[cwiggins]

In 2/1 systems, are there ways to limit 1♦:1M, 2♣ auctions similar to the way that Gazilli limits opener's strength after 1M:1NT or 1♥:1♠?

After 1♦:1M, 2♣, opener's hand is poorly defined:
- Opener is 11-18 HCP
- Opener may have longer clubs than diamonds

Since opener's rebid of 2♣ is at the two-level, there aren't enough bids to separate the various raises of club raises (minimum < 8, average--8-10, invitational--good 10-12, game forcing)

I know that other 2/1 bidders have the same problem, but I would like to know if there is a better way.

Thanks.

Chris Wiggins

[awm]

Well, it helps to not open 1♦ with more clubs than diamonds (I would open 1♣ with such hands). This also lets some of the "average" hands correct to 2♦ to give opener another chance to bid. Elianna and I also tend to force to game fairly aggressively with 5-5 minors hands, and to rebid some off-shape 1NT and 2NTs, removing most of the 18s from the problem. In general:

< 9: Pass or correct to 2♦
9-11: 3♣ or 3♦
12+: 4th suit forcing to game

I'm sure someone has a more complicated solution, perhaps by opening all weak balanced hands with 1♣ and using the 1NT rebid after 1♦ opening as artificial.

[cinvent77]

IMO natural bidding methods are reasonable apt in this situation: responder should strive to make a rebid to allow opener to show extra strength. In EKAS this 2♣ bid is actually forcing if I am not mistaken.

I'm not too familiar with Gazilli but if you play 2♣ artificial after 1M-1NT and 1♥-1♠ it makes sense to use that after 1♦-1M and 1♣-1M as well. This would mean that you would bid all 'problematic hands' through 2♣. I vaguely recall reading about such a convention which included for example hands with 3-card major support. This convention was named after someone, presumably its inventor. Maybe anyone else knows the name?

In any case I would try to make the structures similar to reduce memory strain.

[Chamaco]

cwiggins, on Nov 27 2005, 07:06 AM, said:

In 2/1 systems, are there ways to limit 1♦:1M, 2♣ auctions similar to the way that Gazilli limits opener's strength after 1M:1NT or 1♥:1♠?

I think doing it with 2C over 1D works less well than 2C Gazzilli over a major, because with Gazzilli you have the chance to signoff in 2M; whereas with diamonds, you won't have the chance to play 2D when it's right.

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One solution is to play that the 1D opening EXCLUDES balanced hands (which would be all opened 1C-"short club", even 5332 with 5 diamonds - or 1/2NT, according to the ranges of your system).

This ensures that the 1NT rebid (after 1D opening) is artificial.
So you can use
1D:1M:1NT as "Gazzilli"-ish for strong hands.

Incientally, this is how the 1D opening is handled by Fantoni-Nunes.