System Summary Form (SSF), 2017 Senior USBC


Team: Lewis Last Updated May 1, 2017 at 14:46
Players: Jim Krekorian - Drew Casen

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Bids that Require Advance Preparation

The general approach is pretty much Standard American 2/1 Game Forcing, but with many gadgets and relays. With 4-4 in the minors, we will open 1D unless the clubs are of significantly better quality. We will also tend to open 1C with 5 clubs and 4 diamonds. We almost never respond 1D to 1C unless we have a game force (the exception is a hand like xxxx/x/KQJxxx/xx). We like to use the rule of 20 when opening the bidding.

Weak 2 bids can contain a 7 card suit because our 3 level vulnerable openings require a very good suit and/or a little distribution (ie., not 7-2-2-2).

We stretch to open 1NT whenever possible. That includes alot of 5-4-2-2 and even 1-3-4-5 (subject to the ACBL restriction on small singletons) hands where the 5 card suit is lower than the 4 card suit.

We play transfer advances after we have opened a Major and the opponents have made a takeout double. We also play transfer advances when we have overcalled a Major and the opponents have made a negative double on the one level.

We play a slightly unusual convention when our opponents open 1NT: 2C is either Ds or a 2 suiter with one unknown major and one unknown minor. 2D = hearts 2H = both majors 2S = spades 2NT=clubs 3C = both minors. In the passout chair vs. strong NTs, double = takeout of spades, 2C = takeout with at least 3 spades (both these bids promise at least 2 places to play with pass or correct principles in force),
2D = 5-5 majors constructive.

General Bidding Style

As stated before we tend to use the Rule of 20 when opening...therefore we will open most balanced 12 counts and most shapely 11's...We are more likely to upgrade 2NT rebids, opening 2NT,and opening 2C with balanced hands rather than 1NT openers.

In 3rd seat we could be a little lighter if we can handle the auction (ie. pass the response or something similar) and may occasionally open a 4 card Major if the situation or hand warrants such a bid.

We stretch to respond and can be very light especially when responding 1NT to a Major NV. We will never have a GF and respond 1NT. 2/1 is considered 100% GF. To summarize, I would consider us sound in principal in most bidding situations (i.e. not destructive).

Most of our doubles are take out with the default being take out. In response to an overcall new suits are forcing by unpassed hands except in competition.

Opening Leads AND Leads in the Middle of the Hand

We play upside down signals. We play ALOT of suit preference. We lead 4th best against NTs (but lead 3rd and 5th in Partner's suit) and 3rd and low against suit contracts. We tend to lead 2nd highest vs NT with bad holdings.

Against suits, we lead Ace from AK usually unless the contract is at the 5-level or higher or they have opened any preempt and are declarer-then Ace asks for attitude and King is more count oriented.

Against NT, we lead Ace from AK holdings for attitude, King from KQ109+ or AKJ10+ type holdings for unblock or count, Queen from KQ holdings for attitude, and Rusinow from all other holdings that include 4 or more cards in the suit. We will lead the 9 from 109xx and 2nd highest from any worse holding.

In the middle of the hand only we play 10 or 9 = 0 or 2 higher if feasible. In the middle of the hand we also tend to play attitude leads.

Defensive Signals

As indicated before we play ALOT of suit preference signals...most of our signals are upside down in form with standard suit preference and standard present count...we give attitude, count, and suit preference depending on what we think partner needs to know with the caviot that when there is no future in a suit we tend to give suit preference...so once attitude or count is known or can be inferred from the auction or bridge logic we will likely be giving suit preference, early and often.