[perko90]

I'm not a fan of mixed raises, but love the preemptive raises, so I'm more in the Hardy camp. But I don't quite play it the same way. I use:

3M = 4-card preemptive raise
3C = 3-card limit raise
3D = 4-card limit raise

However, if you play it fully the Hardy way, where a balanced 3-card LR is included in the 1NT response, it's not necessary to play forcing NT. Semi-forcing NT works fine (or better, IMO). Opener only passes w/ a minimum 5-3-3-2 (or 4-5-x-x if opened 1♥) that wouldn't accept an invite.

[mgoetze]

I still don't understand why bad questions receive so many more replies than good questions on this forum.

[gwnn]

Vampyr, on 2012-May-29, 03:37, said:

All of the suggested schemes are lovely, but really you can get by with 1M-3M weak raise and 1M-2NT invitational raise or better.

In practice most people who call 3M as a weak raise play it as mixed or something close to mixed. I've very rarely seen anyone who writes "0-5" on their CC actually make the bid on 0, and definitely not vulnerable.

[gwnn]

mgoetze, on 2012-June-08, 02:43, said:

I still don't understand why bad questions receive so many more replies than good questions on this forum.

It's slightly dangerous to label questions as good or bad, but I think the phenomenon you describe might be related to Parkinson's Law of Triviality? People like answering simple questions because it makes them feel important and knowledgeable. However, whether the opening poster reads or completely ignores said answers is up to the opening poster and no one else...

[fromageGB]

gwnn, on 2012-June-08, 02:58, said:

In practice most people who call 3M as a weak raise play it as mixed or something close to mixed. I've very rarely seen anyone who writes "0-5" on their CC actually make the bid on 0, and definitely not vulnerable.

I don't think you have ever played against me, gwnn, but it is definitely weak, 4 card 0-6 on my CC ! And while I actually have bid 0 hcp NV, I probably would not do it with 0-3 vulnerable.

[mikl_plkcc]

I don't like Jacoby 2NT because it takes away the 10-12 invitational to 3NT bid. Also, I don't like Jacoby 2NT because it shows much more information to the opponents (like the shortness) even when there is no slam interest, and slams are very rare. The more information given to the opponents, the more chance they can find the correct defence to make games go down.

[32519]

mgoetze, on 2012-June-08, 02:43, said:

I still don't understand why bad questions receive so many more replies than good questions on this forum.

What is your definition of genius?

[fromageGB]

mikl_plkcc, on 2012-June-08, 05:21, said:

I don't like Jacoby 2NT because it takes away the 10-12 invitational to 3NT bid.

So play forcing 1NT (or forcing next step). Then rebid 2NT invitational.

Quote

Also, I don't like Jacoby 2NT because it shows much more information to the opponents (like the shortness) even when there is no slam interest, and slams are very rare. The more information given to the opponents, the more chance they can find the correct defence to make games go down.

I agree with you if 2NT may be merely invitational. The weaker hands are much more likely than the stronger. But if J2N is 13+ and 4 card support, then slam is a more realistic prospect, and you need tools to find it. Any tool will give information away, unavoidably, but the net result is better than guesswork.

[blackshoe]

Hardy suggested 2NT should show 15+, and with 12+ to 15-, you use Trump Swiss (4♣ or 4♦), all three bids requiring 4+ trumps. With (10)11-12 balanced, bid 1NT (Forcing), then 2NT. You may give away information, but it is less likely, I think, to matter.

[mikl_plkcc]

I like to use simple sequences to do simple things, i.e. I hate bidding another suit first and then show support later when I know that game is certain. When I bid 45% games, it is extremely important not to leak any information to the opponents when it does no help to our game.

About my previous "stressed" 2♥ raise, if responder actually has 4-card support, he would raise to 3 himself upon interference, and opener knows responder has 4 trumps. If responder passes and opener raises to 3, that means opener has 6 trumps.

[han]

32519, on 2012-June-08, 06:13, said:

What is your definition of genius?

Are you talking about who can mate with whom, or about the number of holes in a donut?

[mgoetze]

I like donuts, they remind me of Z².