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Introduction to inquiry2over1

This blog documents the preferred 2/1 bidding system I use with select partners. My other blog, http://bboinquiry.blogspot.com/ deals with bridge hands, and general issues. Feel free to ask questions about the bidding system or to submit hands for discussion.

This electronic book details the bidding system that I play, primarily with BBO member MishoVnBg. Much of this system is modular. That is, even if you have no desire to play the entire system (some of this system is Mid-Chart and some Super-Chart), you may find some of the treatment/conventions highly useful.

This introduction provides the concept behind choosing the different aspects of the bidding system (details of which are found in the individual chapters).

An overriding concept of the Inquiry 2over1 system is to provide support with support. Both with and without competition, the system provides a number of ways to raise partner that show different stregth level. In general, DIRECT RAISES are weaker than non-direct raises [ 1H-2H, 1S-3S, 1H - 4H ] are all weak raises, in general, the higher the "raise" the more cards support.

This system is built upon another concept: Get in and out of the auction quickly. Towards this goal, Inquiry 2 over 1 GF opens nearly all hands with 26 ZAR points, and most hands with 25 Zar points when holding a four or more spades. However, some balanced hands with less than 26 ZAR points are opened, since our 1NT rebid shows 11-13 hcp. In deciding to open thes very light balanced hands with less than 26 ZAR points, deciding factors include: vulnerability and intermediate cards (tens). When vul at imps, we tend not to open these hands. The reason is partner will push to try to bid close games, and these hands are always a disappointment. Second, the penalty for overbidding vulnerable can be very high. At matchpoints, we tend to open these hands without regard to vulnerabilty. To find out more about ZAR points see http://www.aci.on.ca/~zpetkov/TheNeverMiss.html

The inquiry 2 over 1 system is a natural bidding system, but with some severe limits on the opening bid of one of a suit. This limitation (which mimic the limitations on the old Romex system with the "dynamic 1NT and mexican 2D") on the opening of one of a suit is useful for two reasons. First, since we open very light, the range from very light to super stong 1 bids is too wide for effective constructive bidding. Second, Inquiry 2 over 1 uses a variety of specialized auctions to show strong one, two, and three suiters. The availability of these "strong opening bid options" effectively limits the upper limit for all natural openings at the one level.
Here are the type of strong hands that ARE NOT opened at the one level.

BALANCED HANDS
Game force, open 2C
(22)23-24 open 2D (part of multi-2D)

ONE SUITER
Game force, open 2C
Game invite, major, open 2C (8 tricks, good suit, 5+ controls)
Game invite, minor, open 2D (9-9.5 tricks, part multi 2D)

TWO SUITER
Open 2NT, 3C, or 3D (MisIry Transfer Preempt), 4 losers or less,

THREE SUITER
All strong three suiters, open 2C, (15)16+ hcp, 5 or less loser, 5+ controls

These strong options mean an opening bid of at the one level can be characterized as less than an acol 2 bid in any suit, less then 20 hcp balanced, less than 16 to 18 if three suiter, and less than four losers with fair values if two suiter. If you think about it, these restrictions convey a lot of information. For example, if the bidding goes...

1H-1S-3H, how strong can your partner be? He couldn't open 2C with the strong heart opener, so this jump rebid in his own suit is limited. We "define" this hand by the fact that opener choose not to use riton 2C, a convention recently added to Inquiry 2/1

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good introduction. Typo under "TWO SUITER": the 2-suited hands are opened with 3C, 3D and 3H, not 3S.

I like the idea of opening strong 3-suiters with 2C, but my first impression is that your lower limit is far to low. Perhaps you can explain this to me some time.

Han

9:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good introduction. Typo under "TWO SUITER": the 2-suited hands are opened with 3C, 3D and 3H, not 3S.

I like the idea of opening strong 3-suiters with 2C, but my first impression is that your lower limit is far to low. Perhaps you can explain this to me some time.

Han

9:27 AM  
Blogger bboinquiry said...

First, let me make sure credit on the three suiter goes to Chris Ryall, I stole this from him years ago. Before we discuss how strong the minimum strong 2 suiter should be, we should wait until you read chapter on that subject, look at some of the hands there, find some of your own hands from the past, and find a level you feel comfortable with.

You do know the Freeling 2 bid and Ekren people preempt to the two with 44 in two suits on pressumed fit theory? Imagine when you hold a GOOD hand and three suits, what the presumed fit does for you... and how if your partner actually has something, then you are in great shape.

8:30 PM  

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