Ben+Misho Modified Raptor?

[Chamaco]

Ben,

would you mind posting the details of your modified 1NT overcall Raptor scheme (pure Raptor + 55 2-suiter, I forgot whether it is top&bottom suits or highest ranked suits) ?

 

I am especially interested in:

1) advancer's behaviour in competitive auctions e.g.

........a. RHO raises opener

........b. RHO bids 1 over 1

........c. RHO doubles MOST IMPORTANT SEQUENCE OF ALL!

........d. RHO bids a 2/1

1) advancer's behaviour if RHO passes e.g.

........a. how does advancer scramble if weak

........b. how does he relay if strong, and overcaller's followup

[inquiry]

We play 1NT as "raptor". This can be completely normal raptor, where 1NT shows four cards in a major and five cards in a minor. So the bidding would be...

 

(1C)-1NT = would show diamonds and a major. Always 5+ diamonds

 

(1S)-1NT = would show hearts and an unknown minor (always 5+ in the minor).

 

Where we differ from normal, we can have five plus in the major. When we have five plus in the major, we have certain additional rules. First, we are 5-5 or better with the top and bottom two suits. So for instance if the bidding had been (1C)-1NT we would never have five hearts (we would bid 2NT), and if the bidding was (1H)-1NT we would never have five diamonds (the bidding would be 2NT).

 

This means our 2NT and Michaels Cue-bids are always suit specific.

 

So the question we had to deal with were.. how do you bid logically if the (1C)-1NT can be 4H-5C, 4S-5C or 5S-5C (but never 5H-5C). We solved this problem in theory with a couple of simple rules. When 5-5 the 1NT is always a opening hand or better.. that is, with good hands. Without a good hand, we simpy overcall in our five card major if we feel the need to bid.

 

How do we handle these hands in your conditions? Let's see...

 

1) advancer's behaviour if RHO passes e.g.

........a. how does advancer scramble if weak

........b. how does he relay if strong, and overcaller's followup

 

a) Ok, if the minor is known (after 1C or 1D opening bid), we play bid the known minor as scramble. So, (1C)-1NT-(P)-2D is to play. We also play pass/correct jumps. So for instance, (1C)-1NT-(P)-3H is to play if opener's major is hearts, opener bids 3S without it. Note responder may have both majors, or may have hearts and diamonds.

 

A second scramble we use is to cue-bid the opener's minor to find opener major at the two level. This maybe, but is not necessary mildly constructive. Consider this auction. (1C)-1NT-(P)-2C <<--- opener will rebid his major. Consider this a scramble without a diamond fit.

 

In normal raptor, (1C)-1NT-(P)-2H is pass/correct. That is, opener is suppose to pass this bid of if hearts is not his suit, to pull to 2S. We use 2D to find out openers suit. So this pass/correct is not really necessary. Here we play 2H as hearts, and "constructive." Same thing if responder rebids 2S on an auction like (1C)-1NT-(P)-2S. The strong implication here is that there is no particular good fit for diamond or the other major (since no jump to 3H/3S as pass/correct).

 

IF the minor is NOT known, 2C is scramble for the minor. So for instance, (1H)-1NT-(P)-2C is pass/correct to the minor. The jumps are all pass correct.

 

B) Over 1m. we use 2NT as constructive game try or game force (along with pass/correct jumps, which with great hand, overcaller can go higher). Over 1M, we use 2NT show specifically fit for other major, and cue-bid 2M to ask about the minor and promise some values (else why not just bid 2C pass/correct or 3C (pass/correct)? Over (1M)-1NT-(P)-2D is diamonds and is constructive, so that (1M)-1NT-(P)-2M-(P)-3C-(P)-3D is now forcing.

 

How do we show the Top-Bottom two suiter? In constructive auctions, we bid the major with a jump. In non-constructive auctions we bid the major, or if not possible, rebid 2NT (see second auction).. so all these show 5-5 top and bottom hand with at least an opening hand.

 

(1C)-1NT-(P)-2H-(P)-3S <-- pass, or any other bid shows only 4S (including 2S), 2H was constructive. 2S would just show extra values

 

(1C)-1NT-(P)-2NT-(P)-4S <<-- shows 5-5, 2NT was construcitve.

 

(1S)-1NT-(P)-2S-(P)-2NT <-- 2S asked for minor, 2NT showed constructive hand with five spades and thus five clubs... Show both at once.

 

(1D)-1NT-(P)-3H-(P)-4S <<--- shows five spades and five+ clubs. PArtner fits for one of these suits with his 3H bid.

 

etc.

 

2) advancer's behaviour in competitive auctions e.g.

........a. RHO raises opener

........b. RHO bids 1 over 1

........c. RHO doubles MOST IMPORTANT SEQUENCE OF ALL!

........d. RHO bids a 2/1

 

Pass correct still on in competition. 2NT is still constuctive or better raise.

 

a) If RHO raises opener. If the major is known, (1M)-1NT-(2M)-DBL replaces cue-bid. If the major is unknown (1m)-1NT-(2m)-DBL = double again replace cue-bid but is nolonger as weak as it could be in the scramble position. Consider this semi-constructive or better. 2NT after the double and opener shows his major is a game try in the major fit.

 

B) RHO can't bid one over over one, as 1NT is pretty high...

