Balanced Club / Unbalanced Diamond without Transfer Walsh

[JLilly]

Hi all, here in ACBL land, we're not allowed to use Transfer Walsh (1♣-1♦ = 4+ hearts; 1♣-1♥ = 4+ spades) in ordinary club events. I'm interested in implementing a balanced-club/unbalanced-diamond that's GCC-compliant. Preferably with a strong 1NT. Does anybody play this or have ideas or references? Everything I can find about balanced-club/unbalanced-diamond is built around T-Walsh responses (perhaps there's a reason for this. . .). Thanks!

[glen]

Consider having a system for the new Open and Open+ charts that will replace the GCC in November

[JLilly]

Ah, yes, thanks! The ACBL is saying that they recommend that clubs use the Open chart, but the Basic+ is a lot more similar to the GCC than is the Open. Is this something many club directors have decided on and announced?

[awm]

Seems like you could use 1♦ negative and do something like Polish club. This would actually work better than transfers when responder has no major; you also gain when responder is too weak to force game opposite the big notrump hand, while using some space when responder has a major and opener is strong.

 

1♦ = any 0?-6, or <9 no major

1M Natural 7+ points

1NT 9-11 no major

2m = Natural invite or better

2M like 4-8 long major

 

After 1♣-1♦ opener 1NT is 18-20 balanced. Unbalanced hands with clubs bid 1M (with four and less than 18 or so) or 2♣ (Natural less than 18) or other suit rebids if strong. Weak notrump bids a four card major (if any) or a three card major (without a four carder) or maybe pass 1♦ (five card diamonds or maybe even four).

 

After 1♣-1M most rebids are natural. It’s probably good to play opener 2♦ as a big balanced hand and use 2NT as the both minors reverse on frequency grounds; anyway both of these and two of the other major can be played as GF since responder showed values. Weak notrump hands bid 1nt or 2M (or 1♠ depending on style) and club hands not big enough to force game bid 2♣ or 1♠ or raise or bid an off-shape 1nt (maybe best with 1435 for example when partner responds in spades).

[Kungsgeten]

awm's suggestion is similar to what many Dutch players seem to do. I like the idea of having the 1NT response being invitational vs the weak NT, so perhaps something like this:

 

1C---

1D = Negative (ca 0-6), or natural, or 7--9 with 4-4 majors, or NT type hand unsuitable for other response.

1M = Natural, 7+ hcp.

1NT = INV vs weak NT. May have four card major.

2C = INV+ with clubs.

2D+ = Not sure...

 

1C--1D;

1H = Clubs + hearts, or any weak NT.

1S = Clubs + spades.

1NT = 18-19 NT.

2C = Natural.

2D+ = Strong with clubs.

 

1C--1D; 1H---

1S = Wants opener to bid 1NT if holding the weak NT. Then normal NT system is used. Opener's bids 2C or something higher with clubs + hearts.

1NT = 7-9 with 4-4 majors.

2m = To play vs weak NT.