Here's a 1995 posting of mine from rec.games.bridge

In the February 1995 issue of Bridge World, Henry T.C. Sun's article "The Power of Artificial Preempts" details a preemptive bidding structure that allows the description of many different types of preempts. Here is a modified version where an artificial preempt can only have two possible main suits. [At this point I noted bids like 2H may not be legal where you live]

Structure:
2D: Multi - decent weak two in either major
2H: bad spade preempt or bad heart preempt (with hearts may have second suit)
2S: spades and another suit
2NT: decent minor preempt
3C: bad club or diamond preempt
3D: decent three level major preempt
3H: bad spade preempt or bad heart preempt (with hearts may have second suit)
3S: solid minor suit
3NT: solid major suit
4C: bad club or diamond preempt
4D: slam try in a major (8 1/2 tricks)
4H: constructive (without any defense open 3H)
4S: to play, no slam interest but may be constructive or very weak..

The decent preemptive bids showing one of two suits are 2D,2NT, 3D, 3S, 3NT, and 4D. The bad (or non-constructive) preemptive bids showing one of two suits are 2H, 3C, 3H, and 4C with one of the two suits will be the suit opened in for these bids. Note responder with some values will be forced to bid the other suit over these preempts, in case the preempt was in the other suit (e.g. over a 2H opening, responder with some values must bid 2S in case opener has spades, not hearts). Then opener will be forced to bid again if holding the suit opened - thus if holding the suit opened a better preemptive bid is needed then holding the other suit - see below for some examples. If responder bids the other suit, opener can bid a new suit to show that suit plus the suit opened, or NT to show the suit opened and secondary length in the suit responder bid - examples:

2H-2S-3C: clubs and longer hearts
3C-3D-3H: hearts and longer clubs
3H-3S-4D: diamonds and longer hearts
3H-3S-3NT: spades and longer hearts
2H-2S-2NT: spades and longer hearts
3C-3D-3NT: diamonds and longer clubs

Example bids, assuming first seat:


S: QJT987
H: 6
D: J873
C: 42

Bid 3H not vul, 2H vul


S: 8
H: QJT987
D: J873
C: 42

Bid 2H except pass vul vs not vul. Note after 2H-2S bid 3D


S: 97
H: 872
D: QJT765
C: J5

Bid 3C not vul, pass vul


S: 97
H: 87
D: J5
C: QJT8732

Bid 3C except pass vul vs not vul


S: 97
H: 87
D: J5
C: QJT873

Pass in first or second even not vul vs vul since must correct 3D by responder to 4C. In third seat open 3C not vul.


S: KJ875
H: 8
D: JT42
C: 872

Bid 2H not vul vs vul.


S: KQT753
H: QT
D: 753
C: 65

Bid 2D (Multi)


S: 32
H: KJT8732
D: 98
C: 73

Bid 3D (Multi) - the minimum holding for this type of bid


S: 32
H: KJ87632
D: 98
C: 73

Bid 3H not vul, 2H vul


S: KQ873
H: 98
D: KT876
C: T

Bid 2S except pass vul vs not vul


S: QJT972
H: 7
D: 6
C: K8754

Bid 2S, switch spades and hearts then open 2H (and if responder bids 2S then bid 3C)


S: 52
H: 3
D: 754
C: AJT8742

Bid 2NT - a minimum bid - with no outside entry the ace should be held - replace the king with the ace and open 3C unless not vul vs vul then open 4C.

BridgeMatters moved to a new host today - if you find an article or link missing, please let me know by email or comment here

The final result of the Canada-Mexico playoff for the Bermuda Bowl spot is at:

http://www.bridgemontreal.ca/blogs/files/21/File/score(4).txt

Canada's team in the Bermuda Bowl will be:

Kamel Fergani - Waldemar Frukacz - Piotr Klimowicz - Nicolas L'Ecuyer - Jeffrey Smith - John Zaluski

NPC is Nader Hanna

Canada's Venice Cup team won their playoff by default - the team is:

Sylvia Caley - Francine Cimon - Julie Fajgelzon - Rhoda Habert - Pamela Nisbet - Isabelle Smith

NPC is Mike Gamble

I was part of a "best hand of the tournament" recently.

I had:
------------AT8
------------T
------------AQJ852
------------AJT

LHO opens 2C (standard), and I have an instant "tell" that it is not a regular 2C bid. RHO bids 2H "a bust" (no ace, no king, not lots of quacks). I throw in 2S to find out what's going on, and LHO bids 3NT. Based on my hand, this looks to me like long Hs and a S stopper. Karen bids 4S over 3NT and this is doubled by the bust. I pass, LHO takes a full minute and then bids 5H around to me. I now bid ?

For the result, please see McKenzie Myers's bridge blog at:

http://mczen.livejournal.com/2007/07/10/

I was Bashing with Dan Neill this morning on BBO, Dan showing his excellent ability to take system notes from 0-to-60 in just a few minutes.. Opening light is a double-edged sword as Josh Sher correctly put it - on one hand we were -500 where every other table where the hand was played it was passed out. However we certainly had a lot of action, and a lot of fun, and that's what light opening systems can deliver. Btw, Dan's great system collection is at:

http://www.geocities.com/daniel_neill_2000/sys/

I was talking to local TD Tony Edwards about Bashing this afternoon, and he reminded me of the ACBL regulation that all one bids must be 8+. This means the 3rd seat 1NT cannot be 0-17, but must be 8-17.

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The Canada-Mexico playoff is underway in Montreal - I'll post a final result Sunday night.

Two new items at BridgeMatters, and these are both a result of tournament experiences last week. Karen uses Gerber to investigate slam, as well as to check for aces, so we now have Good Bad Gerber which asks for good or bad, and number of aces and kings:

www.bridgematters.com/etmgbg.pdf

As we had a couple of bad results on Law-Of-Total-Trick raises, now this document covers the additional factors to consider:

www.bridgematters.com/lott.pdf