Expert Standard

[han]

Agree with all that mike777 said.

[UDBlueHens]

Hi, I'm new... Does anyone know if there's a place to get a better formatted copy of the BWS document (found here online)?

 

I'd like to get familiar with BWS before diving into learning 2/1. I've learned the very basics from a couple standard/SAYC books. As much of a geek as I am, I find the web version of the BWS explanation incredibly hard to read.

 

Thanks!

 

PS - Would love to meet other collegiate players!

[dburn]

Don't read Hardy, read Lawrence.

Oh, I don't know. I always thought "Jude the Obscure" was a better novel than "Sons and Lovers" myself.

[barmar]

It seems to me that Nick doesn't need to learn the "best" system. As he said, he's just trying to learn modern bidding styles. He needs to learn enough popular conventions so that he can sit down with a new partner and have a reasonable discussion of system.

 

If you're in the US, "2/1 Game Force" is the general approach used by most experienced tournament bridge players. Some players like Bergen Raises, so it might be useful to learn them. Inverted Minors is very common. So is Reverse Drury. And just about everyone uses Splinter Raises. For slam exploration you should be familiar with cue bidding, particularly the Italian style (showing either 1st or 2nd round controls) and Roman Key Card Blackwood.

 

There are a wide variety of defenses to opponent's 1NT openings, Capalletti/Hamilton and DONT being pretty popular. Lebensohl is frequently used when opponents interfere over your 1NT opening, and when partner doubles a Weak 2 opening.

 

You should know Negative Doubles, Responsive Doubles, and Support Doubles.

 

If you learn all these conventions you'll be in pretty good shape to play with most US experts and many internationals.

[kenrexford]

You want to find concensus among experts? Not possible. LOL

 

Finding a write-up is equally impossible.

 

There are concepts that I have run into over the years that would blow many people's minds.

 

I mean, would you consider "suit slash lead support doubles" something that could be included in a write-up of "expert practice?" Do you even know what that means? If you do, do you agree?