Setup: 1C natural without 4D or 14-19 balanced.
1D/H transfers to major, accepting shows 3 card minimum or 14-16 bal.
1S rebid is unbalanced hand. 1NT rebid is 17-19 without 4 card support.
2C rebid is 6 cards unless 1435.
2M shows 4 card minimum.
2H is natural reverse.
2S is natural GF jumpshift.
2NT is some 15-17 6+ clubs without 3 card support.
3C 15-17 with 6+ clubs and 3 card support.
3M 15-17 with 4 card support and unbalanced but no 6+ clubs.
3D 15-17 splinter with 6+ clubs.
3oM 15-17 splinter with 6+ clubs
3NT is 7+ solid clubs and short major with sidesuit stoppers.
4C 12-15, (14)17 or (15)16
4D 12-15, (52)06
4M 12-15, (50)26
This leaves 2D as a multipurpose strong bid ala Gazzilli. It handles 17-19 balanced 4 card raise, (16)18+ unbalanced 4 card raises and 18+ club hands. I think it's well over 50% of the time the balanced hand and because often there is need to bid transfers for contract improvement, I'll make 2M rebid NF. So it's like 4-7 pts with just 4 cards that doesn't necessarily want to be in game opposite fit. With 17-18 balanced opener can pass. The first step (2H/2S) shows 8+ points and is GF. Opener's 2NT is the balanced raise, 3C is clubs without fit and others show strong hands in similar fashion as medium hands showed directly.
If responder holds a shapely hand, he can bid something else than the first step. 2NT is some 64, 3m is 55 and 3M is solid 6 cards or semisolid 7+ suit.
Other responses:
1S = 5-7 bal or diamonds (drop dead or inv+)
1NT = 8-10 bal
2C = GF relay that tends to show 5+ clubs (inverted minor) but could be just slammish balanced hand.
2D = Multi, WJS in either major or balanced invite (11-12)
2H = Reverse flannery, 5S, 4+H, 5-9
2S = Reverse flannery, 5S, 4H, 10-12
2NT = Minors, weak or GF
3C/D = Pre-emptive
3M = ? Club splinters are possible but maybe too rare and can be handled via 2C anyways. Maybe showing shortness and 4 cards in other major? Or 4M and 6+ clubs.
3NT = 13-14 bal
Over 1S (and 1NT):
1NT = 14-17 bal/semibal
2C = 5+
2D = Artificial strong, 18/15+
2M = 10-15, 56+
2NT = 18-19 bal
3C = 6+
3x = autosplinter
3NT = solid clubs, game try
1C - 1D - 1H:
1S = Natural 4 cards or GF "relay"
1NT = 5-8 bal
2C = 5+ clubs, NF
2D = 5+ diamonds, NF
2H = 5 hearts, NF but mildly invitational
2S = 5+ hearts, inv+
2NT = 9-11 bal
3C/D = 55+, inv
3H = Strong invitation, 6+H
3S+ = Autosplinter
3NT = 13-15 Bal
1C - 1D - 1H - 1S:
1NT = 14-16 bal without 4S
2C = 6+C, 3H
2D = 14-16 bal with 4S
2H = Good spade raise (4315/4306)
2S = Bad spade raise
Note: with 54+ majors and GF, you can start with canape transfer to hearts first. When the transfer is accepted, you get a cheap GF sequence after 1S and you can handle all other auctions well too except maybe for some problems after 2NT/3C rebid by opener.
1C - 1H - 1S:
1NT = 5-8 bal
2C = 5+ clubs, NF
2D = 5+ diamonds, NF
2H = Artificial GF, 5+S
2S = 5 spades, NF but mildly invitational
2NT = 9-11 bal
3C/D = 55+, inv
3H = Strong invitation, 55+
3S = Strong invitation, 6+
3NT = 13-15 Bal
maanantai 25. huhtikuuta 2011
sunnuntai 24. huhtikuuta 2011
Garbage stayman twist
This is something I have made long time ago and played for almost as long with occasional good results.
Idea is simple, just put together stayman and minor suit stayman in a garbage auction. So for auction 1NT - 2C - 2D, your 2H is weak, both majors. Now you might use 2S as either invitational with 5S and 4H or maybe some forcing re-stayman or perhaps as weak sign-off with longer spades. However my idea is for it to be nonforcing MSS.
If you haven't played MSS, it's rather simple: 1NT - 2S: 2NT = better diamonds and 3C = better clubs. Now responder can bid either minor to sign off or bid 3M to show shortness and usually some slam ambitions. In these garbage auctions you never have slam ambitions but it works for the sign-offs.
So after partner opens 1NT and you hold weak hand with spades and a long minor or both minors you start with stayman and if partner delights you with 2S you pass. Over 2D or 2H you bid 2S to say that you have weak hand with 4S and long or both minors. Partner passes with 4 and usually with 3 cards and answers MSS with just 2.
Hand types like 40(54), 41(26), 42(16), 43(06) and 40(36) just found a way to search for 4-4 or 4-3 spade fit before committing to 3 of a minor.
Note that you also lose 1NT - 2C - 2H -2S bid for this purpose. (Whatever it might have been before)
One additional thing to note is that you can bid some marginal invites through this auction if you'd accept an invite for one fit but not for the other. I have also used it with 5044 shape finding 4-4 minor but that is more questionable.
Idea is simple, just put together stayman and minor suit stayman in a garbage auction. So for auction 1NT - 2C - 2D, your 2H is weak, both majors. Now you might use 2S as either invitational with 5S and 4H or maybe some forcing re-stayman or perhaps as weak sign-off with longer spades. However my idea is for it to be nonforcing MSS.
If you haven't played MSS, it's rather simple: 1NT - 2S: 2NT = better diamonds and 3C = better clubs. Now responder can bid either minor to sign off or bid 3M to show shortness and usually some slam ambitions. In these garbage auctions you never have slam ambitions but it works for the sign-offs.
So after partner opens 1NT and you hold weak hand with spades and a long minor or both minors you start with stayman and if partner delights you with 2S you pass. Over 2D or 2H you bid 2S to say that you have weak hand with 4S and long or both minors. Partner passes with 4 and usually with 3 cards and answers MSS with just 2.
