[Chamaco]

Hi all !

I play Kaplan Inversion in a Precision context, coupled with 2/1 absolutely GF

Hence, we play:

a. 1H:1S = 0-4 spades, strength limited to less than GF (akin to 1NT forcing)
Opener rebids 1NT with 4 spades, and without 4 spades he'll rebid as ater a 1NT forcing reponse (rebid major = 6+ bagger, otherwise rebids a 3+ minor; 2NT and higher rebids are for distributional reverses, say 13-15 hcp and 64 or 55)

b. 1H:1NT = 5+ spades, unlimited

c. GF hands with exactly 4 spades (and without 4 card support in hearts, which wd bid 2NT) shall go via the artifiial 2C GF response (and NOT via 1S forcing, which would deny a GF).

========================================

I have noticed that some players have adopted the KI concept, but slightly modified:

a. 1H:1S = 0-3 spades
b. 1H:1NT = 4+ spades


The question is: I believe original KI approach was to promise 5+ spades for the 1NT response, what are the pros an cons to use it to promise 4+ ?

And what are the differences in its use if incorporated in the scheme I am playing now ?

Any constructive suggestions will be greatly appreciated, thanks !

Mauro

[Codo]

The upside for the 0-3 approach: Responder has at least 8 cards in the minors, which makes both 1 NT and 2 m much easier to handle and you know at once, that you have no 4-4 spade fit after this response.

The downside lies in the less accurate 1 NT answer: Now you must show 3 or 4 card support and you are bad placed after a 3 m bid from rho- you have much more guesswork.

I learned the original version some years ago, but changed it to: 1 Spade is not limited, so that 1 H 2 Cl is not overloaded. Worked ok

[Free]

I think the original version with 1NT showing 5+♠ makes it a lot easier for opener to find a decent rebid... I don't see immediate advantages to bid 1♠ to deny any chance of a ♠ fit

[foo]

KS was the system I first learned as a Novice and a variation of it is still my favorite system.

The EK Interchange / Inversion as I learned it was
1H-1S= denies 5+S or even a "chunky" 4 card suit that would be willing to play a Moyesian.
(As originally written, 1H-1S also allowed for systemic psyches by either Opener or Responder; and yes there were psychic controls built into KS to handle it. Very illegal nowadays.)
1H-1N= promises a playable S suit.

Within KS, there were a few motivations for EKI:
a= The controlled psyche of 1S was very effective. Remember that in KS 1H-2S was a Strong Jump Shift, so the only way to show the hand we call a Weak Jump Shift was via the 1H-1S;foo-2S as a Controlled Psyche. WKI allowed Opener to also psyche by opening miserable hands w/ long S's 1H and passing the expected 1S response.

Point 1: EKI loses a lot of its effectiveness w/o the Controlled Psyche built into it.

Point 2: If you are going to play EKI, you have to be very careful not to psyche with it often enough that you get accused of having a systemic psyche available to you.

b= 5H332 12-14 HCP hands, especially 12-13 HCP ones, were often opened 1N= 12-14. Most auctions after 1H-1S promised extras (14+ HCP and/or more shapely hands) by Opener in KS. This meant there was a very real danger of wrong siding NT contracts since the partnership's Strong NT hand would end up Dummy far more frequently than if playing Strong NTs.

Point 3: EKI is most effective if you play a system that often opens Strong NT hands something other than 1N. If you play Strong NT's, and especially if you routinely open 5M332 Strong NT hands 1N (or 1C-foo;1N), then EKI loses a lot of its effectiveness.

EK removed EKI from later versions of KS even though KS was a 1N= 12-14 system.

IME, the best way to play EKI is as originally written:
1H-1S is forcing and denies a playable S suit
1H-1N is forcing and promises a playable S suit.

[Chamaco]

foo, on May 11 2006, 02:08 PM, said:

KS was the system I first learned as a Novice and a variation of it is still my favorite system.

