[kenrexford]

I am sure that this surprises few who have read my prior posts, but I have a fascination with concepts in bridge that are often deemed, over the scotch in the hospitality room, as a tad "esoteric." I have to believe that some others share this fascination. This post is intended to create a forum for discussion of some of these rare ideas, if anyone is interested.

I have a few examples, to start things off and to suggest what I mean. Note that I am not speaking of weird conventions. Rather, I am talking of weird situations where bridge logic, lacking any agreements, should suggest one specific and weird understanding, whatever the system.

One of my favorites is the "empathetic splinter." A classic example would be 1NT-P-2C-P-2H-P-2S-P-4C. 2S shows invitational with four spades. What can 4C be??? Logic tells us that 4C must be a slam try, as this is a non-competitive auction. However, few tightly limited HCP hands will offer legitimate slam prospects opposite a game invite. However, construction of a plausible layout would suggest something like AKJx-xxxx-Ax-AQx opposite Qxxx-x-Kxx-Kxxxx. Hence, 4C seems most useful to show (1) no wasted values in hearts (a location you might have expected values in downgrading), (2) great spade trump support, (3) Ax in the side suit, and (3) a great fragment in this minor (in case that is a second suit of yours). As I can construct no other logical situation where slam might exist, and as splinters are out, and as a jump like this if not a splinter usually is fit-showing, this meaning seems "natural," but esoteric.

A second example, from online play. P-1H-2NT-3C-4D-4H-4S-P-5C-5H-P-P-X-P-P-P. 2NT was unusual for the minors, 3C unusual versus unusual (heart support, invitational+). After partner's 4D as a passed hand, it seemed that we were bidding, if at all, for the defense. 4S showed a spade value (I held K10x) and encouraged partner, if allowed, to direct my lead. Partner's 5C asked for a club lead, and his double meant he REALLY wanted a club lead. He trumped the club opening lead, switched to a spade from Jxx through declarer's Queen, and we eventually won his ruff, his heart Ace, and a spade, for down one. Strange auction, but again logical.

I have others but will refrain. I am curious as to any strange situations like these where "esoteric" conclusions must, really, exist if bridge logic wins the day.

[han]

I like the second auction, although I'm not entirely sure that you are bidding for the defense here. The 3C bid can be made on some distributional hands, this can still be your hand (you can even have slam).

The first auction seems... weird. For one thing, you example hand is an 18-count, and a nice one too. If you play 16-18 NT's, no problem, but then the other hand isn't an invite. It seems losing bridge to me to describe your hand so well to cater to that magical slam that probably can't exist anyway.

[cherdano]

I agree with Han about the first auction. It seems like screaming for a heart lead ("opps, I have no honors AND length in this suit) whcih your 2H bid would luckily have avoided.

Arend

[whereagles]

Well, you don't need to go that far. Simple auctions like

5♠ (opening)

1♣ 4♣

1♦ 5♦

3♥ 5♥

1NT 5♠

already provide quite a lot of food for thought.

[Joe de Balliol]

The first of these ought to be either pre-emptive or else asking for the top two honours, depending on agreements.

The second and third shold be natural, weakish, 6+ trumps.

The fourth is to play opposite poor trumps; I'd expect partner to bid a sixth with an actual 3H bid.

The fifth I have no idea about. Best guess would be the same meaning as above? Bid 6 with one top honour, or 7 with both. Presumably showing a void or two so that RKCB won't work [possibly voidwood?]

[kenrexford]

Once, years ago, I had a natural, preemptive 5S opening. It was third seat, white on red. Sure, I could have opened 4S, but I knew that the opponents would bid at least five of something. 5S was doubled and down three; 5H made 5; 6C made six. Very obscure, but a good story.

[FrancesHinden]

whereagles, on Mar 28 2006, 10:29 AM, said:

Well, you don't need to go that far. Simple auctions like

5♠ (opening)

1♣ 4♣

1♦ 5♦

3♥ 5♥

1NT 5♠

already provide quite a lot of food for thought.

I've had the middle three of these at the table. The second and third (1D - 5D and 3H - 5H) more than once.

I play them all as natural and weak (pre-emptive). Easy game.

[kenrexford]

There are common but rarely recognized examples, that make this not such an easy game to most. I am curious as to whether anyone has great examples of others. But:

The delayed overcall in diamonds by a passed hand being evidence of a side four-card major.

