[wank]

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the 'other' in the poll refers to what would you would do given the basic system in use. obviously i know there are plenty of conventional response schemes available which would have solved the problem.

the 1NT is 15-17 [unsurprisingly, considering the context].

imps

[whereagles]

staymanize + 3m/3NT depending on how lucky you feel.

[wanoff]

 wank, on 2014-July-10, 05:20, said:

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No gadgets over a weak nt but over strong and 2♣-2♦ I would show (via a 2♠ relay) short spades forcing to 3NT or 4m.

[cherdano]

I would start by trying to recall the NT range we are playing.

[mikeh]

 cherdano, on 2014-July-10, 09:39, said:

I would start by trying to recall the NT range we are playing.

I would look at the OP and deduce that in the expert forum we probably aren't being given options of driving to game with a 9 count opposite a weak 1N, and refrain from trying to demonstrate my wit with a remark that suggests I thought that we were.

[bluechip10]

I have played that 3♦, 3♥, and 3♠ are splinters. Definitely game forcing and "slam-ish." My 2 ♠ response to 1NT is transfer to clubs and my 3♣ bid is transfer to diamonds.

[neilkaz]

 cherdano, on 2014-July-10, 09:39, said:

I would start by trying to recall the NT range we are playing.

It's also nice to know the form of scoring since that may matter to some.

[aguahombre]

 wank, on 2014-July-10, 05:20, said:

the 'other' in the poll refers to what would you would do given the basic system in use. obviously i know there are plenty of conventional response schemes available which would have solved the problem.

the 1NT is 15-17 [unsurprisingly, considering the context].

So, those who voted for "other" must be the clever ones who would unilaterally violate the basic system in use.

There are truly two choices. I chose the invitational one. Anything I might upgrade is offset, IMO, by my least favorite distribution.

Maybe partner will be the clever one and bid a surprise 3m while accepting over my 2NT.

JXX Jx AKQXX AJX gets to slam after a game invite sequence; film at 11.

[PhantomSac]

 aguahombre, on 2014-July-10, 14:40, said:

So, those who voted for "other" must be the clever ones who would unilaterally violate the basic system in use.

I was thinking of voting other and psyching smolen lol. Will be sweet if partner has 2 hearts and we stop the spade lead, and if partner has 3 hearts maybe 4H is alright?! But I'm sure I'd just bid stayman and 3N. I don't think this is a great hand to be playing 2N in even if partner passes, on a spade lead I think it will often be the type of hand where we make many or few tricks based on a finesse or a break or w/e. But I do like your dream of bidding 2N and getting to 6m haha.

[gszes]

I consider this hand game forcing so tryng to stop
in 2n seems wrong (FWIW). This hand can play in
3n 4 or 6 hearts 5 or 6 c/d and it all depends on partners
holding in spades and power.

I would opt for stayman and

If p bids 2h hopefully 3s is
splinter and solves all my problems (though onc in a while we
might end up in 5h going down on a bad trump split).

If p bids 2s I would quietly bid 3n

If p bids 2d I would bid 3d (temporarily lying about length so
I can offer clubs as a contract if it is apprpriate). If p cannot
show a spade stop (either with 3n or 3s) I will then bid 5c giving
opener a choice of minor suit contracts and I will not push for 6
since it is odds against with this 444 shape.

None of the above requires any special partnership understanding
and keeps all of our options open. Guessing to bid 3n is probably
goin to be right but it seems to hurt little to go through stayman
first and look for a spade stop when we know the opps have at least 9
of them.

[MickyB]

 PhantomSac, on 2014-July-10, 16:09, said:

I was thinking of voting other and psyching smolen lol.

Yeah that was my vote. I once bid Smolen on a hand like this. Partner had AQx spade and hearts were 5-1. This hand can be my second data point. Stopping the spade lead could be huge in 4H too, need to avoid the force.

[nige1]

 wank, on 2014-July-10, 05:20, said:

imps
The 'other' in the poll refers to what would you would do given the basic system in use. obviously i know there are plenty of conventional response schemes available which would have solved the problem. The 1NT is 15-17 [unsurprisingly, considering the context].

---

IMO

• 2♣ - 2♦ - 3N = 10.
• 2♣ - 2♦ - 2N = 9.
• 3N = 8.
• 2N = 7.
• Other i.e. Pass = 6 (Hoping to double an opponent's 2♠).
• But I like Phantomsac's Smolen psych

[wanoff]

 aguahombre, on 2014-July-10, 14:40, said:

So, those who voted for "other" must be the clever ones who would unilaterally violate the basic system in use.

