Charles Bentley
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No, Alexander. We use the Marty Bergen hand evaluation up to 3NT, though for responder it does downgrade weak doubletons as Bernard has warned against. it’s best for balanced hands. LTC (with many adjustments) for unbalanced hands. We use Jacoby 2NT and mini splinters in the majors in an uncontested auction. i.e. 1S-P-3D = spade fit and singleton Diamond. 1S-P-4D = spade fit and void Diamond. In a contested auction we use fit jumps. i.e. 1S-2C-3D = Spade fit and 5+ diamonds.
Our hand evaluation follows ‘Hand Evaluation Using Marty Bergen’s Adjust-3 Method’ written up by Neil H Timm (see Bridgewebs). So AQJxx is worth +2 points (three honours in a 5-card suit); Aces and 10s are compared with Qs and Js (+/-1 if the difference is 3) and adjustments made for singletons and dubious doubletons (both -1). 3334 shapes are -1.
We love Multi-Landy. Yes it is complicated, but definitely worth it as long as you agree all the responses. I don’t think there’s a facility to upload a typical system card agreement here. Too much for cut and paste!
Thanks Bernard. It’s good that you come in on these debates after we’ve had our say. It is true at our clubs that many players play 4th suit forcing as simply asking for a NT stopper rather than asking for delayed support/extra length first. By the way, could you put the ‘problem/software operation’ posts in a different forum to these ‘bridge’ discussions so we can unsubscribe from the software/problem/BBO ones and reduce the inbox load?
As I said when I started the thread, Brian, can we really be sure South doesn’t have KH? With 6/7 (weak) spades and, say, Kx hearts, South would prefer 4S to 3NT.
Yes, we play Texas transfers over 1NT too, so both 1NT-4D-4H-P (I’m not interested in slam) or 1NT-4D-4H-4NT (RKCB Hearts) says responder is in charge.
If responder might be interested in a H slam, depending on opener’s Hs and strength, the bidding goes 1NT-2D-2H-4H- which is invitationalWe play that opener (20-22 HCP) will super-accept 3D transfer with good three card heart support and a roughing value (i.e. a doubleton). 4NT is then RKCB. After 2NT-3D-3H, 4NT is quantitative. Likewise after 2C-2D-2NT.
We play 1NT 5-9 HCP denying a biddable 4 card suit at the 1-level. We used to play Rule of 14 i.e. 10 HCP with 4 card minor (10+4=14), 9 HCP with 5 card suit (9+5=14). We now prefer to bid one of a 4-card major rather than two of a five-card minor 2C/D with only 9 or 10 HCP. This agreement moves us close to 2 over 1. It means that a new suit by opener (without a reverse) over a 2-level response is always a game force. The 2-level response of 2C/D may only show 3 cards with 12+ HCP.
Over 1C and having clubs but no other 4-card suit, we play 1C-P-1NT = 6-9 HCP. 1C-P-2C = 4/5 HCPRef Point 3. I’ve suggested this to Bernard as well. I think it would be really helpful to have a BMB System Card (modified from the EBU’s Standard English Acol as necessary), but then have BMB standard agreements on 2nd Level conventions from Negative Doubles and signals/discards via Jacoby 2NT and Puppet Stayman on to the giddy heights of Multi-Landy and Lebensohl. Could also have BMB SAYC. All this would make playing with casual partners easier at all levels of play, wouldn’t it?
