In your reply to another comment, you said that 8 points are needed for a positive response since the game could be in a minor suit. I think that it sets the bar too high for a game in major suits or in No- trump. Would it not be better to prescribe different point ranges for different strains. How about 5± points for a positive response of 2H, 2S or 2 NT and 8+ points for 3C or 3D. A negative or a waiting bid of 2D should be limited to 0 to 5 points. I would be grateful for your views on this subject
Hi. Thanks for your comment. There are two levels of answer to your question. The first is that we use 8 points because it is standard and will be what most partners expect. But, the second answer is of course, why is this the standard. Fundamentally there are a few different factors that influence this. First, when one hand is very weak, it is generally more difficult to play the hand - you don’t have many entries into dummy. Second, the 2C opening bid limits your bidding room - you can be at 3D even before opener can bid their suit, so you have to be careful to not overbid. Third, opener is hoping to get to slam - stopping at game is highly probable with less than 8 points. Think of 8+ points as positive in the sense of: Hey, we might have a slam. Of course, this is Bridge and if you have a regular Partner then try out any variations you wish. This is something I have done regularly to try out different systems and conventions. It can take a long time to evaluate rare bidding events, but it sure can be fun! Good luck with your Bridge.
Thank you for replying to my question about points needed for making a positive response. I will try 6+ pts for major suits and see how it works. This time I have another question on the negatives of making any positive response. After a positive bid, say in majors, and a final contract in that suit, will make the strong hand as dummy. Good for defenders bad for the declarer. To avoid such a situation, why not make an artificial waiting bid in all cases. Balanced hand are easy to right side, same with the long Trump suit with the opener. A transfer bid will be needed when thevlong Trump suit is with the responder. Would be grateful for your guidance.
@ Hi. You are correct that the strong hand will be exposed and it would be good to prevent this if the cost of doing so was low. A waiting 2D might help directly in the few cases where Declarer has the same long suit. But in other cases you would need to consider some form of transfer bidding. This is quite tricky when opener’s holding in a suit has no lower limit. Transfers are good after an opening NT because you know opener has at least two cards in every suit. You could try for some complex transfer strategy but this will use a lot of bidding room. You would probably be better off using that to investigate slam possibilities. As always, there is some advantage and some disadvantage in either approach. You need to balance these to your Bridge style and goals. Cheers.
Hi. Asking reasons why in a bidding system is tricky. The fundamental answer is that the system requires it and has been tested to work in statistical analysis. But, I can give you some understanding. After 2C there is limited bidding room, so the bids are designed to show what is most important.
Yes it is tricky for me. My worry is about remembering the points behind the meaning of each bid and not confusing it with others. A wrong interpretation will get me into a wrong contract.
@@khuntankrub Yes, you are correct. The best way to remember is to play or practice in a friendly environment where you can check that what you do is correct. You can also practice bidding with your partner. This is what I have done for many years. Some situations are very rare and by practicing many hands you will see them more often than playing.
I guess that is because a major opening requires 5 cards minimum, thus a rebid to show more strength promises 6. But how about for diamonds? Is it just a rule?
@@khuntankrub Yes, Diamonds is just a rule in the system, but it is designed to not waste a lot of bidding space trying to find a 4-4 fit in a minor suit. Such a fit is ok, but not great when you have to make 11 tricks for game. The bidding is often better spent on looking for NT.
Good question. This is a different situation than previous episodes. The 8 points ensures you have game, even in a minor suit. Previously it only meant in NT or a major. Also, Responder cannot pass 2C unless the opposition has bid. So, Opener will always get a second bid. This is important because there is no upper limit to a 2NT opening bid.
