imp league hand 1

[jdonn]

Criss-cross is simple and takes away relatively useless natural bids - maybe 2/1 needs 3♣ natural over 1♦.

 

I haven't ever played Criss-cross in a regular partnership but I do play it reasonably often in casual games.

 

Our methods are probably overkill but I like them - we have four forcing minor raises 1m 2M (counted as two for each minor) - a fit jump showing both suits; 1m 2NT a forcing raise with no singleton and no four-card major; 1m 2m forcing and invitational or GF with a shortage. Actually we have more since we can show a void splinter directly.

It's not only that I like 3♣ as something natural there, it's that I think that is very space consuming for a limit raise in a minor, since unlike when a major is raised you are very interested in investigating other strains.

[han]

Yeah we play inverted minors and it is forcing.

[neilkaz]

Yeah exactly Wayne, I usually play 2/1 with 1D-2C gameforcing and then I really prefer to have 3C available for the invitational hands with 6+ clubs. I never play "standard".

Also my preferred method. I don't see the need for criss-cross as I don't find it hard to untangle the GF responding hands after invm from the invitational non GF vs a random min opening hands.

 

It's true that 1♣-2♦ as GF criss cross doesn't take up much extra room and can be handy if the opps butt into your auction in a major and have a fit, but 1♦-3♣ takes up more room than I want to use to GF, and I need that, like you in 2/1 for the ♣ invite.

[vuroth]

Finding a flight A partner who wants to play with a rookie is proving difficult, it is so much easier to get good partners on BBO. :)

Ouch. What a crushing thought.

[vuroth]

You can't play bridge without a forcing raise in a minor.

I'll take that under consideration.

 

That said, I'd rather play in a system with no forcing minor raise than play with a partner who thinks the OP's hand is only worth an invite. :)

[vuroth]

Deleted. Board is acting very funny for me today. Edited April 7, 2008 by vuroth