Here's a nice hand (bid it MY way)

[jillybean]

I would have assumed a 1♠ response with that unless playing an up-the-line system.

I don't want to highlight the spade suit, its crap, but I wouldn't be too upset if partner did chose to bid it.

However, holding the West hand I rebid 1NT,(15-17) not 1♥.

[mikeh]

1♣:1♦

1♥:1♠

 

4 spades, longer diamonds, I'd expect 6, not forcing.

 

Before we added XYZ, 1♣ 1♦ 1♥ 2♠ was our 4sgf sequence.

 

& yes, what partner doesn't bid can reveal a lot about their hand.

IC 1D 1H

 

 

If you bypass diamonds when holding a modest hand and a 4 card major, then you should consider playing that 1H shows an unbalanced hand.

 

If partner has the values to bid diamonds ahead of a major, then he can check back for, or just bid, a major over your 1N rebid. Indeed, the ability to rebid notrump as opener with ALL balanced hands is a huge part of why Walsh methods are successful. Concealing opener’s major holdings is worth half a trick or so on average, whether that be in 1N or 3N.

 

This in turn means that one should NOT play xyz after 1C 1D 1M

 

Opener is marked with shape and at least 4 clubs….if he rebid 1S, then at least 5, and if 1H, then 5 unless 4414.

 

This means that it is very useful to be able to play in 2C, which is impossible playing xyz.

 

Use FSF instead…my suggestion is to forget about using 1S and 2S as different forms of FSF: nobody, including highly ranked experts, has ever given me a persuasive reason for blowing up one’s gf auctions by jumping to 2S. I think someone once thought it was a good idea and few have ever looked at it seriously and asked Why? I use 1S as ambiguous about spades, but gf.

[Gilithin]

I don't want to highlight the spade suit, its crap, but I wouldn't be too upset if partner did chose to bid it.

However, holding the West hand I rebid 1NT,(15-17) not 1♥.

This is precisely the point though. If West rebids 1NT with a balanced hand holding one or both 4 card majors then East needs to respond 1♠. If West bids 4 card suits up-the-line irrespective of shape, as in SEF, then East can afford to respond 1♦.

 

my suggestion is to forget about using 1S and 2S as different forms of FSF: nobody, including highly ranked experts, has ever given me a persuasive reason for blowing up one’s gf auctions by jumping to 2S. I think someone once thought it was a good idea and few have ever looked at it seriously and asked Why? I use 1S as ambiguous about spades, but gf.

If playing an up-the-line system it does make sense to play 1♠ as natural and 2♠ as 4th Suit Forcing. With shape rebids, I am with you that nebulous just works out more efficient.

[gszes]

we still do not know a ton about opener's hand aside from the fact they do NOT have 4 spades (no 2s bid over 2d when it was still possible for responder to have 4 spades). I see no reason to eat up space when there is no clear evidence as to direction. I will bid 3d to keep the bidding as low as possible. Who knows? that might be enough for opener to take control (unlikely). As long as we are NOT playing with a robot (where a 3n bid with KQJ Jxxx x AJTxx is possible ickkkkkk). A couple of sensible bids should greatly clarify where and how high we are going.

[Cascade]

[hv=pc=n&w=sa54htdakqj96ckq8&d=n&v=e&b=9&a=p1cp1dp1hp2d(xzy%20gf)p3cp?]133|200[/hv]

 

MPs

 

You're playing xyz, 2♦ was artificial and game forcing.

What's your plan now?

 

I am going to raise clubs and then bid Blackwood (RKCB).

[Cascade]

I'm feeling impatient today so

4NT asking for Aces

6NT with 1 shown, 7NT with 2

 

I fear that 4NT might be a hand that is too good for 3NT and not Blackwood.

[jillybean]

IC 1D 1H

 

 

If you bypass diamonds when holding a modest hand and a 4 card major, then you should consider playing that 1H shows an unbalanced hand.