Hand types like 40(54), 41(26), 42(16), 43(06) and 40(36) just found a way to search for 4-4 or 4-3 spade fit before committing to 3 of a minor.
Note that you also lose 1NT - 2C - 2H -2S bid for this purpose. (Whatever it might have been before)
One additional thing to note is that you can bid some marginal invites through this auction if you'd accept an invite for one fit but not for the other. I have also used it with 5044 shape finding 4-4 minor but that is more questionable.
sunnuntai 10. huhtikuuta 2011
The 9-ball
No, I'm not talking about pool.
This is the wackiest system I have ever come up with and I've had some pretty weird ideas. Actually it was initially an idea of friend of mine but I put it in real use.
You see, there is one common thing in all unbalanced hands. There is minimum of nine cards in combined two suits. (Doesn't include 4441s) We have six different combinations of suits: minors, majors, reds, blacks, pointed and rounded suits. We can hardly spare six bids for them. (actually we might, but that seems boring) Instead combine two of them under one bid. Mix in a strong pass, fert and weak NT and here are our opening bids.
Pass = 15+ any, could be 13 or could be 16+, whichever way you want to go. 15 seems to keep my openings well enough defined.
1C = Minors or majors or any 3-suited hand. 10-14
1D = Reds or blacks. 10-14
1H = 0-9(11)
1S = Pointed or rounded. 10-14
1NT = 11-14
Your all shapes are handled, so use 2-lvl bids for whatever you wish. One reasonable alternative is to use constructive single-suiters to take of some burden from the openings. Something like 9-12, 6+
Alternative is to fit in as many pre-empts as possible to take strain from 1H. But 1H is already pre-emptive in itself and it turns easier for opps to penalize it when it's balanced like 90% of time, so I'd rather take the constructive route.
When your hand fits for multiple bids, open at the lowest lvl. This means that 1C is opened a lot and the main reason I wanted to make this a forcing pass. You could use similar openings in a strong club context but losing one step on each of your three commonest openings (excluding NT), it's not so good.
So 1C opening can have AKxxx AKxxx xx x, xx x AKxxx AKxxx or any 7222 for example. It seems the bid tells you nothing, but that is only an illusion. If allowed constructive auction, your relays become super accurate. You can at best get the shape resolved as low as 2H. And when it gets competitive, your opponents often tell you what suits your partner is holding. Only problems ever come from single-suiters and they are always max with those 2 bids, so they shouldn't be too problematic.
Responses are basically that first step is relay (usually inv+), others natural NF or pass/correct bids. I don't recall ever wanting to bid anything but the relay and 1NT so they are maybe bit underused.
This was just a preliminary introduction. I'll probably rework the relay responses I'm using so I'll be back with them. They are otherwise good right now but there is no way to remember them.
This is the wackiest system I have ever come up with and I've had some pretty weird ideas. Actually it was initially an idea of friend of mine but I put it in real use.
You see, there is one common thing in all unbalanced hands. There is minimum of nine cards in combined two suits. (Doesn't include 4441s) We have six different combinations of suits: minors, majors, reds, blacks, pointed and rounded suits. We can hardly spare six bids for them. (actually we might, but that seems boring) Instead combine two of them under one bid. Mix in a strong pass, fert and weak NT and here are our opening bids.
Pass = 15+ any, could be 13 or could be 16+, whichever way you want to go. 15 seems to keep my openings well enough defined.
1C = Minors or majors or any 3-suited hand. 10-14
1D = Reds or blacks. 10-14
1H = 0-9(11)
1S = Pointed or rounded. 10-14
1NT = 11-14
Your all shapes are handled, so use 2-lvl bids for whatever you wish. One reasonable alternative is to use constructive single-suiters to take of some burden from the openings. Something like 9-12, 6+
Alternative is to fit in as many pre-empts as possible to take strain from 1H. But 1H is already pre-emptive in itself and it turns easier for opps to penalize it when it's balanced like 90% of time, so I'd rather take the constructive route.
When your hand fits for multiple bids, open at the lowest lvl. This means that 1C is opened a lot and the main reason I wanted to make this a forcing pass. You could use similar openings in a strong club context but losing one step on each of your three commonest openings (excluding NT), it's not so good.
So 1C opening can have AKxxx AKxxx xx x, xx x AKxxx AKxxx or any 7222 for example. It seems the bid tells you nothing, but that is only an illusion. If allowed constructive auction, your relays become super accurate. You can at best get the shape resolved as low as 2H. And when it gets competitive, your opponents often tell you what suits your partner is holding. Only problems ever come from single-suiters and they are always max with those 2 bids, so they shouldn't be too problematic.
Responses are basically that first step is relay (usually inv+), others natural NF or pass/correct bids. I don't recall ever wanting to bid anything but the relay and 1NT so they are maybe bit underused.
This was just a preliminary introduction. I'll probably rework the relay responses I'm using so I'll be back with them. They are otherwise good right now but there is no way to remember them.
torstai 7. huhtikuuta 2011
Working towards 1NT GF relay
Inspired by the Viking Club precision book I recently bought, I've been trying to get towards 1NT GF relay over major openings. When you have the GF hand, it's simple. Trouble is what you are going to do with all the hands natural systems handle with 1NT. Now that I got my bright idea for 1S-2D (hearts), it's little work to finish the rest of the structure. Viking club went a simple way, 2C included about all the invites and other bids were NF. Not too hard to see how this is rather horrible, now-a-days everyone knows that fit is everything. So at least my heart hands are separated.
My 2C bid will look something like this:
Balanced invites without 3 card support. (also with 5H)
Both minors invites.
5+m, 4H invites
6+ diamond invites.
6+ diamonds GF that doesn't want to relay.
55+ minors GF that doesn't want to relay.
Essentially the bid works as a transfer to diamonds because opener should have some shapely hand to bid something else.