Was there a reference to 'the basic system' ?
If I'm playing a simple system I'd use Stayman and follow 2♦ with 3♣.

[aguahombre]

 wanoff, on 2014-July-11, 01:09, said:

Was there a reference to 'the basic system' ?
If I'm playing a simple system I'd use Stayman and follow 2♦ with 3♣.

The system in use is given pretty much by the choices in the poll. Wank then describes the inferred system as basic..meaning they don't have any other toys relevant to this hand. It seems he assumed too much from the readers' ability to absorb; he even had to clarify their NT as a strong NT, which was also obvious from the poll choices and the strength of the problem hand.

Btw: your choice of Stayman and then 3C shows longer clubs than four in a "simple system". I can see a disaster looming via that route unless Opener has 4+ clubs; and, Diamonds can never be bid naturally by either side after 3C.

[chasetb]

I bid 'Other', but I HAD TO -> bidding 3NT directly wasn't on the list. I have a gut feeling partner is packing lots of heat in Spades, and that 3NT is better off than 4♥ because our Hearts are too solid.

[the hog]

The posts "I would do this...." are a waste of space and my time. With no gadgets, I bid 2C followed by 3NT. A record has been reached - for the first time in my memory I actually think Nigel's ratings are correct and not off on planet Zorg.

[PhantomSac]

 the hog, on 2014-July-11, 20:04, said:

The posts "I would do this...." are a waste of space and my time. With no gadgets, I bid 2C followed by 3NT. A record has been reached - for the first time in my memory I actually think Nigel's ratings are correct and not off on planet Zorg.

Haha no way, I agree with his top 2 rankings but he has 1N 3N as an 8! There is no way 1N 3N can be an 8 compared to stayman and 3N, if partner has 4 hearts I'm thrilled to play 4H!

[msjennifer]

With my regular partner there is No Stayman.1NT --2C is a relay promising at least 8 HCP and at least one 4 card major.Opener bids 2D with 15 or BAD 16 even if he holds one 4 card major.Opener bids 2H holding both majors but 15 or BAD 16. opener bids 2 S holding both majors and 17 or Good 16.Over 2 D responder with 8-9 HCP bids his major and opener Passes with 4card fit or if the bid is 2H and no 4 fit bids his 4 card Spade suit.Responder passes with 4 card support or failing bids 2NT which opener passes.The convention which covers all ranges and all patterns is named "Explorer Relay" by my teacher and runs into 20 pages.In a very important event he and his partner bid 7D in a 44 fit after 1NT opening where opponents played meekly using Stayman in 3NT.The biggest gain is many times I have been able to play in 2H/S with a 44 fit where our opponents played 3H/S in an invitational sequence and went one down resulting in 5 IMP gain for us. Aparently,since some have no idea of the Explorer Relay which accurately finds out or describes to partner the distribution and the intention whether to play in apart score ,game (3Nt,4H/S,5C/D) ,slam ambition or slam force.It is far far superior to some run of the mill conventions described by Ron Klinger,Stayman and others.One can find out in detail openers hand pattern ,point count,controls and of course RKC not by 4NT but by 4C/4D/3H /3S. It will be most unfair to criticize it without studying it carefully in details.

[the hog]

I was being polite, Justin.

 PhantomSac, on 2014-July-11, 21:47, said:

Haha no way, I agree with his top 2 rankings but he has 1N 3N as an 8! There is no way 1N 3N can be an 8 compared to stayman and 3N, if partner has 4 hearts I'm thrilled to play 4H!

[the hog]

 msjennifer, on 2014-July-11, 23:05, said:

With my regular partner there is No Stayman.1NT --2C is a relay promising at least 8 HCP and at least one 4 card major.Opener bids 2D with 15 or BAD 16 even if he holds one 4 card major.Opener bids 2H holding both majors but 15 or BAD 16. opener bids 2 S holding both majors and 17 or Good 16.Over 2 D responder with 8-9 HCP bids his major and opener Passes with 4card fit or if the bid is 2H and no 4 fit bids his 4 card Spade suit.Responder passes with 4 card support or failing bids 2NT which opener passes.The convention which covers all ranges and all patterns is named "Explorer Relay" by my teacher and runs into 20 pages.In a very important event he and his partner bid 7D in a 44 fit after 1NT opening where opponents played meekly using Stayman in 3NT.The biggest gain is many times I have been able to play in 2H/S with a 44 fit where our opponents played 3H/S in an invitational sequence and went one down resulting in 5 IMP gain for us.

So you are playing a convention that looks vaguely like, but is vastly inferior to Keri?