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Quality of declarer play

#101 User is offline   hrothgar 

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Posted 2010-April-13, 05:36

Here's a quick explanation regarding the motivation behind the semi-positive responses:

The minimum strength required for MOSCITO's strong club opening is quite weak. In turn, this meant that the minimum strength required for an immediate GF response is somewhat higher that than required playing Blue Club, Precision, what have you.

The original response structure over strong club openings had some very nice characteristics, however, it suffered from a couple very significant flaws, both of which were related to the fact that the 1 response - showing any negative or semi-positive - was severely overloaded.

The first problem occurred during uncontested auctions. An alarming percentage of all uncontested auctions started

1 - (P) - 1

These auctions were incredible cramped. The relay sequences which started with

1 - (P) - 1 - (P)
1

were displaced by two steps.

It was also extremely difficult for opener to show shape with minimum strength openers. Analysis of hand records and simulations showed that this was a real weakness of the system.

Contested auctions were even worse:

Consider the following auction

1 - (P) - 1 - (2)

responder could have anything from a zero count to a decent semi-positive.
Opener doesn't have a forcing pass available.
You're pretty much hosed.

Compared this to a situation where

1 establishes an immediate GF and bids between 2 and 2 show shape.

You have a game force established after the 1 response. Your in MUCH better shape to compete / penalize the opponents if they choose to intervene.

If responder shows a semi-positive

1. He's had the opportunity to clarify shape before RHO can intervene

2. He's used up a lot of bidding space. In many cases RHO will need to introduce his suits at a higher level, leaving him much more exposed.

3. He's shown values, making it easier to penalize the opponents.

The risks from overcalling increase significantly.
The rewards are much lower.
Alderaan delenda est
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#102 User is offline   y66 

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Posted 2010-April-13, 08:37

Jlall, on Apr 9 2010, 08:45 PM, said:

Since I have no skills ...

Biggest LOL ever.

As if there were more useful skills than thinking clearly, making decisions and communicating clearly under pressure.
If you lose all hope, you can always find it again -- Richard Ford in The Sportswriter
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#103 User is offline   nige1 

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Posted 2010-April-15, 19:56

Various posters said:

Stuff about how bridge still can evolve immensely because of improvements in the bidding

MFA, on Apr 10 2010, 05:38 AM, said:

[Snyde remark about the ACBL system regulations deleted due to risk of thread degeneration]

Some possible reasons why declarer play has improved at all levels
  • More books and magazines that describe and classify different kinds of play. It seems easier to remember and use a technique if you know a name for it.
  • More books that explain how to compute the odds associated with rival lines of play.
  • Combination analyzers that show you the best way to play holdings on different assumptions.
  • Double dummy analyzers like Deep Finesse, Bridgify, and so on. These show you what might have been. Composers like Hugh Darwen now harness them to compose problems as wll as to check solutions.
  • Simulation programs that play deals many times, comparing rival lines.
Bidding and defence have also improved. I agree with MFA that Bidding would improve more if legislators allowed innovation and experimentation.

Unless you are lucky enough to play in Australia, a lot of systems discussion is academic. For example, the EBU will probably never allow players to try out Moscito or forcing/intermediate pass systems.

Encrypted signals are a simple sensible and promising idea still universally banned.
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#104 User is offline   dburn 

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Posted 2010-April-15, 20:48

nige1, on Apr 15 2010, 08:56 PM, said:

For example, the EBU will probably never allow players to try out Moscito

Funny you should say that. Until today, you could open 1 to show hearts and 1 to show spades. Now, you can still do the former, but you can no longer do the latter. Give us this day our daily mask...
When Senators have had their sport
And sealed the Law by vote,
It little matters what they thought -
We hang for what they wrote.
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