Non-Natural System Discussion Forum https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/index.php Sun, 15 Mar 2026 05:08:17 +0000 30 https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91749-bid-to-2-level-quickly-with-strong-balanced-hands/ I used to be against it, but a few analysis shows that 2NT opening is a big winner versus natural 1 minor, and probably also a winner versus precision 1C.
So now I wonder if bid to 2 level quickly with a strong balanced hand is theoratically very sound?
It just prevents opponents from making a cheap overcall which matters much more than staying in 1NT or slam auction.
This also applies to meckwell 1C-2D 8-10 balanced sequence which now I believe is better than putting 8-10 balanced into 1D or 1H——I lost in a few occasions when fourth seat was able to overcall.]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2026 05:08:17 +0000 https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91749-bid-to-2-level-quickly-with-strong-balanced-hands/ https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91653-dcb-query/

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3♥ = 6-1-3-3
4♦ = 7 QPs (3/2/1)
4N = ♠ - yes, ♦ - 0/4+ QP (so 0 this time)
5♦ = ♣ - 0/4+ QP, so A-Q.
5♠ = ?

With DCB, we switch to positive cueing (PCB) with singletons.
Our agreement with stiff honours devalues K & Q:
A = 3 QP
K = 1 QP, then cue to show it
Q = 0 QP, then ignore?

So this is the question.

DO you ignore stiff queens completely? Or
Do ignore them when counting QP but still cue them as stiff A/K/Q?]]> Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:41:27 +0000 https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91653-dcb-query/ https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91612-weak-no-trump-statistics/
With that background, on 412 hands, we have opened 1NT 57 times and we have opened a balanced 1D hand 19 times

Starting with the 1NT opening hands, we played the hand 42 times (not necessarily in NT) and defended the hands 15 times (the opponents got the bid). Our average score respectively was 60% and 57% (total 59%)

When I break the 1NT opening by HCP, the data is less credible, so I calculated the average and the median with the median being probably a better statistic

10 HCP opened 16 times for an average 58 and a median 54
11 HCP opened 11 times for an average 69& ands a median 81
12 HCP opened 13 times for 59 and 65
13 HCP opened 12 times for 53 and 58
for 14 and 15 HCP, opened 5 times for 55 and 47%. The reason we open 1nT with 14 or 15 HCP so infrequently is because we would have to be in 3rd or 4th seat and be vulnerable.

Out of the 57 times we opened 1NT, we had a 5 card Major (5332) 6 times, played 5 times, defended once and out scores were 25,38,48,54,72, and 74 so I don't think including 5 card Majors in our 1NT bid has had any impact yet.

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With regards to the 1D opening, the vast majority of times when we open 1D with a balanced hand we have 14 or 15 HCP (to have less means we are in 3rd or 4th seat vulnerable with 10-12 HCP and partner has already passed)

The data I have is a small sample: 10 times we defended and 9 times we played the hand. When we defended, our median score was 29% and when we played our median score was 63. The samples are so small as to really be non-credible, but it is apparent that opening 1D with 14 or 15 is allowing the opponents to more easily compete.


Out of the 19, 9 times we had 14 HCP and 10 times we had 15 HCP. Interestingly, 5 out of the 19 we had a 5M332 distribution and got the bid 4 times. It does not appear that putting 5M332 hands into the 1D bid has been a negative on this very small sample

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Possible conclusions ...1) SO far, putting 5M332 hands into 1D or 1NT does not seem to have hurt us and thus gives our 1M openings an advantage. 2), Opening 1D with 14 or 15 HCP allows the opponents to compete

Contemplation: change my 1NT opening range to 10-14 or 11-15 in 1st or 2nd seat or white. If partner is a passed hand, continue with 13-15 when red

I welcome any comments or questions.]]> Sun, 01 Feb 2026 13:33:18 +0000 https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91612-weak-no-trump-statistics/ https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91522-response-structure-over-intermediate-2d-no-4cm/ ♦ opening (say 11-15ish) with no 4CM, but possibly 4+♣? In case it's relevant, 5♣-5♦ hands are opened with 2♣.

It's possible to play 2♥ as a symmetric relay with a +1 shape resolution, but it seems really cramped, and it's tough to try and fit in the invite hands over it.]]> Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:41:39 +0000 https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91522-response-structure-over-intermediate-2d-no-4cm/ https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91502-precision-1c-4h-x/ ♣ - (4♥) - X

How do people play this double?
(I'm assuming vulnerability and form of scoring make no difference.)

Is it "transferable values" and what does that mean?
Balanced-ish with a couple of cover cards? How strong?

Is it takeout, so maybe a 4-1-4-4 7-count?

Is it a penalty suggestion, so a likely trump trick plus a bit outside?
Opener needs great shape to remove.

Given the auction and your agreements, what should opener do with

♠T6 ♥A5 ♦AQT3 ♣AQJ54 ?

Would vul and scoring affect your answer?

TIA]]> Wed, 24 Dec 2025 07:50:54 +0000 https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91502-precision-1c-4h-x/ https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91476-dealing-with-1nt-overcall/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:17:44 +0000 https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91476-dealing-with-1nt-overcall/ https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91459-responding-to-a-1s-fert/ We figure the method will die out if/when most of us give up.

We play strong club vul, strong pass not. 13+ pass, openings are 7-12.
Thus the 1♠ fert is 0-6(7). It has scored well.
Good to preempt one major and bid the other.
(Also, if they double 16+ say, what is their negative?)


Anyway, our responses are simple after 1♠ - (nb) - ?

pass = up to 14-ish, a bit more with spade length
1NT = 15-18, maybe unbalanced, maybe a bit less with short spades
2♣ = 19+ unb
2♦/♥/♠ = overcall-style
2NT = 19-20

We can probably do better. The other day I picked up

♠KQTx ♥Axxxx ♦AKJx ♣---

2♥ and 1NT are ugly, though either would have worked well on the actual layout.

I'm thinking it's better to use 2m as Aspro (or Asptro), so
2♣ = hearts & another
2♦ = spades & a minor

Is that an improvement?
What elso might we try?

TIA]]> Thu, 11 Dec 2025 02:12:51 +0000 https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91459-responding-to-a-1s-fert/ https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91422-auby-ebenius-club/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 09:21:35 +0000 https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91422-auby-ebenius-club/ https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91201-weak-preemptive-bids/ Sun, 07 Sep 2025 21:25:02 +0000 https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91201-weak-preemptive-bids/ https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91154-responses-to-1sp/ ♠ opening belong here or in "Natural Systems"?

Anyway:
1NT NF (OK SF, I should stop flogging that dead horse)
2♣ GF relay
2♦ 5+ hearts, primarily less-than-gf hands
2♥ 3+ support, (8?)9+ support points
2♠ 3+(usually just 3) support, 4-7(8) support points
Higher responses I am not sure about, but maybe something like
2NT invitational with one long minor (could throw some extreme gf hands in also)
3♣ weak (6-9 ish) both minors
higher bids are various distributional raises, maybe also a couple of bids for hands with very long hearts

So for example
1♠-2♦
2♥-pass (six-card hearts, less than invitational)

1♠-1NT
2m-2♥ (five hearts as a consequence of the above)

Has anyone tried something like this?]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2025 08:29:31 +0000 https://www.bridgebase.com/forums/topic/91154-responses-to-1sp/