Tuesday, February 03, 2004 3:51 PM

Hand Evaluation - Forcing 1♣ vrs 2♣

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Lets check out the 12 world class pairs re their strong artificial opening  preference as we have their convention cards from the net.  I would also like to see what “toys” they like to play. Will mention some of their toys only ( space restriction ).

 

Garozzo et al

 

Shocking that he & his partners play a strong 2♣ system. He had a lot of input into the blue club. None of the 4 Italian pairs here play a strong club system.

 

Toys – Rubensohl , good bad 2NT 

 

Meckwell

 

1♣ = 16+ artificial   forcing one round 1 0-7 

 

 Toys – Gardner NT overcall , Art fit showing jumps , mini Roman 2, transfers in competition 

 

Hamman & Soloway

 

1♣ = 16+ artificial forcing one round 1 0-7

 

Toys – Fit showing jumps ( passed hand & competition ) , defense against wk NT doubled  , 1st double is shortness & forcing passes.

 

Lauria & Versace

 

Another Italian pair playing strong 2♣ !!

 

Toys – Transfer splinters , special jumps in competition

 

Woosley & Robinson

 

2♣ = strong and artificial

 

Toys – 2NT always take-out in competition , Fit showing jumps over t/o doubles

 

Chmurski & Puczynski

 

Polish club

 

Toys – Fit showing jumps , transfer raises & lead directors over 1M- X –

 

Helgemo & Helness

 

Strong 2♣

 

Toys – Non forcing responses to overcalls at 2 level , forcing at 1 or 3 level .

 

Chagas & Assumpcao

 

Strong 2♣

 

Toys – 1M – X then transfers , Good bad 2NT

 

Branco & Thoma

 

Strong 2♣

 

Toys – 1 & 2 M – X – transfer , fit showing jumps in competition only

 

Auken & Arnem

 

Strong 1♣ 17+ 1 – 0-7 response

 

Toys – 2 level not forcing over overcalls , double jump = fit showing , Jump to 4C/D fit showing

 

Bocchi & Duboin

 

Strong 2♣  

 

Toys – Transfer advances to overcalls , After opps T/O dbl , redouble is a suit & other bids transfers ( pass may be strong )

 

Fantoni & Nunes

 

Strong 2♣ 

 

Toys – Over T/O double redouble is 6+ HCP , 4th seat 1NT overcall 12-15 , 2 suited jump overcalls

 

2/3 of these world class pairs play strong 2 !  Two American pairs play strong club & the Polish pair understandably play the Polish 1 . Their toys are varied as one might expect . Fit showing jumps are popular along with transfers in competition .