The Bridge Smorgesboard and My Small Plate

[Badmonster]

My experience with bidding works this way. I learned SAYC because most online players play SAYC, it's accessable, accurate and fairly modern, not to mention adjustable, as you can add other conventions. I learned 2/1 because better players than I were playing it, and since they're good, they must know. I like it. I like the idea that the speed of your bidding conversation is directly related to how many points you have.

 

Since playing at BBO, I've encountered all sorts of other systems. Some seem pretty interesting. Some bizaare.

 

The really wonderful and intimidating thing is you can choose. You can choose to learn and play any one of the multitude of options. I don't believe that one system is necessarily better cumulatively, than any other (What do I know? Maybe one is) but I believe that systems probably work better for one person or another because they are more suited to a playing style.

 

So, my question is: How do you choose the right bidding system for you? How do you know if you should be playing Goren or Magic Diamond or SAYC or 2/1?

[hrothgar]

Choosing a bidding system is VERY simple

Its all based on how cool an acronym you can make...

 

What you you rather play? SAYC or MOSCITO...

[MickyB]

TOSR isn't bad either...but it doesn't have to be an acronym, Nightmare is pretty cool too...even if you actually play the similar Millennium Club, you can still call it Nightmare B)

 

If you find exotic systems interesting then have a look around, see what you fancy and give it a go if you can find a like-minded partner. WJ2005 isn't a bad starting point - a sound system and very well documented. MOSCITO, Precision or something like the Italians play could work too.

 

Stick to SAYC or 2/1 if you aren't too bothered by system. If you aren't worrying about system you can concentrate on cardplay, and if you are playing something common then you will find it easier to learn judgement from others.

[david_c]

Nightmare is pretty cool too...even if you actually play the similar Millennium Club, you can still call it Nightmare  B)

B) Sacrilege!

[Gerben42]

WJ2005 has a modern sound to it as long as you don't tell anyone what WJ stands for. I have the feeling as standard systems come and go, WJ is one of the best. And it's more natural than SAYC although the GCC has banned it.

 

For me WJ is the best playing a solid style, playing an agressive style I prefer things like Marston-Burgess type Forcing Pass or my own 2-way pass B)

[1eyedjack]

I would recommend trying out as many different systems as you can. You will soon know which method suits your partnership best, from experience, without relying on the advice of others. When you finally settle on a preference, the time spent learning the other methods will never be wasted. You will have a better understanding of the nuances of methods used in opposition against you (and which with the best will in the world will not be disclosed in full). Your knowledge of the theory that led to the evolution of each method will stand you in good stead both in questions of judgement and in matters of further system development within your chosen preference.

[EricK]

Try out as many systems as you can. But try to learn them thoroughly first, try to understand the reasoning behind the methods, and try to understand the particular strengths and weaknesses and trade-offs involved in each one.

 

Most methods are as good as each other, so if you get bad results with one it could be because it doesn't suit your style, or because you didn't really understand the method, or because you happened to get a selection of hands which didn't actually suit the methods chosen.

 

Also remember that bridge is a partnership game. It is no use playing a system which is right for you and wrong for your partner!

 

Eric

[keylime]

Style matters. The more conservative you are, the most prone you are to playing an approach forcing setup like SAYC, 2/1, etc. The more aggressive, MOSCITO, forcing pass, Magic Diamonds, etc. et al.

[Free]

I agree, it's a matter of style for a big part. Some people like to keep things simple and as natural as possible, others like to alert every bid they make and exploit any available bid until the limit.

 

But there's also some technical aspect. That's why it's good to try out several systems, and evaluate the results you get. This approach also includes that you know what the strengths and weaknesses are. For example, playing a weak NT, in the last couple of months we had 2 bottoms because of that! On the other hand we also know we win a lot more after these openings, so why bother 2 poor results in a silly MP game... Imo it's very important that you know the design goals (if there are any) of the system, because that will also help you to play the system as it's supposed to be played. I refer to Richard's introduction about MOSCITO: it's great, and also explains WHY several choices were made.

 

I know all kinds of systems, played them all for at least a year, so I know what the problems are and where they score. Sometimes you can solve the weaknesses with new conventions (perhaps creating new problems with less frequency), but sometimes you just can't.

 

One last point: it might be important what kind of scoring you're playing with the system. MOSCITO for example is optimized for imps. When playing MP's you'll get bottoms because of the system while you wouldn't get a poor score in imps (playing 2M= in a 4-3 fit while others play 1NT+1). You won't have a real problem, if you know you didn't do anything wrong and you accept it's the system. However if you hate to get bottoms this way, it's better to play another system.

[Double !]

Choosing a bidding system is VERY simple

Its all based on how cool an acronym you can make...

 

What you you rather play?  SAYC or MOSCITO...

I agree lol

 

Just don't ask if P wants to play "Terrorist Moscito". That could put all sorts of thoughts in people's minds.

 

 

To seriously answer the question of which system to play, IMO, this is an issue that needs to be a partnership decision. If the question is what systems to learn to play on BBO, i would suggest having a working knowledge of Precision, and read and learn BBO basic and BBO advanced, or sayc and 2/1 and first determine which approaches you are personally most comfortable with.

 

BTW, another issue to consider is where you live, what times you usually play online, and what systems most of the people playing at those times are using. It's not too helpful to be proficient in 2/1 when most are either playing wj, sef, or an italian system. Sort of makes it more difficult to find a potentially compatible partner, don't ya think?

[Badmonster]

Thank you all for the excellent advice.

 

Though... I have to say, I would like to tell the opps we're playing terrorist mosquito!

[the hog]

Thank you all for the excellent advice.

 

Though... I have to say, I would like to tell the opps we're playing terrorist mosquito!

Nah, Terrorist Moscito is pretty old now; even Bo Yin Yang doesn't play it anymore.

Try "Scamp", its fun.