[Kungsgeten]

Does anyone here play something fancy over 1H--1NT, in a Kaplan Inversion context where 1NT shows 5+ spades? I personally play a limited 1H opening, but I think it is more interesting if 1H is "standard", let's say 11--21 with 5+ hearts, if balanced then 11--14 or 18--19. Would Gazzilli work, for instance?

[nullve]

Kungsgeten, on 2015-December-10, 09:30, said:

Does anyone here play something fancy over 1H--1NT, in a Kaplan Inversion context where 1NT shows 5+ spades? I personally play a limited 1H opening, but I think it is more interesting if 1H is "standard", let's say 11--21 with 5+ hearts, if balanced then 11--14 or 18--19. Would Gazzilli work, for instance?

Bocchi-Duboin used to combine 1♥-1N = 5+ S with Gazzilli.

[Kungsgeten]

Do you know if how many clubs 1H--1N; 2C promised, if weak? I presume they played 1H--1NT; 2C as showing clubs or strong. The reason for Gazzilli being problematic here (to me) is the 2-5-3-3 pattern, but perhaps you can bid 2♦ with this if playing Gazzilli.

[nullve]

Their 2♦ rebid showed 11-15, 4+ D or 2533. At least in "Il sistema Bocchi-Duboin".

[fromageGB]

I play Gazzilli here just the same as over a KI 1♠. Your 2533 shape is just the same situation whether partner replies 1♠ or 1NT. Same trade-offs. My 2♣ does not deny spade support. But I wouldn't call it fancy, just normal.

[johnbla]

Kungsgeten, on 2015-December-10, 09:30, said:

Does anyone here play something fancy over 1H--1NT, in a Kaplan Inversion context where 1NT shows 5+ spades? I personally play a limited 1H opening, but I think it is more interesting if 1H is "standard", let's say 11--21 with 5+ hearts, if balanced then 11--14 or 18--19.

Long ago, a partner insisted we play 1♥-1NT-2♣=12-16;not6hts;not3spds and 1♥-1NT-2♦=17+;not6hts;not3spds. After 1♥-1NT-2♣ you might be in deep do-do, but at least you know it. It worked better than I expected.

[fromageGB]

Funnily enough, mine is the inverse. 2♣ = 15+ (my 5 card major may be balanced in a 1NT opening strength, hence the 15+), 2♦ = <15 denies 6 hearts denies 3 spades. Nothing is ideal, particularly if you have my MP preference to open a 5 card major.

[johnbla]

fromageGB, on 2015-December-12, 07:12, said:

Funnily enough, mine is the inverse. 2♣ = 15+ (my 5 card major may be balanced in a 1NT opening strength, hence the 15+), 2♦ = <15 denies 6 hearts denies 3 spades. Nothing is ideal, particularly if you have my MP preference to open a 5 card major.

We were trying to force to 2NT with 10+, while being able to stop in either minor with 12-16 opposite 6-9 - not very accurately, but obviously you can't ever stop in 2♣ after 1♥-1NT-2♦.

[petka]

1H-1N
2C is the "catch-all", containing short spades or 2-5-3-3, forcing
2D promises extra length in one or both majors (3+spades or 6+hearts), forcing
2H shows 2-5 majors and 4+clubs, non-forcing
2S shows 2-5 majors and 4+diamonds, non-forcing
2N and up takes care of special hands and hands with 2-5 majors and extra strength. Also possible is to insert splinters with 4card support.


This works really well in a limited 1M structure, where 2C can be made non-forcing. As usual, it is slightly more difficult in a 10-20 context (or similar).


1H-1N-2C and responder assumes short 1-5 or 0-5 majors.
2D asks (and shows 5card spades in a limited hand) and 2H confirms that this is the case (one can build some fancy structure to find the best minor contract here), while 2S shows the 2-5-3-3 non-forcing. If opener bids higher bids after 1H-1N-2C-2D, this shows extras (significant) and 3m is forcing while 2N is invitational and semi-natural.

1H-1N-2C-2H from responder can be used for better hands, since responder will not hold 5-3 majors in a limited hand (see discussion later in post).
Opener describes his hand naturally and the auction can only stop in 2N or if someone gives preference or rebids his suit (1H-1N-2C-2H-2N is non-forcing and semi-natural).