1S - 2C
->
2D = Nothing special (says nothing about strength)
2H = 5+4 majors (may have 55 if really bad)
2S = Good 6+S
2NT = Max 6S4m
3C/3D = 55+
3H = 55+ majors
3S = Max with semisolid spades
3NT = Solid 7+ spades
1S - 2C - 2D
->
2H = 5H, inv. Includes some semibal shapes. 2533, 25(42), 15(43), you can bid these also via 2D, this is the lighter way and more often has bad hearts.
2S = Exactly 2S, usually balanced but could be both minors.
2NT = Both minors, usually short spades.
3C = GF with both minors
3D = 6+D
3H+ natural bids with GF and 6+ diamonds.
Forward to 2H bid:
Weak spade raise.
Invitational 3 card spade raise.
Invitational with clubs.
GF with clubs that doesn't want to relay.
This seems straight forward so I won't bother to write the continuations here.
Leftovers:
Less than invite hands without support including some 6-9 balanced, both minors or 5Hs hands and weak hands with long minor. These hands just have to pass as you have no bid for them. I'm not too worried about that, 15+9 rarely makes games and often opps are there to balance. Those heart hands are a bit scary but they aren't too easy even in natural systems.
My 2C bid will look something like this:
Balanced invites without 3 card support. (also with 5H)
Both minors invites.
5+m, 4H invites
6+ diamond invites.
6+ diamonds GF that doesn't want to relay.
55+ minors GF that doesn't want to relay.
Essentially the bid works as a transfer to diamonds because opener should have some shapely hand to bid something else.
1S - 2C
->
2D = Nothing special (says nothing about strength)
2H = 5+4 majors (may have 55 if really bad)
2S = Good 6+S
2NT = Max 6S4m
3C/3D = 55+
3H = 55+ majors
3S = Max with semisolid spades
3NT = Solid 7+ spades
1S - 2C - 2D
->
2H = 5H, inv. Includes some semibal shapes. 2533, 25(42), 15(43), you can bid these also via 2D, this is the lighter way and more often has bad hearts.
2S = Exactly 2S, usually balanced but could be both minors.
2NT = Both minors, usually short spades.
3C = GF with both minors
3D = 6+D
3H+ natural bids with GF and 6+ diamonds.
Forward to 2H bid:
Weak spade raise.
Invitational 3 card spade raise.
Invitational with clubs.
GF with clubs that doesn't want to relay.
This seems straight forward so I won't bother to write the continuations here.
Leftovers:
Less than invite hands without support including some 6-9 balanced, both minors or 5Hs hands and weak hands with long minor. These hands just have to pass as you have no bid for them. I'm not too worried about that, 15+9 rarely makes games and often opps are there to balance. Those heart hands are a bit scary but they aren't too easy even in natural systems.
Transfers, 2/1
Finally I figured it out! It's a structure I had already made once for 1NT. Retransfers to give you all the possible room.
1S - 2D, transfer showing hearts. I wanted to fit in weak hands with long hearts that just want to play there, single suited and two suited invitational hands. Of course it has to be able to handle them all when GF. In addition I want to be able to show some 6+H, 3S hands that wouldn't want to relay. (For the fear of competition and to get the chance to show choice of games) I know some aim for being able to stop at 2H here with inv opposite minimum opener without much of a fit, but I think that's aiming for rather small target. I'd rather have a way to drop off in 2H with weak hands with hearts.
1S - 2D
->
2H = Nothing special, should happen some 80% of time I guess.
2S = Good long spades with short hearts, doesn't deny or promise extras
My 1S is limited, so everything else shows a fit. You need something to show strong hands in natural so you have less ways to show hearts but that's not much of a problem since I feel I have too much room.
2NT = Heart fit with bad spades and good minor suit cards, suggesting that spade shortness isn't a bad thing.
3C/3D = Shortness
3H = Other max hands with hearts
3S = Some wild shape like 64 or 73 majors with good spades. Not forcing but opposite some KQ of hearts, should definitely be in game.
3NT = This is the one hand that doesn't have fit, it's a gamble with solid 7+ spades and a minor card, usually heart shortness.
4C/D = Void with some freak
4H = 6511 or 7411 I guess...
Now, where the beauty starts.
1S - 2D - 2H
->
2S = Transfer to clubs, inv+ (54+)
2NT = Transfer to diamonds, inv+ (54+)
3C = Transfer to hearts, inv+ (6+, may have 3S)
3D = GF with 6+H, 4D
3H = GF with 6+H, 4C
3S = GF with 6+H, no shortness
3NT = Solid hearts (AKQJxx or AKQ 7th)
4x = 7+ hearts and a void (I use steps but could be natural as well)
Over those transfers, bid the next step with non fitting minimum, show the fit at the minimum lvl with min. Next free bid denies fit and is max, one after that shows heart fit and then you show diamond fit and shortness in steps.
So:
1S - 2D - 2H - 2S
->
2NT = Min, no fit
3C = Min, at least xxxx in support of clubs
3D = Max, no fit
3H = Min, heart fit
3S = Max, heart fit
3NT = Max, at least xxxx support to clubs, no shortness
4C = Max, at least xxxx support to clubs, heart shortness
4D = Max, at least xxxx support to clubs, diamond shortness
Over 2NT 3C shows 55 and is NF, 3H shows 64 and is NF. Others are patterning out with GF hand.
Note that over 1S - 2D - 2H - 2NT - 3C, you are bit jammed (Can't get back to 2NT) My suggestion is actually to just show the 1543 as balanced invitation, whatever your way to show that hand. That's how I handle 2533 anyways. Of course you can also just let it die at 2H and hope you didn't miss anything. (No great heart fit opposite, but you may end up in 5-1 fit)
Over 1S - 2D - 2H - 3C
->
3D = Min, suggests spades instead of hearts
3H = Min, typically at least doubleton support
3S = GF with no real heart support
Others fit hearts and show shortness in steps.
That's about it. I think you can easily fill in the blanks. I guess I should go around testing this.
1S - 2D, transfer showing hearts. I wanted to fit in weak hands with long hearts that just want to play there, single suited and two suited invitational hands. Of course it has to be able to handle them all when GF. In addition I want to be able to show some 6+H, 3S hands that wouldn't want to relay. (For the fear of competition and to get the chance to show choice of games) I know some aim for being able to stop at 2H here with inv opposite minimum opener without much of a fit, but I think that's aiming for rather small target. I'd rather have a way to drop off in 2H with weak hands with hearts.
