[Free]

I've been thinking about responses over opener's minor in a natural system (3+ cards, pretty solid openings). Here's what I had in mind:

1♣ - ?
1X = natural
1NT = 6-9(10)hcp, no other suitable bid
2♣ = 10+hcp, 4+♣
2♦ = 6-9hcp, 5+♠, 4+♥
2♥ = 10-11hcp, 5+♠, 4+♥
2♠ = mixed ♣ raise (typically 6-9hcp, 5+♣)
2NT = natural GF (12-15 or 19+)
3♣ = weak ♣ raise (typically 0-5hcp, 5+♣)
3X = splinters
3NT = 16-18hcp balanced

1♦ - ?
1M = natural
1NT = 6-9(10)hcp, no other suitable bid
2♣ = 10+hcp, 4+♣
2♦ = 10+hcp, 4+♦
2♥ = 6-9hcp, 5+♠, 4+♥
2♠ = 10-11hcp, 5+♠, 4+♥
2NT = natural GF (12-15 or 19+)
3♣ = mixed ♦ raise (typically 6-9hcp, 5+♦)
3♦ = weak ♦ raise (typically 0-5hcp, 5+♦)
3M = splinters
3NT = 16-18hcp balanced
4♣ = splinter

What do you think about this?

Some remarks before you give suggestions:
- I want to have these reversed flannery responses
- I want to be able to show weak and mixed raises

[Gerben42]

Simple question: Do you need the 10 - 11 reverse F bid also? I would suggest:

1♣ - 2♦ = WJS in a major
1♣ - 2♥ = Rev. F

I like the " 2N natural GF" part.

How about

1♦ - 2♠ = Invite balanced or ♣

[Jboling]

I play almost exactly like that, but I do not have invitational reverse Flannerys. Instead I have 1♣-2♦ and 1♦-3♣ as natural invitational, so that I can distinguish them from GF singelsuiters. Thus 1m-2♥ is always reverse Flannery and 1m-2♠ is always a mixed raise.

[pclayton]

Free: This is very close to what my partner and I currently play.

I know in Fred's articles he proposed 2 bids for reverse flannery, but I think you can safely use just one. Its the 6-9 hand that gets you into trouble, not the 10-12 hand.

I think its more important to have the single raise GF. We use 2♠ as the mixed raise, and the jump shift in the other minor as limit and this works well.

We are experimenting the structure I suggested in the 2N thread a few days ago.

[jdonn]

Gerben42, on Apr 25 2007, 04:25 AM, said:

Simple question: Do you need the 10 - 11 reverse F bid also? I would suggest:

1♣ - 2♦ = WJS in a major
1♣ - 2♥ = Rev. F

I like the " 2N natural GF" part.

How about

1♦ - 2♠ = Invite balanced or ♣

I think the better version of what you are suggesting is

2♦ = rev flan
2♥ = balanced invite
2♠ = mixed raise in clubs

and just forget WJS in a major. This makes all the other 3 bids function much much better, especially the balanced invite, since pard can even decide if he wants to declare or not (and thus you can make the bid on non 'notrumpy' hands without distorting your hand.)

Alternatively doable is

2♥ = balanced invite or clubs
2♠ = WJS

Giving you the more effective WJS being made in the most preemptive fashion possible, it just requires more discussion and workaround on the 2♥ bid but it definitely can be done.

[pclayton]

Jlall, on Apr 25 2007, 08:28 AM, said:

Then 1C-2H and 1C-2S are your reverse flan bids.

Not a good idea to have the reverse flannery call pass 2♥, since that might be the last playable spot.