1H-1N-2C-
2S is natural and a non-forcing
2N is natural and invitational
3m is natural and invitational, typically 5card suit
3H is natural and invitational, typically 5-3-(32)
3S is natural and invitational

1H-1N-2D and
2H P/C, Opener can obey without extras, bid 2N with 3+spades and extras, 3m with 6+H and extras and 3M with 3-6 majors and extras.
2S non-forcing, long spades and short hearts
2N query
3m natural and forcing
3H P/C
3S P/C

1H-1N-2M is rather simple


Concerning the 1H-1S response (0-4 spades, 0-3 hearts, force one round):
It is a good strategy to bid this way with 5-3 majors, and then insist on hearts unless opener shows 4card spades. It is also good, IMO, to raise the hearts immiediately with weak spades and a limited hand.
On a side note:
1H-1S-1N is 3-way, spades or 5332 or extras
Responder then asks with 2m, and responder shows hand type. The 2m bids can distinguish between spades/not spades or INV+/weak so that opener can bid more economically.

[Free]

Why wouldn't it work? I used to play KI with Gazzilli without any issues at all. It works even better in some cases than over natural imo, because you can set your ♠ fit at 2-level more often.

1♥-1♠-2♣-2♦-2♠ shows 4♠s after which responder can set trumps at 3-level. Here there's no need to show a 3 card ♠.
1♥-1NT-2♣-2♦-2♠ shows 3♠s and clearly shows fit. You can still look for a 4-4 minor fit with 2NT as a relay ofcourse.

[ucrman]

I have played the following:
1H=1NT
2S - relay to 2NT.
---2NT
------3m - Shows 4+ ms, forcing.
------3H - Shows 6+ Hs, forcing.
------3S - Shows 5Ss (5-6), forcing.
------3NT - Shows 5Hs, balanced, might have 4Ss.
------4m - Shows 6+Hs, singleton or void in ms, slam interest.
------4H - Shows 6+Hs, singleton or void in Ss, slam interest.
2NT - Invitational, might have 4 Ss.
3m - Shows 5-5, invitational.
3H - Shows 6+Hs, invitational.
3S - Shows 5-6, not forcing.
3NT - Shows 6Hs, balanced.
4m - Shows 6-5, slam interest.
4H - For play.

[Trick13]

For me 1♥ is also limited and the 1NT response shows either a long ♣ suit, to play, or 12+ with usually 5+♠. Opener is forced to bid 2♣ unless he has freak shape, and then we rebid:

Pass = weak ♣
2♦ = GF 5♠ + 4♦
2♥ = support constructive 9-11 with 4+♠
2♠ = GF 6♠
2NT = 12-13 with 5♠ NF
3♣ = GF 5♠ + 4♣
3♥ = GF support with 4+♠

Weaker hands with ♠ go through the artificial 1♠ response which doesn't deny ♠.

[Zelandakh]

Trick13, on 2016-April-04, 04:14, said:

For me 1♥ is also limited and the 1NT response shows either a long ♣ suit, to play, or 12+ with usually 5+♠.

This looks like a variant on the 1NT GF with spades method and has similar merits (and disadvatages) to using a 2♣ response to 1♠ as GF with clubs or weak with diamonds. What I do not quite understand is why you would want to limit this to 5+ spades. One of the main advantages of this 1NT response is the ability to use it with 4♠4m hands while establishing a GF. Giving that up just seems to be bad with little upside.

[Trick13]

Zelandakh, on 2016-April-04, 09:14, said:

This looks like a variant on the 1NT GF with spades method and has similar merits (and disadvatages) to using a 2♣ response to 1♠ as GF with clubs or weak with diamonds. What I do not quite understand is why you would want to limit this to 5+ spades. One of the main advantages of this 1NT response is the ability to use it with 4♠4m hands while establishing a GF. Giving that up just seems to be bad with little upside.

We also use 2♣ to show GF ♣ or weak ♦, 2♦ to show GF ♦ or weak ♥.

We find out if opener has 4♠ or 4m after 1♥ - 1♠ but then it is harder to establish a game force if we are interested in slam. With those hands we might respond say 2♣ (forces 2♦) then 2♠ to show GF with ♣ + ♠.