The GM System

[glen1]

As demonstrated in the US Team Trials the Fred Gitelman – Brad Moss “Gitmoss” 2/1 system is a very effective implementation of mainstream methods. While the system has “many specialized treatments” [Kokish & Kraft, Challenge the Champs, The Bridge World] the partnership has resisted throwing in many gadgets, and instead rely more on the fine tuned knowledge of what each other could have for any given bid. Their high scores in Challenge the Champs (CTC) show that a 2/1 base remains a solid foundation for any aspiring pair. Here are some quotes from that competition:

 

CTC September 2002: “were nearly flawless”

CTC October 2002: “During 35-plus years of Challenge the Champs, no comparable two-match score has been achieved by a pair using mainstream North American methods.”

CTC January 2005: “win with a superb score”

CTC February 2005: “outstanding once more”

 

So here’s some of what we know of Gitmoss, much from the USBF site, and this will be further updated when their WBF convention card is posted to the net.

 

5 card Majors, Strong NT (could be good 14), 2/1 Forcing to game.

 

Open most balanced hands with 12 HCP, but pass most balanced hands with 11 HCP, sometimes open light with good shape.

 

2NT response to 1M is natural - may have 3 trumps in a flat hand. 3C response to 1M used to show big raise.

 

1NT response to 1M is semi-forcing, passable with flat minimum.

 

After 2/1 response to 1M, opener does not bid on three level without extra values (more than a terrible hand if just raising partner) or extra shape. A jump to 3M by opener shows a one or no loser suit.

 

Sometimes open 4-card majors in 3rd and 4th position. Reverse Drury. 1M-3M by a passed hand is less than a sound constructive with five trumps or four trumps and a singleton/void - opener can ask for the shortness.

 

Reverse Flannery responses to 1C/1D openings. Cheapest jump shift is 5-8 with 5+ spades and 4+ hearts. Next Cheapest jump shift is 9-11 with exactly 5 spades and exactly 4 hearts.

 

May respond to opening bid with a very weak hand.

 

Walsh responses over 1C - bid major first unless game forcing hand.

 

After a suit opening, opener's suit rebid promises an unbalanced hand - rebid notrump or raise if balanced.

 

1D-2C-2D shows 4+Ds with a minimum hand, with 2C being a game force.

 

1XYZ over 1NT rebid by opener.

 

Transfers over jump 2NT rebid by opener.

 

1D-1S-2D-2H is artificial game force (not certain how much other use of Burke Relay).

 

2H response to 2C is super negative. 2C-2D-2H is Kokish, either Hs or 24+ balanced.

 

3NT serious slam try.

 

Last Train on slam auctions.

 

Splinters.

 

Fit showing jumps.

 

Some four of minor bids can be RKCB for minor.

 

3NT opening in 1st and 2nd seat shows at least 6-5 in the majors and less than opening bid values. 3NT in 3rd or 4th seat to play opposite a pass hand - responder rarely bids now.

 

Overcalls and preempts are relatively sound by modern standards. Weak twos (2D, 2H, 2S) can be a good five card suit if not vulnerable. New suits forcing after two level overcall.

 

Lebenshol after takeout double of two level opening.

 

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Defensive signalling

 

Upside down attitude and signals. Signalling priority is Attitude, Count, Suit Preference.

 

Occasionally give suit preference in the trump suit.

 

Give suit preference in “free” situations.

 

Vs. NT lead 4th best, but often lead high or second high from bad 4 card suits.

 

Vs. suits, lead 3rd from even, low from odd, but may lead high from 3 small in partner’s raised suit or if think that count does not rate to be important.

 

Vs. Notrump lead Rusinow from 4+ card holdings, but never in partner’s suit and not against slams.

 

Vs. Suits have the ability to show count with A/K leads. Should one choose to make such a signal, A=even and K=odd. However do not use these signals if one deems the situation to be one in which one might lay down an Ace without holding the King or if one thinks that giving count does not rate to be important. If one chooses not to signal count when holding an AK combination, one would always lead K from AK.

 

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We look forward to seeing the Gitmoss system in action this fall live on BBO. Please add updates and corrections as appropriate.

[Gerben42]

2/1 is a good system. It is also basis for two of the three pairs in the strongest team in the world at the moment, Italy. The 3rd pair (Fantunes) also plays 2/1 GF but their opening bid structure are a bit different from standard. This makes sure that the 2/1 GF part comes up more often.

