[straube]

so Marston put us onto 1C-1S, 2L as Stayman and transfers. Thinking of using it for 1C-1H as well. Maybe that's what he does, too.

For 1C-1H (2-4 QPs)

.....1S-artificial GF relay
.....1N-17-18
.....2C-stayman
..........2D-4+ hearts
...............2H-fit
...............2S-4 spades, 19
...............2N-19
...............3m-4 spades, longer minor
..........2H-4+ spades
...............2S-fit
...............2N-19
...............3m-4 hearts, longer minor
...............3H-4S/6H
..........2S-no major
...............P-5S/4H
...............2N-19
...............3m-longer minor
.....2D-transfer
..........2H-not forward-going
...............2S-4S/5H
...............2N-19ish
...............3m-5H/5m
.....2H-transfer
..........2S-not forward-going
...............2N-19ish
...............3m-5S/5m
...............3H-5S/5H
.....2S-5/5 minors or six diamonds, sign off
..........2N-asking or no preference
...............3C-5D/5C
...............3D-six diamonds, sign off
.....2N-6 clubs, sign off
.....3C-6 clubs, invitational
.....3D-6 diamonds, invitational
.....3H-6 hearts, invitational
.....3S-6 spades, invitational

1C-1S (0-1 QPs)
.....1N-17-20
.....2C-stayman
..........2D-4+ hearts
...............2H-fit
...............2S-21-22, 4 spades, bal
...............2N-21-22, bal
...............3m-4S/5+m
...............3H-fit, invite
..........2H-4+ spades
...............2S-fit
...............2N-21-22 bal
...............3m-4H/5+m
...............3H-4S/6H
...............3S-fit, invite
..........2S-no major
...............P-5S/4H
...............2N-21-22 bal
...............3m-longer minor
...............3H-4S/6H
...............3S-6S/4H
...............3N-to play
.....2D-transfer
..........2H-not forward-going
...............2S-4 spades, invite
...............2N-natural, 21-22
...............other below game-natural and invitational
.....2H-transfer
..........etc
.....2S-mss or six diamonds, signoff
.....2N-23+ GF?
.....3C-six clubs, sign off
.....3D/3H/3S-invite

For either semipositive (1H) or negative (1S), a sequence such as 1C-1M, 2C-2L, 2N-would continue with transfers. 3C-3D, 3M would be natural and invitational. A transfer to hearts after having shown spades, lets opener choose the best fit based on responder having 5S/4+H. A transfer to hearts and then showing spades would be forcing and show 4S/5H.

I'd like to make the structures as parallel as possible, but opposite it seems like 1C-1S, 2N is best used to show point count and not a club sign off. The difference is that there is no GF bid after 1C-1S and opener might otherwise endplay himself out of a major suit fit by using stayman (for example) and then leaping to 3N...or just leaping to 3N over 1S immediately.

[straube]

So this is much better I think....


1C-1H (2-4 QPs)
.....1S-GF relay
.....1N-16-18
.....2C-stayman (various hands including balanced, 5S/4H, 4M/5m, 4S/6H, 6S/4H)
..........2D-4+ hearts
...............2H-2 hearts, bal 19 OR 4144 19
....................2S-transfer to 2N
....................2N-minimum with 4 spades and 4 hearts
....................3m-to play
....................3H-GI, 6 hearts
....................3S-GF, 4 spades
...............2S-4 spades and 3 hearts, bal 19
...............2N-3 hearts, bal 19
...............3m-4 spades, longer minor
...............3H-4 hearts, bal 19 or longer minor
..........2H-4+ spades
...............2S-2 spades, bal 19 OR 1444 19
....................2N-minimum
....................3m-to play
....................3H-5S/4+H, forcing
....................3S-GI, 6 spades
...............2N-3 spades, bal 19
...............3m-4 hearts, longer minor
...............3H-4 spades, 6 hearts, inv
...............3S-4 spades, bal 19 or longer minor
..........2S-no major
...............P-5+S/4H
...............2N-bal 19
...............3m-5+m
..........2N-3 spades and maximum hand

Similar structure for 1C-1S DN

This preserves the option of playing at the 2-level in a 5-2 major suit fit, prevents playing a 5-2 major suit at the 3-level. When we discover an 8-cd major fit, we're often going to game anyway, but ought to be happy enough to play at the 3-level when not.

