[Phil]

In several of my partnerships we play after 1m - (1♥). We really like them since keeping the overcaller on lead has proven beneficial:

- Dbl - 4-5 spades
- 1♠ = takeout, 0-3 spades, several hand types
- 1N = natural, sound, double stopper, great 7 to 10
- 2m = limit raise +
- 2om = natural, SAYC
- 2♥ = invitational + with 6+ spades
- 2♠ = preemptive and weaker than 2♥

We would like to incorporate a similar structure over 1♣ - (1♦), i.e.,

dbl = 4-5 hearts
1♥ = 4-5 spades
1♠ = takeout-ish
1N = natural
2♣ = limit raise +

(feel free to comment on the above)

The remaining 2 level calls are a little bit of a quandary. I can see:

2♦ / 2♥ = inv + in ♥/♠
2♠ = preempt

or perhaps

2♦ = "multi" weak jump shift in a major
2M = natural and invitationa

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks

[gnasher]

What hands can you have for a "takeoutish" 1♠?

I definitely wouldn't play 2♦ as a Multi, because of the risk that advancer will bid 3♦.

In a slightly different scheme, where 1♠ shows notrumps and 1NT shows clubs, I play 2♦ as 4-4+ in the majors and invitational+. If we start with a transfer to hearts and then double on the next round, that denies four spades. This sounds quite useful, but it doesn't seem to come up much.

[Phil]

gnasher, on 2012-December-17, 14:01, said:

What hands can you have for a "takeoutish" 1♠?

Anti-positional stoppers like Axx and Kxx for sure, and these can include invitational hands. GF hands can still bid 3♦ as a transfer to 3N.

1♠ also includes assorted junk, and simple club raises.

[straube]

We use something similar for our artificial 1D.

1D (1H)
.....dbl-4 spades
..........1S-4 clubs
.....1S-4+ diamonds
.....1N-5 spades
.....2m-forcing
.....2H-6+ spades, GI+
.....2S-weak, minors

[mycroft]

This is all MidChart or non-ACBL, right, Phil? :-)

[Phil]

mycroft, on 2012-December-17, 15:56, said:

This is all MidChart or non-ACBL, right, Phil? :-)

Yes.

In other words, we will only play this in events that matter

[mycroft]

Good!

I wish I had that option :-).

I was just making sure that unlike some people up here that went from Transfers after double = ok, therefore transfers after interference = ok, you knew that it was different on the GCC. (I find this particular one weird, and would push for a lot more freedom in competitive auctions on the GCC myself. Okay, I'd push for a lot more freedom on the GCC myself)

I actually was involved with a several-TD discussion about "I know transfers after double were allowed, have been for years; but I can't find where." I pointed out that a takeout double was a convention. "No, it's not...wait, yes, it is. That's weird." Even people who have been playing forever can learn the new "normal" so hard they don't realize it's not natural!

[gnasher]

Phil, on 2012-December-17, 15:10, said:

Anti-positional stoppers like Axx and Kxx for sure, and these can include invitational hands. GF hands can still bid 3♦ as a transfer to 3N.

1♠ also includes assorted junk, and simple club raises.

I think you're wasting a bid by doing that. You don't need two ways to bid 1NT, and it will usually be better played from opener's side regardless of what responder's diamond holding is. Playing it by opener helps to avoid an unwanted lead of another suit through opener's strength, and conceals most of the partnership's high cards.

It's better to play 1♠ as any 1NT bid (or stronger). That frees 1NT to use as specifically a club raise. Alternatively, you could play 1NT as 4-4 majors non-forcing, with 2♦ as 4-4 majors invitational+.

[JLOGIC]

Yes I like playing transfers here. I also like them over 1d x starting with redouble and over 1c x starting with 1d for same reasons. Agree with gnasher that two 1n bids are not useful.