From: ahollander@dcs.simpact.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: WRITEUP: COLE
Date: 14 Oct 92 16:29:50 PDT
Organization: Simpact Associates, San Diego CA

THIS MAY BE TOO TOUGH TO READ AT YOUR TERMINAL -- TRY USING HARDCOPY

COLE is a convention suggested by Bill Cole and popularized by 
Woolsey-Manfield.  Kit Woolsey published a 2-part series on COLE in THE 
BRIDGE WORLD: March 1991 p.16-18 and April 1991 p.16-20.

Sample auctions can be found in Challenge the Champs (sorry, no dates 
available).

Here's a synopsis without permission from the author:
	abbreviations used:	m  = minor
				om = other minor
				M  = major
				OM = other major
				relay = one bid higher (including NT)
				GF    = game force
				+     = that bid OR HIGHER
				[]    = typists comments

The convention treats openers 2C rebid after 1m - 1M as an artificial 
force.  

Responder relays with 2D unless a descriptive bid can be made. RELAYING 
with 2D says NOTHING about responder's strength!

COLE is off after any non-pass by opponents.

COLE is on regardless of which seat opener is in.

OPENER'S POSSIBLE HANDS:

Minimum raise of Major - 3 card support
	rebid 2M over 2D
		2NT is now a puppet to 3C
			P/3D	SIGNOFF
		3m  natural FORCE (invite would not relay)

Long Clubs
	must be prepared to play at 3-level to complete description
	if opening 1D -- 5-5 in minors
	if opening 1C -- 7 clubs or very strong 6 clubs
	rebid 3C over 2D
		3M = FORCE (invite would not relay)

Strong NT count unsuitable for NT opening
	(often because of singleton in responder's Major)
	rebid 2NT over 2D
		3m 	SIGNOFF
		3M 	FORCING
		3om	relay
			3D	4D + 6C
			3H	maximum heart holding
				(2 if 1M=Hearts, 4 if 1M=Spades)
			3S	6 card minor (ie 6331)
			3NT	5431 or 5422

All other rebids after 2D relay describe difficult to bid hands

		3D	game forcing / long broken minor / 0-2 in M
			3H	relay
				3S	highest singleton
				3NT	middle singleton
				4C	lowest singleton
			3S	asks 3NT unless middle singleton
			3NT	asks PASS unless highest singleton
				else bid 4C

		3H	game force / solid minor / lower singleton
			does not deny 3 card support!
			3S	asks for 3 card support

		3S	game force / solid minor / higher singleton
			does not deny 3 card support!
			4C	asks for 3 card support

		3NT	solid minor / singleton in M / ~10 tricks
			(too strong for immediate 3NT rebid)

		4m	Singleton showing SPLINTER raise
			4C = om
			4D = OM

		2OM	any hand not previously described
			2S	to play opposite 3 card invite
			2NT	relay
				3C	a) if 1C -- min 64 
					   (4H if 1S, 4D if 1H)
					b) if 1D -- GF -- 6D+4C or 5D+4C+3M
						OR if 1S maybe 6D+4H min!!

						responder assumes the weak 
						hand.  opener continues 
						with the strong variety

					1D  1H	
					2C  2D	
					2S  2N	
					3C		GF!
						3D asks
							3H = 1354
							3S = 2164
							3N = 1264

					1D  1S	
					2C  2D	
					2H  2N	
					3C		GF or weak 64
						3D	to play!!
							P  = QED
							3H = 3154 GF
							3S = 2164 GF
							3N = 1264 GF
						3H/3S	to play!!
							opener pass or bid 
							using similar code
				3D	Invite + 3 card support
					6331 or if 1D may be (31)54
					
					3H asks
						3S  = stiff om
						3N  = stiff OM
					3S	if 1S then = signoff
					3NT	signoff

				3H	GF + 3 card support 6331 
					[? or if 1D may be (31)54 - ah]
				
					3S asks
						3N  = stiff om
						4C  = stiff OM

				3S	GF
					a) if 1C -- 5D + 6C
					b) if 1D -- 5+D + 5C
					(corollary: 1C then 2D & 3D = INV)

				3N	6322 with 3 card support
					INVITATIONAL or better [? ah]

				4m	VOID showing SPLINTER raise
					4C = om
					4D = OM
			3m	to play opposite 6331 invite

OPENER'S AUCTIONS THAT DO NOT USE COLE

1m - 1M - 2M		guarantees 4 card support
	next step	artificial relay		
	(2S/2H or 2NT/2S)
		STEP 1	some 4432 with 2=om
			relay asks
				3H = lower 4 card suit + min
				3S = higher 4 card suit + min
				3NT= lower 4 card suit + max
				4C = higher 4 card suit + max
		STEP 2	4432 with 2=OM (complete shape now known)
			relay asks
				3S = min
				3N = max
		STEP 3	5422 min
		STEP 4	4333 min
		STEP 5	4333 max
		STEP 6	singleton somewhere
			relay asks
				4H = lower singleton
				4S = higher singleton
		4D	5422 max
		4H = lower void
		4S = higher void
		
		1m - 1H - 2H - 2NT 	game try with spade length

Reverses/Jump Shifts are always REAL suits (4+ suit) 

	otherwise use COLE

	intended as forcing but sub-minimum responder may 
	choose to pass knowing of the 4+ second suit

RESPONDER'S AUCTIONS THAT DO NOT RELAY OVER 2C REBID

1m - 1S - 2C 
	2H	natural NONFORCE (weak 55 in majors)
	2S	normal rebid
	2NT	natural invitational / denies 5 spades 
		(else relay to hear about 3 card support)
	3C	natural invitations / denies 5 spades
	3D[/3H]	5-5 FORCING
	3S	natural invitational (same as after natural rebid)	

DISADVANTAGES

loss of natural 2C rebid forces awkward 1NT rebids after minor 
suit openings, particularly hands with a singleton
(example hands are included)

	some of these problems are handled via
		1m - 1M - 1NT
			2C 	checkback
			2D/2H	transfer
			(followup structure is stated to be complex)

minimum 3-suiter with spade void is another problem hand.
	1C - 1S - 2D!	normal reverse OR 0445 minimum
		2H 	relay
			2NT  = 0445 mimimum
			else = real reverse

Al's Comments:

1)  Auctions not mentioned are unchanged from 'standard' and left to
	the reader to extrapolate.

2)  As far as I can tell, EVERY bid when playing COLE is alertable.  This 
	includes 1m - 1M - 2M because of the AGREEMENT that it guarantees
	4 card support

3)  Kit does not talk about whether the partnership always raises (via 
	COLE) with 3 card support.  If you choose that treatment -- 
	that must be part of the explanation to the alerted 1NT rebid
	(ie denies 3+ support)

4)  Kit explains the articles are not a complete description, highlighting 
	slam followups being tricky.  Especially troublesome is defining
	which suit is trump for key card purposes.  He leaves it to us
	to figure out the rest.

5)  BIG CLUBBERS -- this has limited value IF ANY.  Those 2C rebids after 
	1D - 1M	rebids are carrying too much weight as it is.  The 
	rest can only apply within the context of having a limited hand.
	I just can't see it.  [but willing to be converted]
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge