[hrothgar]

Hi All

Playing MOSCITO, a 1!D opening promises

4+ Hearts (could have a longer minor)
~ 9 - 14 HCP
Longer Hearts than Spades unless 44 in the majors
Denies a balanced hand with 11+ - 12 HCP (this is a 1NT opening)

A 1S response to the 1D opening is natural and forcing for 1 round.

The question for the peanut gallery:

What set of hands should/should not bid 1S over 1D???

For example, suppose that responder holds a minimum strength constructive hand with 3 hearts and 4-5 Spades

♠KT54
♥Q52
♦JT43
♣87

I think that an immediate 2♥ raise is better than 1♠. 2♥ immediately limit the hand and clarifies trump support. As a consequence, showing Spades and then supporting Hearts should show more strength...

[Free]

Am I missing something??? 1♦ shows 4+♥, but with longer ♠ you open 1♥ (showing 4+♠) right???

I also think 1♠ should denie a 3 card ♥, except if you have a 5 card ♠. So rebidding ♥ shows exact 5-3 ♠-♥.
With inv+ hands and 3 card ♥ you usually bid 1♥ relay, so no need for a 1♠ response with strong hands and semi-support. Just a thought...

[inquiry]

Not mentioned, is that a 1♥ response is not possible with this hand as that shows a good hand....

Yes Richard, I agree that when you show a new suit (Freely), and then raise, you show a better hand than if you raise directly. I use this same rule when playing other systems with most partners.

Ben

[luis]

Pass is always an option, I like mixing some heavy passes when playing Moscito, sometimes they reopen and get punished, sometimes they don't reopen and miss a contract.... They only know we don't have a game.

[hrothgar]

Couple quick follow-ups here:

First, the 1D - 1S sequence is explictly defined as forcing and can contain some relatively strong hands. There is certain an overlap in range between the game invitational+ relay and the the 1S response. [Free, please note that I don't agree with your interpretation that a 1S response promises 5+ spades if responder also holds 3 Hearts. I think that it is more useful to immediately clarify range rather than Spade length)

In many cases, responder will prefer transitioning to natural bidding rather than a relay sequence. The "classic" example is when responder has a two suited hand with 0-1 Hearts. Misifts are a bitch, and its often best to bid naturally even if you have decent values.

[the hog]

The 6 count you posted is one I would pass. I think the raise sequence should carry some weight 7+ to -11.
If I had to bid with the given hand, I would choose 1S. Richard, if you give me KQTx of S or similar I will always bid it as a lead director.

With inv+ hands and 3 card ♥ you usually bid 1♥ relay, so no need for a 1♠ response with strong hands and semi-support. Just a thought...

I disagree with the above view as well. With invit hands and a decent suit it IS better to show where your concentration of values lies so that opener can make a more informed choice as to whether to bid game or not in an invit. sequence. Just because you play a relay system, does not mean you have to relay on every invit+ hand. Marston does not relay that much either actually.

This is the style that Justin and I have always played.

Ron

[Flame]

Its hard for me to comment on a system i know so little about and you know so much about, but i think 2h should be a natural bid with 4 card support, i guess with this hand you would bid 1h Relay now but there is an importent premptive value in bidding 2h with 4 card.

[Free]

It seems you're right Flame, you indeed know little about it Supporting at 2-level almost always shows only 3 card support, with 4 card support we either bid 3M (6-9HCP), invitational, FSJ or splinter, whatever suits us most. And 1♦-1♥ shows at least invitational values, so 1♥ is out of the question, since 1♦ opening is limited to max 14(15)HCP

[hrothgar]

Free, on May 21 2004, 12:50 PM, said:

It seems you're right Flame, you indeed know little about it Supporting at 2-level almost always shows only 3 card support, with 4 card support we either bid 3M (6-9HCP), invitational, FSJ or splinter, whatever suits us most. And 1♦-1♥ shows at least invitational values, so 1♥ is out of the question, since 1♦ opening is limited to max 14(15)HCP

One quick comment:

The fit showing jump typically shows three card trump support (NOT 4)
Recall, a bid like 1D - 3C is non forcing, so its dangerous to make this bid with 4 card trump support...

[Free]

woops typo

[Flame]

Free, on May 21 2004, 04:50 AM, said:

It seems you're right Flame, you indeed know little about it      Supporting at 2-level almost always shows only 3 card support, with 4 card support we either bid 3M (6-9HCP), invitational, FSJ or splinter, whatever suits us most.  And 1♦-1♥ shows at least invitational values, so 1♥ is out of the question, since 1♦ opening is limited to max 14(15)HCP 

Not only that i know very little about moscito, i also dont know much about relay system, when should you prefer to relay and when should you prefer to bid without relays. anyway good luck, i think i already shared all my knowlege in here

[1eyedjack]

I don't have a strong opinion about passing v bidding. Vul, position and type of scoring may be relevant. But if I bid I favour 2H over 1S. Opps may balance into 2S which they would never do if I bid 1S first.