[TimG]

benlessard, on Aug 17 2009, 12:11 PM, said:

Quote

n a natural system where 1C is opened on all 4333 and 4432 hands (not in range to open NT), a 1C opening is made on a 2-card club suit about 10% or 11% of the time.

4=4=3=2 isnt 10-11% its less than 5%

My, perhaps incorrect, understanding is that some open 1♣ on all balanced hands, leaving 1♦ to show an unbalanced hand, so that 1♣ would be opened with 4=4=3=2, 4=3=4=2 and 3=4=4=2. That is what I meant to address and what I meant by "all 4333 and 4432 hands".

[benlessard]

Ok

[skjaeran]

benlessard, on Aug 17 2009, 07:11 PM, said:

Quote

n a natural system where 1C is opened on all 4333 and 4432 hands (not in range to open NT), a 1C opening is made on a 2-card club suit about 10% or 11% of the time.

4=4=3=2 isnt 10-11% its less than 5%

Quote

Or 2♣ natural, 2♦ WJO in a major (Multi style) and 2M weak/strong with 55 M, if you're allowed to.

This mostly depend of what the use of 1Nt overcall.

Actually, what I was aiming at is that the 2♦ overcall would/might be considered Brown Sticker many places.

[TimG]

benlessard, on Aug 17 2009, 12:21 PM, said:

Ok

You are probably right in that many pairs who play 1♣ could be any balanced shape (even 4 diamonds and 2 clubs) may have another opening for the ~18-20 balanced hands so that my count is not really reflective of the approach.

So, while what I presented was accurate in what I described, it may not be particularly relevant. Sorry if that is the case.

[nigel_k]

I haven't played against it or developed a detailed defence.

However, my advice would definitely not be to treat it as natural. Doing so is playing into their hands by letting them have an unobstructed strong club auction. You could use your strong club defence or a modification of it, e.g.

Pass Includes all 15+ balanced or 14+ unbalanced
Dbl Majors
All suit bids natural
1NT 8-14 takeout of clubs (or Raptor or something else annoying and frequent)

It's always useful for responder to have a cue bid so I'd still use 2♣ for that. Pass then bid would be strong, obviously.

[Gerardo]

WJ2000 1♦ is usually 5+, except 4 in any 4441 or with exactly 5♣ 11-14.

WJ2005 1♦ is 4+.

People here(*) uses 2♣ natural, 2♦ majors often.

(*) Currently in Poland.

[oxyde]

OleBerg, on Aug 17 2009, 11:00 AM, said:

oxyde, on Aug 17 2009, 04:59 PM, said:

I never thought about much changes on strong !c openings, except bidding more aggressively.

But somebody pointed out 1NT could get free for any other purpose.
So quickly thinking on it, might be good to overcall with transfers starting from 1NT ?
You could this way also cover 2-suiters and get stong opponent on lead.

I believe transfers have some merit. I would however do it in quite another way:

Pass: Weak or 15+Bal.
X = Transfer to diamonds.
1♦ = Transfer to hearts.
1♥ = Transfer to spades.
1♠ = Transfer to clubs.

Edit: Naturally this wouldn't apply to openings in fourth hand.

This would cover all constructive hands.

1NT = Both majors.
2♣+ = Preemptive.

As they will quite often have 12-14 bal., this is another possibility:

2♣ = "Perfect" takeout double of 1♦, 11-16 non-forcing.
2♦ = "Perfect" takeout double of 1♣, 11-16 non-forcing.

I have some experience with these kind of bids, and when you make them, they are quite efficient, especially if you are well-organized (jump in a new suit preemptive, while better hands "cue" in the opponents alleged suit), putting advancer in an excellent position.

The relatively low frequency is somewhat an argument against these bids.

Yes that was my second idea, covering all aspects :
- 1 level : Transfers with at least opening values (and could be played illimited in strength), like you described (X = 1♦)

- 2 level : Same intervention scheme as what you play on a strong 1NT opening, but clearly preemptive. With 1NT = the meaning of your X on a strong 1NT.