Herbert negative...

[akh...@my-deja.com]

I have heard a lot about using a Herbert negative after a power double,
but haven't seen too much written about it. A poster on this forum
mentioned that it was any bid *other* than NT by the advancer.

Does someone have more specific details about the convention?

Thanks,
Atul

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[Kieran Dyke]

A Herbert Negative is using the cheapest response as a negative response.
It's fairly normal to use Herbert Negatives in response to natural strong
two bids. The Blue Team used to use Herbert Negatives in response to takeout
doubles.

Tiggrr

<akh...@my-deja.com> wrote in message news:9574cf$j5l$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...

[Bruce...@nospam.akamail.com]

I have used Herbert negatives to advance takeout doubles for over two
years now. It is my firm opinion that this is superior to standard
methods.

Constructive bidding is much easier when one doesn't throw a whole level
away. It is just so much easier to find the right strain. When advancer
*does* jump, he's showing a decent suit as well as some values.

When advancer is broke, the intervening side can stay low. Responder
often enters in this case anyway. Like many treatments, the advantage
comes from the negative inferences when they're *not* used.

Bruce

Kieran Dyke <tig...@idx.com.au> wrote:
: A Herbert Negative is using the cheapest response as a negative response.

: Tiggrr

--
Bruce Moore
Mentor on the Lake, OH
Bruce...@NOSPAM.akamail.com

[David Stevenson]

Kieran Dyke <tig...@idx.com.au> wrote

>A Herbert Negative is using the cheapest response as a negative response.
>It's fairly normal to use Herbert Negatives in response to natural strong
>two bids. The Blue Team used to use Herbert Negatives in response to takeout
>doubles.

In many cases people use a bid of clubs over spades rather than no-
trumps, ie it is the cheapest suit response. You need to agree this.

Examples of Herbert Negatives.

In response to Strong 2s [Acol or Game-force]:
2D - 2H, 2H - 2S, 2S - 2NT/3C
I play this when I play Acol 2s [3C not 2NT]

In response to takeout doubles:
(1C) X - 1D, (1D) X - 1H, (1H) X - 1S, (1S) X - 1NT/2C
I have never tried this but I wonder. I should like to try it.

In response to penalty doubles:
(1NT) X - 2C
I play this. In England where penalty doubles of 1NT are common there
are two schools of thought as to what to do with weak balanced hands in
response. Many people always pass, especially in the south of England.
Many people take out with less than 5 HCP, especially in the north of
England. I have always liked to take out, but 2D/H/S shows a five card
suit, otherwise I bid 2C.

The principle was invented by Walter Herbert, and could be played by
agreement in any situation. For example, you could play [I am not
suggesting it] that the next suit after a strong jump response always
shows a minimum, so any other bid is natural but a slam try.

In England especially, people who failed to understand the principle
of Herbert negatives often referred to the Fishbein defence to 3s as the
Herbert defence to 3s.

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