[cwiggins]

A friend and I are evaluating the Polish Club. We are using “Polish Standard 2000” from http://www.geocities...neill_2000/sys/ Lots of questions came up during our first practice session. (See below.) Help would be appreciated. Thanks.

On page 12, the text says that given the auction 1C-1H-1S-1N-3N, “opener has a strong club (18-21 HCP) and balanced distribution with 4 spades.” What's the difference between opener bidding 1S and 2NT at his rebid? In a "natural" system, 2NT would seem to work out better.

On page 15, a description of the Fit-Reverse is given. Aren’t there better schemes than the 4-4-5-5-6-6? For example, consider leaving the 4-4 steps alone, but for higher bids use this version of Jacoby 2NT from “Precision in the 90s”:
3C = minimum; the rest (unless noted otherewise) show non-minimum.
3D = 5422 with a good 4-card suit.
3H = shortness.
3S = extra trump length.
3NT = 5332 or 5422 without a good 4-card suit.
4C, 4D (and 4H of opener is spades) shows 5-5 with second 5-card suit being good.
4M = dead minimum with poor controls.
Using these responses on 30 randomly generated hands, I got much better results than the 5-5-6-6 parts of the auction. No doubt other possibilities exist.

Regardless of what response scheme to Fit Reverse is used, what happens after opener shows 5+ in the major? Cuebids? Asking bids? Does it make sense to turn the cheapest bid into RKCB?

What bidding agreements exist after 1C-1M-(suit showing big club hand)? E.g. After 1C-1S-2H (showing 5+ hearts and 18+HCP), presumably continuations are natural. But do you use the principle of fast arrival (in which case 3H would show extras) or picture bids (3H would show a heart fit and inability to show what a jump to 4H would show)?

Have folks given up on the MAFIA responses? 1C-2C/2D is game forcing and may have a four-card major.

Hands with five clubs (and presumably a four-card major) are possible, at least as “offbeat” possibilities. On page 10:

“With a very weak 6-card club suit we would open 1C (and in later bidding show the 6-card suit as 5 cars). Also, it would be better to open 1C with 5-4 distribution when we have honor strength in the short suits, or when when the clubs suit is very weak (here on later rounds in the auction we treat the 5-card club suit as a 4-carder).”

“The auction 1C-2D-3C promises 5 clubs . . .”

Most modern Precision pairs restrict the 2C to hands with 6+ clubs. Might this not be advantageous for the Polish Club also? (Hands with five clubs and a four-card major would be opened 1C.)

[the hog]

What's the difference between opener bidding 1S and 2NT at his rebid? In a "natural" system, 2NT would seem to work out better.
1S is 19-20 if balanced. 18-21(22) if unbalanced. 2NT would show a stronger hand, just below a gf


By fit reverse I assume you mean 1C 1M 2D?
Yes there are FAR better schemes, have a look at Matula's book. "Polish Club" There is a full relay scheme available her to find exact shape, followed by a 4D end signal and various suit asking bids.

But do you use the principle of fast arrival (in which case 3H would show extras) or picture bids (3H would show a heart fit and inability to show what a jump to 4H would show)?
Fast arrival applies here

Have folks given up on the MAFIA responses? 1C-2C/2D is game forcing and may have a four-card major.
Absolutely NOT; though there are some versions of PC where you bid a longer m before a M.

Most modern Precision pairs restrict the 2C to hands with 6+ clubs. Might this not be advantageous for the Polish Club also? (Hands with five clubs and a four-card major would be opened 1C.)
Hard to treat this in PC; best to stick to 5+C. This is one of the weaknesses of the system.

Hands with five clubs and a four-card major would be opened 1C
Can do this, depends on the C quality. With a 5422 and weak Cs, you open 1C and rebid the 4 card suit over 1D(if it is a M), else open 1D and rebid 2C if your 4 carder is Ds.

Be aware that WJ is the sayc of PC. In other words its played by average C players. If you want to play the souped up version, look at Matula's book, or look up Balicki's system card at the Ecats web site or drop me a line and I can send you some notes.

Ron