inquire about opener's holdings. You might want to change the length requirements for responder so the degree fit stays the same.

 

The compressed jump shifter has two pieces of information to convey to opener - which is his good suit, and whether or not he has support for opener (and if so, other shortness). The first relay by opener asks for the suit, the 2nd for support/shortness. In typical relay style, you "zoom" to answer the 2nd question when giving the highest (suit) answer to the first question.

 

While the below bidding tree may seem daunting, the rules are simple. Responder bids his strong suit naturally first. Then if he bids it again or bids 3NT he shows the single suiter (rebid is non-solid vs 3NT for solid suit). If responder returns to opener's suit, he shows support and no shortness (and values are shown by "fast arrival" if both 3M and 4M are available at that point). If responder bids a 3rd suit (besides his strong suit and opener's major), he shows shortness in that suit and support for opener.

 

 

 

1♥-2♠ Various GF raises with a good side suit, or slam invitational+ one suiters

...2NT 1st relay by opener, asking for the unknown suit

......3♣ natural (and after 3♦ inquires further about support)

............3♥ support, no shortness, extras

............3♠ support, ♠ shortness

............3NT solid ♣s (no ♥ support)

............4♣ long non-solid clubs (no ♥ support)

............4♦ support, ♦ shortness

............4♥ support, no shortness, min GF

......3♦ natural (and after 3♥ inquires further about support)

............3♠ support, ♠ shortness

............3NT solid ♦s (no ♥ support)

............4♣ support, ♣ shortness

............4♦ long non-solid diamonds (no ♥ support)

............4♥ support, no shortness

......3♥ spades, ♥ support, no shortness, extras (see 4♥)

......3♠ spades, long and non-solid (and no ♥ support)

......3NT spades, solid (and no ♥ support)

......4♣ spades, ♥ support, ♣ shortness

......4♦ spades, ♥ support, ♦ shortness

......4♥ spades, ♥ support, no shortness, min GF (see 3♥)

 

I play that opener can rarely break the first relay and make a natural bid 3♣♦♥ showing a very distributional hand (probably 6/5 two suiter or at least a good 7 card single suiter). In your case, you might have to think about whether these would/could show canape shapes as well.

[hrothgar]

Hi Richard,

 

I play 1♥-2♠ and 1♠-2NT (e.g. 1M-[2M+1]) as a "Compressed Jump Shift," featuring an unknown suit over my limited 5 card 1M openings. This is a little lower than your 1♥-2NT unknown jump shift, which would allow for more room/hand types. I play 1♥-2N and 1♠-3♣ (e.g. 1M-[2M+2]) as Jacoby, a balanced GF raise with 4+ trumps (opposite a 5cM opener). This is similar to your 2♠ limit+ raise, and I know people who like "Jacoby" as limit+ rather than GF so you could probably play it that way if you added appropriate range rebids by opener. Effectively, switch your 2♠ and 2NT responses to 1♥.

 

Aside from minor issues from your 4 card major style, I think this "Compressed Jump Shift" could work well for you. The idea is to include most of the hands from playing Solloway strong jump shifts, specifically

 

1. A slam invite or better single suiter

2. A min GF with a 4+ card fit for opener's (5 card) major and a good side suit (at least 2/3 top 5+ suit, typically)

 

The common theme here is that responder "knows" what the strain wants to be and wants to tell opener about his hand rather than inquire about opener's holdings. You might want to change the length requirements for responder so the degree fit stays the same.

 

The compressed jump shifter has two pieces of information to convey to opener - which is his good suit, and whether or not he has support for opener (and if so, other shortness). The first relay by opener asks for the suit, the 2nd for support/shortness. In typical relay style, you "zoom" to answer the 2nd question when giving the highest (suit) answer to the first question.

 

While the below bidding tree may seem daunting, the rules are simple. Responder bids his strong suit naturally first. Then if he bids it again or bids 3NT he shows the single suiter (rebid is non-solid vs 3NT for solid suit). If responder returns to opener's suit, he shows support and no shortness (and values are shown by "fast arrival" if both 3M and 4M are available at that point). If responder bids a 3rd suit (besides his strong suit and opener's major), he shows shortness in that suit and support for opener.

 

 

 

1♥-2♠ Various GF raises with a good side suit, or slam invitational+ one suiters

...2NT 1st relay by opener, asking for the unknown suit

......3♣ natural (and after 3♦ inquires further about support)

............3♥ support, no shortness, extras

............3♠ support, ♠ shortness

............3NT solid ♣s (no ♥ support)

............4♣ long non-solid clubs (no ♥ support)

............4♦ support, ♦ shortness

............4♥ support, no shortness, min GF

......3♦ natural (and after 3♥ inquires further about support)

............3♠ support, ♠ shortness

............3NT solid ♦s (no ♥ support)

............4♣ support, ♣ shortness

............4♦ long non-solid diamonds (no ♥ support)

............4♥ support, no shortness

......3♥ spades, ♥ support, no shortness, extras (see 4♥)

......3♠ natural (and no ♥ support)

......3NT solid spades (no ♥ support)

......4♣ spades, ♥ support, ♣ shortness

......4♦ spades, ♥ support, ♦ shortness

......4♥ spades, ♥ support, no shortness, min GF (see 3♥)

 

I play that opener can rarely break the first relay and make a natural bid 3♣♦♥ showing a very distributional hand (probably 6/5 two suiter or at least a good 7 card single suiter). In your case, you might have to think about whether these would/could show canape shapes as well.

thanks for the recommendations

 

I'm going to take a (serious) look at this tonight

[bhall]

We play a similar range of shapes for the 1♥ opening. The major difficulty (forget the pun) is distinguishing among the different degrees of fit and heart length over the 2m responses. We have finally settled on using opener's 2N rebid as a transfer, showing exactly 4[ HE] and 4+ ♣, and playing 1♥-2♦-3♣ also as a transfer, showing exactly 4 ♥ with 4+ ♦. Responder's acceptance of the transfer is not forcing.

 

This structure allows opener's raise of 2m to show a minimum with 5 ♥ and 4 m, and his 2♥ rebid to deny a fit.

[kfay]

Didn't read the rest of the posts but I agree with Justin. Why not reverse the meanings of 2♠ and 2NT?

[hrothgar]

Didn't read the rest of the posts but I agree with Justin. Why not reverse the meanings of 2♠ and 2NT?

I eas only palnning to multi plex two different hand types into the Jump Shift:

 

1. Single suited hands with a self sufficient suit

2. Two suited hands with a fit for opener's major

 

(Lots of balanced powerhouses will get bid with either a jump to 3N or start with a 2♣ or 2♦ bid)

 

There seems to be enough room to start with 1H - 2N. Playing a 4 card major canape system I'd rather have the extra space available after the game invite 4+ card raise than after the SJS...