[han]

I'm working on improving/changing my system after opening 1 of a minor. Here are my current ideas, feedback would be welcome. In particular, I'd like to know what people think about the 1D-1M-1NT gadget.

1C: either natural or balanced hand with 11-13 or 17-19 HCP (1NT = 14-16)

Responses:
1D= Tends to deny a four card major. Could be balanced 6-7.
1M= natural.
1NT= 8-11 balanced.
2C= inverted, 5+ clubs.
2D= both minors, invitational.
2H/2S = reverse Flannery.
2NT = 12-13 balanced.

Follow ups after 1C-1D:
1M = Could be 11-13 balanced on a fragment, could also be natural, unbalanced. XYZ is on.
1NT= 17-19 balanced (may have a 4-card major). XYZ is on.
2NT= 6+ clubs, 3 diamonds, extras.

Follow ups after 1C-1M:
1NT: 11-13 balanced. XYZ is on.
2D: artificial, contains many strong hands including balanced 17-19.
2NT: 4-card support, 17+ points.
3m: 6+ minor, 3-card support, extras.

1D: unbalanced, 4+ diamonds (only four if 4441 or 4-5 in the minors).
Straightforward responses.
Over 1D-1M:
1NT= minimal unbalanced hand. Denies 3-card support, 4 spades or 6 diamonds. XYZ is off (that is, 2C is "to play" ).
2C= artificial, 17+ points.
2NT= 4-card support, 17+ points.
3C= 5-5 or better in the minors, 14-16 HCP.
3D= 6+ diamonds, 3-card support, extras.

The main feature after 1C-1M-2D and 1D-1M-2C is that we can stop in 2M if responder has very little and opener has 17 or 18 balanced.

[Fluffy]

I didn't chack all posibilities, but seems to me you ahve come with a system that loses 5-4 and 4-5 in the minors, forcing to play 1NT many time swhen not required, but instead you have won loads of space for some other holdings.

IMO you haven't seen the best issue of all the system, you can delete the worst natural opening of all systems from your card: the 2NT opening (this is just my opinion, but I think the 2NT is the one that leads to worst results on a natural system since regardless of wich responses you play, yu will either focus on best partscores, best games(themost popular), or best slams, ,but only 1 of them), you can handle the 2NT opening with any 1♣, rebidding 2NT after 1♦, or 2♦ after 1M.

Also I hate XYZ after 1NT, I think roudi is still the best way to handle these biddings (roudi is 2♣ asks about how many cards on my suit, and maximum or minimum range with step responses while 2♦ is to play, with loger ♦ than major).

[han]

Good point about the 20+ balanced hands, I'll think about how these could be incorporated in the 1C opening.

Of course, opening 1C with all balanced hands will hurt you sometimes when it is best to play in a minor suit fit. I think the 1D-1M-1NT might help to find the right minor suit fit. For instance, 1D-1H-1NT would guarantee 4+ diamonds and 3+ clubs, since you have at most 3 spades and 2 hearts.

[Fluffy]

1♦-1♥-1NT has the problem that 4♦-5♣ is way different than 6♦-3♣ (7♦-2♣ possible?)

[MickyB]

I think 6♦3♣ rebids 2♦. 1♦:1♥, 1NT seems fine, but if 1♦:1♠, 1NT can be 2245 or 2452 then that will cause problems. I don't understand Fluffy's objection to XYZ - If you want to play in 2♦ then, like Roudi, you can, but you have two sets of checkback continuations, compared to Roudi's one.

[Fluffy]

I don't think having 2 checkbacks is very good, roudi was developed when 12-15 was the NT range, nowadays the range is 11-14 for some so still max min has sense. For a 11-13 you gain less, but anyway the only thing that roudi sacrifices is playing 2♥ intead of 2♠ when responder has 5♠+4♥, the rest of possible hands are pretty well covered.

BTW roudi has also 2 checkback actually since 2NT is transfer to 3♣, wich can be to play or to show some rare limit hands at the 3 level (4M+6♦, 5♠+5♥ or 7M)

[han]

MickyB, on Jan 15 2005, 11:12 PM, said:

I think 6♦3♣ rebids 2♦. 1♦:1♥, 1NT seems fine, but if 1♦:1♠, 1NT can be 2245 or 2452 then that will cause problems. I don't understand Fluffy's objection to XYZ - If you want to play in 2♦ then, like Roudi, you can, but you have two sets of checkback continuations, compared to Roudi's one.

We would treat 2452 hands as balanced, so we would open 1C (or 1NT).

With 6 diamonds and 3 clubs we would indeed rebid 2D: 1D-1M-2D.

[luke warm]

the more i play it, the more i'm convinced that 54xx hands are easier to bid if canape openings are used