Cyberyeti Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 A couple of junior world champions turned up at the university bridge club in Cambridge when I was a student and played their "pass throughout" system. They scored nearly 60%. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 The absolute most ridiculous convention is "Reversed Fishbein". However, I've never encountered that IRL. :( What I did encounter was a pair that overcalled 2♣ promising a 2♣ opener. I had a light limited transfer opening (playing MOSCITO at the time) and LHO had 22+, he overcalled 2♣ and they were proud that they were able to handle this type of hand quite easily (missing a juicy penalty in the progress). I've encountered some other crappy stuff, but nothing was as memorable as this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfa1010 Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 We had a regular pair at my previous club who played (what they called) Precision, but with quite a few odd twists. 1C-Pass-1NT could include a 4CM and often did.1C-Pass-1NT-Pass-2C was Stayman. Straight stayman responses. Heck of a way to make sure the 1C bidder is declarer as infrequently as possible. Yeah, that's what I play too. Actually we even play that 2♦ is also stayman. So I guess we are twice as silly. After 2♣ stayman, responder shows it all, 5c minor, min/max etc with naturalish responses, while after 2♦ he only shows his major(s). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfa1010 Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 Reminds me of Zia's(?) 2NT opening showing 12-14, though that at least has some merit since doubling is a bit dangerous.I have play a reasonably serious event with 2N = exactly 15 balanced.This fits nicely with 12-14NTs and 16+ precision 1♣ :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ggwhiz Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 The absolute most ridiculous convention is "Reversed Fishbein". Players reverse everything they can in my neck of the woods. After mucho discussion in the bar one pair decided to play reverse Smolen and alerted it as such. It is more commonly known as standard american. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awm Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 I played against a pair for whom 4♣ was always gerber. This is weird but not enough to make this list on its own. What was really strange, was that after 4♣ gerber and partner's response, 4NT was keycard. So they managed to bid gerber and keycard in the same auction! Their reasoning was that "keycard lets you show the trump king and queen, whereas gerber is just for aces." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbodell Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 A couple of junior world champions turned up at the university bridge club in Cambridge when I was a student and played their "pass throughout" system. They scored nearly 60%. I briefly considered trying this in a longish team match for the last session when we were up a lot against a team that was heavily favored to beat us. I don't think pass throughout would work quite as well at IMPs as MP, but who knows. We played conventionally, if a bit too timidly, and held on for the win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordontd Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 1C-Pass-1NT could include a 4CM and often did.1C-Pass-1NT-Pass-2C was Stayman. Straight stayman responses.Just as in the Terence Reese book that popularised the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffy Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 2NT-pass-3♦-pass3♥-double I was 2NT opener, when it was my turn I asked RHO about the double, and she said asks for a heart lead obviously!. My partner had already bid 3NT not caring to ask, and we end up in 4♥ making the same 11 tricks as everyone else losing 2 tricks to lefties ♥AQx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecalm Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 I would be more happy to play most things in this thread than:-capp-better minor-standard way of handling 16-21 hands (which is jumping or reversing on 2-3 card suits) Those are not only terrible but also very frequent so they are more costly than say 1S -p-2S-p-2N = RKCB :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fluffy Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 a bit off topic but I also had this auction myself pass (focing, but not neccesarilly strong)-1♠ (0-7, best major)2♠ (opponents must have game at least) partner forgot the agreement and -1700 at the 5 level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerben42 Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Reminds me of Zia's(?) 2NT opening showing 12-14, though that at least has some merit since doubling is a bit dangerous. I'm still playing 13-14 2NT (9 - 12 for 1NT) with one pd 1st 2nd seat at favourable. We had agreed that if they shoot us, we will reconsider. So far, the only one who has gone for a number were the opps... One time we played the 2nd best game but it made anyway so who cares. Meanwhile I have a new favourite story: As my pd gets confused mixing normal and Puppet after 2NT we stuck with Puppet even after the weak variation. [hv=pc=n&w=sqt62ha95da6c8632&d=e&v=n&b=2&a=2n(13-14)p3c(Romex)p3d(No%204%21H%20no%205%21S)p3h(Asking%20for%204%21S)d3sppdpprppp]133|200[/hv] That was an unusual score of I forgot what. 760? Doubler of course had "the rest", which wasn't enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtK78 Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 The absolute most ridiculous convention is "Reversed Fishbein". However, I've never encountered that IRL. :( The only "reverse" Fishbein that I ever heard of was related to me by Dave Treadwell. He called it "Ethnic" Fishbein (insert your favorite ethnic group for the word "Ethnic." Double was for takeout, the next step was for penalties. