System Summary Form (SSF), 2021 Mixed USBC


Team: Hammond Last Updated Sep 17, 2021 at 18:03
Players: Nicolas Hammond - Kristen Onsgard

Click here to see their ACBL convention card in a new window

Bids that Require Advance Preparation

1C could be as short as 2.
1D promises 4+.
2D is Flannery.

General Bidding Style

2/1.
Will upgrade hands based on shape, HCP is a guideline.
1NT range is 14+ to 17.
Light openings at times. Seat/Vulnerability/Opponents/Perceived state of the match/likelihood of qualifying/size of breakfast are all factors.

HCP=High Card Points.

Preemptive opener May Bid Again (MBA

Opening Leads AND Leads in the Middle of the Hand

4th against NT
3/5 against suits.
Either A or K from AK against suits.
Ace asks for attitude (upside down) on the Queen, K asks for Kount (deliberate mis-spelling so we remember what the K stands for).
NT=No Trumps
A=Ace
K=King

Occasional BANNER leads possible.
BANNER is an acronym for "Black Always Nine, Never Eight Red" Analysis from a world championship showed the effectiveness of these leads.
This means that if we don't know what to lead, we may consider a BANNER lead.
The black nine could be from any holding in the suit. Examples: Q9, 92, AQ95.
Furthermore if a red eight is led, this means something strange may be up with the lead as the rule is to never lead a red eight if you don't know what to lead.

Occasional Hammond leads possible.
Hammond leads are based on statistical analysis of the leads from the tournament.
If we don't know what to lead, we consider these leads in order of first to last: 9C, 10C, 9S, JC, QD, AH, 3C, 10D, AD. The cards shown are the default, based on statistical analysis of previous tournaments.

We avoid leading black fives.

If we have to lead an Ace, we prefer to lead a red one - they do better than the black ones.

If "Occasional Hammond leads" is listed on a convention card, this means that if we don't know what to lead, we will consider a Hammond lead. The lead could be from any holding in the suit.

Defensive Signals

UDCAD
U=Upside
D=Down
C=Count
A=Attitude
D=Discard

Our philosophy is non-sophistry.
General priority is attitude, but see previous section on specific leads.

Reverse Smith against NT. Against suits as well if it comes up.
Foster Echo against NT; if we can both remember.
Trump suit preference (regular, not upside down).

NT=No Trumps