[steve2005]

just wondering if there is a consensus on what range to use for 1N when using transfer Walsh?

[MickyB]

- Transfer Walsh is worth playing with any no-trump range

- Playing weak NT with regular Walsh, you can bid 1C-P-1D on 5D4M 9+, knowing that you can GF to find the major fit if partner rebids 1NT. For this reason, I think regular Walsh is more playable with a weak NT, thus the advantages of Transfer Walsh are smaller.

- Some play that completing the transfer shows a weak NT, and rebidding 1NT shows a stronger balanced hand. This is usually played with a 14-16 NT, giving you the maximum utility from your 1NT rebid - your three ranges at the one-level are 11-13, 14-16 and 17-19.

- Others play that completing the transfer shows three-card support. This is usually played with a 15-17 NT.

[fromageGB]

My preference is 15/16, but I thought the answer of 15-17 was closer than "other".

It depends on what your methods are to a degree, but after 1♣ I complete the major transfer with 2/3 cards and a 12-14 balanced hand, rebid 1NT with 17/18, and 2NT with 19. (You can of course play 1NT as 17-19 with invitations, but if responder needs 19 for major game he is better able to play at the 2 level with a 5-3 fit opposite 17/18.) As 17 is quite capable of being managed with transfer walsh, it makes sense in my view to reduce the opening 1NT range to just 2hcp. This means more hands go through the beneficial treatment of twalsh, and fewer through the partner-preempting 1NT. Of course the 2 point range also means that you have more bids available in response if you do not need invitations.

In terms of splitting the range between 1♣ and 1NT openings, you can put the NT at the bottom, but it seems to add clarity when there is a big break in the ranges shown by the twalsh rebids.

Another reason for the break in the middle is that 12-14 is more common than higher ranges, so I want this to open 1♣ to put fewer hands into the 1NT open.

Technically, as the higher the range for the 1NT open the less partner-preemptive it is (there are more game investigations/bids), I think it would make sense to use transfer walsh for the ranges 12-14, 15/16, 19, and have 17/18 opening 1NT, but this is an idea I have not bared to my partners.

[wank]

 fromageGB, on 2013-April-28, 10:00, said:

My preference is 15/16, but I thought the answer of 15-17 was closer than "other".

opening 1nt is very powerful. it's a little odd to want to try and reduce the occasions you can do so.

[PhilKing]

 wank, on 2013-April-28, 13:54, said:

opening 1nt is very powerful. it's a little odd to want to try and reduce the occasions you can do so.

The stats from high level competitions suggest this very slightly:

http://www.rpbridge.net/rpme.htm

But if you look into the relevant files individually, it gets rather murky. Opening one of a minor with a hand deemed a strong no trump in the other room is a small winner, for instance. However, that could simply be because the players who favour weak no trumps at that level are la creme de la creme, which is backed up by the weak no trump stats.

[fromageGB]

 wank, on 2013-April-28, 13:54, said:

opening 1nt is very powerful. it's a little odd to want to try and reduce the occasions you can do so.

My argument is essentially that partner needs to have a game invitational strength in order to bid with other than a long suit, and as a consequence, major fits are not found. While of lesser consequence at IMPs, I play the vast majority of my games in matchpoints, and the major fit is key. Hence I prefer to play twalsh to find those fits, and have sequences that show the exact length(s) and strength range.

With 1NT, partner is silenced half the time. The effect is even worse with a weak NT.

If the power of the 1NT comes from its definition of balance and strength, then twalsh has the same power. If the power comes from its preemptive effect, then this is a 2-edged sword. Moreover, I think people are overcalling 1NT more often these days, and coping with interference over 1NT is far less effective than with that over 1♣, where you have "system on" for the majority of calls.

[jallerton]

 steve2005, on 2013-April-28, 05:18, said:

just wondering if there is a consensus on what range to use for 1N when using transfer Walsh?

I think your question is slightly back-to-front. I decide on the 1NT opening range before I agree my responses to 1♣. However, if I'm playing a 14-16NT opening, then I'm most keen to be playing transfers over 1♣, because then I don't have to jump to 2NT on a random 17-count after partner shows a major over my 1♣ opening.

I think MickyB was making a similar point, but I'm surprised he didn't mention TriBal!

[fromageGB]

 PhilKing, on 2013-April-28, 14:44, said:

http://www.rpbridge.net/rpme.htm

But if you look into the relevant files individually, it gets rather murky. Opening one of a minor with a hand deemed a strong no trump in the other room is a small winner, for instance.

The figures quoted rather emphasise my point. Even at IMPs a 4-4 major fit is 2 to 4 times better than a 1NT contract. At matchpoints I need to find those fits.

