[Chamaco]

Hi all,
I have a question about Robson-Segal structure of major suit raises in competition.

The 4-card mixed raise is usually a JUMP-CUEBID.

But how do you show a mixed raise when PARD opens 1H and LHO overcalls 1S ?
The jumpcue (3S) exceeds the safety-level (3H), and the simple raise is a sort of underbid.

Do you folks who do use RS have any specific gadgets for this ?

[inquiry]

Just use 2♠ as the mixed raise, as it still forces to three of partners suit (just a a jump cue-bid does). Or, use 2♠ as a club transfer, 3♣ as a diamond transfer, and 3♦ as a mixed raise, with 3♥ being the preemptive raise and 2NT being offensive oriented four card raise. I prefer the first, simplier approach and keeping other bids as fit jumps.

[Chamaco]

inquiry, on Aug 16 2005, 12:14 PM, said:

Just use 2♠ as the mixed raise, as it still forces to three of partners suit (just a a jump cue-bid does). Or, use 2♠ as a club transfer, 3♣ as a diamond transfer, and 3♦ as a mixed raise, with 3♥ being the preemptive raise and 2NT being offensive oriented four card raise. I prefer the first, simplier approach and keeping other bids as fit jumps.

If using the 2S as mixed raise, I lose the low-ODR invitaional raise, don't I ?

[inquiry]

Chamaco, on Aug 16 2005, 08:45 AM, said:

inquiry, on Aug 16 2005, 12:14 PM, said:

Just use 2♠ as the mixed raise, as it still forces to three of partners suit (just a a jump cue-bid does).  Or, use 2♠ as a club transfer, 3♣ as a diamond transfer, and 3♦ as a mixed raise, with 3♥ being the preemptive raise and 2NT being offensive oriented four card raise. I prefer the first, simplier approach and keeping other bids as fit jumps.

If using the 2S as mixed raise, I lose the low-ODR invitaional raise, don't I ?

While this is true, the two level cue-bid in spades forces you to three of the suit anyway. If you have low offense hand, do you really want to force to three spades? With a low offensive hand over 1♠ I just bid 2♥. That is enough unless partner can bid again with an offensive hand, and if they bid over that, I make an optional double (showing defensive oriented raise). That is the best you can do there I think. So when they open 1♣ and partner overcalls 1M, using 2♣ to show such a hand if fine.

Here is a hand from last night where a mixed raise after the double would have been useful perhaps...

♠JTxxx
♥Qxx
♦xx
♣KQx

After partner opened 1♠ (imps, them vul, you not) the next hand doubled, what would you bid?

The heart queen is of modest value, surely not carrying full weight, you have 5♠, the KQ of clubs look well placed. Do you bid 3♠ (underbidding your legnth by one due to the side suit queens)? Do you bid 4♠ (the value bid given the vul and the fifth spade)? Do you bid 2♥ (sound raise to 2♠? If it was available, would you bid 3♥ (mixed raise to 3♠?). Almost any of these bids could be "right". The 3♥ bid (if available) would fetch a double. The 4♠ bid bought the contract. they can make 3♥, you can make 2♠. Doubler had the Heart AK, and advancer had the club ACE behind your KQ. But still, it turns out the queen of clubs and queen of hearts were just the two cards that prevented them from making 4♥. What would you have bid?

[whereagles]

If I recall correctly, Robson/Segal are only able to show mixed raises if pard OVERCALLS, not after normal openings. You can, of course, try to design a few gadgets of your own to try and incorporate mixed raises after openings. (I've done that, but they never seemed to come up... oh well.)

[Double !]

I am cautious about making mixed raises on flat hands sch as 4333. I don't think it is a crime to give a simple raise to 2H and then compete to 3H with poor distro but good trumps. Playing fit jumps precludes a Bromad treatment that some like where 3 of suit just under P's major = mixed raise.

[mikestar]

Double !, on Aug 16 2005, 03:01 PM, said:

I am cautious about making mixed raises on flat hands sch as 4333. ...

Right on the money. By definition, 4333 hands have a very low ODR and show bid bid in competiton as if the support were one trump shorter.