How would this open and proceed with the benefit (or not) of your usual agreements?
Elephant in a china shop
#1
Posted 2025-March-31, 14:47
How would this open and proceed with the benefit (or not) of your usual agreements?
#2
Posted 2025-March-31, 15:25
2♦-3♥(minor suit stayman, at least slam inv)
3N (no 5m, max)-4♦
5♣(cue, no spade cue, decent diamonds)-6♦
If we use our system from weak NT by moving ♥Q across for a small one:
1♦-2♦(inv+ not denying 4M)
2N (GF bal or ♣ or ♦ only)-3♣(asking)
3N (bal 15-16 ish)-4♥ (kickback)
5♦(2+Q)-6♦
#4
Posted 2025-March-31, 21:29
#6
Posted 2025-April-01, 00:06
1♣ - 1♠ GI
1N BD - 2♣ 5-card minor?
2♥ 2344 (min. or 18-19) - 4♦ SI
4♥ even KCs - 6♦
The 5-card minor ask follows the same structure as my 5-card Major ask over 1N to simplify memory recall.
#7
Posted 2025-April-01, 02:51
smerriman, on 2025-March-31, 21:29, said:
That's interesting, because I refused: as I saw it, a good 13 with useful intermediates and Jx working, but not enough to get the green light.
This partner doesn't play XYZ but is usually accurate in his natural bidding.
We'll get to the play later

#8
Posted 2025-April-01, 12:26
mike777, on 2025-March-31, 21:25, said:
1D..1S
1NT..2D .XYZ gf
2Nt..3D.
Etc.
Makes sense, but the detail is interesting.
After 3D of Responder, how would you bid as Opener?
I might well rebid 3NT suggesting a minimum with no fears about NT (he can always reopen 4D).
We would be more like to bid:
1D-2C
2NT-3D
3H-4D
Etc
which I do prefer but was never really comfortable with the agreement that 3H may be an Advance Control-bid, although it works fine here.
#9
Posted 2025-April-01, 13:38
1♣*-1♠*;
1NT-4NT;
5♣-5♦;
6♦-P;
Over the 1NT rebid I reserve 2♦ for hands with 5(+)c♠ - a slight deviation from standard XYNT. If opener has 3♠ it is difficult for me to show a balanced hand with 4 spades on that start. Here that particular agreement bites me, and I'd like to be able to rebid 2♦ XYNT instead.
Over the quantitative 4NT I like West's hand within both the 12-14 and 11-13 range (depending on which is appropriate, but I do love my 14-16 1NT), and the rest of the auction is natural.
If a 10-13 NT is opened instead, as is popular here when NV (but I've personally come to dislike quite a bit), the auction is different but should follow similar lines - responder sets up a game force, learns about the lack of a spade fit, makes a quantitative slam try and we find the diamond fit at the 6-level with 1NT-2♦*; 2NT-4NT; 5♣-5♦; 6♦-P.
Playing my canapé system (sorry):
1♦1-2♣2;
2♠3-2NT;
3♣-3♦;
3♥4-3♠4;
4♣4-4NT;
5♠5-6♦;
P
111-15 4(+)♦ or 3=3=3=4, may have a 5(+)cM, denies exactly a 4cM.
2GF asking bid, denies a 5(+)cM or 5(+)c♦. With 4♦ responder can begin with an inverted minor raise 2♦ instead, but because of the slight risk of 3=3=3=4 I think this is best reserved for unbalanced hands or 5(+)-card suits.
311-13 balanced.
4Control for diamonds
52+Q
The 3♥ bid confirms 4=4 in the minors, so (23)44 11-13 with the ♥K (as East holds the A). Over this East can tell there's at most half a loser combined in the major suits, so we are likely close to slam. After 5♠ I would not try for 7 - the ♥K, ♦KQ and ♣A make 12 points, and it's difficult to find a place for a 13th trick (the ♥J doesn't work as opener denied four hearts, the ♣J is too slow, and either way we'll be missing the ♦J which is risky at the 7-level even if partner has the required honour).
#10
Posted 2025-April-01, 14:09
If there's a way to offer "choice of slams", I'll do that.
But I wouldn't be upset in 6NT, even if 6m is better.
Of course it depends on the game; if any slam is 75+%, I'll be more careful and maybe find out that 6m is better. If I expect missing 6, if it makes, to be 25%, then I'll probably blast and go for the brass ring with minimal disclosure.
#11
Posted 2025-April-01, 17:48
pescetom, on 2025-April-01, 12:26, said:
After 3D of Responder, how would you bid as Opener?
I might well rebid 3NT suggesting a minimum with no fears about NT (he can always reopen 4D).
We would be more like to bid:
1D-2C
2NT-3D
3H-4D
Etc
which I do prefer but was never really comfortable with the agreement that 3H may be an Advance Control-bid, although it works fine here.
Thanks for asking, getting into the weeds, this hand is another example of what has been drilled into me over and over again. Don't keep rebidding your same values. Listen to the auction. A topic of discussion we often have on this board, perhaps at times with you, smile.
1nt=11-13 balanced, a bit liberally defined but call it reasonable.
2nt=11-13, deny 3s, 4h, long diamonds, ready able and willing to play 3nt, nothing fancy. 2344 expected often or close.
after 3d if you rebid 3nt, all roads would still end up in d slam, but i really dont like a 3nt rebid, repeating the same values.
I now have a maximum hand in context. I would rebid 3H, showing H control, probably K third, willing to explore D slam.
I mean in context, I really love my hand for a D slam, if partner wants to explore.
#12
Posted Yesterday, 15:43
mike777, on 2025-April-01, 17:48, said:
With many but not with me, even at times

If anything I can be reluctant to make an "obvious" rebid, preferring to show whatever else my radar screen suggests as more important.
But here in a game forcing context I would at least be tempted to repeat NT, because I find our system uncomfortable here as I indicated - his 3♦ over 2NT has not fixed trumps and does not oblige a control-bid, unlike a direct 3♦ rather than 2♦)... I have no worry about stoppers nor do I have 5 diamonds 332.