[Yzerman]

I had an interesting conversation with someone the other day regarding the auction, 1H-1S-2H. This is an infrequent but yet cumbersome problem when, in response to 1H, you have a nice game forcing hand with 4/4, 5/4, 5/5, and 4/4/4/1 patterns.

Here are a few examples of hands in response to 1H opener and 2H rebid after 1S response, what to do?

1 -
Axxxx
x
AKxx
KQx

2-
KQxx
x
AQJx
Kxxx

3 -
AKxxx
Kx
x
Kxxxx

4 -
AQxxx
x
Axx
KJxx

Does anyone have any means of continuing these sequences? Does partner rebid of 2H deny, or tend to deny 4 card minor?

I was introduced to a set or relays for this auction about a year ago, and have implemented these relays into my regular real life partnership(s) with a few modifications. I have personally heard people refer to other structures available, Burkes Relays (i think), and another person referred to something called Goldman here. In any case, here is what I play;

2S rebid by responder is artificial GF; openers rebids are as follows (everything is xfer);

2N=4 clubs (inference poor hand, good hearts, bad clubs or 2C rebid)
3C=4 diamonds (inference poor hand, good hearts, bad diamonds, or 2D rebid)
3D=6+ hearts, neutral
3H=3 spades, typically honor-xx
3S=6+ hearts, balanced good hand (denies 3S)
3N=AKQxxx(x+) hearts
4C=splinter+good hearts+3spades
4D=splinter+good hearts+3spades
4H=to play, long hearts 'decent' hearts, poor hand

After opener make 3 level rebid to the artificial 2S relay, responder will accept the xfer as a slam try OR set game level contract OR bid 3S forcing, which shows 6+ good spades and FORCING. After accepting xfer, trump suit is set and your partnership RKC method is utilized and/or cuebid style is triggered. IF partner NOT accept xfer, subsequent 4NT will always be quant.

What this allows for is ALL 3C and 3D rebids by responder promise 5+/5+ GF hands (because all 54, 44, 444 hands bid through relay). This is perhaps the most frequent and useful part of the structure.

What you lose is the ability to play 2S naturally over 2H rebid. What my partnerships and I have decided to do is play 1H-2S as constructive/non-forcing with 6+ spades and give up on the hands we compete for major partial with partner in exchange for this structure. If you have spades and relatively weak, either pass 1H or bid 1S and pass 2H rebid and give up on strong/weak jumps to 2S.

Interested in any other treatments that might be out there for these hand types and auctions.

[inquiry]

Let me know when you figure this stuff out. ETM Victory can handle these hands but it is quite artificial after 1♥-1♠, since a 2♥ rebid shows 5+ in ♣ and ♥s.

I have a method for handling 1m-1x-2m..... but I have been truding along with nmf after 1H-1S-2H.... so I am interested if I am missing something.

[the hog]

Mike, here is what we play. This applies to 1H 1S 2H and
1H 1S 2any.
We lose the natural invitational 2N but it has not caused a problem as yet.

1♥ 1♠
2? 2N Relay
3m shortness (3H = invit, NS = cue for S)
3H short S
3S 3S-6H-2-2
3N Bal no fit

[inquiry]

Hi ron, two follow up questions...

1♥-1♠-2♥-2NT-3♣ = short ♣, ok i understand, but

1♥-1♠-2♣-2NT-3♣ is obviously not short ♣'s, so what is this? A five card suit? What?

Second, do you find wrongsiding 3NT by bidding 2NT as generic extra info ask?

Ben

[the hog]

Ben, I did this in a bit of a hurry

1♥-1♠-2♣-2NT-3♣ This shows a 5-5 hand in the rounded suits, less than a GF

"Second, do you find wrongsiding 3NT by bidding 2NT as generic extra info ask?"

We have not found this to be a problem to date. I guess there will be some hands on which we will wrongside the contract, but as yet np and we have played this for some 6 months or so now.

Should also point out that the 2N relay is not 100% GF. We can stop in say an auction like the following -

1♥-1♠
2♥-2NT
3♣-3♥
Here resp was not pleased to find opener with a stiff ♣ and signs off. A 3D bid otoh would be a cue bid agreeing ♥

Tie this in with these 2 4th suit auctions:
1). 1H 1S 2C 2D
Here resp may have a relatively weak S/D 2 suiter with which he intends to play in one of his suits rather than opener's. With hands of this type he will beid 3D on the next round.
With a weak hand and 4S & 6+D resp should not start this way, but bid a forcing NT first, ignoring the 4 card S suit. We have the occasional, (very) mishap where we miss a 4-4 S ft, but it does not happen often and the pay offs are worth it.

2) 1H 1S 2D 3C - is forcing and strong

[Cascade]

I use 2NT as an artificial force.

1♥ 1♠
2♥ 2NT Forcing
...
3♣/♦ six hearts and four minor - we could have rebid 2♣/♦ with great minor and poor hearts
3♥ confirms six hearts - we sometimes have to rebid 2♥ with a five-card suit
3♠ three spades and usually six hearts as we tend to raise with three spades and only five hearts
3NT not six hearts therefore some sort of 5332

Wayne

[flytoox]

I think playing 2S as GF is sensible in this case. However, i am not sure if xfer is necessary after this. One question I have related to the problem raise here is what you should do with 6card Hearts and 3card sapde:
1H-1S
2H/S?
WITH:
S: KXX
H: AJ8XXX
D: KJX
C: X

should I rebid 2H or raise to 2s?

fly

[Trpltrbl]

I like to play 2 NT as forcing asking bid. Which I would use on problem 1, 2 and 4. On problem 3 I will just bid 3 ♣.

Mike

[mishovnbg]

.....................................................Hi Michael!.................................................
...Shortly: I like your scheme. It use all modern principles of bidding I know, (despite usage rebid of suit as relay can lead to mistakes, because of rare sequence):

• Sacrifice sign off 2♠ to gain advantage for games/slams
  
• Cheapest bid relay
  
• Transfer responses to relay
  
• Minor slam tries below 3NT

...Bud I am doubt about all other rebids of 1♠ responder. I think they must be oriented to possible games, not for slams, where 2♠ relay will work enough well for any type of slam inv hand, include 5+-5+. Instead of GF I sugest 3♣/♦ as NF canape bid with good suit, inv for 3NT and missfit ♥. Examples: J10xx,x,AKQxxx,xx; Axxx,-,KQxxxxx,xx; J10xx,x,Ax,KQxxxx
...................................................................................Misho

[keylime]

In the 2/1 days we used 2NT as a forcing inquiry, where 3 of a minor was natural, 3H showed extra trumps, 16+, and 3S showed a 5-4/6-4 hand, 16+. 3NT showed a 3-5 (32) hand with inability to open/rebid NT (inferring weakish fragments). 4 level bids were splinters.