[WrecksVee]

If you look at the auction that I just posted concerning an auction that began 1♠-2♣-2♦ you can understand why I am curious about GAR or other conventional methods to add clarity to this sort of natural auction.

Does anyone have any notes re GAR? I have a copy of Ambra. That write up seems unclear to me on some of the possible steps when the hand is unlimited.

Or if anyone has any other suggestions I would be curious.

Thanks, WrecksVee

[Free]

GAR means playing 2NT as a forcing relay. Responses are:
3♣ = min with 5-4
...3♦ = asks distribution
......3M = shortness 1 or 2
......3NT = 5422
3♦ = max with 5431
...3♥ = asks shortness
......3♠ = shortness 1
......3NT = shortness 2
3♥ = 6-4
3♠ = 5-5
3NT = max with 5422
(if the hand is unlimited, 4♣ also shows 5422 but with even more extra's. For example, 20-21HCP)

[EricK]

Surely on this auction it makes more sense to use 2♥ as a forcing relay.

[aguahombre]

EricK, on 2011-November-25, 11:28, said:

Surely on this auction it makes more sense to use 2♥ as a forcing relay.

I can see the need for both bids:

GAR when responder wants to take over (knowing what trump should be and what level, depending upon the answers).
2H (FSF) when responder wants to describe later, or set trump later for a cooperative auction.

I can also see the need for a natural 2NT bid by responder, lumping more into the 2H rebid ---which we do.

This post has been edited by aguahombre: 2011-November-25, 12:28

[EricK]

aguahombre, on 2011-November-25, 12:22, said:

I can see the need for both bids:

GAR when responder wants to take over (knowing what trump should be and what level, depending upon the answers).
2H (FSF) when responder wants to describe later, or set trump later for a cooperative auction.

I can also see the need for a natural 2NT bid by responder, lumping more into the 2H rebid ---which we do.

It's this last point which I was partly thinking about.

Where opener has shown 9 of his cards, there is surely a good chance, with sensible use of cheap relays, that responder can find out everything he needs to know at a low level. using a slightly more expensive relay, or responder often trying to show what he has, seem to be inferior.

[Free]

EricK, on 2011-November-25, 11:28, said:

Surely on this auction it makes more sense to use 2♥ as a forcing relay.

Obviously, but that's what GAR is: a forcing 2NT bid after opener showed 5-4 in 2 suits. It's easy to use, always the same structure, each suit combination ends up at the same height,... Perhaps you can even use 4th suit at 2-level with weaker hands. The use of 4th suit vs 2NT is another discussion imo.

[han]

Wortel-Schollaardt play that 2H shows 4+ in the other major and 2S asks. I think that's the wrong way around, but it must be better than using 2NT as an ask which makes no sense to me.