[TimG]

I've been working my way through WJ05 and have found it curious that NT system is on after 1C-1D-1N and 1C-1D-2N. In both cases the 1D response has limited (not just in HCP, but in shape, too) the hands that responder can have. If you play Polish Club, do you use system on here, or have you modified it to better reflect the hand types responder will frequently hold?

[rbforster]

I can't speak to the details of WJ05, but I ran into similar issues in precision after 1C-1D-1N where responder is limited but most people just play "strong NT systems on". If you want a simple suggestion, play what you usually play but let responder bid a second suit as invitational (rather than GF). For example,

1♣-1♦ negative
1N-2♦ transfer
2♥-3♣ 5/5 hearts and clubs invitational

This caters to the more common invitational hands.

[TimG]

Rob F, on Dec 16 2008, 08:57 AM, said:

I can't speak to the details of WJ05, but I ran into similar issues in precision after 1C-1D-1N where responder is limited but most people just play "strong NT systems on".  If you want a simple suggestion, play what you usually play but let responder bid a second suit as invitational (rather than GF).  For example,

1♣-1♦ negative
1N-2♦ transfer
2♥-3♣ 5/5 hearts and clubs invitational

This caters to the more common invitational hands.

That is actually a modification spelled out in WJ05, but I think the only one so I felt comfortable describing it as "system on".

More to my point:

• Responder will not have 7+ HCP and a four-card major (i.e. over 1C-1D-1N, won't have a game force with a 4-card major)
  
• the WJ05 1♦ response includes 9-11 HCP unbalanced hands with no 4-card major -- this is not exactly the hand-type catered to by standard NT responding schemes (especially over 2N)

[Codo]

I think system on is good:

1. You need it for:
- 5/6 HCPs hand with one or two 4 card major- stayman
-weak long major- transfers
- weak long minor: Minor transfer

When you have the intermed. hands (9-11 with one or both minors), you can simply bid 3 NT or use 5431 or another way to show your hand
With the strong hand, you can simply invite/bid 6 NT

2. easier to remember then having another system then after a 1 NT opening.

I play puppet stayman after 1 ♣ 1 ♦ 2 NT, I think that this is not standard wj2005, but I think it is better.

But out of curiosity, what would you consider as an improvement after 1 ♣ 1♦ 1 NT?

[TimG]

Codo, on Dec 16 2008, 09:22 AM, said:

But out of curiosity, what would you consider as an improvement after 1 ♣ 1♦ 1 NT?

I'm not sure, which is why I opened the thread.

I do think that the invite or blast method with the strong balanced hand should include a way to investigate a minor suit fit. But, that is the case after a 1NT opening, too.