1H-1S-3H-3S, what does it show?

[Zelandakh]

So, with 4 or 5 spades and 6 points, you suggest not showing the suit?

Correct, instead Opener shows the suit with a rebid if they have it (1NT unless playing transfer rebids or something Gazilli-like). In a similar fashion to not showing a 4 card heart suit after a 1♠ opening with 6hcp and this also does not mean we lose the fit.

[helene_t]

Do you play Flannery, Zel?

[Zelandakh]

Never felt the need to yet. My favourite (strong club) system does have specialised rebids for 5M-4oM hands after a relay response though.

 

I do not knock Flannery as much as most - after all, plenty of very good players use it such as Zia. It feels wrong to me to use such an effective opening as 2♦ for such a limited purpose though. The suggestion does not require Flannery to be effective, any more than a 1♠ opening requires an opening for 5♠4♥ hands. The structures are almost entirely comparable: 1♠ - 1NT; 2♥ = 5♠4♥ and 1♥ - 1♠; 1NT = 5♥4♠. If playing Gazilli, I like a pointy suit switch there so: 1♥ - 1♠; 2♦ = 5♥4♠ and the 1NT rebid handles the Gazilli types centered around diamonds instead of clubs. Everything else can remain exactly the same as with a 1♠ opening.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

My suggested "unpopular treatment" is to play 1♥ - 1NT as a GF with spades and 1♥ - 1♠ as a forcing NT response.

Is it "unpopular" because it is Brown Sticker ?

 

1H - 1S! :

 

" ... if a bid is weak (or potentially weak having multiple options) and does not promise 4 cards in a defined suit (when weak) then it is likely to have a brown sticker. "

 

BTW, I liked the treatment when I first saw it ... but then I was told it was brown sticker .

[Finch]

No it is not 'Brown Sticker' because 'Brown Sticker' basically only applies to opening bids and overcalls.

In WBF events you can play whatever you like as responder.

 

(in fact the ACBL is the only jurisdiction I know where you _can't_ do what you like as responder)

 

I also play 1H - 1S as a forcing NT and 1H - 1NT as 5+ spades, but I don't like restricting the 1NT bid to a game force. It's fine on an uncontested auction, but gets a bit messy when 4th hand bids and you still have no idea you have a 9- (or 10-) card spade fit.