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyberyeti Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 The only "reverse" Fishbein that I ever heard of was related to me by Dave Treadwell. He called it "Ethnic" Fishbein (insert your favorite ethnic group for the word "Ethnic." Double was for takeout, the next step was for penalties. :)Reminds me of the apocryphal "ethnic"/reverse western cue bid, which says I have a stop, do you have a solid 8 card minor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackshoe Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 I would be more happy to play most things in this thread than:-capp-better minor-standard way of handling 16-21 hands (which is jumping or reversing on 2-3 card suits) Those are not only terrible but also very frequent so they are more costly than say 1S -p-2S-p-2N = RKCB :)My preferences: Hello1m shows at least three. With 3-3 in the minors bid 1♣, with 4-4 bid 1♦. As I understand it this is, strictly speaking, not "better minor", but some people call it that.Play Precision, or Romex, in the latter case the "two card" variant (at MPs, Romex when vulnerable, Romex Forcing Club (RFC) when not vulnerable; at IMPs RFC only at favorable).Comments welcomed. B-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuudturner Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 I'm trying to convince partner to play inverted Fishbein. Think about it. B-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 I'm trying to convince partner to play inverted Fishbein. Think about it. B-)I actually play "Modified Inverted Fishbein", everything is the same like Inverted Fishbein, except that the next step is considered natural. :P 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecalm Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 I also think Namyats is pretty terrible when we are at somewhat standard conventions. 4m preempt is useful and benefits of namyats comparing to opening those hands with 1M dubious at best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beowulf Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Great thread! The following agreement isn't strange on the same scale as some of the other entries, but I played against a pair a few months ago where they had the following auction: 1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♥ - 2♠ - 4♠. I asked if 2♥ had been forcing and was told that it was. What's more (4♠ made, by the way), they didn't seem to think this agreement was at all unusual. What do you all think? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beowulf Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I also think Namyats is pretty terrible when we are at somewhat standard conventions.I've been playing Namyats with various partners for many years. Theoretically, I love the convention. Trouble is, I don't think I've ever had a good result after bidding 4♣ or 4♦, not to mention losing the 3NT to show a solid suit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLOGIC Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I also think Namyats is pretty terrible when we are at somewhat standard conventions. 4m preempt is useful and benefits of namyats comparing to opening those hands with 1M dubious at best. Agree, but playing it in reverse where 4m= 4m preempt, and 3N=good 4M bid (whatever you'd open namyats 4C/4D with) is quite good I think. Better than gambling 3N anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Agree, but playing it in reverse where 4m= 4m preempt, and 3N=good 4M bid (whatever you'd open namyats 4C/4D with) is quite good I think. Better than gambling 3N anyways. Maybe someday they will make this legal. I've made my 3rd request this week. Fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quantumcat Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Wouldn't you be less likely to want to play in 3NT when partner has an eight-card major than when he has an eight-card minor? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyman Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Great thread! The following agreement isn't strange on the same scale as some of the other entries, but I played against a pair a few months ago where they had the following auction: 1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♥ - 2♠ - 4♠. I asked if 2♥ had been forcing and was told that it was. What's more (4♠ made, by the way), they didn't seem to think this agreement was at all unusual. What do you all think? I play the 2H is GF in this auction, and I know a number of others on this forum do as well, so while it's not standard, I don't think it's unusual at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbradley62 Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Great thread! The following agreement isn't strange on the same scale as some of the other entries, but I played against a pair a few months ago where they had the following auction: 1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♥ - 2♠ - 4♠. I asked if 2♥ had been forcing and was told that it was. What's more (4♠ made, by the way), they didn't seem to think this agreement was at all unusual. What do you all think?One tenant of the Mama-Papa bridge I learned in the early 1970s was "new suit by responder is always forcing". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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