Hi Guy. Thanks for the comment. There is a way to try for a 4-4 fit in the majors. After your partner bids 3C you could bid 3H and partner might have 4 hearts or might bid 3S. However, unless you have discussed this precise scenario with your partner, be very careful. Care is needed because partner may think you have more than 4 hearts and you bid 2D because you had less than 8 points. Given that you have double stoppers in all the other suits and partner is so strong, I prefer the NT bid. I save the suit bid for hands where I don’t have a NT hand and probably have less points, which is far more likely. Bidding splinter hands is always very tricky, unless you use artificial bids to signal such hands. Advanced players use double jump bids to show splinters as a positive bid. So in this case, a bid of 4C immediately over partner’s 2C would show that you have 0 or 1 club and biddable all other suits. Finding a 4-4 fit is then very easy, but if partner mistakes your bid, there can easily be a disaster. That’s why I don’t teach splinter bids in this series.
Hello, Jad I was surpized last day by a bid of my partner on BBO as follows : I opened with 1 Club, West bid 1 H and my partner responded 3 C . I thought it was a natural suport but actually when the contract was set at 3 C I had the unpleasant surprise to discover that was actually a Club Splinter so with my 5 clubs we actually had 6 Clubs for the team wich led to disaster . What convention is that and how do you announce your partner that you actually have a splinter ? Sometimes this bidding is so confusind . And by the way, keep the videos posting , you are doing an amazing job
Hi Bogdan. Thanks for your question. I will be making a video on splinter bids in the extensions series, but I will give you a quick answer here. There is no convention that I am aware of that would allow you to bid a splinter in a suit opened by partner. Splinter bids primarily show support for partner’s suit, so that is contradictory. Also, there is no case in which making a splinter bid in a different suit makes sense to me after an overcall by your opponents. It would make perfect sense if you had opened with 1H, but even then the splinter bid is usually 4C, not 3. I suggest you just forget this mess and keep playing. If anyone reading this knows of such a convention let me know in these comments, but also make sure Partner knows about it before using it.
This is a great series.
Thanks Alana. More episodes on the way.
Would like lessons on slam bidding please continue with videos
Videos on slam bidding will follow those on playing the hand. Thanks for the feedback.
In your reply to another comment, you said that 8 points are needed for a positive response since the game could be in a minor suit.
I think that it sets the bar too high for a game in major suits or in No- trump.
Would it not be better to prescribe different point ranges for different strains.
How about 5± points for a positive response of 2H, 2S or 2 NT and 8+ points for 3C or 3D.
A negative or a waiting bid of 2D should be limited to 0 to 5 points.
I would be grateful for your views on this subject
Hi. Thanks for your comment. There are two levels of answer to your question. The first is that we use 8 points because it is standard and will be what most partners expect. But, the second answer is of course, why is this the standard. Fundamentally there are a few different factors that influence this. First, when one hand is very weak, it is generally more difficult to play the hand - you don’t have many entries into dummy. Second, the 2C opening bid limits your bidding room - you can be at 3D even before opener can bid their suit, so you have to be careful to not overbid. Third, opener is hoping to get to slam - stopping at game is highly probable with less than 8 points. Think of 8+ points as positive in the sense of: Hey, we might have a slam. Of course, this is Bridge and if you have a regular Partner then try out any variations you wish. This is something I have done regularly to try out different systems and conventions. It can take a long time to evaluate rare bidding events, but it sure can be fun! Good luck with your Bridge.
Thank you for replying to my question about points needed for making a positive response.
I will try 6+ pts for major suits and see how it works.
This time I have another question on the negatives of making any positive response.
After a positive bid, say in majors, and a final contract in that suit, will make the strong hand as dummy. Good for defenders bad for the declarer.
To avoid such a situation, why not make an artificial waiting bid in all cases.
Balanced hand are easy to right side, same with the long Trump suit with the opener. A transfer bid will be needed when thevlong Trump suit is with the responder.
Would be grateful for your guidance.
@ Hi. You are correct that the strong hand will be exposed and it would be good to prevent this if the cost of doing so was low. A waiting 2D might help directly in the few cases where Declarer has the same long suit. But in other cases you would need to consider some form of transfer bidding. This is quite tricky when opener’s holding in a suit has no lower limit. Transfers are good after an opening NT because you know opener has at least two cards in every suit. You could try for some complex transfer strategy but this will use a lot of bidding room. You would probably be better off using that to investigate slam possibilities. As always, there is some advantage and some disadvantage in either approach. You need to balance these to your Bridge style and goals. Cheers.
