[mtvesuvius]

I play several variations of New Minor Forcing or XYZ, what do you use, and why do you use it? Also, what responses do you use? I'm not sure how much attention this will get, but I was having trouble with a few of my partners (Non BBO or BBF) and wondering what the BBF consensus is...


Thanks, AJK

[cherdano]

Mikeh's version:
http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?sho...t=0&#entry90802

(Note to historians: "Mikeh's version" doesn't mean I claim Mike invented it, just that he plays it and that I learned it from him.)

[mtvesuvius]

Thanks

[blackshoe]

I would play 2 way Checkback - if I could get my partners to agree to anything at all along these lines. None of them want to play any conventions over a 1NT rebid.

[cherdano]

blackshoe, on Dec 25 2008, 09:02 AM, said:

I would play 2 way Checkback - if I could get my partners to agree to anything at all along these lines. None of them want to play any conventions over a 1NT rebid.

Just explain them that a new minor by responder is forcing (and natural, but who prevents you from punting that bid a little).

[nige1]

After partner opens 1 of a suit and rebids 1N, I recommend a version of Crowhurst. 2♣ is a relay with at least game interest. Most other bids are natural and non-forcing. My version is more complex than Crowhurst's oriiginal:

• 2 level replies are Minimum and fairly natural.
  
• 2N shows a balanced Maximum.
  
• 3 level replies show a Maximum with shortage in responder's suit but are otherwise fairly natural.

For example after 1♣ - 1♠ - ; 1N - 2♣ - ; ??

• 2♦ = Artificial, Minimum. No major feature.
  
• 2♥ = Natural. Minimum. 4 ♥.
  
• 2♠ = Natural. Minimum. 3 ♠.
  
• 2N = Natural, maximum, balanced.
  
• 3♣ = Conventional. Maximum., Short ♠, long ♣ 1-3-3-6.
  
• 3♦ = Comventional. Maximum. Short ♠. 4 ♦. 1345.
  
• 3♥ = Conventional. Maximum. Short ♠. 4 ♥. 1435.
  
• 3♠ = Conventional. Maximum. Short ♠. 3-suited. 1444.
  
• 3N = Conventional. Maximum. Balanced.3♠. 5♣.

Crowhurst is pretty simple and fairly natural. Another advantage of Crowhurst is that it does not divulge much unnecessary information. To elicit further information:

• After opener's Minimum Cowhurst rebid, a new suit or a jump rebid by responder are forcing.
  
• After opener's Maximum Crowhurst rebid, bids are game-forcing.

[mtvesuvius]

nige1, on Dec 25 2008, 02:16 PM, said:

After partner opens 1 of a suit and rebids 1N, I recommend a version of Crowhurst. 2♣ is a relay with at least game interest. Most other bids are natural and non-forcing.
My version is simple (but more complex than Crowhurst's oriiginal):

• 2 level replies are Minimum and fairly natural.
  
• 2N shows a balanced Maximum.
  
• 3 level replies show a Maximum with shortage in responder's suit.

For example after 1♣ - 1♠ - ; 1N - 2♣ - ; ??

• 2♦ = Artificial, Minimum. No major feature.
  
• 2♥ = Natural. Minimum. 4 ♥.
  
• 2♠ = Natural. Minimum. 2♠.
  
• 2N = Natural, maximum, balanced.
  
• 3♣ = Conventional. Maximum., Short ♠, long ♣ 1-3-3-6.
  
• 3♦ = Comventional. Maximum. Short ♠. 4 ♦. 1345.
  
• 3♥ = Conventional. Maximum. Short ♠. 4 ♥. 1435.
  
• 3♠ = Conventional. Short ♠. 3-suited. 1444.
  
• 3N = Conventinal. Maximum. Balanced.3♠. 5♣.

An advantage of Crowhurst is that it does not divulge information unnecessarily. To elicit further information:

• After opnenr's Minimum rebid, a new suit or a jump rebid by responder are forcing.
  
• After opener's Maximum Crowhurst rebid,most of responders's bids are forcing.

How does opener show 3♠ unbalanced, or 3♠ Minimum? Also, how does opener show 4♥ with a maximum? If these all go through 2♦, then how does responder distinguish between them?

[JLOL]

nige1, on Dec 25 2008, 01:16 PM, said:

An advantage of Crowhurst is that it does not divulge information unnecessarily.

LOL

[nige1]

mtvesuvius, on Dec 25 2008, 01:23 PM, said:

How does opener show 3♠ unbalanced, or 3♠ Minimum? Also, how does opener show 4♥ with a maximum? If these all go through 2♦, then how does responder distinguish between them?

I've corrected this and my earlier post (qv).

With a minimum and 3 card support for responder's major, or 4 cards in the other major, opener rebids that suit (the cheaper with both), whether balanced or not. If responder bids again, opener can pattern out.

With a balanced maximum. opener rebids 2N If responder has 4 ♥ or 5 ♠, he can explore further. He can also explore for minor fits.

Over 2N, responder can just rebid naturally. A slight improvement is possible, however, that entails more complexity and artificiality. I like to play Inverted transfers:

• 3♣ and 3♦ show ♥ and ♠ respecively.
  
• 3♥ and 3♠ show ♣ and ♦ respectively and deny major interest.

The idea is to explore for major fits first (again to minimise information available to opponents). Whether this is worth the extra memory work is a moot point.

[mtvesuvius]

nige1, on Dec 25 2008, 03:58 PM, said:

mtvesuvius, on Dec 25 2008, 01:23 PM, said:

How does opener show 3♠ unbalanced, or 3♠ Minimum? Also, how does opener show 4♥ with a maximum? If these all go through 2♦, then how does responder distinguish between them?

With a minimum and 3 card support for responder's major, opener rebids 2S whether balanced or not. If responder bids again, opener can pattern out.

With a balanced maximums. opener rebids 2N Quite often, responder is only interested in range, so he can now bid 3N without giving away too much about declarer's hand More guffaws from JLOL? If responder has 4 ♥ or 5♠, he can explore further.

Over 2N, responder can just rebid naturally. A slight improvement is possible, however, that entails more complexity and artificiality. I like to play Inverted transfers:

• 3♣ and 3♦ show ♥ and ♠ respecively.
  
• 3♥ and 3♠ show ♣ and ♦ respectively and deny major interest.

The idea is to explore for major fits first (again to minimise information available to opponents). Whether this is worth the extra memory work is a moot point.

Thanks for clearing that up...

[Winstonm]

I think X,Y, Z is the best.