Sunday, April 17, 2005 6:32 AM

Hand Evaluation - XYZ

PITBULLS:

When 3 bids for a partnership remain at the one level , some confusing 4^th suit forcing auctions can arise out of necessity. Avoiding these 4^th suit forcing auctions at the one level or otherwise is usually a good idea. In effect , your bidding system changes if the auction remains at the one level for 3 rounds . Just read an understanding on the Internet introduced by the Granovetters . He calls it xyz with the letters representing any 3 bids all made at the one level. It is taking the 2-way NMF a step further by playing the same understandings in any 4^th suit forcing auction at the one level with suits rebid rather than just NT . This replaces the phony 4^th suit forcing sequences with the same 2-way NMF made popular after a 1NT rebid. Essentially the advantages are the same with suits bid at the one level as with a 1NT rebid.

You can not have an auction remain at the one level for 3 bids without opening a minor first. Therefore , this treatment is minor suit orientated even though major suit fits are found later in the auction. Minor suit fits are emphasized with a belated bid to 2NT by responder as a relay to clubs. A further bid shows a stiff with a 4 card fit for partners minor. This version of NMF at the one level follows the same principles : 2♦ is an artificial game force , 2♣ a relay to 2♦ showing invitational hands & jumps slamish & strong. This treatment avoids some of the 4^th suit forcing problems at the one level . Jumps to the 3 level are no longer invitational so solves all matters of weak hands in misfit auctions . You can invent splinters & all sorts of other understandings within this structure. NT bids can have different understandings as it mirrors the same 2-way NMF structure made popular over a 1NT rebid. The only criteria for XYZ is that openers rebid remains at the one level.

Here are some advantages of this method . Weak jump shifts after a minor opener are clarified with this structure or can be dropped altogether. For the in between range ( 6-7 HCP) you can just respond your major & rebid it if the auction remains at the one level. Therefore a weak jump shift must be under this range or added to this range 4-7 . These suit rebids can not be invitational as you did not bid 2♣ first. Do not need any invitational jump shifts in hearts , spades and diamonds anyway showing 8-12 if you play those. This structure clarifies all of responders rebids , if the auction kept at the one level. This treatment blends in with 2NT by responder as a new suit forcing one round (godfather 2NT ) . Now the other minor can be NMF and handle invitational hands in the majors.

♠xx ♥QJ10xxx ♦Kxx ♣xx 1♦-P-1♥-P

1♠-P-2♥-P

♠xx ♥KQJ10xx ♦Kxx ♣xx 1♦-P-1♥-P

1♠-P-2♣-P

2♦-P-2♥-P invite

You have these 3 hands ♠xx ♥Kxxxx ♦Kxxxx ♣x , ♠xx ♥Kxxxx ♦AQxxx ♣x and ♠xx ♥AKxxx ♦AKxxx ♣x with partner opening 1♦ . You respond a heart with all of them , partner bids 1♠ keeping the auction at the one level. With the 1^st hand you bid 2♣ planning to pass the 2♦ bid unless partner breaks the relay with a good hand. The 2^nd hand you bid 2♣ as a relay & raise diamonds as an invite. The 3^rd hand you make a slam try in diamonds at the 3 level directly.

The Granovetters give some hands to try . Strong hands with minor fits are clumsy to handle with “normal” 4^th suit forcing auctions.

ª K
© Kxx

¨ Kxxxx

§ AKxx

Partner opens 1♣ , you bid 1♦ . Partner bids 1♥ so you force to game with 2♦ , support clubs later getting to a nice 6♣ . With “normal” 4^th suit forcing you make some stupid jump to 2♠ in order to force & then support clubs. Artificial bids & using up room are two bidding no-no’s .

Another advantage of this treatment is that you do not need invitational jumps to the 3 level anymore as 2♣ keeps all invitational sequences at the 2 level. Invitational bids at the 3 level quite often go down !

West East

ª A10xx ª Qxxx

© x © AJxx

¨ KJxxx ¨ xx

§ Axx § Kxx

1♦ 1♥

1♠ 2♣ (forces 2♦)

2♦ 2♠ (invitational)

pass

This treatment also helps with the 4^th suit forcing problem with big fits . You have ♠AKxx ♥AKxxx ♦xx ♣Ax , partner opens 1♣ so you respond 1♥ . Partner rebids 1♠ so with standard 4^th suit forcing methods you bid 2♣ ambiguous. With xyz you bid 3♠ game forcing and slamish . No ambiguity between invitational , forcing or slam try sequences .

OK within this structure you can have some fun inventing bids. Jumps can be fit showing splinters as we do not need invitational jumps anymore. 1♣-P-1♦-P 1♥-P-2♠-P splinter in support of hearts. A jump to 2NT as invitational is redundant as you can bid 2♣ first followed by 2NT. Make it a club transfer.

♠xx ♥Q10xx ♦x ♣KQJxxx partner opens 1♦ , you bid 1♥ . Partner bids 1♠ so you bid 2NT a transfer to clubs. With a suitable hand partner bids 3NT rather than accepting the club transfer otherwise he bails out to 3♣.

Lots of possibilities within this 2NT structure. 4 card fit minor fit hands forcing to game can be shown after this 2NT relay sequence . After partner bids 3♣ you now bid your singleton as a 5-4-3-1 or 4-4-4-1 slam try .

A jump preference in partners minor is game forcing a la Goren so can show the tough to describe slamish 5-5 hands.

A responders jump rebid can be forcing showing a solid suit ( recovering the strong jump shift )

Since jump preferences are no longer invitational we can define them to be forcing with HCP’s but an upper range. A 2♦ bid followed by supporting the major would be a “picture bid” so a direct jump to game would be based on distribution only. 1♦-P-1♥-P 1♠-P-3♠-P is a serious slam try similar to the “serious 3NT” . 2♦ first followed by raising spades is just 13 HCP’s so a direct jump to 4♠ a distributional shot in the dark with good spades ( most of your points ).

You can use these understandings with opponents interfering as long as things are kept at the one level.

(opponents' calls in parenthesis):

1♣ (double) redouble (1♥)

1♠

1♦ (1♥) double (pass)

1NT

1♦ (pass) 1♥ (1♠)

double* * support double at one level