Can't find the old thread

[peachy]

In that thread (which I can't find) I said - among other things - that with 5-card support for partner's 1M opening, we bid 1NTF and next round raise to 4S, showing a 4S bid but with a side control. At the time I got some idle rap from somebody about the 1NT being alertable in ACBL and hints about me being "less than forthcoming" in disclosure because I don't alert the 1NT or the subsequent 4M or the direct 1M-4M sequence.

 

I promised to ask ACBL and post their answer, mainly to be sure I was doing the right thing, but nice to set the "hinters" straight, too. Here is the email; the asterisk-parts are Mike Flader's answers within my original e-mail.

 

 

QUOTE

 

We play 2/1 and 5cM, 15-17NT, 1NTF

 

Our agreements for major suit raises are (without competition):

- 2M = simple raise with three cards

- 3M = preemptive 0 to bad 6 points, denies side ace, vul 3 to bad 7

- 4M = preemptive with typically 5-card support and some shape, denies side ace

- 3C = Bergen raise w exactly 4 trumps, 7-9

- 3D = Bergen raise w exactly 4 trumps, limit raise values

- 2NT = GF raise w 4+ trumps

- Splinters

- 1NT(F) = any hand not gameforcing and not suited for listed raises, could be 3-card limit raise

 

Given our agreements, there is a hand type that falls outside the system = a hand like xxxxx-AJx-xxx-xx which has side control so not suited for preempt, and too weak plus too many trumps for Bergen raises, and obviously unsuitable for Jacoby 2NT. After it came up once, we agreed to just bid 1NT first and then jump to 4M with such hands. So now this is our agreement to include this rare "hole in system" into the 1NTF response.

 

Several questions.

 

1. Is our 2M alertable?

 

****NO

 

2. Is our 3M alertable? (I know it is alertable without competition)

 

****In non-competitive situations, alert, otherwise no

 

3. Is our 4M alertable?

 

****No way.

 

4. Is our 1NT alertable? (we announce it "forcing")

 

****No. An announcement is sufficient. Additionally, while no immediate alert would be required for the 4M rebid by responder, at the end of the auction, on hands played by your side, you should offer to disclose this information to the opponents.

END