1S - 2D
->
2H = Nothing special, should happen some 80% of time I guess.
2S = Good long spades with short hearts, doesn't deny or promise extras
My 1S is limited, so everything else shows a fit. You need something to show strong hands in natural so you have less ways to show hearts but that's not much of a problem since I feel I have too much room.
2NT = Heart fit with bad spades and good minor suit cards, suggesting that spade shortness isn't a bad thing.
3C/3D = Shortness
3H = Other max hands with hearts
3S = Some wild shape like 64 or 73 majors with good spades. Not forcing but opposite some KQ of hearts, should definitely be in game.
3NT = This is the one hand that doesn't have fit, it's a gamble with solid 7+ spades and a minor card, usually heart shortness.
4C/D = Void with some freak
4H = 6511 or 7411 I guess...
Now, where the beauty starts.
1S - 2D - 2H
->
2S = Transfer to clubs, inv+ (54+)
2NT = Transfer to diamonds, inv+ (54+)
3C = Transfer to hearts, inv+ (6+, may have 3S)
3D = GF with 6+H, 4D
3H = GF with 6+H, 4C
3S = GF with 6+H, no shortness
3NT = Solid hearts (AKQJxx or AKQ 7th)
4x = 7+ hearts and a void (I use steps but could be natural as well)
Over those transfers, bid the next step with non fitting minimum, show the fit at the minimum lvl with min. Next free bid denies fit and is max, one after that shows heart fit and then you show diamond fit and shortness in steps.
So:
1S - 2D - 2H - 2S
->
2NT = Min, no fit
3C = Min, at least xxxx in support of clubs
3D = Max, no fit
3H = Min, heart fit
3S = Max, heart fit
3NT = Max, at least xxxx support to clubs, no shortness
4C = Max, at least xxxx support to clubs, heart shortness
4D = Max, at least xxxx support to clubs, diamond shortness
Over 2NT 3C shows 55 and is NF, 3H shows 64 and is NF. Others are patterning out with GF hand.
Note that over 1S - 2D - 2H - 2NT - 3C, you are bit jammed (Can't get back to 2NT) My suggestion is actually to just show the 1543 as balanced invitation, whatever your way to show that hand. That's how I handle 2533 anyways. Of course you can also just let it die at 2H and hope you didn't miss anything. (No great heart fit opposite, but you may end up in 5-1 fit)
Over 1S - 2D - 2H - 3C
->
3D = Min, suggests spades instead of hearts
3H = Min, typically at least doubleton support
3S = GF with no real heart support
Others fit hearts and show shortness in steps.
That's about it. I think you can easily fill in the blanks. I guess I should go around testing this.
keskiviikko 6. huhtikuuta 2011
Finally home
Back to Oulu again. After White House juniors I went to my parents near Helsinki. I was supposed to take a little break from bridge cause I was steaming after week of about 400 deals but I just sort of couldn't and played more bridge and started writing this blog and everything.
Have to say that I really enjoyed playing at White House even though we didn't do too well. It was first time I played a long tournament but I didn't really feel tired at any time. I know that my game turned worse towards end of the week but I had no slightest desire to stop playing.
However after the week and now, I can't really remember any of the deals from there. I mean of course I remember some of them, but looking at the results and hands there are many where I have no idea what happened in bidding or the play. I think this shows how straining it can be.
Here are couple funny incidents I do remember rather well as they had extraneous factor.
First was in our match against Poland. There was little hassle with system cards, as they were missing them. Or actually they had card for different pair but it was pretty close to it. So they just said they are playing Polish Club and so. However my partner was getting our system cards he had lost somewhere and apparently missed this. There were many boards where this didn't matter at all but then there was sequence that went something like this.
(1C*) 1NT* (X) 2D*
(X) 2H (3D) P
(3H) P (3S) P
(4D) P (5D) X AP
Our defence against Polish Club is that 1NT shows long minor or both majors, pre-emptive. Against natural club it is natural 15-18 balanced. So what happens here is that my partner missed the alert on 1C or there were no alert, whatever, so he declared my bid as 15-18NT. Now my partner bids a transfer to hearts which I take showing that he wants to play clubs at least on lvl 3 if I have them but I just bid 2H to show majors.
None/N
AQ97
J6
A32
QT43
T2 K8654
A8732 KT95
Q65 9
K92 876
J3
Q4
KJT874
AJ5
Obviously not guessing the diamond queen, we write +500 and get the TD to our table. This is of course the first time we at our side of the screen even realize there is anything wrong. Result was let to stand.
Another funny incident happened against Israel Schools.
I held x Axxxx xx AJxxx all vul. Now I somehow saw my screen mate opening 1S so I bid 2S michaels and alerted it. She looks at me strangely and I start explaining the bid. She points at her bid and I realize it's 2S she opened. Well luckily with screens no harm done. But I though that since I have already told so much about my hand, I won't let it go cheap and bid 3H. Partner had easy time finding 5H over 4S with
xx KQJxx AQx Qxx while he would have had serious problem if I had passed.
I really hope we get an invitation to White House again next year. I liked the city a lot, getting high and I don't just mean the bridge contracts.
Have to say that I really enjoyed playing at White House even though we didn't do too well. It was first time I played a long tournament but I didn't really feel tired at any time. I know that my game turned worse towards end of the week but I had no slightest desire to stop playing.
However after the week and now, I can't really remember any of the deals from there. I mean of course I remember some of them, but looking at the results and hands there are many where I have no idea what happened in bidding or the play. I think this shows how straining it can be.
Here are couple funny incidents I do remember rather well as they had extraneous factor.
First was in our match against Poland. There was little hassle with system cards, as they were missing them. Or actually they had card for different pair but it was pretty close to it. So they just said they are playing Polish Club and so. However my partner was getting our system cards he had lost somewhere and apparently missed this. There were many boards where this didn't matter at all but then there was sequence that went something like this.
