[TimG]

Hi,

I've found a brief description of the response structure for Fantunes two-bids at Gerben's site, but am wondering if there is more detailed information available, if not online somewhere, then perhaps in someone has first hand knowledge they would share. Here is what is listed there:

2H-2N = 5+ spades invitational+
3m = natural one round force
3H = preemptive
3S = game force with good suit

2S-3C = 5+ hearts invitational+
3D = natural one round force
3H = 6+ clubs one round force
3S = preemptive

The simple follow-ups after the next-step relay:

2H-2S; 3m = 4cm
3H = 6-card minimum
2N = may or may not include 4 spades

2S-2N; 3m/3H = natural but may be 3-cards if maximum

If anyone has more details, I'd be grateful if you'd share.

Thanks,
Tim

[glen]

This system has Fantunes 2M bids and structure:

CANDY - featuring Fantunes style 2M bids

Here's their 2♠-2NT structure when they previously allowed for 2♠ opening to have 4+♥s:

2♠ - 2NT
-- 3♣ = naturale, minimo o massimo con 4 + fiori OPPURE 3+ cuori, FM
---- 3♦= relais
------ 3♥ = 3 cuori, possibili 4+ fiori
------ 3♠= 4+ fiori, esclude 3 cuori
------ 3NT = 6 picche e 3 cuori
---- 3♥ = colore naturale 6°+, FM
---- 3♠ = appoggio naturale FM
---- 3NT = signoff
-- 3♦ = naturale, minimo o massimo con 4 + quadri, NO 3+cuori, FM
-- 3♥ = naturale, minimo o massimo con 4 + cuori, FM
-- 3♠= minimo (9-11), unica risposta non FM
-- 3NT = max (12-13) SENZA 3° di cuori, 6+ picche
-- 4♣/♦ = naturale in 65
-- 4♠= 7+ carte, no 3 cuori

[Free]

I play a home made Fantunes system, but the openings are pretty much the same. Note that Fantoni and Nunes don't hold 5-4 in the Majors when opening 2M. Me and my partner can still have 4 or 5 cards in the other Major... Here's what we play:

2♥ - ?

2♠ = relay, usually GF
2NT = 5+♠, invite (not stronger!)
3m = natural (6+), F1
3♥ = constructive (otherwise we miss too many games)
3♠/4m = splinters, looking for a light slam
3NT = signoff with stoppers
4♥ = signoff, wide ranging

2♠ - ?

2NT = relay, usually GF
3♣ = 5+♥, invite (not stronger!), NF
3♦ = natural (6+), F1
3♥ = 6+♣, F1
3♠ = constructive
3NT = signoff with stoppers
4m/♥ = splinter
4♠ = signoff, wide ranging

It's pretty much straight forward, and easy to use. It gets the job done most of the time.

The relayschemes have the priority to show a 3 card OM. Anything else can wait.

2♥ - 2♠ - ?
2NT = 3-4♠
3m = natural, 0-2♠
3♥ = 6♥, 0-2♠, minimum, no side suit (only bid which can be passed out)
3♠ = 6♥, 5♠
3NT = 6♥, 0-2♠, minimum, no side suit
4m = 6♥, 5m
4♥ = 7+♥

2♥ -2♠ - 2NT - 3♣ (relay) - ?
3♦ = 4♠
3♥ = 3♠, 6♥
3♠ = 3♠, 5♥, 4♣
3NT = 3♠, 5♥, 4♦

2♠ - 2NT - ?
3♣ = 3-4♥
3♦ = natural, 0-2♥
3♥ = 4♣, 0-2♥
3♠ = 6♠, 0-2♥, minimum, no side suit (only bid which can be passed out)
3NT = 6♠, 0-2♥, maximum, no side suit
4m/♥ = 6♠, 5m/♥
4♠ = 7+♠

2♠ - 2NT - 3♣ - 3♦ (relay) - ?
3♥ = 5♠, 3♥, 4♣
3♠ = 5♠, 3♥, 4♦
3NT = 6♠, 3♥
4♣+ = cue with 4♥

[TimG]

Free, on Aug 11 2007, 08:48 AM, said:

2♥ - ?

2♠ = relay, usually GF
2NT = 5+♠, invite (not stronger!)
3m = natural (6+), F1
3♥ = constructive (otherwise we miss too many games)
3♠/4m = splinters, looking for a light slam
3NT = signoff with stoppers
4♥ = signoff, wide ranging

Thanks, Free. A couple of questions:

1) Why is 2H-2N exactly invitational with spades? Do you think you would encounter problems if it was invitational or better?

2) Did you consider bidding all new suits along transfer lines? That is: 2H-2N = clubs; 2H-3C = diamonds; 2H-3D = spades.

