Thursday, August 6, 2015

1D 2C

It is well known that an aggressive 2C overcall of a 1D opening is often a good idea because of the problems that it causes for the opening side.  I am more and more convinced that the solution to this problem is that the auction be deemed forcing.

Consider the advantage of this.   Responder gains and entirely new option, the forcing pass, which allows more definition.  Suppose, for example, that you went very basic.  Actual calls standard.  Double as weak with one or both majors. After a double, Opener usually picks a major (assumes 55 majors) by bidding 2H with heart preference  (Responder may correct to 2S with just spades) or 2D with spade preference  (Responder corrects to 2H with just hearts).  So far, you have added the ability to handle lighter major hands more efficiently. Responder can also double with five hearts and diamond support effectively.

As with multi, you can also stack stronger meanings onto the double.

What about passing?  Here, you have a "negative pass" to replace the negative double.  A negative pass allows partner to have a responsive double back, again saving space for definition.  Opener could, for example, bid 2H with both majors (maybe 4351 oe 3451), redouble with one major (Responder bidding 2H with weak and both majors at least 33).

I am not proposing a final perfect agreement.   Rather, I am suggesting that perhaps a force here wins more in the long run than enabling a pass as weak.  Sure, you can get too high, but is that all bad?  The fact that a treatment has a downside is not a trump card against it, because the alternative of standard also has a downside.  Which downside is worse?

This approach,  by the way,  is even stronger if the 1D opening is unbalanced, or canape, or otherwise limited away from the 4432 type.