(1C*) 1NT* (X) 2D*
(X) 2H (3D) P
(3H) P (3S) P
(4D) P (5D) X AP
Our defence against Polish Club is that 1NT shows long minor or both majors, pre-emptive. Against natural club it is natural 15-18 balanced. So what happens here is that my partner missed the alert on 1C or there were no alert, whatever, so he declared my bid as 15-18NT. Now my partner bids a transfer to hearts which I take showing that he wants to play clubs at least on lvl 3 if I have them but I just bid 2H to show majors.
None/N
AQ97
J6
A32
QT43
T2 K8654
A8732 KT95
Q65 9
K92 876
J3
Q4
KJT874
AJ5
Obviously not guessing the diamond queen, we write +500 and get the TD to our table. This is of course the first time we at our side of the screen even realize there is anything wrong. Result was let to stand.
Another funny incident happened against Israel Schools.
I held x Axxxx xx AJxxx all vul. Now I somehow saw my screen mate opening 1S so I bid 2S michaels and alerted it. She looks at me strangely and I start explaining the bid. She points at her bid and I realize it's 2S she opened. Well luckily with screens no harm done. But I though that since I have already told so much about my hand, I won't let it go cheap and bid 3H. Partner had easy time finding 5H over 4S with
xx KQJxx AQx Qxx while he would have had serious problem if I had passed.
I really hope we get an invitation to White House again next year. I liked the city a lot, getting high and I don't just mean the bridge contracts.
maanantai 4. huhtikuuta 2011
Fresh blood
I had a chance of playing with 13 year old kid on Saturday, matchpoints. It didn't go quite as well as I had hoped cause I played terribly. My card play was aiming for some magazine plays instead of easy 60% plays. Of course this is due that I didn't expect to do well, but it's still quite unfair. My bidding was also pretty horrible. I had some passive aggressive mentality. At times I played the partner and let it go low when he was about to declare. At times I pushed to tight games without inviting that I might not even bid at IMPs. I had some serious issues with consistency.
This one deal was pretty interesting, it was declared against us by a great player and he certainly deserved the points he got from us.
All/W
1083
10
Q42
J109543
AQ9
AKQ84
AK
K87
You bid to 3NT after 2C and kokish showing 25-26 bal. You get D5 lead, how to play?
You start with CK, dropping the Q on the left. Unblock the diamond and club to 9, west discarding diamond. Now followed S10 running to west's J and what was the poor boy to lead? He played another diamond to Q and spade finesse followed ending with ten tricks. I bet you are interested in the heart situation?
West held J965, so he should play the HJ to give defence some hope. But I have no doubt that in our table it would have been followed with very fast four rounds of hearts, end-playing west again.
This didn't leave us totally empty handed as some had made six and some even had bid six and made it.
This one deal was pretty interesting, it was declared against us by a great player and he certainly deserved the points he got from us.
All/W
1083
10
Q42
J109543
AQ9
AKQ84
AK
K87
You bid to 3NT after 2C and kokish showing 25-26 bal. You get D5 lead, how to play?
You start with CK, dropping the Q on the left. Unblock the diamond and club to 9, west discarding diamond. Now followed S10 running to west's J and what was the poor boy to lead? He played another diamond to Q and spade finesse followed ending with ten tricks. I bet you are interested in the heart situation?
West held J965, so he should play the HJ to give defence some hope. But I have no doubt that in our table it would have been followed with very fast four rounds of hearts, end-playing west again.
This didn't leave us totally empty handed as some had made six and some even had bid six and made it.
perjantai 1. huhtikuuta 2011
Transfers, the unbalanced diamond structure
Here is one simple fundamental thing. With forcing bids, you have more sequences.
Consider natural system starting with 1D-1H. Now without any special agreements, you have exactly two forcing bids (without support): 2S and 3C. Only two! And still you could hold a huge variety of different hands. Especially after 3C rebid you are totally cramped, there's just no way to sort anything out sensibly. So we need forcing bids to have more sequences, yet stopping low enough when needed. Seems like a place for transfers. One solution is the gazzilli approach, you sacrifice 2C, the least needed non forcing bid for artificial use. This is good and reasonable, but I don't find it to my liking. I like gazzilli in major sequences, but here it has bit of a problem. Your most likely safe haven is 2D, yet with that 8+ responder must bid past that and now we could be in a slight trouble.
Actually my context is bit different. My diamond opening is unbalanced and could have longer clubs. This frees up the huge block of 1NT rebid for other purposes. When you use that as gazzilli, you are in a much better shape. But I still want more. I want to be able to raise with three card support and I want to differentiate it from four card support. (It's much easier to do marginal invites as responder when you know there is a real support) I'd also like to find a solution to the everlasting problem of losing hearts after 1D-1S sequence when responder doesn't have strength.
So, the transfer rebids of opener:
1D - 1H ->
1S = 4+ clubs, any strength
1NT = 4S, less than a game force
2C = 6+ diamonds, any strength
2D = 3+H, any strength (Assume minimum raise with 3 card support)
2H = 4H raise
2S = 4S5+D, GF
2NT = ? My diamond includes 19-21 balanced and it's here. You can find many uses for it.
3C = 15-17 55+ minors
3D = 15-17 6+ good diamonds, no 3 card support for partner
3H = 15-17 4H, no 6+ diamonds
3S = 15-17 4H, 6+D, short spades
3NT = Solid 7+ diamonds with little on the side
4C = 15-17 4H, 6+D, club singleton
4D = 15-17 1471
4H = 15-17 4H, 6+D, club void
Just looking at those, I have gained two (3 if you count 2NT) more forcing bids compared to natural and they are all very low. This means that I can start describing my shape with same bids whether I am minimum or really strong and when partner shows weakness by completing the transfer, I can come back filling the gabs in my shape with the extra strength I hold. Lets see all the hands I can bid intelligently when all the responder does is accept the transfer (or when showing both minors, takes a preference).
1. Hands with support:
Min with 3 card support: Transfer to partners suit and pass
Min with 4 card support: Direct raise
Medium with 3 card support: Make a descriptive transfer bid before raising partner (With the exception of 4351/4360 you transfer to hearts and bid spades)
Medium with 4 card support: Without 6 card suit, raise to 3. With 6+D, splinter.