Ty FOO, hre are some additional elements of the system I play

a. I play (12)13-15 1NT opening.

b. 1C is 16+, excludes 55 with 16-18 hcp and 4441 17-20 hcp

c. 2D is Multi = weak 2M or 17-20 hcp 4441

d. 2H = 4414/5404/(43)15, 11-15 hcp

e. 2S and 2NT are openings for 4-losers 2-suiters (about 16-18 hcp if 55)

f. 2/1 over 1M is absolute GF

g. we do not psyche. Indeed, the most recent version of the Italian Bridge Federation explicitly forbids voluntary psyches.

[foo]

Chamaco, on May 11 2006, 09:20 AM, said:

g. we do not psyche. Indeed, the most recent version of the Italian Bridge Federation explicitly forbids voluntary psyches. 

!!!

I'm all in favor of forbidding systemic psyches or controlled psyches of any type, explicit or implicit. That is cheating, and cheating should always be illegal.
OTOH, forbidding =all= voluntary psyches is Wrong.

Psyches and the right to psyche are part of every player's right to decide how to bid their hand. You have a right to "take a flyer" any time you want to and that right should be protected.

*grumble grumble grrr* I wonder how many players we need and how we go about changing such bad regulations that are not in the spirit of Bridge.

[Gerardo]

Then ask under what rules are you playing in, as the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge are clearly out, sponsoring organizations can't overrule 40A.

[Chamaco]

Gerardo, on May 11 2006, 04:37 PM, said:

Then ask under what rules are you playing in, as the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge are clearly out, sponsoring organizations can't overrule 40A.

I do not have the vocation of Don Quijote vs the windmills

If you understand italian, you'll find this paragraph, which refers to the abovementioned forbidding of psyches in local tourneys (a definition which extends to virtually all tourneys except top-class events):

" A livello di Tornei Locali – sia Federali che Societari – è fatto divieto di effettuare psichiche volontarie di qualsiasi genere – tanto relativamente alla lunghezza dei colori che alla forza – in fase di apertura, intervento e risposta. Quale che sia stato l’esito della mano, l’Arbitro penalizzerà la coppia colpevole del 10% del top, riservandosi di risarcire la coppia innocente qualora abbia subito un danneggiamento quale diretta conseguenza dell’infrazione."

"At the level of Local Tourneys, either Federal or Societary - it is forbidden to make use of voluntary psyches on any kind - both in terms of suit length as well as strength - in the phase of opening, overcall as well as as responder/advancer.
Whatever the result of the hand, the Referee shall penalize the offender pair of 10% of the top, reserving the right to adjust the rsult of the offended pair, in case there have been damage as a direct consequence of the breaking of the rule"

The document (Integrative notes to the International Laws of Bridge) can be found at:
http://www.federbridge.it/Regolamenti/doc/...integrative.pdf

The paragraph is on top of page 18

[MickyB]

What is an involuntary psyche?

[foo]

MickyB, on May 11 2006, 06:07 PM, said:

What is an involuntary psyche?

Mixing a minor card in with your 4 Major cards and opening 1M showing a 5cM...

Ditto the similar mistake leading to you Preempting in a suit that is not as long as you thought...

Opening 1N instead of 1M when you don't really have a balanced hand... ...but you think you do.

Double counting cards like Ace's leading to you bidding way more than you have.

=Not= counting cards like Ace's leading to you bidding way less than you have...

You think We are playing Weak Jump Shifts. We actually are playing Strong (or Intermediate) Jump Shifts...

etc. I could go on and on...

[inquiry]

Advantage to 0-4 ♠, you can play 1NT more often.
Advantage to 0-4 ♠, you know partner has 5+ when he bids 1NT
Advantage to 0-4 ♠, if they play the hand in ♠ they know less about your hand

Advantage to 0-3 ♠, partner with four can ignore spades
Advantage to 0-3 ♠, responder will have at least 8 minor cards, but could be 7-1 etc, or perhaps 10-11 with three card heart support so 7 in minors

I strongly prefer 1♠ being 0-4.

[jdonn]

MickyB, on May 11 2006, 06:07 PM, said:

What is an involuntary psyche?

There aint no such thing. Psychs, by definition, are made intentionally. An 'accidental psych' such as pulling the wrong bid, seeing your hand wrong, forgetting your agreements, etc. is not a psych at all (though of course you may not be able to prove intent), it is merely a misbid.