[jillybean]

ACBL

After 1m (1♥) I want to play

X = 4or5 spades
1♠ denies 4 spades
2♥ = 6+ spades
2♠ = 6 spades weak

Is this GCC legal?

[paulg]

 jillybean, on 2011-May-29, 08:53, said:

ACBL

After 1m (1♥) I want to play

X = 4or5 spades
1♠ denies 4 spades
2♥ = 6+ spades
2♠ = 6 spades weak

Is this GCC legal?

My reading of the charts is that the double and two-level bids are legal (GCC Competitive 2, 6) but that the 1♠ bid is Mid-Chart. (I play 1♠ the same way and it is already on my list of Mid-Chart conventions).

[Mbodell]

I see a version of GCC that has:

Quote

2. CONVENTIONAL DOUBLES AND REDOUBLES and responses (including free bids) thereto.

That clearly makes the X ok as a conventional double. Does the "(including free bids)" bit supposed to cover NFB? If so, you could squint at the 1♠ as being like a NFB. But I suspect no.

Someone unprepared for this might have a hard time with partner knowing what X or 1nt or 2♠ or 2m would mean (I'd expect natural, natural with m stopper but not necessarily ♠ stopper, natural and weak, strong ♥ raise respectively - but I'd probably want to discuss with some partners to make sure I was on the same page).

[paulg]

 Mbodell, on 2011-May-30, 02:32, said:

I see a version of GCC that has:

Quote

2. CONVENTIONAL DOUBLES AND REDOUBLES and responses (including free bids) thereto.

That clearly makes the X ok as a conventional double. Does the "(including free bids)" bit supposed to cover NFB? If so, you could squint at the 1♠ as being like a NFB. But I suspect no.

I think it is only discussing responses to the convention double/redouble, so it is not a licence to use 1♠ conventionally except as a response to a double. I don't understand the reference to 'free bids' - NFB should always have been permitted because they are natural (at least when the GCC was written prior to the 2007 Laws).

[barmar]

A "free bid" is a bid that isn't forced. In this context, it refers to an auction like (1X)-Dbl-(Pass/1Y)-1Z. With responder passing, 1Z is a forced bid, with responder bidding 1Y, it's a free bid. The GCC allows 1Z to be conventional in either case.

[jillybean]

The answer from a head ACBL TD is no...

The method you describe is not permitted on the GCC. The general rule for applying the convention charts is that if you can find your method described there you can play it. Silence means you cannot. So Definition #1 describes as natural (and universally allowable) major responses that promise four cards. Under Responses and Rebids #3 says that game forcing artificial responses are legal. Under the Competitive section, conventional doubles are allowed (#2). Defenses to conventional calls are allowed as well (#7). So the double is legal, but the 1S bid is not unless it is game forcing or unless it is over their double as opposed to a natural overcall. It would all be legal over partner's big club, however. Being willing to alert it doesn't matter.