GF with 4 card support: Transfer to partners suit and splinter/some other descriptive bid
GF with 3 card support and 6+D: Transfer to partners suit and bid diamonds.
GF with 3 card support and both minors: Transfer to clubs and bid 3D to show doubt about 3NT which might be due 3 card support or lack of stopper in oM
2. Hands with both minors:
Min hand with (54), 55 or 46+ minors: Transfer to clubs and pass the preference
Min hand with 6+4 minors: Transfer to clubs and bid 2D over 2C preference
Medium with 55 minors: Rebid 3C
Medium with 46 minors: Transfer to clubs and bid 3C
Medium with 64 minors: Transfer to diamonds and bid 3C
Medium+ with (54) minors: Transfer to clubs and bid 2NT (Denies 3 card support for major)
GF with 55+ minors: Transfer to clubs and rebid 3H (With wilder shapes you can bid 4m)
GF with 64 minors: Transfer to diamonds and rebid 3S
GF with 46 minors: Transfer to clubs and rebid 3S
GF with (54) minors: Transfer to clubs and rebid 3NT or 3D to show doubt about 3NT
3. Singlesuited diamond hands: (These deny 3 card support)
Min hand with long diamonds: Transfer to diamonds and pass (With 3 card support you can opt which one you prefer to show)
Medium hand with good long diamonds: Rebid 3D
Medium hand with bad long diamonds: Transfer to diamonds and rebid 2NT
GF hand with long diamonds and shortness: Transfer to D and rebid 3D
GF hand with long diamonds and no shortness: Transfer to D and rebid 3H
Solid 7+ diamond suit with just something little on the side: Rebid 3NT
Solid 7+ diamond suit with more stuff on the side: Transfer to D and rebid 3NT
4. Hands with other major:
Over 1H:
Bid 1NT with any 10-14 and 15-17 unless 3 card heart support or 6+D
Medium 4351/4360: Transfer to hearts and bid spades
Medium 4S6+D: Transfer to diamonds and bid spades
GF 4135/4144/4045/4054: Transfer to clubs and bid spades
GF, 4S and no clubs: Jump to 2S
Over 1S:
With any min or medium 45 reds: Rebid 2D (With 1444 min you can try 2D or just transfer to clubs and pass the pref and hope for the best)
With medium 46+ reds: Transfer to D and rebid 2H
With GF 1444/0445/0454/1453: Transfer to C and rebid 2H
With other GFs: Transfer to spades and try to untangle it with appropriate rebid then.
If you want to know more about the structure, responder's bids or something else, just email me and I'm happy to fill up on it. Also all the ideas on this are more than welcome.
Consider natural system starting with 1D-1H. Now without any special agreements, you have exactly two forcing bids (without support): 2S and 3C. Only two! And still you could hold a huge variety of different hands. Especially after 3C rebid you are totally cramped, there's just no way to sort anything out sensibly. So we need forcing bids to have more sequences, yet stopping low enough when needed. Seems like a place for transfers. One solution is the gazzilli approach, you sacrifice 2C, the least needed non forcing bid for artificial use. This is good and reasonable, but I don't find it to my liking. I like gazzilli in major sequences, but here it has bit of a problem. Your most likely safe haven is 2D, yet with that 8+ responder must bid past that and now we could be in a slight trouble.
Actually my context is bit different. My diamond opening is unbalanced and could have longer clubs. This frees up the huge block of 1NT rebid for other purposes. When you use that as gazzilli, you are in a much better shape. But I still want more. I want to be able to raise with three card support and I want to differentiate it from four card support. (It's much easier to do marginal invites as responder when you know there is a real support) I'd also like to find a solution to the everlasting problem of losing hearts after 1D-1S sequence when responder doesn't have strength.
So, the transfer rebids of opener:
1D - 1H ->
1S = 4+ clubs, any strength
1NT = 4S, less than a game force
2C = 6+ diamonds, any strength
2D = 3+H, any strength (Assume minimum raise with 3 card support)
2H = 4H raise
2S = 4S5+D, GF
2NT = ? My diamond includes 19-21 balanced and it's here. You can find many uses for it.
3C = 15-17 55+ minors
3D = 15-17 6+ good diamonds, no 3 card support for partner
3H = 15-17 4H, no 6+ diamonds
3S = 15-17 4H, 6+D, short spades
3NT = Solid 7+ diamonds with little on the side
4C = 15-17 4H, 6+D, club singleton
4D = 15-17 1471
4H = 15-17 4H, 6+D, club void
Just looking at those, I have gained two (3 if you count 2NT) more forcing bids compared to natural and they are all very low. This means that I can start describing my shape with same bids whether I am minimum or really strong and when partner shows weakness by completing the transfer, I can come back filling the gabs in my shape with the extra strength I hold. Lets see all the hands I can bid intelligently when all the responder does is accept the transfer (or when showing both minors, takes a preference).
1. Hands with support:
Min with 3 card support: Transfer to partners suit and pass
Min with 4 card support: Direct raise
Medium with 3 card support: Make a descriptive transfer bid before raising partner (With the exception of 4351/4360 you transfer to hearts and bid spades)
Medium with 4 card support: Without 6 card suit, raise to 3. With 6+D, splinter.
GF with 4 card support: Transfer to partners suit and splinter/some other descriptive bid
GF with 3 card support and 6+D: Transfer to partners suit and bid diamonds.
