[Lord Molyb]

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[mfa1010]

In my system:

1♣ (precision) - 1♠ (heart positive)
1N (relay) - 4♦ (6-6 minimum hand)
4♥

[Cyberyeti]

1♠-2♥(overbid, shows a 10 count but not bidding 1N)
2N(GF not always bal)-3♦
3♠(6CS not 3♥)-4♦
4♥

[mikeh]

1♠ 1N (F1)
2♣ 2♦ (mod. bart)
2♥ 4♥ where 2♥ showed 2 or 3 hearts


I understand a 2♥ response but playing 2/1GF makes it extremely dangerous. 1=6=6=0 would be marginally more attractive, but even there I think I'd choose 1N.

I have been toying with the idea of playing 1N as semi-forcing, putting 3 card limit raises into 2♣, but am happy, on this hand, that I can bid 1N with absolute assurance that I will get another chance to bid.

[Fluffy]

mfa1010, on 2014-February-04, 17:33, said:

In my system:

1♣ (precision) - 1♠ (heart positive)
1N (relay) - 4♦ (6-6 minimum hand)
4♥

That is my sequence as well , you play a version of viking club right?

[CSGibson]

This is one of those hands where I think it will be more important to start describing your hand and hope you can make game opposite a 1♠ opening than it would be to try and sort out both strain and level with a 1N response, so I would respond 2♥, natural and game forcing, opposite 1♠, and keep rebidding diamonds until opener eventually gives preference to hearts - we would be in 4♥.

My exact auction would probably be 1♠-2♥; 2♠-3♦; 3N-4♦; 4♥.

[kuhchung]

CSGibson, on 2014-February-04, 18:51, said:

This is one of those hands where I think it will be more important to start describing your hand and hope you can make game opposite a 1♠ opening than it would be to try and sort out both strain and level with a 1N response, so I would respond 2♥, natural and game forcing, opposite 1♠, and keep rebidding diamonds until opener eventually gives preference to hearts - we would be in 4♥.

My exact auction would probably be 1♠-2♥; 2♠-3♦; 3N-4♦; 4♥.

I would also make a 2/1 in hearts, but I wasn't so sure that I would be able to stop at the 4 level so I didn't respond.

What about 1S 2H; 3C? What do people play 3D here? I think gnasher plays it as some sort of stall (like FSF), and it does make the auction awkward. Still, it gets the strength and most of the shape across.

After 1S 2H; 3C 3D; 3H 4H I guess opener passes. I dunno.

[kuhchung]

postcount++

[mfa1010]

CSGibson, on 2014-February-04, 18:51, said:

This is one of those hands where I think it will be more important to start describing your hand and hope you can make game opposite a 1♠ opening than it would be to try and sort out both strain and level with a 1N response, so I would respond 2♥, natural and game forcing, opposite 1♠, and keep rebidding diamonds until opener eventually gives preference to hearts - we would be in 4♥.

My exact auction would probably be 1♠-2♥; 2♠-3♦; 3N-4♦; 4♥.

Couldn't opener have 7 hcp less for that sequence?

[Zelandakh]

kuhchung, on 2014-February-04, 20:02, said:

What about 1S 2H; 3C? What do people play 3D here? I think gnasher plays it as some sort of stall (like FSF), and it does make the auction awkward. Still, it gets the strength and most of the shape across.

If you do play 3♦ as a grope then a 3♥ rebid shows the 6th heart rather than being ambiguous. That makes finding the heart fit simple.

I think anyone calling this North hand a GF in 2/1 is crazy. The North hand only really grows up only when the lack of misfit emerges. Therefore I think Mike's auction is much better in a 2/1 context than those starting 2♥. There are other possibilities too. For example, in Ambra North's 2♦ rebid is a relay and now South shows 17+ and further relays will reveal the 6214 shape.

In my methods hands of 18+ points generally open 1♣ but I would prefer to rate this South hand as less than that and open a simple 1♠. Then North has to decide if their hand is worth an invite or not. I typically do not upgrade when there is a heavy threat of a misfit and so my preferred auction is:

1♠ = up to 17, 5+ spades, unbal
... - 2♥ = 5+ hearts, <INV, non-forcing, usually no 4 card minor (this 2-suiter is an exception to allow rebidding 3♦ over 2♠)
2NT = max, exactly 2 hearts
... - 4♣ = 6+ hearts, 0-1 clubs, improved hand, GF
4♥

If you cannot stomach a non-forcing 2♥ response then the alternative is:

1♠ = up to 17, 5+ spades, unbal
... - 1NT = INV+ relay
2♥ = 4+ clubs, max, GF
... - 2♠ = relay
3♦ = 6214
... - 3♥ = relay
3NT = 4 controls
... - 4♥

My guess is that the original auction started along the lines of 1♠ - 1NT; 3♣, with South not downgrading their hand for the poor honour distribution, and perhaps North now decided to head for 3NT. The alternative scenario is North responding 2♥ and an unfortunate slam being reached. Hard to see what else could have gone wrong.

[Free]

1♠-2♥ (5+♠ ; INV 6+♥ or GF 5+♥)
3♣-3♥ (16+ nat with <3♥ ; 6+♥)
4♥-pass (fit ; ok)

I don't think South should be very enthousiastic about his stiff ♦K. If you disagree he can bid 4♦ instead of 4♥ to show slam interest, after which North will signoff.

[mfa1010]

Fluffy, on 2014-February-04, 18:45, said:

That is my sequence as well , you play a version of viking club right?

Yes, the relay system is mostly after the Grötheim book with small improvements here and there.