[hrothgar]

2/1 is a good system. It is also basis for two of the three pairs in the strongest team in the world at the moment, Italy.

This is a rather odd assertion...

 

Lets look at the Bocchi-Duboin sytem notes for a moment...

 

The pair uses a Kaplan Interchange over 1♥ openings and NOT a forcing NT response.

The pair uses 1M - 2♣ as an artificial relay

The pair uses transfer advances over 1♣ openings...

The 1♣ opening only promises 2 cards

Their 2♣ opening shows 18-20 balanced

Their 2♦ opening is forcing to game

Oh yeah. 2/1 responses AREN'T forcing to game if the suit is rebid.

 

If we turn to Lauria-Versace

 

Once again we see a 2+ card 1♣ opening.

The pair does not use a forcing NT over 1M openings

The pair uses a 2♣ relay

A 2♦ shows a balanced hand with 18-20 points

Here (at least) a 2♦ response to a 1M opening establishes a game force. (2♥ over 1♠ does not)

 

Both pairs use 5 card majors openings, so GUESS you could claim that the basis for the system is 2/1...

[Guest Jlall]

On a side note...Gitmoss? This seems wrong... how bout Gitelmoss? Mossman(ok just kidding). I don't think they were meant to have their names combined lol.

[glen1]

Maybe it should be called the GM system, since they drive a North American standard model.

[hrothgar]

Maybe it should be called the GM system, since they drive a North American standard model.

I LIKE this...

[Guest Jlall]

lol, nice.

[Gerben42]

I am sorry, I guess my post was a bit misleading.

2/1 GF is not a system, it's more like a way of life after partner has opened 1♥/♠.

 

Setting up a game force and put all the other hands in some garbage bid. That B-D use 1♠ for this (Kaplan inversion) does not change the fact that they play 2/1 as GF ("except rebid"). 2♣ relay is not really a relay, it's natural in the sense that 1♣ opening is natural, it's "no other good bid and GF".

 

If you insist on calling 2/1 a system with 3-card minor openings and 2♣ the only strong opening, then I will have to say I think the Italian methods are a bit better.

 

But the idea to get your GF clear as soon as possible if partner opens is prevalent in both the Gitelmoss and the Italian systems. All I really wanted to say is that to get your GF situation clear right away is a very good idea and that is why the system works.

 

As an added note: The personal factor is probably more important than these slight differences in system. Play what you like, what you know and what you play best is the key.

[FVlam]

In "Gitmoss" is 1C - 2D: 5+S/4+H and 5-8 hcp.

What is then the meaning of 2H in:

1C 1S

1NT 2H

[luke warm]

weakish hand, exactly 5 spades and 4 hearts... with invitational, 2c is the bid... with game force, 2d...

 

edit: it could also be the 9-11 type with 5/5 majors or 6/4(5)... something that doesn't fall within the reverse flannery structure

[mr1303]

I experienced this problem when playing reverse flannery, so we now play checkback Keri instead rather than XYZ or 2 way checkback stayman after a 1NT rebid.

 

1D (we play strong club) 1S

1NT 2D is GF, 5+ 4+ and 1D 1S 1NT 2H is a transfer to spades. Invitational and weak hands with 54 in the majors would have bid a reverse flannery bid, and so we can take this meaning out of our checkback sequences.

[glen1]

First, anybody with the ability please change this topic title to "The GM System". (Done! - thanks sombody!)

 

Second, just updating this with information from General Bridge Discussion.

 

GM includes Meckwell vs. strong (14+) NT:

 

2♣=♣s+major

2♦=♦s+major

2♥=♥s

2♠=♠s

 

Double=Single minor or both majors or good/great hand. After partner bids 2♣

Pass=♣s

2♦=♦s

2♥=♥s & ♠s

2♠=♠s, good/great hand

2NT+: Rest natural, good/great hand

 

Third, another update:

 

1♦-2♣-2♦ promises 4 or longer ♦s and a minimum. No other details are known at this time, but I suspect they play 1♦-2NT as natural and game forcing, so 1♦-2♣ is real clubs.

 

Fourth, another update:

 

1NT-2♦ is a Jacoby transfer to ♥s or both minors. After opener's 2♥ bid, 2♠ shows both minors (rest of bids show ♥s).