Thursday, December 05, 2002 2:36 AM
Flat Hands
PITBULLS:
O.K. ,
Mr. Cabay has convinced me . All flat hands not opened 1NT should be
described by a 1NT or a 2NT rebid . Decades ago we got into the habit of
rebidding a major with our flat hands because we did not have the bidding tools
to get around it . As Stan points out , there is a considerable advantage in
not bidding our major when we have a flat hand . Quoting the “Doc”
“ There are many advantages in opener rebidding 1N/2N with
all flat hands
(but, lacking support for responder's suit).
1) Opener's rebid of a major shows a distributional hand
(4441 or 5
cards in the first suit) - a
huge benefit for subsequent bidding.
2) The 1N /2NT rebid conceals
information from opponents about you major suit holdings (e.g., you
could have both majors after 1C-1D-1N). You sent an email on this. Yes, it also
conceals information from partner, but at zero cost, almost.
3) After 1C-1D-1H, you will not miss any spade fit should
you choose to
play 1S as 4-th suit forcing. With a weak hand and 4 spades,
responder would call 1S, not 1D. With an invitational hand and 4 spades and 4
diamonds, responder should call, 1S, not 1D. With an invitational hand and 4
spades and 5 diamonds, responder would bid 1D followed by 2S or 2N. With game
forcing values, responder rebids 1S. “
O.K.
what are the bidding tools that allow us to suppress a major suit in favour of
a NT rebid ?
The answer is the relay . The Wolff relay over
a 2NT rebid and the 2-way
NMF relay over 1NT . The following I took from the e-mail on Wolff relay
|
1m |
1♥ |
This is forcing, and the equivalent of
Stayman with four-four in the majors. Opener must NEVER bid a four-card spade suit, as this might cross
partner's intentions. |
Note the Dutch site ( where I got this from ) warns against rebiding a major with a 2NT rebid .
I asked Mr. Cabay some questions on finding the spade fit after a 1NT rebid . With the 2C bid showing invitational hands and being a relay you can find your 4-4 spade fit .
Bob Crosby wrote:
Stan , a question on
bypassing 4 card spade suits to bid 1NT . Responder has 4-4 in the majors and invitational range. Opening bid is a minor so
responder bids a heart and opener bypasses spades to bid 1NT . Responder bids
2C and opener should bid 2H with 3 rather than the spade suit .
Stan Cabay wrote:
No, 2C by responder
forces 2D. Responder may want to play 2D with xx, KJxx, Qxxxxx, x (nice to be able to play diamonds at
the 2-level). Breaking the relay is a super accept for responder's major (not written up in
the notes); may have to play in a heart Moysian.
Bob Crosby wrote:
It is far more important
to find the heart fit then trying to recover from bypassing the spade suit .
How do you find the 4-4 spade fit ?
Stab Cabay wrote:
1m-1H-1N-2C-2D-2S shows
an invitational hand with 4-4 in majors.
1m-1H-1N-2C-2D-2H is invitational with 5 or more
hearts (nice to invite at the 2-level); it does not deny 4 spades. With 4
spades and 3 hearts, opener can still bid 2S in search of the 4-4 spade fit
rather than settling for the 5-3 heart fit (this, of course, means opener has
extras).
1m-1H-1N-2S is a game force promising 5 hearts and 4 spades
O.K. what Stan is saying you never break the 2C relay unless you have a “super acceptance” in hearts . This allows responder to show a 4 card spade suit and your fit is found that way . Same principle with the Wolff relay . You accept the relay and when partner bids spades you find the fit . i.e. the major fit is always found from responders side or let the opponents lead the major against your NT !!
This treatment also , as Stan points out , allows 1S to be 4th suit forcing and 2S as natural and invitational. This conserves some bidding space in those tough 4th suit forcing auctions .
The main advantage of this treatment is not finding a disappointing flat hand as dummy when you have blasted to game or made a slam try . Knowing there is not a flat hand over there assists is your game try bids . Flat hands should be bunched together for NT contracts. Quite often these hands belong in 3NT rather than the 4-4 major suit fit anyway .
Pitbulls , I think its time for Edmonton Standard to improve …