What is best system

[olien]

I am wondering what system people would prefer to play if given an infinite amount of time to practice and learn it and with any partner they desire.

[jdonn]

Forcing pass, but if my opponents try to play it then I want it banned because it's too hard to play against.

 

(Sorry couldn't help myself)

[Cascade]

Forcing pass, but if my opponents try to play it then I want it banned because it's too hard to play against.

 

(Sorry couldn't help myself)

There might be a job for you on a conventions committee. :)

[mtvesuvius]

With the majority of my current partners I would prefer to play precision, however when given a choice to partner anybody in the world I might change my vote... However I think that precision is an excellent system, and guess what? ACBL allows it!!

[effervesce]

My take on the options:

 

Polish Club - I like the 11-17 limited openings. The 1♣ opening works reasonably with and without interference, but without interference seems (from my experience at least) to perform significantly worse than precision or relay auctions.

 

Precision - Even more limited openings than Polish, which is good. The 1♣ opening tends to get interfered with ALOT, but works extremely well if there is no interference (especially if you play relays).

 

SAYC - the standard system for most players.

 

2/1 - Mainly gains over SAYC on slam bidding, but performs worse on invitational hands.

 

ACOL - Never tried it so I can't comment.

 

forcing pass - Takes alot of work to get off the ground, and can't be used in alot of events. The lack of experience makes hand evaluation difficult. The 8-12 openings are a major plus, especially with a relay and non-forcing responses in place. The pass opening works without intervention, but with intervention is even worse than a precision 1C. How the fert works depends on the opps (despite the supplied suggested defense) - bashes bunnies but is so-so against good players, and hampers own constructive bidding after a fert.

 

relay system - eg MOSCITO. Good with limited openings and extremely accurate in slam bidding without interference. The 'fast in fast out' bidding approach has its pluses and minuses. Again, may suffer from hand evaluation problems if not played frequently.

 

La Majeure Cinquième - What is this system?

[DrTodd13]

It does not necessarily follow the I would want to play the "best" system. Maybe I want to play the system that is most fun.

[kenrexford]

Canape. Not listed, but that's my choice.

 

Of course, there are dozens of canape approaches, and I have my preference, but that's another issue.

[Echognome]

<Awaiting Richard to use the word "transitive".>

[effervesce]

It does not necessarily follow the I would want to play the "best" system.  Maybe I want to play the system that is most fun.

For me, an essential component of a fun system is that it is effective. If a system consistently brought bad results, I wouldn't find it fun at all.

[keylime]

Precision for me with canapé - what I play currently.

[glen]

I am wondering what system people would prefer to play if given an infinite amount of time to practice and learn it and with any partner they desire.

Well if this was available, I would pick the best player in the world, and then ask "what system partner?"

[jdonn]

I am wondering what system people would prefer to play if given an infinite amount of time to practice and learn it and with any partner they desire.

Well if this was available, I would pick the best player in the world, and then ask "what system partner?"

I already replied to the thread.

[mikeh]

relay, undoubtedly. Relay needn't mean Moscito or any big club method, it is possible to incorporate very extensive relays into standard frameworks.

 

I don't, however, recommend relay for anyone with a real job :P Too much work.

[effervesce]

I am wondering what system people would prefer to play if given an infinite amount of time to practice and learn it and with any partner they desire.

Well if this was available, I would pick the best player in the world, and then ask "what system partner?"

Pooh-the question asked was best system. However, I doubt anybody in the world would be capable of playing such a best system.

 

Oops. Nevermind-the question was about best published system.

[helene_t]

I miss a monkey option.

[Flameous]

Where is Magic Diamond from the list? :P I actually prefer the "Magic pass" variant so it goes under forcing pass in a sense. I really think it truly is the best system yet made (of course not all auctions of it are perfected yet) but also is the most difficult and has a huge memory load. My head is totally messed up even with the light version ;)

 

I also like really much of some self made systems which are based on semi-forcing pass, Magic D and Polish/Carrot Club and sort of hybrids of these. I especially think that working with Polish and and Magic D could lead to system that's better prepared against distruption in same way as Polish is compared to precision. It might also help to incorporate my favorite single bid of kamikaze NT into Magic D.

[Echognome]

relay, undoubtedly. Relay needn't mean Moscito or any big club method, it is possible to incorporate very extensive relays into standard frameworks.

 

I don't, however, recommend relay for anyone with a real job :P Too much work.

I actually used to play relay for several years. I think it has some great aspects to it and know that several of the top pairs incorporate relay into their system. Relay is also general enough in my mind to include what I would consider "partial relays" as opposed to "full relays" (where a full relay would mean that an exact shape is known and a partial relay might show say a 6-4).

 

I personally believe a system where you can either take control and relay or revert to natural bidding quickly would be a good one. One I experimented with was a natural 5-card majors system, where 1M - 2♣ was artificial and you could have the option to relay after that, whereas all other sequences would yield natural continuations.

 

The difficulty I found in making such a system was when you had to deal with not only shape, but a wider range for opener. Still, I think such a system is interesting if you had the time to really study and work with a partner. At the moment, sadly I do not. ;)

[the hog]

Strong Pass without a doubt. WOR

 

Btw do you know that if you refer to this as a FP system that this is in fact a misnomer. The pass is strong and technically forcing. However I have seen it passed. Bobby Richman, Aust international picked up a 23 count. His rho passed, 13+, Richman tanked and lho with a 0 count passed! Puts pressure on 4th seat, doesn't it?

 

Second choice is Polish Club, Idzdebski's version.

[jdonn]

BTW, if you prefer TOSR or Viking, are you supposed to choose the relay system option or the precision option in the poll?

[awm]

While I think relays are good in some auctions, most of the published "relay systems" seem to go overboard with it. Relay is not the best way to find a reasonable partial, or to invite game, or to determine whether we have the necessary stoppers for 3NT. So while relays can be a big win on the occasional slam decision... I think I'd go with some form of precision or even "standard" bidding with relays in a small number of auctions. Garrozzo has proposed some nice methods in the "standard with relays" style.

[hrothgar]

While I think relays are good in some auctions, most of the published "relay systems" seem to go overboard with it. Relay is not the best way to find a reasonable partial, or to invite game, or to determine whether we have the necessary stoppers for 3NT. So while relays can be a big win on the occasional slam decision... I think I'd go with some form of precision or even "standard" bidding with relays in a small number of auctions. Garrozzo has proposed some nice methods in the "standard with relays" style.

I view relays in much the same way that I view strong club opening

 

I don't playing Strong Club because I like opening 1♣ with hands with 15+ HCPs. I play strong club because I beleive that the benefits from light / limited opening outweigh the costs.

 

In much the same way, I don't play relay becase I believe that relay structures are the best way to decide between 3N and 4M. With a few exceptions, I beleive that relay auctions are inferior to natural bidding.

 

The reason that you play relay is that relays make very efficient use of bidding space, allowing you to free up bids for other (useful) purposes

[han]

If I had an infinite amount of time I wouldn't waste it thinking about bridge systems. I'd probably play some form of precision.

[the hog]

If I had an infinite amount of time I wouldn't waste it thinking about bridge systems. I'd probably play some form of precision.

But Han if your time is infinite, how would you be wasting it?

[kenrexford]

If I had an infinite amount of time I wouldn't waste it thinking about bridge systems. I'd probably play some form of precision.

But Han if your time is infinite, how would you be wasting it?

Well, technically he said that he would not waste it. This is true. You cannot "waste" infinite time.

[TylerE]

I voted Precision because that's the closest thing - In trust some sort of Canape' big club - Something along the lines of Hamway perhaps.