5:25 What is the reason partner must have more than 5 spades after a 2C opening and a positive suit response?
Hi. Asking reasons why in a bidding system is tricky. The fundamental answer is that the system requires it and has been tested to work in statistical analysis. But, I can give you some understanding. After 2C there is limited bidding room, so the bids are designed to show what is most important.
Yes it is tricky for me. My worry is about remembering the points behind the meaning of each bid and not confusing it with others. A wrong interpretation will get me into a wrong contract.
@@khuntankrub Yes, you are correct. The best way to remember is to play or practice in a friendly environment where you can check that what you do is correct. You can also practice bidding with your partner. This is what I have done for many years. Some situations are very rare and by practicing many hands you will see them more often than playing.
@@jadbridge Thanks Jad! Attention to new students! Please contact me if you need a partner to explore bridge together :)
@@khuntankrub you are most welcome. Good luck.
10:45 Is it from a rule that a second bid of the same suit promises at least five cards?
Hi. You are on the right track, but to be specific. 1C 2C shows 5. For every other suit opener rebidding their original suit shows 6.
I guess that is because a major opening requires 5 cards minimum, thus a rebid to show more strength promises 6. But how about for diamonds? Is it just a rule?
@@khuntankrub Yes, Diamonds is just a rule in the system, but it is designed to not waste a lot of bidding space trying to find a 4-4 fit in a minor suit. Such a fit is ok, but not great when you have to make 11 tricks for game. The bidding is often better spent on looking for NT.
1:23 Since only 3 points are sufficient for a game, may I know why are 8 points still required?
Good question. This is a different situation than previous episodes. The 8 points ensures you have game, even in a minor suit. Previously it only meant in NT or a major. Also, Responder cannot pass 2C unless the opposition has bid. So, Opener will always get a second bid. This is important because there is no upper limit to a 2NT opening bid.
in the last deal isn't there a way to find a 4-4 fit in the majors?
Hi Guy. Thanks for the comment. There is a way to try for a 4-4 fit in the majors. After your partner bids 3C you could bid 3H and partner might have 4 hearts or might bid 3S. However, unless you have discussed this precise scenario with your partner, be very careful. Care is needed because partner may think you have more than 4 hearts and you bid 2D because you had less than 8 points. Given that you have double stoppers in all the other suits and partner is so strong, I prefer the NT bid. I save the suit bid for hands where I don’t have a NT hand and probably have less points, which is far more likely. Bidding splinter hands is always very tricky, unless you use artificial bids to signal such hands. Advanced players use double jump bids to show splinters as a positive bid. So in this case, a bid of 4C immediately over partner’s 2C would show that you have 0 or 1 club and biddable all other suits. Finding a 4-4 fit is then very easy, but if partner mistakes your bid, there can easily be a disaster. That’s why I don’t teach splinter bids in this series.
Mr Dlokk I am desperately awaiting your next video!
Hello, Jad
I was surpized last day by a bid of my partner on BBO as follows : I opened with 1 Club, West bid 1 H and my partner responded 3 C . I thought it was a natural suport but actually when the contract was set at 3 C I had the unpleasant surprise to discover that was actually a Club Splinter so with my 5 clubs we actually had 6 Clubs for the team wich led to disaster . What convention is that and how do you announce your partner that you actually have a splinter ? Sometimes this bidding is so confusind . And by the way, keep the videos posting , you are doing an amazing job
Hi Bogdan. Thanks for your question. I will be making a video on splinter bids in the extensions series, but I will give you a quick answer here. There is no convention that I am aware of that would allow you to bid a splinter in a suit opened by partner. Splinter bids primarily show support for partner’s suit, so that is contradictory. Also, there is no case in which making a splinter bid in a different suit makes sense to me after an overcall by your opponents. It would make perfect sense if you had opened with 1H, but even then the splinter bid is usually 4C, not 3. I suggest you just forget this mess and keep playing. If anyone reading this knows of such a convention let me know in these comments, but also make sure Partner knows about it before using it.