strong club interference

[straube]

Mark Abrahams put us onto the idea of having two methods of handling GF hands after 1-level interference. Minimum hands with shortness in the overcaller's suit have reason to fear an advance (raise); these hands can use Rubinsohl right away. Other hands that have extras or length in overcaller's suit can simply pass to create a GF. After this pass, the partnership can use relays (if they relay) or bid naturally. Abrahams uses opener's double to show length in overcaller's suit; the point is not to penalize the opponents as much as to describe our hand. We've changed the rest of his structure which proposed dbl as negative and other bids as descriptive semipositives. We think, though, that he is right in that semipositives deserve additional consideration after the auction becomes contested.

 

1D overcall

 

.....P-GF (use relays or natural bidding)

..........dbl-shows diamonds

.....dbl-5-7, other shapes (2+ diamonds)

.....1H-0-4, any shape

.....1S-5-7, 5+ spades

.....1N-5-7, 5+ hearts

..........2H-can be bid with xx support

.....2C-5-7, short diamonds, takeout (e.g. 3-4-1-5 or 4-4-1-4 or even 3-3-1-6)

.....2D-5-7, GF hearts

.....2H-5-7, GF spades

.....2S-5-7, 6 clubs (not our favorite bid)

.....2N-GF clubs

.....3C-GF Stayman

..........3D-denies a stopper

..........3M-shows major and promises a stopper

.....3D-5-7, good heart suit

.....3H-5-7, good spade suit

.....3S-GF, denies a stopper

.....3N-GF, stopper

 

1H overcall

.....P-GF

.....dbl-5-7, other shapes, 2+ hearts

.....1S-0-4, any shape

.....1N-5-7, 5+ spades

.....2C-5-7, short hearts, takeout (e.g. 3-1-4-5, 4-1-5-3)

.....2D-5-7, diamonds

.....2H-GF spades

.....2S-5-7, 6 clubs

.....2N-GF clubs

.....3C-GF diamonds

.....3D-GF Stayman

.....3H-5-7, good spade suit

.....3S-GF, denies a stopper

.....3N-GF, stopper

 

1S overcall

.....P-GF

.....dbl-either 0-4 or other shapes 5-7

.....1N-5-7, 5+ hearts

.....2C-5-7, short spades, takeout (e.g. 0-4-3-6, 1-4-5-3)

.....2D-5-7, diamonds

.....2H-GF hearts

.....2S-5-7, 6 clubs

.....2N-GF clubs

.....3C-GF diamonds

.....3D-5-7, good heart suit

.....3H-GF, Stayman

.....3S-GF, denies a stopper

.....3N-GF, stopper

 

After a semipositive or negative response, opener can create a GF by cue-bidding. Other bids may also be agreed to be forcing (such as bidding a major at the 3-level opposite a semipositive).

[Free]

I didn't read everything, but it seems a sensible theory. It's kind of lame to take away much bidding space for yourself, but you expect LHO to do it for you anyway.

 

I don't like the way you handle semipositives and negatives though, especially after 1♠.

[Mbodell]

It might work, but one other problem is what if the interference isn't natural? Do you still treat it that way (and still have the same expectations about advancing and what not)?

 

I definitely see 1 level bids in the "both majors" as well as "transfers" and some flavor of "suction" regularly and also occasionally things like "shortest suit" or "wonder bids (either longest or shortest suits)".

 

Would you and partner be on the same page over all of those (most important to be on the same page, somewhat important for the same theory of what makes sense).

[straube]

It might work, but one other problem is what if the interference isn't natural? Do you still treat it that way (and still have the same expectations about advancing and what not)?

 

I definitely see 1 level bids in the "both majors" as well as "transfers" and some flavor of "suction" regularly and also occasionally things like "shortest suit" or "wonder bids (either longest or shortest suits)".

 

Would you and partner be on the same page over all of those (most important to be on the same page, somewhat important for the same theory of what makes sense).

Our agreement is that a bid that could be natural (psychosuction) is treated as natural and that a bid that could show the next higher suit (suction or transfer) is treated as showing that suit.

 

If 1C (1D) might show hearts...

 

.....P-GF

.....dbl-semipositive other

.....1H-negative

.....1S-semipositive spades

.....1N-semipositive clubs

.....2C-semipositive takeout of hearts

.....2D-semipositive diamonds

.....2H-GF spades

.....2S-not used

.....2N-GF clubs

 

We use hearts as a cue bid, but subsequent bids of hearts by either hand actually show hearts.

 

We haven't discussed wonder bids.

 

Most of our opponents in this area bid naturally and a minority play transfers of some kind.

[straube]

I didn't read everything, but it seems a sensible theory. It's kind of lame to take away much bidding space for yourself, but you expect LHO to do it for you anyway.

 

I don't like the way you handle semipositives and negatives though, especially after 1♠.

1S interference is the most problematic naturally. I like what we play here but if you have a suggestion...