From: adam@irvine.com (Adam Beneschan)
Newsgroups: rec.games.bridge
Subject: Re: Playing in an individual
Date: 9 Nov 92 23:14:30 GMT
Organization: Irvine Compiler Corp., Irvine, California, USA


**** This is a fairly long posting ****

In article <lft4d7INNgfb@cypress.cs.utexas.edu> varvel@cs.utexas.edu 
(Donald A. Varvel, posting for Danil Suits) writes:

>  Received from Danil Suits:
>  -------------------------
>
>  The Keohane Individual is coming up soon,
>  and I am trying to prepare.

I used to play regularly in the Individual at the Pasadena, CA
regional, and I did pretty well (I finished second one year, with
about 100 people playing, if I recall correctly).  I don't know
whether the methods I used are best or not, but I can relate my
experiences and tell you how everything turned out.

The field was about what you'd expect for any other Flight B event---a
couple really good players, some above average players, and some
hackers and LOL's, and probably a couple players that were in the
Individual only because nobody else in their right mind would ever
play with them.  But overall, the field was about average.  If the
field at your Individual is mostly below-average players, then none of
this may apply.  

I made out two convention cards before the event; one was a fairly
standard card with only a few conventions, and the other was more
complex, with things like New Minor Force, Roman Keycard and other
more advanced conventions.  Then I let my partner pick whichever one
they were more comfortable with.  If they had their own convention
card, I'd generally use their card, figuring that partner would be
more comfortable with that and I could get by playing just about any
system they wanted.  However, I wouldn't recommend this, unless you're
good at adapting to different systems quickly.  I am pretty good at
remembering conventions, a lot better than, say, remembering what spot
card my partner played on the first trick.  Oh, well . . .

I recall having very few problems with bidding misunderstandings.  The
worst that I remember was when I opened Flannery 2D, and my partner
had a very weak 1-0-6-6 hand and didn't realize that she was allowed
to pass 2D!  (She bid 2H, preferring to play in the 5-0 fit.  But
somehow we got an above-average result on the hand anyway.)  What I've
found is that with the more well-known conventions and treatments,
anyway, most people play them pretty much the same way, and you're not
likely to have any misunderstandings.  This is certainly true about
negative doubles and Jacoby transfers.  I wouldn't hesitate to use
either of these conventions in an Individual, although I would ask my
partner first whether it's OK with them.  If they're comfortable
enough with the convention, we shouldn't have any problems.

The yellow "Standard Card" has been pretty popular lately.  If it's
pretty popular in your area also, I'd definitely consider using that
with most partners.  I'm willing to bet that most people in the
Individual will want to use that anyway.  (Again, I'm assuming that
the field isn't full of novices.)

Jump shifts definitely have to be discussed.  Otherwise, some people
will assume that "weak" is standard and others will assume that
"strong" is standard.  That's one thing you can't afford to have a
disagreement about.  

In general, my feeling is that there's no system that's "better
suited" to an Individual than any other.  The most important thing is
that you're both comfortable with the system you're playing and that
you won't have any misunderstandings.

One more tip: A partner in an individual once wrote at the bottom of
his card: "IT WOULD BE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE TO LET ME PLAY EVERY HAND."
Don't do this, it's insulting.  Even if it's true.

> 1NT opening 15-17, never with a five card major

If my partner seems like a weak player, I'd be willing to open 1NT on
any excuse.  When you open 1NT, you'll be a lot more likely to play
the hand than your partner.  If you end up defending, your partner may
be surprised at what you have, but a good player will figure out
what's going on and a bad one won't be counting the hand anyway.

> weak 2 bids ALWAYS 6 card suit and 2 of top 3 honors

This makes sense.  It takes an established partnership to get used to
each other's trashy weak 2's.

> No negative doubles

Again, I'd ask first.  If your partner is familiar with them, I don't
see any reason not to use them.  You might want to limit them to 1S
and 2S overcalls to show hearts.

> No gerber

That's a little extreme, perhaps, but as we've discussed before in
this newsgroup, you can live without Gerber.  The main problem (even
in experienced partnerships) is knowing when 4C is Gerber and when it
isn't.  Limiting it to immediate jumps over opening 1NT and 2NT should
eliminate that problem.

> Jump overcalls showing opening values and good suit

I don't know about this one.  Most people play jump overcalls as weak,
and if possible, you don't want to force your partners to change their
usual habits.

> 1NT overcall DIRECT = 15-17
>             BALANCE = 10-12

This is pretty standard, so opposite a good player I'd have no
problems with it.  Opposite a weaker player, I'd consider just never
balancing with 1NT.

> The author also recommended that you discuss takeout
> doubles with your partner before the round starts

Sounds like the author is used to playing in Individuals with a lot of
clueless players.  I'm not sure just what you're supposed to discuss.

>  1) What systems should be played over 1NT. Stayman plus
>     natural is my own inclination, but what should 1NT-3m
>     be?
>  2) Limit or forcing major suit raises?
>  3) Limit or standard notrumps over the minors?
>  4) should any direct q bids be allowed? (michaels and the like)
>  5) are there other topics to be considered?

Either carrying around two convention cards, like I used to do, or
carrying a Standard Card should solve these problems.  If I had to
guess what would be comfortable to most people, I'd say Jacoby
transfers, 1NT-3m forcing to game, limit raises, standard notrumps
over minors, and Michaels cue-bid.  But a few people may not know how
to use transfers or Michaels.

>  Also a legality/ethics question.  Is it appropriate to have
>  2 cards? That is one to use when partner will be first to 
>  speak, and a second when you will be?  If there are 
>  differences, what should they be?

If you're thinking about having two convention cards and switching in
the middle of the round, don't, even if it's legal.  Your partner's
going to have enough trouble getting just one of them right.

>  How about a third card, to be used when you recognize your 
>  partner? For example, if I draw Charlie Coon, should I
>  ask him to play 2/1, or simply accept the A+'s his card
>  play will generate anyway....

I don't think there's anything wrong with that.  One year I played,
three of my friends drove up with me and entered the Individual also,
so in the first round we had two regular partnerships playing against
each other, using all our fancy conventions and stuff.

>  Danil (hoping to not see many of you there. my chances
>         are bad enough already :-)

How do I get to Keohane?  8-)
                                -- Adam