[Lobowolf]

Pairs, both red.

♠ x
♥ Axx
♦ AKQJ
♣ Axxxx

1♣ - 2♥*
??


*5+ to 9-, 5(+) spades, 4(+) hearts

[effervesce]

Bid 3♦? Surely that's forcing.... if responder can bid 3♥ I raise to 4♥. Over 3♠ I call 3NT.

[655321]

Fred's Deal of the Week #298 has some Reverse Flannery continuations.

[Jlall]

I would ask with 2N. If I didn't know my responses over 2N then I would not agree to play this convention.

[Free]

I play Fred's agreements, so I'd bid 3♣ relay and see what responder has to say.

[gnasher]

I've never played this convention, but, at matchpoints, if I can't bid a natural 2NT, I'd be inclined to pass. Opposite something like KJxxx KJxx xx xx we're quite high enough.

[hanp]

In theory this may be a good convention but I always get bad scores when it comes up. I think I'd only play it when playing big club.

Here I'd go with gnasher at MPs.

[Phil]

Free, on Mar 31 2010, 02:45 AM, said:

I play Fred's agreements, so I'd bid 3♣ relay and see what responder has to say.

So do I. If there are other responding methods, I'm not aware of them.

I have used Fred's methods ever since I read that DOTW hand, although I've never liked both 2♥ and 2♠ to show RF hands. Its the 4-9 hand that needs help, so we just use the 2♥ response. We have also tweaked the responses to 3♣:

3♦ = 5-5
3♥ = 6=4
3♠ = min 5-4
3N = max 5-4

The reason for this is that when responder seems to be stretching is when responder is 5-5 or 6-4, and not 5-4. This gives responder an out.

By the way, RF is high on my list of favorite treatments. The only time I can remember getting a bad board is when one of us has a brain cramp, but that only happened once.

Nevertheless, I am not bidding 3♣ with this. I think this hand has too much potential in the minors, and I'd prefer the NT getting played by partner, so I will venture 3♦. I'll find out about the 5th heart anyway, although the auction may get a little awkward.

Not a great hand for RF. It seems the auction would flow easier after 1♣ - 1♠ - 2♥.

[Free]

Phil, on Mar 31 2010, 04:02 PM, said:

Free, on Mar 31 2010, 02:45 AM, said:

I play Fred's agreements, so I'd bid 3♣ relay and see what responder has to say.

So do I. If there are other responding methods, I'm not aware of them.

I have used Fred's methods ever since I read that DOTW hand, although I've never liked both 2♥ and 2♠ to show RF hands. Its the 4-9 hand that needs help, so we just use the 2♥ response. We have also tweaked the responses to 3♣:

3♦ = 5-5
3♥ = 6=4
3♠ = min 5-4
3N = max 5-4

The reason for this is that when responder seems to be stretching is when responder is 5-5 or 6-4, and not 5-4. This gives responder an out.

By the way, RF is high on my list of favorite treatments. The only time I can remember getting a bad board is when one of us has a brain cramp, but that only happened once.

Nevertheless, I am not bidding 3♣ with this. I think this hand has too much potential in the minors, and I'd prefer the NT getting played by partner, so I will venture 3♦. I'll find out about the 5th heart anyway, although the auction may get a little awkward.

Not a great hand for RF. It seems the auction would flow easier after 1♣ - 1♠ - 2♥.

I also only play 2♥ as 5-9. I don't feel the need to have a 10-11 RF response.

3♦ shows GF with 6+♣, which I just don't have.

Your modifications are interesting. Biggest drawback of your tweaked responses is that responder can't show his minor suit length. With Fred's standard responses (3NT 5-4 with 0-2♣, 4♣ with 3-4♣) you're safe. + responder gets to play 3NT .

You could combine and play the following:
3NT = max, 5-4, 0-2m
4♣ = max, 5-4, 3-4m