System adjustments

[mikestar]

So relay systems are not allowed. Someone tell me the difference between these two sequences:

 

ALLOWED:

 

1NT (14-16) - 2♣ (Stayman)

2♠ (4♠) - 3♣ (Minor Suit Stayman)

3♠ (4342) - 4♦ (Transfer)

4♥ (accepted) - 5♦ (To play)

 

DISALLOWED:

 

1NT (14-16) - 2♣ (Relay)

2♠ (4♠) - 3♣ (Relay)

3♠ (4342) - 4♦ (End signal)

4♥ (forced) - 5♦ (To play)

No, both of these are GCC legal in the ACBL. (If other countries have rules against relays, their rules are different.)

 

ACBL GCC defines a sequence of relay bids as a (prohibited) "system" if the opening is one of a suit and the relays start before opener's rebid. So all relays in resonse to 1NT or higher bids are legal, as are all relays by opener (excluding the possibility of the opening itself being a relay).

 

ACBL Mid Chart legalizes relay responses to one of a suit, if game forcing. Invitational or weak relay resonses to one of a suit are only legal on the Super Chart.

 

So in ACBL land, whether or not Stayman is a relay is of no relevance, as relays are unconditionally legal over 1NT.

[han]

Going back to the original topic, it seems that Landen-Pratap succesfully play a 2/1 system where a 1M opening can be very light when white (I believe that this is the only very light opening). Their response system is different depending on the vulnerability. When white, 1NT can be up to 14 HCP and is non-forcing.

 

For the rest their system is fairly straightforward, I would almost say "standard".

[pbleighton]

Landen-Pratap open all 10 counts NV, per their cc.

 

They open 4 of a major when light, and may have a longer minor.

 

It is a more aggressive version of The Science.

 

I play something like this, except that:

1) 1M openings are a bit lighter.

2) 1NT is 11+-14

3) 1m is sound (12+ unbalanced, 15+ balanced)

4) 2C is weak

5) 2/1 bids are forcing for one round.

6) We do this at all vulnerabilities.

 

Peter

[luis]

Roland,

 

I know the problem, I think 2/1 is not well suited for light openings and I also think that light openings win points so the conclusion is that normal 2/1 doesn't work. WIth my current pd we were playing 2/1 but when you know 1s can be opened sometimes with 9, sometimes with 13, sometimes with 17 then it's very hard to know what the hell you should do as responder since the hand tends to go completely out of control. This is even worst if the auction gets competitive.

I had this problem with 2 pds, and I found two different solutions.

With one of them I just changed the system.

With the other I adopted a 2/1 NF constructive approach with 1NT = "forcing game facing a hand that a normal guy would have opened" so after 1M-1NT we used 2c as "I don't have a hand that everybody would have opened" then 2d from responder was "I don't care, FG anyway" while other bids specially 2s would be non-forcing.

We produced a lot of 1M-1N;2c-2M all pass auctions that would have ended in a horrible 9+13 or 9+12 major suit game otherwise.

[Fluffy]

Changing the system takes time, I still remmber inviting with every 10 count, and now it is nearly never, it will come but...

 

If you are increasing the top level of the lowest range (6-10 or so in the old days), you may as well increase the low level, so you should pass partner's opening with 6 or less. Otherwise the range becomes too wide.