 

If partner has the values to bid diamonds ahead of a major, then he can check back for, or just bid, a major over your 1N rebid. Indeed, the ability to rebid notrump as opener with ALL balanced hands is a huge part of why Walsh methods are successful. Concealing opener’s major holdings is worth half a trick or so on average, whether that be in 1N or 3N.

 

This in turn means that one should NOT play xyz after 1C 1D 1M

 

Opener is marked with shape and at least 4 clubs….if he rebid 1S, then at least 5, and if 1H, then 5 unless 4414.

 

This means that it is very useful to be able to play in 2C, which is impossible playing xyz.

 

Use FSF instead…my suggestion is to forget about using 1S and 2S as different forms of FSF: nobody, including highly ranked experts, has ever given me a persuasive reason for blowing up one’s gf auctions by jumping to 2S. I think someone once thought it was a good idea and few have ever looked at it seriously and asked Why? I use 1S as ambiguous about spades, but gf.

 

Thanks, this fixes the awkward 1C 1D XYZ auctions, and 1S 4sf is sensible and less steps to remember. Nobody ever tells players about these little problems and workarounds when adding a convention, many don't even fully explain the follow ups.

[jillybean]

I am going to raise clubs and then bid Blackwood (RKCB).

I think you run out of room don't you?

 

1C:1D

1H:2D

3C:4C

?

[DavidKok]

I think Cascade meant 4NT Blackwood. I hope it's safe opposite any response.

 

The followups and consequences of playing Walsh are long and complicated, but quite useful. I personally play something else over 1♣, but in a 'Walsh but otherwise natural' system I would agree that 1♣-1♦; 1♥ promises an unbalanced hand (especially if playing weak NT, where I like the idea of bidding 1♦ on a 3-card suit to get the strong hand into declaring NT) and that 1♠ is 4SF over that. Partner will 'raise' to 2♠ with the 4=4=1=4/4=4=0=5 hands so a potential spade fit is never lost.

[gszes]

[hv=pc=n&s=sqt82hq8432d8742c&w=sa54htdakqj96ckq8&n=sk976hj75dt3cjt42&e=sj3hak96d5ca97653]399|300[/hv]

bid your way

 

1c nat

1d nat

1h nat (unclear if this promises distributional hand or not)

2d xyz

3c at least some club length with a problem in one or both majors for NT (if more balanced). DENIES 4 card spade suit or 5 card heart suit.

3d more temporizing than anything else. trying to get a clearer picture of opener's hand.

3h heart stop but a problem in spades for NT purposes. Still has not limited power.

3s I would normally treat this as looking for a partial stopper. It can also be used (with Axx for ex) to help rightside 3n if 5+m is a viable alternative to 3n.

4c no dia support (max surely 2 small) nothing useful in spades and minimal 5c available for extra values. Also no spade shortness (4s) (3 small not impossible and might make 4c the right bid even with some extra values).

 

I now have enough info to go to 4n key card for clubs 0314). It is technically possible for partner to have a hand like xxx AKQJ x JTxxx but this is a game of probability and I will buy the bridge gods lunch after they have a belly laugh at my expense for getting too high in 6c if p shows 1 key card. SO

4n RKC for clubs

5s 2 with club Q

7N is the best place to go and requires the least from partner. It might be possible that 7c or 7d is the best on a particular hand but that is just a guess while

any semblance of normal minor suit breaks should make 7n easy.

[mikl_plkcc]

I don't treat 1c-1d-1h-1s as artificial. It sold 4 spades only with 4+ diamonds.

[Cascade]

I think you run out of room don't you?

 

1C:1D

1H:2D

3C:4C

?

 

After 4♣ I expect partner to cue-bid almost 100% of the time. The chance of partner having an opening bid without a control in hearts or spades is almost zero. Therefore I expect the auction to continue ... 4♥ or 4♠ and then I will bid 4NT. Even if partner admits to no aces and that is 5♦ I have a reasonably safe pass with such good diamonds.