NickRW, on Jul 16 2008, 05:09 PM, said:
Why is that? OK, if 1M openings include balanced 12-14 hands interference becomes difficult to handle but the same is true for the 1m openings in a 5cM system.
I don't quite understand why people here in England play either 4cM with weak NT or 5cM with strong NT. Maybe strong NT goes with 5cM just because both are American customs? 4cM with weak NT is impractical IMO because:
- It is not so interesting to preempt when you have 15-17 points. Might as well open 1m.
- Responder must cater for the balanced 15-16 by responding 2/1 with a 9-count, thereby making many 2/1 follow-ups NF (or of unclear forcing character).
I can better imagine playing a strong or intermediate 1NT and playing 4cM with hands below the NT range, while 5cM with hands above the NT range. Like the Scanian system.