FrancesHinden, on 2012-February-08, 14:13, said:
That's a really bad agreement if the opponents know about it, it only works if they aren't aware of it.
I think i already wrote this in another thread.
I assume you are concerned that good opponents (even the bad ones) will simply pass each 2
♦ opening knowing that you have to DBL and set you up. And i agree with this.
If we alert and let opponents know this we are screwed as you said, if we dont alert we are cheating. So DBL in balancing seat should not be AUTO on a passed artificial suit as oppose to what i said previously. That one was a quick fix for those who plays more MP and not too often against same good opponents.
In order to strip your side from this ethical trap you load the hands that passes in 2nd seat over 2
♦ which can not be TOO strong. Thus balancing player does not have to AUTO balance. This simply makes it way too risky for opponents to AUTO pass all 2
♦ openings with the intention to set you up, because balancer will occasionally pass.
After all, its not unlikely that, when they choose to pass the artificial bid, they had no right decision to make.