This blog should be mostly a formality: the responses to 1H(=S) are mostly analagous to those for 1D(=H). Without further ado …
- 1S: R(elay), ART(ificial). The kinds of hands included are likely to be from one of the following catgories: (i) Slam Interest, or (ii) FG, but strain not clear, or (iii) INV, but strain not clear, or (iv) INV, with 3S, or (v) a hand that might bid 1NT if were available in it’s natural sense.
- 1NT: “Pivot”: A puppet to 2C. Continuations will include (i) INV with 4-5S, and (ii) INV with a primary suit that isn’t S, and (iii) INV, 5+5+ not S, and probably (iv) a slightly stronger way to bid 2S than directly
- 2C: 5+C, NNF, < INV
- 2D: 5+D, NNF, < INV
- 2H: 5+H, NNF, <INV
- 2S: 3S (sometimes 4S BAL), little if any game interest
- 2NT: 4+S, BAL INV or FG SPL
- 3C: Fit-showing, NF, 6+C, usually only 3S
- 3D: Fit-showing, NF, 6+D, usually only 3S
- 3H: Fit-showing, NF, 6+H, usually only 3S
- 3S: 4S (sometimes 5S BAL), little if any game interest
- 3NT: 4S, BAL, FG
- 4C: 4+S, ART VOID (D or H) SPL
- 4D: 4+S, REV TRF VOID (C) SPL
- Game: to play (note this includes 4H)
It’s hopefully much the structure expected after seeing the 1D response structure. It was decided to make 1H 4H natural, which means some fancy footwork on the 4C void splinter (4D R then 4H C void, 4S H void).
Until next time, DipBridge
