Using 2NT as a game try after 1M - 2M
SemiMike
(Already using subsequent suit bids by 1M bidder as help suit game
tries.) Thanks.
paul
I use this simply to indicate balanced hand, with scattered honors;
partner should expect wastage opposite any shortage but can give
normal value to all high cards. This bid is usually not treated as
forcing, but even with 3334 shape it is probably best for responder to
return to the major.
For the gadget prone, I think some use this as a puppet to 3C, after
which opener makes a short suit game try. 1S-2NT-3C-3S would indicate
short clubs. It is probably common to use 1H-2H-2NT as a help try in
spades, and use 1H-2H-2S as the short suit puppet, with a return to
hearts showing short spades. I assume responder can ignore the puppet
with a hand too weak to accept any game try (1S-2S-2NT-3S, "don't
bother showing your shortage".)
Adam Beneschan
> For the gadget prone, I think some use this as a puppet to 3C, after
> which opener makes a short suit game try. 1S-2NT-3C-3S would indicate
> short clubs. It is probably common to use 1H-2H-2NT as a help try in
> spades, and use 1H-2H-2S as the short suit puppet, with a return to
> hearts showing short spades. I assume responder can ignore the puppet
> with a hand too weak to accept any game try (1S-2S-2NT-3S, "don't
> bother showing your shortage".)
Yes, I think Bob Ewen invented this a long time ago, but with the
short-suit and help-suit tries reversed. (I don't see any advantage
in one over the other.) I believe there's also a variation in which
2NT if spades are agreed, or 2S if hearts are agreed, asks responder
to show the cheapest suit in which he would accept a help-suit game
try (or just bids 3 or 4 of the agreed suit if he would decline or
accept any game try).
-- Adam
David W.
A smilar but not identical approach is the following:
After 1M - 2M
2M+1 is a game try that requests partner to bid the first suit in
which he would have accepted a help-suit game try (if non-minimum for
the raise to 2M), in whatever manner your partnership has decided to
define an 'accept'. Responder's other options are to return to 3M
(with a minimum) or to jump to 4M ('accepting all game tries'). The
theory is that this method prevents declarer from indicating his side
weakness thereby helping the opening leader. Note that in a spade
auction, the help-suit accepts are natural; whereas in a heart auction
(1H-2H-2S-?), 2NT is the spade accept.
2M+2, 2M+3, 2M+4 are short suit game tries. Again, in a heart auction,
2NT (the 2M+2 bid) is a spade short suit game try.
This leaves 2M+5 or 3M as an obstructive move.
I believe this method was originated or popularized by Eric Kokish.
David W.
Chris
There is some advantage in responder rather than opener telling, since
his hand will be on the table after the opening lead.
Also, I know folks who claim it's slightly better for responder to bid
the cheapest suit in which he would reject a help suit try, with the
idea being that it is less likely to lead to a lead-directing double.
I'm not sure this is true: I'll admit it's more likely to lead to a
lead-directing double if we are going to stop in 3M. I worry it's
MORE likely to lead to a lead-directing double if we are going to 4M.
At matchpoints, I think the Scanian approach is probably right: Give
up on short-suit game tries, and make the 2M+1 bid the ONLY game try.
Simple new suit bids become slam tries. This leads to less accurate
defense on game try hands (or hands where you would have made a short-
suit game try and decided to blast [or pass]). The additional
overberries plus the additional making slams may compensate for the
loss of accuracy.
Christopher Monsour
Adam Beneschan
> At matchpoints, I think the Scanian approach is probably right: Give
> up on short-suit game tries, and make the 2M+1 bid the ONLY game try.
> Simple new suit bids become slam tries.
I kind of like the approach one Italian expert pair takes: make 4M the
only game try. (Can't remember who: Lauria-Versace?)
-- Adam
Chris
Many folks claim to play this way, alerting 1M-2M-4M as "game try...we
bid game and try to make it". But most folks have some game try, even
if they don't call it that, e.g., 1M-2M-3M(not a "try", but I have an
extra trump and some shape)-4M(me too).
Christopher Monsour
jogs
It was first used by an unknown pair who destroyed
a top international field. Game tries gives more info
to defenders than pard. All bids are freed to be slam
tries. Info is less useful to opponents when your side
is close to twelve tricks.
dak...@aol.com
That is "What other bids are already handled?"