[kgr]

For my regular partnership I'm looking for useful agreements fitting in a system looking like SAYC. I'm especially intersted in agreements played by most experts, but not found in most descriptions of SAYC. These should not be too difficult, but rather add value in an easy way (eg not looking for transfer overcalls at the moment).
- Like RHO opens preempt on 3-level. You have some bids to show 2 places to play?
- RHO opens weak 2 or muiderberg 2. What is your defence?
- Open in 4th hand. You normally play muiderberg and multi. How do these opening bids change in 4th hand.
- Balancing: (1x)-P-(p)-?: 1NT will not show 15-17 anymore but will be 12-14? how do your other bids like DBL followed by NT change?

[Robert]

Hi kgr

Over 3Cs some pairs play Leaping Michaels showing 5-5+ diamonds plus a major suit. 3C-4D* and responder bids 4H for pass or correct 'if' suitable.

Over a weak two type bid many pairs play Leaping Michaels showing 5-5+ in the bid minor plus a major suit. If a major is shown by the opening bid, both suits are known after the 4m bid.

Over a weak two bid or Muiderberg, double is takeout and many pairs use a 2NT bid by responder as a puppet to 3C to sign off here in any lower suit. This makes any 3 level non jump bid show @8-11HCP

4th suit openings at the two level are subject to partnership agreements.
My agreement is that a 'weak' two bid in 4th are @ 10+-13HCP. I play a Big Club system so my 1M-any-2M in 4th seat would now show 14-15HCP.

Muiderberg in 4th seat should show about the same range 10+-13HCP. If you are weaker than 10*HCP just pass.

Doubles in 4th and rebidding NT should show whatever range is 'missing' from your reopening 1NT.

Jumps to 2NT in 4th seat 'do not' show the lower two unbid suits. That is a natural NT bid by most partnerships. If you play double and rebid 1NT with 15-17, a 2NT bid in 4th seat would show 18-20(-)HCP.

I would prefer to play both of these ranges as slightly stronger @ 16-18 and 19-20 to avoid some bidding problems. You can widen your balancing 1NT to 12-15 or widen your double followed by 1NT to 15-18 to cover all of the HCP ranges.

Regards,
Robert

[kgr]

Is this the correct definition of Leaping Michaels:
If Opps open weak then a jump to 4 in a minor shows 5-5 in the minor and a major.
What about the strength? At least an opening hand / maximum 6 loosers?
(3♣)-4♦: 5c♦ + 5cM ;
(2M)-4m: 5cm + 5cOM (OM=other Major)
(2♦)-4♣: 5c♣ + 5cM (OM=other Major)
also?:
(3♣)-P-(P)-4♦: 5c♦ + 5cM ;
(2M)-P-(P)-4m: 5cm + 5cOM (OM=other Major)
(2♦)-P-(P)-4♣: 5c♣ + 5cM (OM=other Major)
It only applies after opps open 3♣ or weak 2; Probably not?:
(3♦)-5♣: here 5♣ is to play?

[cherdano]

kgr, on Dec 18 2005, 02:42 PM, said:

Is this the correct definition of Leaping Michaels:
If Opps open weak then a jump to 4 in a minor shows 5-5 in the minor and a major.
What about the strength? At least an opening hand / maximum 6 loosers?

It should be a pretty sound opening with good suits, 6 losers sounds too weak to me. You may be forcing to the 5-level if partner has no fit for your major. (I think it is standard and best to play Leaping Michaels as forcing.)

Arend

[Fluffy]

Agaisnt miudenberg my defence is exactly equal to weak 2's. I think almost everyone plays this way.

Balancing.....

when I balance 1♣/♦ I have 10-12, 13-15 doubles then rebids 1NT if availble. (2NT is 16-18)

when I balance 1♥/♠ I have 10-14. 2NT is 15-17.

[Kalvan14]

In 4th seat I play:

• 2D [Multi]: 6M (10-13) or strong bal. or strong minor
  
• 2H (mod. Ekren]: 5H + 4S - 10-13
  
• 2S (Muiderberg]: 10-13 hcp
  
• 2N (other seats weak with both minors): 6 cards in a minor, 1-2 stoppers outside, 12-14 hcp
  
• 1N: 11-14, balanced

[laughter]

Vs. 3 level Preempts:
Leaping (or Non-leap here) Michaels are pretty useful. I guess you may find this modification worthwhile:
Over 3m, CAPP (4C=Strong, non-specific 1 suiter, 4D=Both Majors, 4M=M+om)
Over 3M, Non-Leap Michaels (4m=m+OM, 4OM=Natural, 4M=Strong 5m, m unknown)
This one was played by Kokish & Mittelman in 2000 Olympad. The merit of CAPP is you have one more way to indicate strong minor 1 suiter.
And you should think about the meaning of 4NT overcall, which may differ according to whether the preempt is 3m or 3M.
And the gadget mentioned below is pretty handy (though not recommended for casual partnership):
(3C)-double-(pass)-?
3D=Puppet to 3H, weak with D / weak sign-off in M / 3NT with doubt
3M=Constructive, inv 4M
3NT=Stronger than delayed 3NT
4C or above=Same as standard
You may want to work out the meanings of 3D-then-strong-bids by advancer Or Doubler's rebid over 3D if he has extras. These can be quite complicated matters.

Vs Weak 2:
I guess you should work out the follow up of a cue-bid overcall, if it is played as strong one suiter, stopper asking.
Say (2M)-3M-(pass)-?
3NT=stopper & to play.
4OM=probably natural, long suit.
4C= no stopper, weak hand.
4D=artificial, stronger than 4C, but no control in M.
4NT=natural, too strong for 3NT.
4M=shortness control and good values.
I am sure there are many playable ways, but the important point is to have a reasonable agreement with your partner and don't resort to guessworks.
If you play Leb vs weak 2M, you may consider the better minor variation:
(2M)-double-(pass)-?
2NT = please bid your better minor, the usual leb type-hands & follow up.
advancers would not like to guess the minor to bid holding some 4-3-3-3.
3C = natural, wide range, advancer can't start with 2NT (fear a 3D response).
Others = same as usual

Best regards,
Simon