 

c) IF RHO doubles and the minor suit is known, bidding it is signoff. If The major suit is known, bidding it is a signoff. Pass correct is still in effect. 2NT is still constructive. The "construtive" new suits are now this is where I want to play bids. RDBL is penalty oriented, pass suggest a place to play, if opener redoubles that is to play.

 

d) RHO bids a new suit at the two level. If the "unbid suit" (remember partner promised one suit with raptor) is a major, then double in negative showing four cards support. So, (1C)-1NT-(2S)-DBL <<-- shows four hearts. Partner with spades can convert this to penalty. If the "unbid suit" is a minor, dble shows constructive raise for the minor (1H)-1NT-(2D) <--- double shows clubs with constructive club raise or better. Instead of dobule, 3C would be just competitive. 2NT would be game try in spades, 3S would be "preemptive" in this case.

 

((((E))))) once raptor bidders suits are known, doubles by advancer are all penalty.

 

Ben

[Chamaco]

c)  IF RHO doubles and the minor suit is known, bidding it is signoff. If The major suit is known, bidding it is a signoff. Pass correct is still in effect. 2NT is still constructive. The "construtive" new suits are now this is where I want to play bids. RDBL is penalty oriented, pass suggest a place to play, if opener redoubles that is to play.

Hmm....

The way I started to play Raptor was that over a ngative dbl, Pass and Rdbl fit into a runout schemes to show explicit which major is held by overcaller, Double showing hearts, Pass showing spades ("DOPI" style, I find it easier to remember than apparently more popular reversed meaning as P = spades, Dbl = H).

 

I was wondering about this runout scheme, since it fits well to the pure Raptor hand where only the major suit is unknown, but it may not be able to "resolve" the hand if the "RaptorPlus" includes top+bottom 2suiter....

[Chamaco]

Two more questions:

 

Question 1

if opps open 1S, which suits does your specific Michaels cuebid show ?

Hearts + diamonds ?

 

Question 2

I like that a Raptor shape is well-defined, e.g. a limited opener.

I would not bid Raptor with 8 hcp and Raptor shape, unless it has exceptional playing strength and 2 Quick tricks.

Also, I would not bid Raptor with the right shape but 16+ hcp (too much power, pard might just make pass or correct jump even with a constructive hand).

 

However, my approach to 2suiters is different.

We play 55 or better overcalls following the "Minimax approach", e.g. either sub-opening values (6-9) or quasi-reverse hands (15+), whilst 10-15 hands just bid the suits.

 

Issue 2a

Do you see trouble with this policy ?

 

Issue 2b

Do you think it is compatible to mix Raptor hands with a limited opener AND a 2-suiter in minimax values ?

[inquiry]

One more question:

if opps open 1S, which suits does your specific Michaels cuebid show ?

Hearts + diamonds ?

If they open 1♠, !NT promises four hearts (minimum number) and five in either minor. BUT... IF misho shows FIVE hearts, the he will have five plus CLUBS...

 

This is why our raptor is so unusual. First it can have a five (or even six) card major. When the major is longer than FOUR then the second suit is always the lowest suit.

 

So,

 

(1S)-1NT-(P)-2D

(P)- 3H show five hearts, five clubs.... we have some discussion on rather 2H should show this same hand or not. This 2D bid is "constructive" so my recollection is we settled on 2H being very good raptor bid that is much more than minimum, and 3H still showing the 5-5 hand.

 

Ben

[inquiry]

c)  IF RHO doubles and the minor suit is known, bidding it is signoff. If The major suit is known, bidding it is a signoff. Pass correct is still in effect. 2NT is still constructive. The "construtive" new suits are now this is where I want to play bids. RDBL is penalty oriented, pass suggest a place to play, if opener redoubles that is to play.

Hmm....

The way I started to play Raptor was that over a ngative dbl, Pass and Rdbl fit into a runout schemes to show explicit which major is held by overcaller, Double showing hearts, Pass showing spades ("DOPI" style, I find it easier to remember than apparently more popular reversed meaning as P = spades, Dbl = H).

 

I was wondering about this runout scheme, since it fits well to the pure Raptor hand where only the major suit is unknown, but it may not be able to "resolve" the hand if the "RaptorPlus" includes top+bottom 2suiter....

There is a trade off here..

 

(1D)-1NT-DBL- (?),

• 2♣ to play, ok this we can all agree
  
• 2♦ very unlikely to play, I use this as bid your major partner. What meaning do you prescribe to it? Transfer is out as you really want opening leader on lead
  
• 2♥, do you play this as pass correct? I can get out in hearts if that IS MY SUIT. A neat trick whe I have six or seven of these and few black cards
  
• Pass = some people play this as shows 'hearts" I prefer this as possible contract, showing scattered values. This is usually pulled unless overcaller is strong. The exact ahnd that the double is left in on is usually the 5-5 hand.
  
• RDBL = penalty oriented. I guess this is normal.
  

Now then, after advancer passes, if the bidding comes around to overcaller and he has a good hand, Respnder showed some values with this pass, and a desire to stick in 1NT doubled if overcaller has the "Strong" hand (this is 5-5). Opener can pass wiht this hand, and with extra values (not terrrifically likely) redbl. This identifies the 5-5 nature (lower suit five).

 

The only time raptor has been doubled, the advancer has had a safe run out so far. So double and pass and double and redbouble has never occured, yet.