[Bbradley62]

---

[manudude03]

I was bidding 1S over Pass wasn't I? Nothing's changed really.

[JLOGIC]

I do not subscribe to the theory that if we were bidding over a pass we should bid over a double (and bid the same thing). For instance, we would often respond on a subminimum hand to keep the auction open/perhaps steal from the opps, both of those are unneccessary reasons to bid now. This does not just include hands like QT9xx Jxxx x xxx which are subminimum responses that might have game in a major or at least a better spot than diamonds, to me it includes a hand like Qxxx Qxxx xx Qxx which is a normal response but a normal pass when they X imo.

That said, this time we have a good hand and I see no reason not to bid 1S.

[benlessard]

this probably has been said many times but transfers over a X are almost a must IMHO. Its an old idea but its becoming more and more popular.

XX = hearts
1H = 4S
etc

The advantages are numerous.

The drawback = free X for showing a suit (lead directing)
no more business XX

[Hanoi5]

1♥.

Seriously, 1♠. Any other action is trying to guess the whole hand.

[Bbradley62]

Thank you all for your feedback. Apparently, in Estonia, 1M over 1m(x) shows a 5card suit and xx shows 6+HCP and a 4card major. Go know...

[matmat]

Bbradley62, on 2011-June-15, 19:43, said:

Thank you all for your feedback. Apparently, in Estonia, 1M over 1m(x) shows a 5card suit and xx shows 6+HCP and a 4card major. Go know...

Have you ever tried plying bridge with an Elbonian?

[1eyedjack]

benlessard, on 2011-June-15, 18:51, said:

this probably has been said many times but transfers over a X are almost a must IMHO. Its an old idea but its becoming more and more popular.

XX = hearts
1H = 4S
etc

The advantages are numerous.

The drawback = free X for showing a suit (lead directing)
no more business XX

Can you point me to a link that discusses the advantages and full continuations in more detail, please? Google does not seem to like me very much today.

[P_Marlowe]

1S.

1 level bids remain their meaning, and since I have a bid, that I would
have and without the TOX, and the meaning reamains unchanged, I will make
it.

The trend is going more and more in the direction of offshape double, more
and more bal. hand, even with some length, are making a TOX, so it makes
less and less sense to assume, that the TOX is based on 44 in the majors.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[Free]

1eyedjack, on 2011-June-15, 23:49, said:

Can you point me to a link that discusses the advantages and full continuations in more detail, please? Google does not seem to like me very much today.

Using google the correct way

[the hog]

1S looks obvious to me. Benlessard's t/f bids are normally used at the 2 level, hence 1NT > C, 2C > D etc, and not at the one level. xx is usually used to show 10+, shortness with pd and a good possibility to penalise.

[1eyedjack]

Free, on 2011-June-16, 02:34, said:

Using google the correct way

Thanks. Yes I did find that hard.
Hog - I think Benlessard's transfers at 1 level are rising rapidly in popularity among good players

[gwnn]

1eyedjack you can just play

completion=3 card support, NF (up to 17 or so)
over a completion you can play XYZ for example (more about XYZ here).

other bids=normal stuff, minimal bids deny 3 card support

Transfers over 1♦x are probably my favourite treatment in bridge, notwithstanding my partners' forgetting it a few times.

[the hog]

1eyedjack, on 2011-June-16, 03:48, said:

Thanks. Yes I did find that hard.
Hog - I think Benlessard's transfers at 1 level are rising rapidly in popularity among good players

So how do you ever get to penalise the stupid doublers if you have no xx available?

[helene_t]

the hog, on 2011-June-16, 06:31, said:

So how do you ever get to penalise the stupid doublers if you have no xx available?

You don't. I suppose this is a drawback of playing these methods over 1♥, but over 1m does it really happen that often that you get to penalize them after a business rdbl?

[1eyedjack]

the hog, on 2011-June-16, 06:31, said:

So how do you ever get to penalise the stupid doublers if you have no xx available?

My hit-rate of finding lucrative doubles of oppo having started with a stone-age redouble is not especially memorable, whatever the theoretical possibilities, so I am not averse to trying alternatives.

[JLOGIC]

the hog, on 2011-June-16, 06:31, said:

So how do you ever get to penalise the stupid doublers if you have no xx available?

Pass then X

[gwnn]

I'm just curious why my post was downvoted. Was I arrogant/rude or is the treatment that I wrote about completely bad? I think it's used by about 50% of people who play these transfers. At the risk of being downvoted again, I am going to describe the alternative treatment as well, with slight trepidation:

completion=catchall, semi-waiting bid, most often a weak NT, but can still be strong
xx-p-1♠=unbalanced
1NT=18-19 balanced (could have 3 card support)
2-level completion=4 card support
2NT=could be various stuff, for example a 3♦ rebid with 3 cards in partner's major.

[benlessard]

The main advantage is that it put the doubler on lead, there is nothing more frustrating than having to lead from a 11-14 pts 4414 when you think partner is broke and didnt bid anything.

The way i think is best is having two "1Nt" bids.

1D--(X)--???

1S = values for 1Nt but no D support (so 5/6 clubs most of the time).
1Nt = values for 1NT but D support (3 if 1D promise 4 or 4 if 1D can be short.

So that way if LHO compete your partner can bid 3C/3D without be afraid to hit you with an awful shape.

Im sure there is plenty of others treatment. The main point is that XX is simply an underused bid and its a prime estate bid.

[the hog]

helene_t, on 2011-June-16, 06:39, said:

You don't. I suppose this is a drawback of playing these methods over 1♥, but over 1m does it really happen that often that you get to penalize them after a business rdbl?

Yes, I picked up an 800 just the other day after
1D (X) xx (P)
(P) (1H)

on
KQTx
AQTx
x
Q98x
The double had the usual 3424 rubbishy 12 count.