[RunemPard]

In response to a 1C opening (Better minor w/inverted, 12-19 HCP), are these responses worth it?

1C > 3+C 12-19 HCP
-1D > 4+H 6+ HCP
--1H > 4H 12-14 HCP (if weak NT, shows unbalanced shape, 5+C, 4H)
--2H > 4H 15-17 HCP (if std NT, shows unbalanced shape, 5+C, 4H)
--3H > 4H 18-19 HCP

1C > 3+C 12-19 HCP
-1H > 4+S 6+ HCP
--1S > 4S 12-14 HCP

1C > 3+C 12-19 HCP
-1S > 4+D 6+ HCP
--1N > balanced 12-14 HCP
--2D > 5+C, 4+D 12-14 HCP

1C > 3+C 12-19 HCP
-1N > balanced 6-9 HCP


My thoughts are that by doing this, we leave room to describe our hands further without going too high. The typical 1C-1D bids now become 1C-1S block 4th seat from showing a major without going to the 2 level. The downside, however, is that 1C-1D-1H leaves room for opponents to come into the bidding. Doubles could also be made to show suit during the artificial bids.

Does the good outweigh the bad?

[straube]

No. Your structure should be organized to save room when you have a fit and spend it when you do.

Maybe something like...

1C-1D
.....1H-two hearts balanced 12-14 or 1-3-(54)
.....1S-four spades (not 4-2-x-x 12-14 bal)
.....1N-three hearts balanced 12-14
.....2m-natural
.....2H-4 hearts, weak raise

This lets responder pass 1H with a 5-2 fit. When opener rebids 1N, responder can correct to play a 5-3 fit at the 2-level.

1C-1H
.....1S-two spades balanced 12-14 or 3-(541)
.....1N-12-14 balanced with three spades
.....2S-4 spades, weak raise

[benlessard]

If you hate playing 3H you can always use 2D as a H raise with extras. It wrongside the H contract but give you more security.

[FrancesHinden]

Read one of the (many) threads on T-Walsh. Your proposed structure has very few of the benefits (e.g. allowing light responses). Showing 4-card support at the 1-level is a huge waste of a bid. You want to use low-level bids when you don't have a fit, not when you do.

[Quantumcat]

As said above, showing 4-card support at the 1-level isn't very useful, since with an 8-card fit you will always bid to at least two of your suit, and all the space in between is wasted - you are never going to play any of the contracts in between 1 and 2 of your suit.

Most people I know who play transfers to 1 club do this:

- Bidding the transfer = exactly 3-card support, any HCP or shape, OR 4-card support with a weak hand (11-13 HCP) (opener will repeat hearts over whatever partner or opponents do next)
- Bidding the transfer at the 2-level shows 4-card support and 14-16 HCP, at the 3-level 4-card support and 17-19 HCP (you can bid game if you think you can make it opposite Q to five hearts and nothing else).
- Anything else denies support and is natural

A good reason for playing this way is if you play transfers after a 1-1-1 auction, you can bid really really well so the more often they happen the better. If opener is going to not let a 1-1-1 auction start (he raises the suit to the 2-level or higher, or rebids his suit, etc) then there should be good definition so responder can know what to do. E.g. if he has a six card heart suit and the auction starts 1♣ 1♦ 2♣, he can forget about his hearts, since having denied 3 cards, opener will be extremely happy to offer his 2-card support at a later stage. The auction could continue 1♣ 1♦ 2♣ 2♦ (natural) 2♥ 4♥