[inquiry]

The_Hog, on Sep 4 2006, 01:11 AM, said:

This question is impossible to answer uness you specify what type of Multi.

Not necessarily. The multi-versus-multi works well against them. For instance, since 2Dx showed a major (most likely, or very strong balance or strong 4441), if responder passes, partner only passes 2Dx with a diamond stack. If responder bids 2h or 2s (pass correct), advancer can double for takeout which overcaller can pass if that is his suit.

[Trinidad]

My favorite Multi-defense:
Dbl: Takeout of [B]hearts[B] or a hand too strong for other action.
2♥: Takeout of [B]spades[B].
2♠/3♣♦♥: Natural
2NT: 15-17(18) BAL
3NT/4♥♠/5♣♦: To play
3♠: Spades and a minor, GF
4♣♦: The minor and hearts, GF
4NT: Pick a minor

Thus, we have:
o two takeout bids. One for a (presumed) weak two in hearts and one for a (presumed) weak two in spades.
o Natural suit overcalls and a natural 2NT overcall
o Natural jumps to game
o A "Leaping Michaels" type bid for strong Major+minor two suiters and 4NT for both minors

We do not have a bid for a balanced 12-14 count (other than that e.g. a 4234 hand is sold as a takeout of hearts). I do not feel I miss it.

whereagles, on Sep 4 2006, 10:06 AM, said:

Most systems presented are playable over the multi. What one should really discuss is how 4th seat bids after 3rd bids 2♥/♠, e.g.

(2♦) dbl (2♠) ??

regardless of what dbl shows, it should be clear for doubler what dbl, 2NT, 3m or 3M mean.

With my favorite defense the Dbl has already defined that we have the spade suit, so this is not a problem. But suppose the auction started: (2♦)-Pass-(2♠). Then I treat the auction as if it started: (Pass)-Pass-(2♠ {weak two in spades})-??. The reason is that I get another turn to bid if the opposition has a weak two in hearts, but not if they had a weak two in spades. In theory, this leaves me vulnerable to a psychic pass of 2♠, but, in practice, I have never had that problem.

Rik

[ewj]

cherdano, on Aug 31 2006, 08:54 PM, said:

I really like the double as 13-15 balanced. It puts pressure off partner to pre-balance when you pass. It is quite a frequent hand type, and when you do use the double, partner is very well placed. He can go to 3m competitively (Lebensohl applies), when over a pass he could either lose IMPs by letting opps play 2M, or by getting us too high with a 3m bid; or he can easily explore for the best game.

I have never tried Dixon, but I don't understand the point of it. Not only is it nice to be able to show a 5-card major at the two-level (certainly I don't like jumping to 3M with 5-card suits), also it is easier to show the takeout double hand after passing first (make a takeout double later), than to show the natural 2M overcall after passing first. Do you guys think takeout doubles are that much more frequent?

Arend

I like that defence too...but I've always been worried about the auction going...(2D)-Pass [having take out of spades]-(3S), passed round to you and you ending up missing a game, being unable to make a take out double at this level.

Also, have people seen the multi opener having spades and passing the 2H response before? How do you cope with that :/? Partner might have a 14 count with 4 hearts and you the same.

[arrows]

multi against multi

X: opening hand with EITHER major.
2H: a strong notrump
2S/2N: tranfer to minor, good minor overcall (14+ HCP?)
3C/3D: natural, light constructive.
3H/3S: natural strong one suiter.
3N: to play
4C/4D: leaping michael, the minor and major, 3.5-4.5 losers.

With 12-14 balanced, pass first see what happens.

rumor has it if you play multi against multi, opps will stop playing multi

[glen]

The best defense is Meckstroth against Multi. When opponents pre-alert Multi, pull out:

Quote

We found that multi allowed the opponents too many direct and delayed actions and that weak 2's were far more effective in the long run. - Jeff Meckstroth

Hopefully they switch on the spot.

This quote is from:
What Would Jeff Meckstroth Do?

The site says "to many" at this time, corrected above.