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SCUM...


foobar

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Seems like you could have opened with a standard Weak Two on boards 16 and 19 here, if available.

 

 

FWIW, I would be wary opening 16 with 2 even playing a standard limited opening system. It's a flat hand, and with the scattered outside values, it seems like 1 is a good alternative. Note that 19 was opened with 1 at the other table as well.

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Weak 2's are no doubt net plus over time. Canapé 2's are a lot more net plus over time. Simple as that.

 

So we played the Nickell team, arguably the most successful team the last 25+ years, and you found 3 boards where we could've opened weak 2 or our action may have been affected by the lack of weak 2.

Those 3 boards were push, win 8, win 3 for net +11 imps. What's your point?

 

Btw those two last quarters were live-streamed on Youtube if you want to look it up. Meckstroth got the blue card right back at him. I wonder how times that ever happened to him :-)

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I wonder if it could be worthwhile to expand the range of the 1 opening? The reason would be adding a weak NT opening and thus increasing the aggressiveness (not sure if it is needed though). So maybe:

 

1C = Strong. Includes 15-17 NT but not 18-19 NT.

1D = 11-14 NT with major, or any 18-19 NT.

1NT = 11-14 NT without major.

 

1D---

1H = "Stayman".

1S = Puppet to 1NT. Weak or GF.

1NT = To play vs 11-14, GF vs 18-19.

2m = To play vs 11-14.

2H = At least 4-4 majors, NF.

 

Letting the opponents get in at the one level when holding a 15-17 NT may not be a good idea though, and the split range of 1 prevents some preemptive jumps as responder.

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I wonder if it could be worthwhile to expand the range of the 1 opening? The reason would be adding a weak NT opening and thus increasing the aggressiveness (not sure if it is needed though). So maybe:

 

1C = Strong. Includes 15-17 NT but not 18-19 NT.

1D = 11-14 NT with major, or any 18-19 NT.

1NT = 11-14 NT without major.

 

1D---

1H = "Stayman".

1S = Puppet to 1NT. Weak or GF.

1NT = To play vs 11-14, GF vs 18-19.

2m = To play vs 11-14.

2H = At least 4-4 majors, NF.

 

Letting the opponents get in at the one level when holding a 15-17 NT may not be a good idea though, and the split range of 1 prevents some preemptive jumps as responder.

 

I suggested something along these lines to increase the utility of the bid, and to help tighten up the balanced ranges when opening 1. Suggested both making it a spit range NT, and also suggested having it as a wide-ranging (i.e. 12-16) NT. The latter idea was to enable an artificial 1NT opening to help sort out our minor-oriented hands. Ulf rejected both proposals; the first because it would mean we couldn’t just blast to game since partner wouldn’t always have the weak range. One nice thing about 1NT openings is one almost always knows exactly what our target level is almost immediately, but if you widen the range or add a 2nd range, that becomes much less likely. One final reason he liked keeping it as always being a weak range is that he didn’t have to be so concerned about siding in determining best meanings for responder’s initial bids, and thereby keeping it simpler.

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I suggested something along these lines to incUlf rejected both proposals; the first because it would mean we couldn’t just blast to game since partner wouldn’t always have the weak range. One nice thing about 1NT openings is one almost always knows exactly what our target level is almost immediately, but if you widen the range or

If I am not mistaken, the 1D opening is one of the biggest wins of the system, based on table results, right?

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If I am not mistaken, the 1D opening is one of the biggest wins of the system, based on table results, right?

 

I say it is based on my personal recollection. Things like when it goes 1D - (p) - 2R transfer. Now when your arrive in 2M, the opps have no idea what kind of fit you have. It basically has all of the upside of opening 1NT and very little of the risk/randomness (unless you are as “good” as Fantoni-Nunes) that is often associated with weak 1NT ranges, This is because the opps can’t really double you, and even if they can you can now bail in any strain at the 1 level (except clubs) still giving responder all of the benefits of knowing that you have no trump distribution. Ulf has the data to back up my recollection.

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I say it is based on my personal recollection. Things like when it goes 1D - (p) - 2R transfer. Now when your arrive in 2M, the opps have no idea what kind of fit you have. It basically has all of the upside of opening 1NT and very little of the risk/randomness (unless you are as “good” as Fantoni-Nunes) that is often associated with weak 1NT ranges, This is because the opps can’t really double you, and even if they can you can now bail in any strain at the 1 level (except clubs) still giving responder all of the benefits of knowing that you have no trump distribution. Ulf has the data to back up my recollection.

 

1D has been the best opening. Not a lot of double-digit gains but steady gains on a very frequent hand type.

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1D has been the best opening. Not a lot of double-digit gains but steady gains on a very frequent hand type.

Out of curiosity, noticed that olien mentioned 1D - 2R as a transfer, but in the latest incarnation, 1D - 2M is natural. This exposes the 1D, but my guess is that it really doesn't make that much of a difference, right?

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Out of curiosity, noticed that olien mentioned 1D - 2R as a transfer, but in the latest incarnation, 1D - 2M is natural. This exposes the 1D, but my guess is that it really doesn't make that much of a difference, right?

 

I don't think so. Seems the direct 2M puts more pressure on 4th hand. Also conceals the more undefined hand (as declarer).

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  • 2 months later...

I am considering using a 1 opener as showing 11-15/16 points, 5+ cards in either minor.

SCUM is a very impressive new strong system by ulven. The central principle is that the 1M openings are unbalanced, and 1 includes the balanced hands outside the 1N range, and may have 5M332.

 

1: 16+, 18+ balanced

1: Balanced, 11-13 (14), may be 5M332

1: 11-15, Unbalanced, can be 4-card if 4441

1: 11-15, Unbalanced, can be 4-card if 4441

1N: 14 - 17-

2m: 11-15, 5+, denies major, can be 4om

2M: 11-15, 4M with longer minor, unbalanced not 5422

 

The 2M openings seem bizarre, but work very well in practice.

SCUM modifed to suit my religious beliefs:

 

1st/2nd seat:

 

P: includes 11-13 BAL

1 = Precision [or SCUM except 17+ if BAL]

1 = SCUM 2-level or 3* [MickyB's 1 opener, more or less]

1M = SCUM 1M

1N = 14-16 BAL

2+ = weak preempts

 

* assuming SCUM 2N and SCUM 3 both show intermediate strength minor 2-suiters not covered by the SCUM 2m openings

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If

 

1(SCUM 2-level or 3)-1 = GF relay,

 

then e.g.

 

1-1; ?:

 

1N = C 1-suiter, M+C reverser or H+C 3-suiter

...2

......2 = H+C reverser or H+C 3-suiter

.........2

............2 = H+C 3-suiter

...............2N

..................3 = 1444

..................3 = 4414

..................3 = 0445

..................3 = 0454

..................3N = 4405

..................3 = 0445

..................3 = 0454

..................3 = 4405

............2N+ = H+C reverser

......2 = S+C reverser

......2+ = C 1-suiter

2 = D+C 2-suiter

...2

......2 = reverser

......2+ = long-legged

......2N+ = anti-reverser

2 = H+D reverser or S+D 3-suiter

...2

......2 = S+D 3-suiter

.........2N =

............3 = 4144

............3 = 4441

............3 = 4045

............3 = 4054

............3N = 4450

............3 = 4045

............3 = 4054

............3 = 4450

......2N+ = H+D reverser

2 = S+D reverser

2+ = D 1-suiter

Edited by nullve
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  • 9 months later...

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