Free Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Because in half the bridge world, 1♠ is always unbalanced (well strictly not balanced, 4225 is possible but considered semi balanced by the EBU and others)Please get your facts straight before posting such nonsense. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VM1973 Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 I agree with those who recommended 2NT. Checkback Stayman might also work if you play it as a one-round force. Personally I prefer it as game forcing, especially when playing IMPs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberyeti Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Please get your facts straight before posting such nonsense.Well it's applied to EVERY partner I've ever played with encompassing most of the big bridge countries of the world, including those I've played a strong no trump with from US, France, Spain, Pakistan and China (not suggesting it's necessarily routine in those places, just it was routine to the people I've played with from those places to rebid 1N if the hand was balanced). It's always been 99% routine in the UK, although I suspect with more people playing 5M 2/1 it may be becoming less so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Tu Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 One problem with playing 2♦ as "invitational or stronger" is that if opener rebids 3♣ to show a sixth club we don't know if he has extra values or not. I suppose one could play 3♦ by opener now as showing extra values and not the right shape for a 3NT, 3♥ or 3♠ bid. Another problem is that if 2♥ by opener is nonforcing he would have to bid 3♥ with extra values and three hearts. That is a lot of space to take away without clarifying whether he has a diamond stop or not. Or with a diamond stopper, six clubs and slight extras he would have to bid 3NT, not showing the extra club length. I think most of these problems are tractable. I like playing 2♠ by opener after 4sf here (current cheapest of opener's suits) as non-descript, *not* implying 5-6, since 5-6 is a rare hand type compared to the many hands where opener has no natural bid i.e. 4135 no diamond stop. If 2♠ is a PLOB, 3♣ can promise both six clubs and extras. With six clubs and a minimum, you can always just bid 2♠ then 3♣ if partner bids a NF 2nt, or pass partner's 3♣ invite. 2♥ by opener can be treated as 1RF. If opener bids 3♥ to show extras, presumably he is 4315, no diamond stop unless stiff ace? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgoetze Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 - 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the hog Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Since you quoted the entire post, I assume you meant to call all of it "nonsense". I would be interested in a list of jurisdictions where a 1♠ rebid showing 4 spades and promising longer clubs (or perhaps 5-5) is alertable. So would I. I think to alert this is absurd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manudude03 Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 I don't think it's alertable in Ireland, but I have seen it alerted on numerous occasions. The general rule does seem to be that if you know something the opponents may reasonably not, alert it. Anyway, I'll bid 3C (unless I have a non-GF 2D available). I am not bidding NT on an auction which screams for a diamond lead (especially true if you open 1D with 4-4 minors) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 - 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgoetze Posted June 24, 2011 Report Share Posted June 24, 2011 - 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts