Team: | Harris | Last Updated | Jul 12, 2020 at 11:16 |
Players: | Martin Harris - Miriam Harris-Botzum |
OPENINGS:
1. 1 ![]() ![]() ![]() 2. 3 ![]() 3. 4m openings: at least 10 tricks with a solid suit in the corresponding major ( ![]() ![]() RESPONSES: 4. After ALL 1-level openings (not just 1 ![]() After a 1 ![]() 1 ![]() ![]() 1 ![]() ![]() 1 ![]() After a 1 ![]() 1 ![]() ![]() 1 ![]() After a 1 ![]() ![]() * if GF, will have 6+ ![]() After a 1 ![]() ![]() ![]() * If < inv.: always 6+ ![]() * If inv.: 5+ ![]() * If GF: must have 6+ ![]() After opening 1 ![]() 1 ![]() 5. 1M - 2PS: SPECIAL ALERT. This is a NF offer to play, but it's quite strong and could have only 2 card support. There are 3 hand types: a. Mixed raise (4+ trumps) (8-11 pts). b. 3-card limit raise (12-13 HCP) (3 in PS) (4+ cards in other major) (bal.) c. 2 card inv. (12-13 HCP) (2 in PS) (exactly 4 in other major) (bal.) 6. 1 ![]() ![]() 7. 1 ![]() ![]() ![]() 8. 1 ![]() ![]() 8. After we open in either minor, we play Michaels (or Flannery) against ourselves: * 1 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() * 1 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 9. 1 ![]() ![]() ![]() 10. 1 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 11. 1 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 12. 1m - 2 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 13. 1 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() IN COMPETITION: 14. Many unusual doubles including in common, 1-level auctions. X is often NOT a Negative X. Sometimes it's a transfer; other times it shows a strong balanced hand; etc. If we alert a double, we strongly advise you to ask. 15. General Comp Philosophy: In comp, we give up many natural bids that normally would show a minor suit in order to have multiple, artif ways to: (a) raise partner's Major; and (b) show an unbid Major. When raising PS we usually can distinguish 3 vs. 4+ trumps, as well as weak vs. mixed vs. inv+. 16. In MANY competitive auctions our Responder uses TRANSFERS and/or SWITCHES. For example, we open 1m, you overcall 1M. Responder's bids are: * 2 ![]() * 2 ![]() * 2 ![]() ![]() * 2 ![]() ![]() We use a nearly identical structure after we open 1 ![]() 17. Transfer advances after we overcall 1M. 18. If our auction has already created a GF, we use Pass-Double inversion. Pass = clear decision (either penalty or a slam try), while X = doubt / unsure. If we've found a fit already, the X often means, "I'm leaning toward bidding one more but it's up to you." This does not apply if we simply bid game under pressure, only if we made a GF call below game or Q-bid to say "it's our hand." |
OPENINGS
1. The base of our system is a 5551 structure: 5 card Majors, and 1 ![]() ![]() ![]() 2. When our opening bid shows a 5+ card suit, we open very light: our 1 ![]() ![]() 3. OTOH, we have no strong forcing opening, so all 1-level openings are unlimited. They're not forcing (we do occasionally pass them), but we often respond very light, including with 0 HCP. 4. 1NT = 14 to 17 HCP (any 14). 5422 and 6322 shapes are common, but almost never a singleton. 5. Our 1 ![]() ![]() When the 1 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() In 3 infrequent cases, the 1 ![]() ![]() 6. All of our 2-level openings are intermediate and natural, 8-15 HCP: * 2 ![]() ![]() ![]() * 2 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() * 2M = 8-15 HCP, 6+ M; denies 4+ in OM. * These 2-level openings remove certain hand types from our 1 ![]() 7. 1M opening: tends to show exactly a 5 card suit. Opener can only have 6+ M if: (a) 16+ HCP; or (b) 4+ in OM. 8. Our 1 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() RESPONSES & LATER IN AUCTION 9. We do NOT use 2/1 methods. There's always an artif. GF response, while most 2-level responses are conventional and weaker. Lots of relays. 10. We never make control bids in slam try sequences. Instead we use asking bids to pinpoint partner's shape, HCP range, key cards, etc. 11. We FREQUENTLY use judgment about what shape to show, as well upgrading or downgrading HCP ranges (unlike many pairs, we sometimes do downgrade). For example, with 5431 that includes a stiff honor, we might show 5422. Likewise, with Jxxxx or xxxxx in a Major, we often show it as a 4 card suit (this includes opening 1 ![]() |
1. Opening spot card leads vs. NT: MODIFIED ATTITUDE (low = serious interest: 5+ cards or HHxx). From 4 cards (Hxxx or xxxx) we lead lowest spot in the 6-8 range, or the 5 if not holding any of the 6 to 8. From 3 cards or shorter we lead highest spot (even from Hxx)
2. Honor leads vs. NT: * A and K are standard. * Q promises a 4+ card suit with the J. * J shows 3 or fewer, with either Q or T if 3. * Ten promises 4+ cards with either the J or 9. * No power card. 3. Opening spot card lead vs. suits: 3rd from even, low from odd. 4. Honor lead vs. suits: Opening lead is Rusinow (K from AK, Q from KQ, etc.), except standard: (a) in partner's unraised suit, and (b) by a preemptor. In normal situations an Ace lead denies the King. At the 5-level or higher, Ace asks attitude, K asks count. 5. After the opening lead: we lead attitude on the first round of a suit vs. both suits and NT. For later rounds of a suit we usually lead original 4th, unless bridge logic requires otherwise. 6. Coded 9s and 10s (J denies) AFTER the opening lead, but NOT on opening lead -- vs. both suits and NT. |
UDCA: Attitude, count, and discards are upside-down (low encourages or shows even #). Suit preference is standard.
When partner leads: we usually signal attitude. But when attitude is obvious we may give suit preference. When following to declarer's lead: at trick 2 it's Smith Echo vs NT (high-low encourages). We also use Smith Echo on the first round of the trump suit vs suit contracts, but only if attitude about that suit is still in doubt. When following to declarers lead later in the hand, we usually give suit pref early in the hand and count later, but it depends on which one we think partner needs more in context. This applies vs. both suits and NT. |