[Free]

First time I read that Marston plays this way after DN. I thought he played:
2♣ = both Majors (or some strong options)
2♦ = multi or 4M & 5+m (or some strong options)
2M = 5(+)M & 4+m
This works quite fine in my experience.

[straube]

Free, on 2011-December-20, 02:29, said:

First time I read that Marston plays this way after DN. I thought he played:
2♣ = both Majors (or some strong options)
2♦ = multi or 4M & 5+m (or some strong options)
2M = 5(+)M & 4+m
This works quite fine in my experience.

What are the continuations for the strong hands? Say partner replies 2D or 2M to 2C. What then? And how do you proceed after 2D-2H?

[Free]

straube, on 2011-December-20, 08:38, said:

What are the continuations for the strong hands? Say partner replies 2D or 2M to 2C. What then? And how do you proceed after 2D-2H?

After 1♣-1♠-2♣-2♦:
2M = preference
2NT = strong BAL (if 1NT was 15-20 this is 21-22)
3m = strong
3M = strong
3NT = strong BAL, some range

After 1♣-1♠-2♦-2M:
2♠ = 6+♠
2NT = 4♠, 5+m
...3♣ = P/C
3m = 4♥, 5+m, NF
3♥ = strong when M=♥
3♥ = NF when M=♠
3♠ = strong
3NT = strong BAL, some range

You can always play without the strong versions as well, but that will make some things difficult. Also note that bidding 1♣-1♠-2NT/3X is also strong, so you can put some 2-suited hands in 2♣ for example, and leave 2♦ as just looking for the best part score.

[straube]

So is 1C-1S, 2N for the minors? Thanks for posting. I remember now that I was wrong about what Marston plays, but we also didn't get that much detail.

We lose the Flannery (4S/5H) hand and it's very important not to lose out on a spade fit. Perhaps our responder has to be more aggressive when holding a spade suit. Still, I think our way is looking pretty good.

I don't think that Marston's 2M rebids is likely to be the best use for those bids. Neither bid is intended as forcing and it seems like only occasionally would responder have both minors in sufficient numbers to preference a 3m contract. Sure it will happen, but it doesn't seem like a huge plus. Our way uses 2H as a transfer and 2S as mss. Both forcing.

Marston can't stop on a dime like we can and play a 5-2 M fit at the 2-level. 1C-1S, 2C-2D, 2H-P and we're there. Also, either Marston plays occasional 5-2 major suits at the 3-level or loses those 5-3 fits at the 3-level after 1C-1S, 2C-2M, 2N showing a balanced 20-21. My guess is that responder won't rebid a 5-cd major for fear that opener has only a doubleton or even a 4441. Our auction instead goes 1C-1S, 2C-transfer, 2N (showing 3 trump), 3M. 5-3 fit at the 3-level.

We have 1C-1S, 2N auctions that are GF and demand puppet stayman and transfers. I'm thinking Marston has to use this 2N rebid to show minors, but perhaps he has another way. So Marston uses 2C and 2D followed by 3N to show various ranges. I see that the 2C bid will catch occasional major suit fits, but doesn't he lose others?

By transferring to a major and then rebidding 2N, we can show our major and a balanced or semi-balanced 21-22 count. How would Marston handle x AKJxx AKJx AQx? I mean, transferring and rebidding 2N is unattractive but somehow one has to get across the strength of the hand and a possible fit without committing to 3H. Does he rebid 2H here over 1S showing 5H/4m?

If Marston uses 2N as mss (I don't know if he does), then he'll only know responder's minor suit preference and won't know whether responder has a 4-cd minor.