[f9727009]

My regular partner and I are recently reviewing our defense to strong club system. Apparently the trick is when RHO opens 1C (16p+), or LHO opens 1C and RHO responds with 1D. Our current defense of 1C opening is not very fancy: X shows D suit, 1D/H: H/S suit; 1S shows m+m; 1NT shows C suit; 2C: M+M; 2D: either M; 2H/S: H/S+m. While there may have been some question marks by the American standard, we are thinking of something even more disturbing/aggressive, e.g. Crash, or something like: X shows D or H+S; 1D shows H or S+C, etc.

The questions is whether such defnese (Crash and the latter one) is permitted? or put another way are they Brown Sticker or even HUM? Looking at defnition of "Brown Sticker Convention" under the WBF Rules, it seems to suggest "no" when it says "e) None of the foregoing restrictions pertain to conventional defences against forcing, artificial opening bids or defences against ‘Brown Sticker’ or HUM conventions."

What is your view?


2.4 Brown Sticker Conventions and Treatments
The following conventions or treatments are categorised as ‘Brown Sticker’:
a) Any opening bid of two clubs through three spades that:
i) could be weak (may by agreement be made with values below
average strength) AND
ii) does not promise at least four cards in a known suit.
EXCEPTION: The bid always shows at least four cards in a
known suit if it is weak. If the bid does not show a known four
card suit it must show a hand a king or more over average
strength. (Explanation: Where all the weak meanings show at
least four cards in one known suit, and the strong meanings
show a hand with a king or more above average strength, it is
not a Brown Sticker Convention.)
EXCEPTION: A two level opening bid in a minor showing a
weak two in either major, whether with or without the option of
strong hand types, as described in the WBF Conventions
Booklet. Defensive measures are permitted for opponents as in
6 below.
An overcall of a natural opening bid of one of a suit that does not
promise at least four cards in a known suit.
EXCEPTION: A natural overcall in no trumps.
EXCEPTION: any cue bid suit that shows a strong hand.
EXCEPTION: a jump cue bid in opponent’s known suit that
asks partner to bid 3NT with a stopper in that suit.
c) Any 'weak' two-suited bids at the two or three level that may by
agreement be made with three cards or fewer in one of the suits.
d) Psychic bids protected by system or required by system.
e) None of the foregoing restrictions pertain to conventional defences
against forcing, artificial opening bids or defences against ‘Brown
Sticker’ or HUM conventions.
Additional to the classification of systems in 2.3 above, any partnership using one or
more ‘Brown Sticker’ conventions must indicate this alongside its system
classification.

[wank]

you are getting confused.

brown sticker only pertains to your 2 of a suit opening bids

most jurisdictions let you play anything at all over the opps' strong club.

if you're american, then even the conventionphobic ACBL let you do whatever you like.

[mgoetze]

 f9727009, on 2011-January-16, 03:26, said:

Honestly as you said I do not understand very well what is Brown Sticker and what is not. And it is certainly good to know that our convention is not. Thanks!

It's good to know, is it? But only directly relevant if you are planning to play in WBF events, of which there are very few.

[hrothgar]

Its hard to know precisely what is/is not allowed as a defense to a strong club opening. To some extent, this depends on the Tournament Director on the scene.

In my experience, the most important point is your ability to describe what hands will be shown by a given bid.
If you can provide a useful description regarding the set of hands that is shown / denied by a given bid, you should expect pretty broad latitude to play whatever you want.

[blackshoe]

What is and is not allowed depends on the jurisdiction in which you're playing. You didn't say, so it's kind of hard to give any kind of an accurate answer.

[blackshoe]

As I read the WBF System Regulations, any defense to a strong club is permitted. The defenses you are looking at (CRASH and the other one) are neither HUM nor Brown Sticker.

[Free]

 wank, on 2011-January-16, 01:05, said:

you are getting confused.

brown sticker only pertains to your 2 of a suit opening bids

That's not true, look at B (the smiley with sunglasses). It's also about overcalling a natural suit opening.

Anyway, brown sticker is not applicable for any defense against strong 1♣ openings (also not over 1NT openings btw). In WBF events or events that follow WBF regulations you can pretty much play every defense to a strong 1♣. I think obligated bids are not allowed (for example you're obligated to bid 1♠ whatever your hand is, no other calls are allowed).

Here in Belgium we also use the WBF regulations, and it's even explained that any defense is allowed against 1NT and strong 1♣/1♦ openings as an example.

[pirate22]

on BBO and any club games-anything goes,but alert,
would be courteous..where club or national events
are concerned,ask your host country,what is permitted.
normally wjo are destructive,and even go up another level.
dont forget the 1cl {strong} needs info to his opening bid.