Thanks,
Tim

[Free]

1) We play it as invitational only, because we can easily find our Major fits with a GF hand. This makes the "invite" better defined, which gives us more possibilities to find the best contract:
- we can invite light when we have a fit for opener's suit as well
- we can find the best part score most of the time (opener can bid 3m natural)

2) No we didn't consider these transfers, since it's imo quite useless anyway. With invite hands, you don't want to push to the 4-level without reasonable chance of a fit (this eliminates the 3♦ with ♠s for example - what if you have a 4-4 minor fit and a minimum opener?). So natural with 6+ card suit and values is good enough (opener bids 3NT or his own Major without a fit, otherwise he cuebids). With a 5 card suit in a minor, we either pass or support partner or bid our GF relay.
As I said in the first part, having a low bid to invite with ♠ is very useful. As always, it's the frequency that counts: in a minor you'll rarely have an invite, but in a Major you will! That's why we reserve the low bids (first step is GF relay because there we need most space) for invites with Majors (also after 2m openings btw).

All this makes sure we get to a playable spot "most of the time", but I can guarantee you that you'll sometimes miss easy games (this is one of the reasons why we use support bids as constructive instead of preemptive) and that you'll end up in the wrong part score from time to time as well. The preemptive effect earns enough to make it almost a break even.
For example, in the European championship we had 2X-(2NT)-... several times. Opponents were too high already with their 15-18 balanced hand, while we had nothing to play for.
The key in playing these openings is to be flexible: upgrade some hands to 1-level openings, but never downgrade one

[TimG]

Free, on Aug 12 2007, 04:10 AM, said:

That's why we reserve the low bids (first step is GF relay because there we need most space) for invites with Majors (also after 2m openings btw).

Would you share the 2m structures, too?

Thanks,
Tim

[Free]

TimG, on Aug 12 2007, 04:19 PM, said:

Free, on Aug 12 2007, 04:10 AM, said:

That's why we reserve the low bids (first step is GF relay because there we need most space) for invites with Majors (also after 2m openings btw).

Would you share the 2m structures, too?

Thanks,
Tim

No way man, these are top secret!

2♣ - ?

2♦ = relay, usually GF
2♥ = invite, 5+♥ (may have 4♠ as well)
2♠ = invite, 5+♠, 0-3♥
2NT = invite with 5+♠, 4+♥
3♣ = constructive
3♦/M = splinter
3NT = signoff with stoppers

2♦ - ?

2♥ = relay, usually GF
2♠ = invite, 5+♠, (may have 4♥ as well) -> if opener rebids 2NT he shows 4♥
2NT = invite, 5+♥, 0-3♠
3♣ = invite, 5+♥, 4(+)♠
3♦ = constructive
3M/4♣ = splinter
3NT = signoff with stoppers

The relayschemes are very similar...

2♣ - 2♦ - ?
2♥ = 3-4♥ (can have longer ♠)
2♠ = 3-4♠, 0-2♥
2NT = maximum, 6+♣, 4+♦, no 3 card M
3♣ = minimum, 6♣3♦22 (only bid which can be passed out)
3♦ = minimum, 6+♣, 4+♦, no 3 card M
3M = 6♣, 5M
3NT = maximum, 6♣3♦22
4♣ = 7+♣, no 3 card M

2♦ - 2♥ - ?
2♠ = 3-4♠ (can have longer ♥)
2NT = 3-4♥, 0-2♠
3♣ = 6♦-4♣ or 5♦-5♣, no 3 card M (also 6♦-5♣)
3♦ = minimum, 6♦3♣22 (only bid which can be passed out)
3M = 6♣, 5M
3NT = maximum, 6♦3♣22
4♦ = 7+♦, no 3 card M

After showing a 3-4 card Major, we use a relay and step 1 as response shows a 4 card, while the rest of the responses are pretty much natural and show a 3 card in the Major. There are some minor artificial bids, but I think you get the picture...

[lowerline]

TimG, on Aug 10 2007, 12:16 PM, said:

Hi,

I've found a brief description of the response structure for Fantunes two-bids at Gerben's site, but am wondering if there is more detailed information available, if not online somewhere, then perhaps in someone has first hand knowledge they would share. Here is what is listed there:

2H-2N = 5+ spades invitational+
3m = natural one round force
3H = preemptive
3S = game force with good suit

2S-3C = 5+ hearts invitational+
3D = natural one round force
3H = 6+ clubs one round force
3S = preemptive

The simple follow-ups after the next-step relay:

2H-2S; 3m = 4cm
3H = 6-card minimum
2N = may or may not include 4 spades

2S-2N; 3m/3H = natural but may be 3-cards if maximum

If anyone has more details, I'd be grateful if you'd share.

Thanks,
Tim

There is something more here: http://www.geocities.com/daniel_neill_2000...ntoni_Nunes.txt

Steven