Wednesday, May 09, 2007 11:54 AM
 
The System

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Club systems optimize the useful space principle so more information can be passed back & forth to reach a Bridge decision. I have never liked playing forcing club systems due to excessive artificiality & too much memory work but I do respect them. I know they are more accurate than natural bidding systems so I crash their auctions at every opportunity. Since I am retired , I took on the project of trying to develop a natural system that could compete with a forcing club system. I had to introduce concepts that went against the grain of standard bidding. Most of it was not original with me. Experts love tinkering with their system so come up with some pretty excellent ideas but they need to be consolidated into one system.  My partners , of course, also help. Tom Gandolfo & BJ Trelfords’  ideas are also incorporated into the mix.

 

            This “dream system” consists of a number of ongoing projects which get discussed by up to 200 articles. This allows dissenting views & ongoing modifications or correcting logic errors. Partners are not expected to play all ideas listed below as this is a theoretical system. Trelford is a glutton for punishment , however. We learn our system –12 IMPS at a time on Thursday nites. Here is a list of ongoing projects that drastically differ from standard that make up this system.

 

1.      D.S.I.P.   Double theory

2.      Serious 3NT theory with majors  ( 2/1 , Jacoby 2NT & splinters )

3.      Jacoby 2NT modified ( limit raise or better 3♣ shows minimums )

4.      Major suit jump raises show the 4th trump

5.      Inverted minors limit raise or better. If better, can hold 4 card major.

6.      2/1 not forcing to game when suit rebid

7.      Kokish treatment of 1♦-P 2♣

8.      Splinters masked so heart & spade jumps natural

9.      Emphasis on long suits instead of splinters in competition

10. More emphasis on suit length or quality than in standard  ( jumps show suits )

11. Recovers strong jump shifts by responders

12. Fit showing jumps used in forcing NT’s & as passed hand

13. XYZ used for all one level auctions including 1NT rebids.

14. Equal level conversion define T/O doubles

15. 4th suit forcing modified with 2NT by responder as a “new suit”

16. Fast arrival are “picture bids” with majors  so 2NT can show 4 card siupport

17. 3♣ strong jump shift is artificial to prevent jumping to game with strong hands

18. Show shape ( balanced distribution) first & HCP’s later. ( shape before strength)

19.  Relays used to escape or clarify 2NT sequences after opening at the one level.

20. Strong 2 suiters opened with 2♣ & relays sort things out . ( controls in competition only )

21. Disciplined opening bids ( quick tricks ) on all vulnerabilities except the terrorist vul

22. Disciplined lead directing overcalls & pre-empts except for the terrorist vul

23.  4th suit transfers with strong NT’s

24. Puppet Stayman after 2NT openers & a 3♠ relay

25.  Useful Space Principle ( minor suit KCB & Kickback )

26. Complete Kantar KCB treatment

27.  Rubensohl replaces Lebensohl

28. Transfers used after major suit openers & opponents T/O double

29. Lebensohl defined after doubles of opponents 4 level majors

30.  Re-Stayman applies after 1NT & 2NT Stayman sequences

31. Kokish Game tries

32. Jump Shift Reverses to show 6-5’s

33. Negative doubles modified at 3 level ( Thrump )

34. Goren Q bids ( 3 level pre-empts & balancing )

35. 1NT response to a minor ( jumps pre-emptive & minor rebid only invite)

36. 2NT jump to a minor game force ( 12 –15)

37. D.S.I.P. XX’s after 3NT X

38. Patterning out shows extra

39. Italian Style Q bids

40. “Game before slam” to define Q bids

41. Leaping Michaels over opp’s weak 2’s

42. 2♦ openers strong & include balanced ♦ hands , Acol 2♦ , Roman 2♦ and ♦2 & one suiters

43. 4♣ is 2 control KCB after weak 2’s & pre-empts

44. 4NT opener is specific Ace asking

45. 1 major – 4 minor is Exclusion KCB ( otherwise when obvious )

46. Smith echos , Gartaganis signals ( known length) , 3rd & 5th best leads

47. DONT or Kokish after opponents 1NT overcall

48. Anti – Michaels & Unusual 2NT ( Q bidding their suits )

49. Wolfe relay followed by bidding 3NT shows slam try in partners minor.

50. Raise of forcing 1NT to 2NT game force unless relay to escape.

51. 5-4-3-1 & 4-4-4-1 can be described with a NT bid when applicable

52. Forcing pass theory when we “own the auction”

53. Undoubles of slams on the terrorist vulnerability only

54. Bridge is a partnership game