[MickyB]

 jallerton, on 2013-April-29, 13:18, said:

I think MickyB was making a similar point, but I'm surprised he didn't mention TriBal!

Yes, the OP cunningly avoided that by using the word "consensus" Besides, TriBal's latest responses to 1C work equally brilliantly with any no-trump range

[benlessard]

This wont be an easy read but its going to be full of possibly useful ideas for your system.

After any type of 1C opening ive found that often the key is that 1C-1D-1H must become very frequent to nicely split your bidding sequences, for that what I think is best is 1D response = Hs or a specific amount of pts.

For fun ive converted my strong club system into a non-forcing 1C opening where responder has to reply with 4 pts. (without using 1NT opening) it will look like

1C -- ??

1D = hearts or any INVs (10-11 pts, 9 pts with a 6 card suit) or bal GF

1H= Spades 4-9 or GF

1S = no M 4-9 or GF with D+C

the 2 level is singlesuiters

1Nt = 6 Clubs 4-8 or GF

2C = 6D 4-8 or GF

2D = 6H 4-8 or GF

2H = 6S 4-8 or GF

the rest is C+D GF

----------------------------------

After

1C--1D--???

1H = 11-15 with at least 3H (partner will pass with 5-9)
1S = 11-15 with 4S or (3s2H) (partner with pass with 5-9)
1Nt = extras so 16-17 bal or semi bal with clubs
2C = 6 clubs 11-15
2D = 18-20 bal or 16-18 with 4H or 18-20 with clubs
2H = 19-20 with 4H
the rest is nat GF


1C-1D-1H--??

1C-1D-1H pass (any hand with 5-9 and 4H)
1C-1D-1H-1S (10-11 pts without M) or GF bal
1C-1D-1H-1NT (10-11 with 4 or 5S Not forcing)
1C-1D-1H-2C (9-11 with 6D or H+D GF)
1C-1D-1H-2D (10-11 with at least 4H or H+C GF)
1C-1D-1H-2H (9-11 with 6S or GF H+S)
the rest is C+H GF


1C-1D-1S-??

1C-1D-1S pass (any hand with 4-9 and 4S)
1C-1D-1S-1nt 4-8 without 4S, always 4H or 4H+clubs
1C-1D-1S-2C (weak with 5D& 4H or GF with D&H)
1C-1D-1S-2D (10-11 with 6H or H+C GF)
1C-1D-1S-2S (10+ bal)
1C-1D-1S-2NT and higher 5C+4H GF

------------
Note that all balanced hand from 12-20 pts are open 1C, responder is forced to respond with any 4 count, yet you rarely miss a 4-4 fit and you will rarely play at the 3level.

You miss a 4-4 fit when

1C-1D-1Nt opener has 16+ pts and 4S and responder has both M and is weakish.

1C-1D-1H-2D-2H (opener is 12-13 pts with 3H &4S while responder is 10-11 with 4H&4S)

You play at the 3 level when

1C--2H (showing 6S) and opener is 19-20 pts and responder is 3-5 pts

Opener is 18-20 with clubs.


Some of the bad stuff, you sometimes play 2H in 43 instead of 2NT (bad when opener has 3 trumps and is balanced) .

With a C+D strong jump shift you might need to open 1D.


Some of the good stuff

You often play 1M instead of 1NT & 2M, better in Imps, so so in MP.
opener play most of the contract (great for a strong club , pretty good for a normal club)

When you open 1D your always unbalanced.

The transfers at the 2 level with a singlesuiter are huge winners. (Even better in a PC setup)

some subtle opening change

With 2245 you need to open 1D unless your 16+
3145 1C is better, with 1345 1D is better,

[mslqmqeem]

I like to play Transfer Walsh not only with a 15/17 1NT opening, but with a 2♦ opener showing 18/20 as well (alla Mexican),including most 5332 as balanced.
That way, 1♣ openings shows 12/14 balanced or 11+ unbalanced.
Then after transfer response, opener bids are:
* completes the transfer at one level with 11/15, 3 card support,
* 1nt or 2♣ with 11/15 no 3 card support, according distribution.
*2♦ artificial showing 16+ and exactly 3 card support,
* 2 OM, 2NT, 3♣ shows strong hands without support
* 2M, 3M, 4M, splinters, shows 4 card support, according strength.
We also play 1♠ responde to 1♣ as denying 4+ card majors, showing eihter 6/9 balanced, 6/12 one suited minor or 10/12 two suited minors. Opener is expected to bid 1nt or 2♣ with at most 15 points or other bid with 16+
1NT over 1♣ is exactly 10/11 balanced, no majors, and 1♣-2♣ is forcing game without majors (16+ if balanced)