GF with 3 card support and both minors: Transfer to clubs and bid 3D to show doubt about 3NT which might be due 3 card support or lack of stopper in oM
2. Hands with both minors:
Min hand with (54), 55 or 46+ minors: Transfer to clubs and pass the preference
Min hand with 6+4 minors: Transfer to clubs and bid 2D over 2C preference
Medium with 55 minors: Rebid 3C
Medium with 46 minors: Transfer to clubs and bid 3C
Medium with 64 minors: Transfer to diamonds and bid 3C
Medium+ with (54) minors: Transfer to clubs and bid 2NT (Denies 3 card support for major)
GF with 55+ minors: Transfer to clubs and rebid 3H (With wilder shapes you can bid 4m)
GF with 64 minors: Transfer to diamonds and rebid 3S
GF with 46 minors: Transfer to clubs and rebid 3S
GF with (54) minors: Transfer to clubs and rebid 3NT or 3D to show doubt about 3NT
3. Singlesuited diamond hands: (These deny 3 card support)
Min hand with long diamonds: Transfer to diamonds and pass (With 3 card support you can opt which one you prefer to show)
Medium hand with good long diamonds: Rebid 3D
Medium hand with bad long diamonds: Transfer to diamonds and rebid 2NT
GF hand with long diamonds and shortness: Transfer to D and rebid 3D
GF hand with long diamonds and no shortness: Transfer to D and rebid 3H
Solid 7+ diamond suit with just something little on the side: Rebid 3NT
Solid 7+ diamond suit with more stuff on the side: Transfer to D and rebid 3NT
4. Hands with other major:
Over 1H:
Bid 1NT with any 10-14 and 15-17 unless 3 card heart support or 6+D
Medium 4351/4360: Transfer to hearts and bid spades
Medium 4S6+D: Transfer to diamonds and bid spades
GF 4135/4144/4045/4054: Transfer to clubs and bid spades
GF, 4S and no clubs: Jump to 2S
Over 1S:
With any min or medium 45 reds: Rebid 2D (With 1444 min you can try 2D or just transfer to clubs and pass the pref and hope for the best)
With medium 46+ reds: Transfer to D and rebid 2H
With GF 1444/0445/0454/1453: Transfer to C and rebid 2H
With other GFs: Transfer to spades and try to untangle it with appropriate rebid then.
If you want to know more about the structure, responder's bids or something else, just email me and I'm happy to fill up on it. Also all the ideas on this are more than welcome.
Transfers all around
Now-a-days bridge is all about transfers. I bet Jacoby didn't have the slightest idea where his simple thought would lead us. Transfers have many advantages like right-siding, saving bidding space, compressing multiple bids, especially the non-forcing one. Let's see in what kind of auctions you usually use transfers.
1. First and foremost, over natural NT openings. This is about as common as stayman these days.
2. When someone bids over your 1NT, rubensohl variants. These also work in other sequences like 1m (2M).
3. Over 1C opening, transfer walsh. Some even try it over Polish club but I'm not sure where it has developed as it gets very complicated.
4. Advancing an overcall, Ruben's advances, usually starting from the opening suit advancers bids are transfers.
5. Openings, everybody loves Moscito, right?
6. In response to strong club opening and in relays. (These are almost purely for right-siding purposes)
7. 2/1 responses, some are trying out the gains from 1S-2D being a transfer for getting more heart hands in. Diamonds isn't really a suit anyways, is it?
8. Numerous situations in competition. These are very unique but for some of the common ones: 1m (1H) X being a transfer to spades. (4+ instead of usual 4) 1D (X) XX+, using the transfer walsh theme.
9. Over precision 2C opening.
10. One of the newest ideas, opener's rebids. I'll be writing about these a lot more later, as I'm playing them.
That isn't quite all, but it covers most of the ground. Some of these are more pure as transfers than others. By being pure, I mean that the transfer is most of the time accepted. This is what the transfers usually try to do, because that is exactly when they save a lot of room and let you unwind your hand. Some of them aren't exactly transfers at all, even though they look like it. Let's go through them step by step.
1. This is about as pure as transfer can get. Whole point is that NT opener is quite strictly defined, and thus it has to just accept the transfer without super fit. This lets responder show various shapes and strengths. Some even continue with second round of transfers to fit in even more stuff. This becomes essentially a relay system where the balanced hand is just asking questions. He didn't initiate it, but somehow partner just forced him to know all this stuff to make good decisions.
2. Here we have two often used variants. Other has the transfer invite+, and other has it either weak or GF. Now the latter is much more pure as a transfer. Opener can't break it unless he has some huge fit. So again responder gets to show many shapes when game forcing. The former isn't quite so pure. Here the responder doesn't actually want the opener to bid the suit, he is more like asking a question. Do we want to be in a game now that you know I have this suit and invitational strength. Thus opener has to break the relay when not minimum. This means that responder can't show his hand as accurately when GF but he does get more information about opener's hand.
3. This is again quite pure transfer situation. Depending a bit on the variation, opener is expected to accept the transfer with all the weak NT hands, or all hands with 3 card support. Whichever it is, it happens often and responder has easy time again describing his hand.
4. These are one of my favorites. They work much like rubensohl (inv+ variation) but because overcaller's range is wide and he tends to be in the lower side of that range, he will accept the transfer more often. Transfers here don't actually show and invitation, they are more like constructive+ and good invites will bid again. Thus the overcaller is quite safe just accepting it.
5. These aren't actually transfers at all, and I have no idea what's the fuzz about banning them. When you open a moscito style transfer opening, you don't really expect responder to accept the transfer. Actually that is usually invite+ relay. Funny it turns to work just the same as in NT structure when the transfer is accepted, but that is because responder had some strength you didn't actually assume he had. Here the transfer pretty much just right-sided the contract and saved one step. (One step is a lot in relay structure) However I have played systems where the openings are more pure transfers. Take my magic diamond variant. (Not so magic D anymore) I used 1D/H openings to show the usual magic major openings, 8-11, 4+ unbal, or 17+ the same thing. Now the point was that most of the hands would just leave the train at 1M and try to win it there. (Never happened) This left opener huge room to describe his good hand.
6. I already said what these are about. I suggest to check out how Meckwell throws out transfer bids in strangest of auctions to save room for majors. They have this sort of cyclic reorganization of bids in about all the sequences. There's some beauty in it.
7. I will be going to this direction if I start to play 1NT GF relay over major openings. (Now it's 2C and I hate the lack of space) My main use for them will be of course to bail out on two level with weak hand and a long suit, but it can also handle some invites and distributional GFs. I don't think these give you much in a natural context, but when the opening is limited they allow for neat tricks. (Cause the transfer will be accepted almost always)
8. These are mainly just neat tricks that are used in competition that work somewhere else. They usually have some reference in constructive sequences, so you just have to look through them situationally.
