bob@rlgvax.UUCP (Mr. Fun) (07/27/83)
I'm really enjoying the hand problems and bidding discussions on
this newsgroup. I started this newsgroup up around 2 to 2 1/2 years
ago when I was at duke. It's nice to see it start to pick up again.
On the topic of 2D openings, let me say that my favorite common
2D opening is mini-Roman. If 2C is your BIG bid, then play 2D as
11-15 points and a three suited hand with an uspecified singleton
or void. This bid is then used on any hand with 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0
shape and 11-15 HCPs. Responder's bids are simple enough. Any
simple suit bid asks opener to pass UNLESS that suit is his short suit,
he will bid the next higher suit if it is, in an attempt to find a
fit. Responder will pass or bid another suit. If the responder does
bid a new suit, opener will pass at this point, knowing that at least
at 4-3 fit has been found. If responder rebids his suit, knowing that
opening is short in that suit, opener must still pass trustfully.
If responder jumps in a new suit, he is asking opener to go to game
if that suit is NOT his short suit, pass otherwise. Responder's
only forcing bid is 2NT, which asks opener to bid his short suit.
(Some play that opener should bid the suit under his short suit.)
The auction is natural after that. Methods of handling interference
vary from partnership to partnership.
My true favorite though is part of a home-brewed system I play
with some friends. It's called the Bozo Club. I won't go into
the whole thing here, except to say that it is a big club system.
Our 2 level bids are as follows:
2C - 11-15 HCPs with a 5+ clubs
2D - 11-16 HCPs mini-Roman with short major
2H - 11-16 HCPs mini-Roman with short minor
2S - 17+ HCPs maxi-Roman (4-4-4-1 hands only)
As you can see, we have given up Weak 2 bids entirely. Instead we
the ULP (Unspecified Light Preempt) 2NT bid. More on that later.
The 2D and 2H opening are nice because responder can PASS when he
knows he has a fit, or correct, knowing that opener cannot be short
in the new suit. This helps avoid mini-Roman's greatest flaw, the
habit of playing the hand in your opponent's misfits when they have
all the points. OUCH!
--
Bob Fabrizio
..!{seismo,mcnc,we13,allegra}!rlgvax!bobrh@mit-eddie.UUCP (Randy Haskins) (07/29/83)
Okay you bridge hackers, here is what I promised (some of you): "Creative Computing" had the following articles in the last few years: (Interesting note: I used our library's Computer Literary Search service to find these.) In Nov 81 issue (p 64) there is a review of a software piece for playing on home systems. In Oct 81 (p 250) and Dec 81 (p 330) David Levy has articles on writing programs to bid and play, respectively. The articles are very good, and they give you a good handle on the Problem (yep, that's Problem with a big 'P'. It's not a game, it's my thesis.) Tangentially, there is an article in the Mar 79 issue entitled, "Go--the ultimate programming challenge?" It gives a pretty good description of the game of Go. -- Randwulf (Randy Haskins) genrad!mit-eddie!rh or... rh@mit-ee (via mit-mc)