[OleBerg]

Being a big fan of Transfer-Walsh, I can't help thinking of ways to make it simple.

SImple-Transfer-Handy Walsh, is an idée that came into my mind almost without me noticing it.

It is not for the pair working serious with their system, but maybe it could be well-suited for a casual partnership. I believe it will be most advantagous in MP's (Where the most casual partnerships are).

Well, here goes:

You play your normal system, except for these:

- Transfer Walsh
- 1♣ - 1♥, 1♠ = Four card hearts, natural continuations.
- 1♣ - 1♥, 2♥ = Three-card raise.
- 1♣ - 1♦, 1♥ = Four card diamonds, natural continuations.
- 1♣ - 1♦, 2♦ = Three-card raise.

The strain on memory should be manageable, and apart from that, this is my evaluation:

Pro's:

- You solve some difficult hand types, which often will allow you to get to 1NT with confidence.
- In the first sequence, you will never miss a 4-4 heart fit.
- You distinguish three-card raises from four card raises.

Con's

- You give the opponents an extra way to enter the auction.


Is it worth it?

(Oh, and anybody who has a better H-word for the akronym is more than welcome to chip in.)

[hanp]

What do you do with natural reverses? What does 2M mean? Could it be bad to go to the 2-level with a 3-card raise?

I don't see advantages over the more standard approach of completing the transfer with 3-card support and bidding 2M with 4. I also don't think that it is easier.

[OleBerg]

hanp, on Mar 12 2009, 09:02 PM, said:

What do you do with natural reverses?

Show my suit and take another initiative.

Quote

What does 2M mean? Could it be bad to go to the 2-level with a 3-card raise?

I don't see advantages over the more standard approach of completing the transfer with 3-card support and bidding 2M with 4.

The main advantage would be x-4-x-5 hands, where you never miss the 4-4 fit. A smaller advantage is the x-x-4-5 hands, where you can get to 1nt. This also makes your 1NT rebid more pure.

Quote

I also don't think that it is easier.

The idée is that you can use all all your normal agreements, which I find quite easy. All you have to do, is remember the five lines.

But to bad if it is not easier, because that was the general idée.

[hanp]

Ah ok, I misread your post, this is actually an interesting idea. Instead of using the extra step gained by the transfers to show 3-card support, you use it to show the suit bid by partner. This frees up the reverse so you use that to distinguish between 3-card and 4-card raises. Maybe I would prefer to distinguish between good and bad 2M raises but that's a detail.

My first impression is that this could be very good. I don't think it is easier but who cares.