[bgm]

Vampyr, on 2016-October-25, 20:35, said:

Are you suggesting that a 2♣ response show natural vlubs or a balanced GF? It seems to me that this would require a lot of artificial followups unless you decided that the bid was GF even it it was just natural clubs. But perhaps I am overstating the difficulties?

I think now 1M - 2♣ is becoming more popular as ♣ (INV+?) or BAL FG. Ambra should be an example of introducing this over 10 years ago.

Just my personal opinion:
I think even 4♠ BAL FG hand can also put in 1♥ - 2♣, and 1♥ - 1♠ kept as 4+♠ non-FG or 5+♠ unBAL FG.
I even think that 5m332, or even 5OM332 FG can also put in 1M - 2♣. Of course in those case finding back the 5-3 fit could be difficult.
A even more radical thinking is that 4+M SUPP FG hand should also put inside, in order to listen to partner's (partial) shape (with some relay). The Jacoby 2NT can also be free up as other INV- raises.

[lamford]

billw55, on 2016-October-25, 06:27, said:

So 87% making 5+ tricks. Better than I thought. Maybe this bidding was not so discouraging as I thought.


Perhaps there should be. This is a not a rare dilemma with shortage. Has anyone invented a sort of wastage asking bid?

We play that 3S (or 3NT over spade) is a short-suit slam try where available, and partner bids the lowest suit he will accept. This is one reason why I should have gone more slowly, although 7 of the 8 tables missed this slam. But it was Wales, who can only play football ...

[lamford]

Zelandakh, on 2016-October-26, 02:21, said:

I would not like to speak for Fred but I believe he does not use a GF spade response after a 1♥ opening but something along the lines of:

1♠ = nat, F1
1NT = semi-forcing
2m = nat, GF
2♥ = constructive
2♠ = GF raise with 4+ hearts
2NT = 12+-15
3♣ = weak raise with 4+ hearts
3♦ = limit raise or balanced GF with 4+ hearts
3♥ = mixed raise with 4+ hearts
3♠ = splinter in any suit
3NT = maxi-splinter with spade shortage
4m = maxi-splinters

Hopefully he will see this and correct me if any of it is wrong (or outdated).

Thanks Zel. Have printed out to discuss with my regular partners. We currently play 2C as INV+, NAT, BAL or 2-3 card raise. Otherwise 2/1 FG. Although we do play other parts of that.

[lamford]

Vampyr, on 2016-October-25, 20:35, said:

I am not sure, but I am guessing that Lamford and his partner were using 2♠ as a GF raise and 2NT as a spade jump shift. Is there a way to show these three hand-types, or is it best to just ignore the ♠ JS since it never comes up?

We play 1H-2S as weak, so have to use 2NT as the FG raise. We could dispense with that possibly.

[rhm]

lamford, on 2016-October-24, 15:32, said:

I am convinced by all your arguments, although slam was cold on this occasion, which indicates partner should have gone more slowly. I would be worried that partner could easily be Axxx Qxx Kx Axxx, which he was, when Six Clubs and Six Hearts will be good. If partner is 13-14 with three hearts (as you could be an 11-count 2-5-3-3 and he could invite in hearts as well), then slam is around 44%, with game going off 2% of the time, and ten tricks being the limit a further 11% of the time.

[If partner has a 14-count, then you would be 55% for slam.]

1♠ is not a good response to 1♥.
2♣ making immediately clear that you have a stronger hand is far superior even if you do not play this response as game forcing.
Why would anyone want to discourage partner with this hand escapes me.
And if 4♥ is neither discouraging nor specific it is a bad system.
Surely 2♦ instead of 4♥ followed by a heart raise is more appropriate.

Rainer Herrmann

[P_Marlowe]

Pass.

Void opposite partners suit and a limited partner.
Why should I move now?