The delayed notrump call showing a flawed (6-4) unusual.

The 2S rebid after 1H-P-1NT as showing great support for Opener's minor.

The late auction 4S call on a fragment, offering a sacrifice at 5 of a minor, but allowing a pass if partner holds unbid spade length.

Any others???

[whereagles]

Hum.. you mean..?

(1♣) pass (1♠) pass
(2♣) .. 2♦ <--- has diams + hearts.

In this case you'd have to agree with pard that double of 2♣ would be... penalties. From the above point of view, it makes sense. But try and convince pard of that

(By the way, I think these doubles have a name: tiger doubles.)


pass (1♦) pass (1♥)
1NT <--- 6 clubs + 4 spades, raptor style, offensive hand. (With a defensive hand, double.)

Well, this one has an easy interpretation. What is not so easy is whether it is 64, 55 or 46... it kinda depends on the rest of your opening structure.


1♥ 1NT
2m 2♠ <--- good support for minor. 3m would be mere courtesy.

I believe this one has become standard practice playing forcing 1NT. If 1NT is natural and NF, it's a bit more elusive, since the 3♣ raise would overlaps somewhat with 2♠.


(1♥) . 2♣ . (2♦) pass
(3♥) pass (4♥) pass
(pass) 4♠ <--- spade fragment 3+ cards, offering choice of save in 4♠/5♣.

Makes sense to play it like that, but in practice it will be seldom used because it's rather risky. If you have enough shape to make that bid, you'd probably wouldn't have passed 3♥ and/or might have bid something other than 2♣.

[FrancesHinden]

I don't think any of these are 'strange situations, never discussed' because they've been discussed to an extent that some of them are considered fairly standard.

However, here's one (from the BW MSC a while back).

1D x P P
2D

what has opener got?

[joshs]

FrancesHinden, on Mar 28 2006, 10:41 AM, said:

I don't think any of these are 'strange situations, never discussed' because they've been discussed to an extent that some of them are considered fairly standard.

However, here's one (from the BW MSC a while back).

1D x P P
2D

what has opener got?

AKQx AKQx Axxxx - perhaps?

[joshs]

Last night my table had the following rare auction:
1D-P-1H-4H

Lets just say, I didn't have extras for my 1H bid

[whereagles]

joshs, on Mar 28 2006, 04:51 PM, said:

Last night my table had the following rare auction:
1D-P-1H-4H

Lets just say, I didn't have extras for my 1H bid

That's ok, as long as your 6 points were KQJxx of hearts

[joshs]

whereagles, on Mar 28 2006, 12:04 PM, said:

joshs, on Mar 28 2006, 04:51 PM, said:

Last night my table had the following rare auction:
1D-P-1H-4H

Lets just say, I didn't have extras for my 1H bid

That's ok, as long as your 6 points were KQJxx of hearts

Lets just say my points were all in support of diamonds, and I still was lacking 6...

[pclayton]

FrancesHinden, on Mar 28 2006, 07:41 AM, said:

I don't think any of these are 'strange situations, never discussed' because they've been discussed to an extent that some of them are considered fairly standard.

However, here's one (from the BW MSC a while back).

1D x P P
2D

what has opener got?

This is one of my all-time MSC problems. I don't think the panel covered it that well. Only Cohen comments echoed what I thought was a really neat problem.

Personally I thought it showed some sort of massive 4=0=5=4 or 0=4=5=4 (I thought hands with club shortness reopened with a SOS xx.

[whereagles]

joshs, on Mar 28 2006, 05:17 PM, said:

whereagles, on Mar 28 2006, 12:04 PM, said:

joshs, on Mar 28 2006, 04:51 PM, said:

Last night my table had the following rare auction:
1D-P-1H-4H

Lets just say, I didn't have extras for my 1H bid

That's ok, as long as your 6 points were KQJxx of hearts

Lets just say my points were all in support of diamonds, and I still was lacking 6...

oh.. i see.. you were playing 1♦ as forcing

[mike777]

1) 1d is not forcing
2) I expect p to bid with a random K very often not 100%.
3) I expect p to bid with a random A very often
4) I expect p to bid with zero d and zero hcp but long majors, very often.
5) 1d is not forcing.

[Joe de Balliol]

That meaning for
1D-X-P-P
2D
makes sense, but at the table I'd have been massively confused about what it meant. It's not as easy as the others.

J