[Free]

What do good players use after auctions 1♣-1♦-1NT when playing WALSH? Do they have methods to find minor fits, what do they use to find Major fits,...?

What after 1♣-1♦-2NT?

[Echognome]

We discussed this sequence. You can do a couple of things.

Option 1 - Continue to use 2-way nmf. This takes care of your invites and GF-hands, but does leave you with some weird sequences (e.g. 1♣ - 1♦; 1N - 2♣; 2♦ - 2M).

Option 2 - Play:
2♣/♦ To Play
2♥/♠ Natural reverse (GF hand)
2NT Natural Invite
3♣/♦ Natural Invite
3♥/♠ Shortness (GF, although unclear if 1-suiter or both minors)
3NT To Play

Edit - I forgot to add 1♣ - 1♦ - 2NT sequences.

Here, transfers should do the trick just fine. You can't play in 3♣, but no big whoop.

3♣ Transfer to 3♦. Either very weak signoff, choice of games, or slam try.
3♦ Shows 4+♥ and, ergo, GF values. Slam should be bid often, although you'll occasionally have the misfitting 18 opposite 12.
3♥ Show 4+♠, similar to above.
3♠ 4+♣, choice of game or slam interest.
3NT To play.

[ArtK78]

Bid naturally.

[Gerben42]

Natural bidding. No need for conventions here. BTW I'm not a big fan of Walsh. Either transfer Walsh or no Walsh at all.

EDIT

Maybe relevant:

How we solve it after 1♣ - 1♠ (0-11, no 4-card major) - 1NT:

2m = natural
2M = stopper, invite or better
2N, 3m = natural inv.
3M = "5431"-convention

[fred]

I made up most of what follows over 10 years ago and, as far as I know, it is only used by me in my regular partnerships. In other words, this is about as far from being "standard" as possible:

After 1C-1D-1NT:

- 2C=signoff
- 2D=signoff
- 2H=artificial game force but may include 4 hearts (see below)
- 2S=natural game force
- 2NT=invitational
- 3C=invitational
- 3D=invitational
- 3H/3S=shortness with long diamonds
- 3NT=signoff
- 4C=Gerber (hahaha)

After 1C-1D-1NT-2H:

- 2S=not 4 hearts and not 5 clubs
- 2NT=4 hearts
- 3C=5-card suit

After 1C-1D-2NT:

- 3C=relay to 3D (see below)
- 3D=natural and forcing
- 3H=4+ spades, 5+ diamonds
- 3S=4+ hearts, 5+ diamonds
- 3NT=signoff
- 4C=Gerber (rofl)

After 1C-1D-2NT-3C-3D:

- Pass=signoff
- 3H/3S=shortness with club support
- 3NT=mild slam try with club support and no shortness
- 4C=stronger with club support and no shortness

Fred Gitelman
Bridge Base Inc.
www.bridgebase.com

[kenrexford]

In my best partnership, we use something very similar to what Fred has, including the 2♥ call as "maybe hearts."

[peachy]

Playing Walsh, opener can have one or both major suits and 1NT just shows a balanced minimum hand. Just saying this to confirm what I think is Walsh in this context.

Responder bids naturally, a major suit is a suit and is forcing, normally gameforcing because the 1D response would not have been made unless gameforcing OR responder was going to bid diamonds until the cows came home. Or, responder planned to pass opener's 1NT. I am under the impression that this *is* standard in Walsh, but who knows...

[mike777]

Free, on Sep 10 2008, 03:48 PM, said:

What do good players use after auctions 1♣-1♦-1NT when playing WALSH?  Do they have methods to find minor fits, what do they use to find Major fits,...?

1C 1D
1NT ??


2C....Game forcing Checkback...(used for forcing hand when responder has no 4 card major and isn't certain about 3NT)
Opener should rebid 3C with 5 clubs, and rebid 3D with 4 diamonds. With both majors well stopped, opener rebids NT,
When he can't make any of those bids, he should bid the major where he has the most strength....Remember, the 2C
bid is NOT looking for a 4-4 major fit.

2D.......to play
2H.......4 Hearts, game forcing.....
2S.......4 Spades, game forcing...
2NT.....invitational
3C......invitational
3D......invitational

You can't sign off in clubs....if you had 5 card club support, no 4 card major, and a weak hand, you should have bid 3C the first time...

[skjaeran]

What I prefer:
2♣=puppet to 2♦, to play or any invite
2♦=art GF, 4-4 ♦+M or hands that don't fit elsewhere
2M=nat GF, unbalanced (5+♦)
2NT=puppet to 3♣, to play or some slam invites
3♣=5-5 GF
3♦=nat slam inv, sets trump
3M=singleton, sets ♦s as trump
3NT=light slam try, 5-card ♦
4M=exclusion setting ♦s as trump