1D (1H)

[Zelandakh]

Sorry, I was talking about the auctions after a double (showing 4 spades). So 1D - (1H) - X - 1NT and 1D - (1H) - X - 2M. Looks like I missed the X out in my previous post. Then went back to the situation without the double, comparing 1S = diamonds, 1N = spades and 2C = clubs with 1S = clubs, 1N = diamonds and 2C = both minors (spades coming with higher bids).

 

I am slightly confused with your "pondering question" - is 1S bid by the opps or by us? If you mean 1D - (1H) - 1S then hopefully this makes it clear I prefer this as clubs, the main reason being the usual advantages of transfers. The GI with 5D+4C hand I would include in my "general force" 2H response. 1N as 5+ spades will clearly be a big winner as it devotes a great deal of space to this hand type - but it crams the auctions for hands without spades somewhat. If you do not use 1NT as spades then it is clear you need 2 or 3 higher bids to show these hands. My feeling was that 2 is enough but perhaps your simulations suggest more space is required. Obviously it is possible in this context to use 2H over 1H as an extra 3rd spade bid but then you have issues with some INV hands as you have already highlighted. Perhaps this could be circumvented by using 1D - (1H) - 1N - 2m - 2H conventionally for 5D + 4C without spades or a heart stop and 1D - (1H) - 1S - 2m - 2H as the same hand type but balanced, presumably (23)44. Then 1D - (1H) - 2DHS would all be available for hands with spades - perhaps 2D = 5 spades, INV+; 2H = 6+ spades, INV+; and 2S = NFB. I suspect such a structure will perform just as well as your current one but with a couple more options. But the only way to see that is by comparing them over lots of hands which I do not have time for at present. Anyway, updated idea is

 

1D - (1H)

=========

X = 4 spades

1S = clubs (2H next round is "general force" hand type)

1N = diamonds (2H next round is "general force" hand type with 5 diamonds)

2C = both minors, weak

2D = 5 spades, INV+

2H = 6+ spades, INV+

2S = NFB

2N = 5-5 minors, INV+

3C = 5-5 minors, weak

[straube]

Sorry, I was talking about the auctions after a double (showing 4 spades). So 1D - (1H) - X - 1NT and 1D - (1H) - X - 2M. Looks like I missed the X out in my previous post. Then went back to the situation without the double, comparing 1S = diamonds, 1N = spades and 2C = clubs with 1S = clubs, 1N = diamonds and 2C = both minors (spades coming with higher bids).

 

I am slightly confused with your "pondering question" - is 1S bid by the opps or by us? If you mean 1D - (1H) - 1S then hopefully this makes it clear I prefer this as clubs, the main reason being the usual advantages of transfers. The GI with 5D+4C hand I would include in my "general force" 2H response. 1N as 5+ spades will clearly be a big winner as it devotes a great deal of space to this hand type - but it crams the auctions for hands without spades somewhat. If you do not use 1NT as spades then it is clear you need 2 or 3 higher bids to show these hands. My feeling was that 2 is enough but perhaps your simulations suggest more space is required. Obviously it is possible in this context to use 2H over 1H as an extra 3rd spade bid but then you have issues with some INV hands as you have already highlighted. Perhaps this could be circumvented by using 1D - (1H) - 1N - 2m - 2H conventionally for 5D + 4C without spades or a heart stop and 1D - (1H) - 1S - 2m - 2H as the same hand type but balanced, presumably (23)44. Then 1D - (1H) - 2DHS would all be available for hands with spades - perhaps 2D = 5 spades, INV+; 2H = 6+ spades, INV+; and 2S = NFB. I suspect such a structure will perform just as well as your current one but with a couple more options. But the only way to see that is by comparing them over lots of hands which I do not have time for at present. Anyway, updated idea is

 

1D - (1H)

=========

X = 4 spades

1S = clubs (2H next round is "general force" hand type)

1N = diamonds (2H next round is "general force" hand type with 5 diamonds)

2C = both minors, weak

2D = 5 spades, INV+

2H = 6+ spades, INV+

2S = NFB

2N = 5-5 minors, INV+

3C = 5-5 minors, weak

 

Sorry, I meant I'm pondering what 1D (1H) dbl P 1S should show assuming that dbl shows only four spades. Should it show clubs or diamonds or a minimum or maximum or deny a heart stop or show 3 spades or...? I'm thinking it should show clubs so that...

 

1D (1H) dbl P

 

1S-clubs

.....1N-to play

..........2C-4D/5C (6C not possible)

1N-other, doesn't show a stopper, could have clubs if positional for NT

2C-5D/4C

2D-6D

 

but I find (when looking at clubs) that so often opener is positional for NT and declines to show clubs.

 

My #2 question is...

 

1D (1H) 2C P ?

 

how does opener show a forcing vs weak raise of clubs? My thought is that a weak raise has to bid 2H first and hope that responder will rebid 2N so that clubs can be raised. Unfortunately, this frustrates responder when he has a good hand and is denied knowledge of a fit.

 

My #3 question is...

 

1D (1H) dbl P 1N P 2S means what? What does it mean with standard negative doubles.