Weak NTers

[dougbennion]

I've been playing 12-14 notrumps forever . Lately I've been using transfer methods to 1♣ that work very well. 1♦ = hearts, 1♥ = spades, 1NT = GF clubs, 2♣ = GF diamonds. 1♠ is a minor-heavy catchall denying a 4-card major (something like a standard 1♦ - 1NT bid).

 

We put all of our balanced hands that we don't open notrump into our 1♣ opener, including 3=3=5=2 shapes. We announce 'could be short'. As a corollary (and a HUGE bonus), our 1♦ opener shows 5+ in an unbalanced hand (we pray never to be dealt a 4=4=4=1 hand).

 

In our system, after 1♣ - 1♦ showing hearts, a 1♥ rebid shows a strong notrump with 4 hearts. A corollary of this is you can probe for games and STOP at 2♥. Our 2♥ rebid shows an unbalanced minimum. A 3♥ rebid shows 18-19 balanced (or strong unbalanced). 1♠ shows 4 spades and an unbalanced hand probably with heart shortness. We rebid 1NT with 15-17 balanced and up to 3 trumps, which we can locate if needed with two-way CBS.

 

WE ignore overcaller's double, and over a 1♦ overcall we double to show hearts, and otherwise the system is on. The system is off for higher overcalls.

 

Before using these transfers, in the auction 1♣ - 1♥, opener would rebid 2♥ to show EITHER a strong notrump with 4 hearts, or an unbalanced minimum (sometimes with three trumps). Responder used 2NT as a general query to find our what kind of hand opener held. The transfers work a lot better.

 

The only defect we have found .. and it is manageable I think ... is the fact opener might only hold 2 clubs in his 1♣ opener. In competitive auctions, this can pose problems for responder.

 

I've seen some of the Canadian kids (Wolpert pair, Grainger pair) playing something that looks similar, but I noticed they used the 1♥ rebid to show their strong notrump with 4 hearts. I suppose you could use the 1♥ rebid to show just 3 trumps, but I prefer the way we handle it.

[dougbennion]

I mistyped above ... the Canadian kids use a 2♥ rebid, not a 1♥ rebid, to show the strong notrump hand.

[pclayton]

Hi Doug - welcome to the forum!

 

Your Jammer 2's have been discussed here somewhat.

 

I like the trasnfer idea myself - but it is midchart I think (for now and awhile I think). Still, I think I'm going to implement them - perhaps use them in the team games where I can.

[Guest Jlall]

I like the basic structure alot. I was actually thinking of something similar recently to solve this problem.

 

Grainger/Lavee playing Gavins methods (not sure where he got them) open 1C on 15-17 bal and 1D on 18-19 bal. Over 1C-1D they bid 1H with 3 hearts, but not necessarily a strong NT. 1C could be 15+ with clubs, 15-17 bal, or any hand that would usually open 2C. I like their system too.

[dougbennion]

Thank you pclayton.

 

The 1♣ transfers are mid-chart, but the defence is so trivially easy, the local club where I play permits it (Gavin has used it there as well). Played them in a local tournament Swiss team event recently too ... the director permitting it IF we got prior permission, which we invariably did.

 

And I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to hear partner open 1♦ (5+, unbalanced), and be able to compete with just three trumps, and play Bergenish raises, the whole bit.

 

And we'll be using it in local team league matches.

[dougbennion]

Oh one more benefit of transfers after 1♣, is you can respond with terrible hands. If responder bids 1♦ with say xx/Jxxxx/xxx/xxx, what can happen?

 

Opener can rebid 1♥ with a strong notrump and responder can either safely pass or pre-empt with 2♥. If opener rebids 2♥ with an unbalanced minimum, you might have stolen the hand. If opener rebids 1NT, you are no worse off than the strong-notrumpers. True, some other opener rebids could cause problems ... :-)

[the hog]

Quote:

"If opener rebids 2♥ with an unbalanced minimum, you might have stolen the hand. "

 

This is hardly likely against anyone decent. About the only thing you will have done is to let the opposition diagnose a good fit. Responding with trash is a losing tactic against any decent pair, despite what eok says.