9. I'm yet to test this. Quite highly defined opening, transfers might be the way to go. I prefer relay approach for now though.
10. This is bit of an odd bird. You can actually consider gazzilli convention a bit like this. 2C is typically a transfer to 2D, with some hands you break the transfer. In this case they are the weak hands that break the transfer unlike in many others but that doesn't really make a difference. However gazzilli doesn't promise diamonds so it doesn't feel transfer in that sense. I however had in mind a more complex structure taking place after 1D (unbal) opening. Over 1D-1S, every rebid by opener up to 2H is a transfer, promising the higher suit. This opens up a huge number of sequences where opener can show different types of hands. I'll be writing a post just about this structure soon. Now I can just say that these transfers aren't really pure, cause responder has so many different hand types that most of the time he can't just accept the transfer.
That was one lengthy first post. I bet I will come back talking about transfers a lot more in more specific situations. When you find a lack of room in sequences, I'd suggest to always look first for transfers. They can do great many things.
1. First and foremost, over natural NT openings. This is about as common as stayman these days.
2. When someone bids over your 1NT, rubensohl variants. These also work in other sequences like 1m (2M).
3. Over 1C opening, transfer walsh. Some even try it over Polish club but I'm not sure where it has developed as it gets very complicated.
4. Advancing an overcall, Ruben's advances, usually starting from the opening suit advancers bids are transfers.
5. Openings, everybody loves Moscito, right?
6. In response to strong club opening and in relays. (These are almost purely for right-siding purposes)
7. 2/1 responses, some are trying out the gains from 1S-2D being a transfer for getting more heart hands in. Diamonds isn't really a suit anyways, is it?
8. Numerous situations in competition. These are very unique but for some of the common ones: 1m (1H) X being a transfer to spades. (4+ instead of usual 4) 1D (X) XX+, using the transfer walsh theme.
9. Over precision 2C opening.
10. One of the newest ideas, opener's rebids. I'll be writing about these a lot more later, as I'm playing them.
That isn't quite all, but it covers most of the ground. Some of these are more pure as transfers than others. By being pure, I mean that the transfer is most of the time accepted. This is what the transfers usually try to do, because that is exactly when they save a lot of room and let you unwind your hand. Some of them aren't exactly transfers at all, even though they look like it. Let's go through them step by step.
1. This is about as pure as transfer can get. Whole point is that NT opener is quite strictly defined, and thus it has to just accept the transfer without super fit. This lets responder show various shapes and strengths. Some even continue with second round of transfers to fit in even more stuff. This becomes essentially a relay system where the balanced hand is just asking questions. He didn't initiate it, but somehow partner just forced him to know all this stuff to make good decisions.
2. Here we have two often used variants. Other has the transfer invite+, and other has it either weak or GF. Now the latter is much more pure as a transfer. Opener can't break it unless he has some huge fit. So again responder gets to show many shapes when game forcing. The former isn't quite so pure. Here the responder doesn't actually want the opener to bid the suit, he is more like asking a question. Do we want to be in a game now that you know I have this suit and invitational strength. Thus opener has to break the relay when not minimum. This means that responder can't show his hand as accurately when GF but he does get more information about opener's hand.
3. This is again quite pure transfer situation. Depending a bit on the variation, opener is expected to accept the transfer with all the weak NT hands, or all hands with 3 card support. Whichever it is, it happens often and responder has easy time again describing his hand.
4. These are one of my favorites. They work much like rubensohl (inv+ variation) but because overcaller's range is wide and he tends to be in the lower side of that range, he will accept the transfer more often. Transfers here don't actually show and invitation, they are more like constructive+ and good invites will bid again. Thus the overcaller is quite safe just accepting it.
5. These aren't actually transfers at all, and I have no idea what's the fuzz about banning them. When you open a moscito style transfer opening, you don't really expect responder to accept the transfer. Actually that is usually invite+ relay. Funny it turns to work just the same as in NT structure when the transfer is accepted, but that is because responder had some strength you didn't actually assume he had. Here the transfer pretty much just right-sided the contract and saved one step. (One step is a lot in relay structure) However I have played systems where the openings are more pure transfers. Take my magic diamond variant. (Not so magic D anymore) I used 1D/H openings to show the usual magic major openings, 8-11, 4+ unbal, or 17+ the same thing. Now the point was that most of the hands would just leave the train at 1M and try to win it there. (Never happened) This left opener huge room to describe his good hand.
6. I already said what these are about. I suggest to check out how Meckwell throws out transfer bids in strangest of auctions to save room for majors. They have this sort of cyclic reorganization of bids in about all the sequences. There's some beauty in it.
7. I will be going to this direction if I start to play 1NT GF relay over major openings. (Now it's 2C and I hate the lack of space) My main use for them will be of course to bail out on two level with weak hand and a long suit, but it can also handle some invites and distributional GFs. I don't think these give you much in a natural context, but when the opening is limited they allow for neat tricks. (Cause the transfer will be accepted almost always)
8. These are mainly just neat tricks that are used in competition that work somewhere else. They usually have some reference in constructive sequences, so you just have to look through them situationally.
9. I'm yet to test this. Quite highly defined opening, transfers might be the way to go. I prefer relay approach for now though.
10. This is bit of an odd bird. You can actually consider gazzilli convention a bit like this. 2C is typically a transfer to 2D, with some hands you break the transfer. In this case they are the weak hands that break the transfer unlike in many others but that doesn't really make a difference. However gazzilli doesn't promise diamonds so it doesn't feel transfer in that sense. I however had in mind a more complex structure taking place after 1D (unbal) opening. Over 1D-1S, every rebid by opener up to 2H is a transfer, promising the higher suit. This opens up a huge number of sequences where opener can show different types of hands. I'll be writing a post just about this structure soon. Now I can just say that these transfers aren't really pure, cause responder has so many different hand types that most of the time he can't just accept the transfer.
That was one lengthy first post. I bet I will come back talking about transfers a lot more in more specific situations. When you find a lack of room in sequences, I'd suggest to always look first for transfers. They can do great many things.
Tilaa:
Blogitekstit (Atom)