The following conventions and treatments were submitted to inform their opponents
as to the methods they intend to use during the 2014 D20 Championship GNT Finals.
Tolliver – Zwerling     convention card
McNay – Stoltz     convention card
Marfell – Freeman     convention card
Gibson – Brower
Bertens – Roman
Coquillette – Moscow
Montgomery – Sather     convention card


Tolliver - Zwerling agreements     convention card We play two midchart conventions: 1. Our opening 4N bid shows a powerhouse minor suit one suiter. The national midchart rules required us to apply for an approved defense by submitting a detailed description of the bid and its common continuations and providing a suggested defense. We did so and the ACBL data base includes both a description and an approved defense. We also pre-alert the bid. More information and suggested defense 2. After second seat interference, we play transfer advances to our opening 1D, 1H and 1S openings in first or second seat, and transfer responses to our take out doubles beginning with the opponents' opening bid suit. These transfers only apply when partner is not a passed hand. We don't believe we are required to submit a full description of the method to the ACBL or to suggest a recommended defense. We do, however, carry a detailed description of the method with us when we play as the midchart apparently requires. More information; system notes We play a similar scheme after our 1D, 1H or 1S openings are doubled for takeout. As best we can understand, the Mid-chart does not require us to provide defenses for either of these bids. 3. Jumps to show minor two-suited hands. We play a series of jumps to show minor two-suited hands after we have opened 1D, 1 H, or 1 S. All of the jumps promise at least 5-5 in the minors with the exception of 1D -- 3C. That auction promises at least 4-4 in the minors and is competitive. As best we can tell, we are not required to provide a written defense. More information; system notes 4. Responses to our weak two openings. After our opening of 2H or 2S, we play that 3D by an unpassed hand is at least a constructive raise of Opener's suit, and 3C by an unpassed hand is Ogust. Convention Card notes: 1. Constructive Bidding - We play a forcing club system that utilizes 4 card major suit openings and a canape style by both opener and responder. - 1D opening can be short [rarely even with a void]. When it contains a D void, we will have at least 5 clubs. - 1C opening forces to game in most circumstances if responder has either 8 hcp or and Ace and a King. We have several different ways of proceeding after a 1C opening, most common is via a distributional relay marked by responder transfers. - After all of our non-1C 1 level suit openings, we play many transfers and artificial continuations by responder. For the most part, responder's initial action is natural. Responder may begin a canape with 2C or 2D on a three card suit [or rarely a doubleton]. All responses to these openings are either forcing for at least one round or artificial showing some good hand. The three exceptions come after a 1D opening where 2H shows both majors NF and 3c and 4C shows both minors NF. - We play several unusual openings. 2D shows at least 5=4 in the majors and 2N shows at least 5=5 in the minors both with 10 - 16 HCP. 3N shows a running major. 4m is Namyats except at favorable. 4N shows a rock crusher minor one suiter [the ACBL has a recommended defense for this very rare call]. Also, our 2C opening is natural showing 10 - 16. In first and second seats it usually shows a 6+ card suit and either a good suit or a very distributional hand. After all of our openings at the two level or higher, we have both relays style continuations and natural continuations available. - Our 1 Nt opening shows 14+ to 17-. In first and second seat, we avoid this bid holding 7 or more controls [A=2 and K=1]. After 1N, we play puppet Stayman and both Jacoby and Texas transfers. The transfer to 2H can mask a game forcing one suiter in some other strain. When opener has a five card major, he will not be maximum in terms of HCP. - If the opponents compete after we open at the one level, we play many transfers or other artificial bids - Our opening minor suit preempts are sound. They always contain a good suit that includes the Ace. - We utilize a host of conventional devices in high level competition - 2H and 2S are natural weak two bids - We utilized several different RKC schemes, most of which fetch 1430 responses. In relay style auctions, we usually have an artificial slam try available. 2. Defensive Bidding - Our takeout doubles of one level openings are not standard. Typically they suggest at least a minimum opening hand and playability in at least two other strains. Even without extra values they may contain a powerful holding in the suit opened or shortness in a major. We tend not to make these doubles on very distributional hands unless they are strong. - Jump overcalls by unpassed hands are intermediate promising at least a minimum opening hand and a decent suit. - We have three ways of immediately showing decent two suiters - 1N [lower two], 2N[top and bottom] , and Q-bid [higher two]. We show two suiters via crash after the opponents open with an artificial one level bid [i.e. when the opening may be made on a doubleton or less]. - After a strong 1N opening, we play modified DON'T. After weak 1N opening [or a third seat strong 1N when not vul] we play ASPRO. In both cases 2N shows a 3 level worthy one suiter and 3 level bids are modified pin point ASTRO. [3N, 4C and 4N = both minors and 3H and 4D = both majors] - Our overcalls tend to be limited to 16HCP. At the 1 level we frequent bid 4 card suits. On those hands we may have a longer minor. 3. Carding Except after the lead of a King against a suit contract, all of our carding is upside down including suit preference and Smith [which we play both against Nt and suit contracts]. Our primary signal is attitude [which we balance depending on context between the suit led and our holding in the suit we think is the obvious shift suit]. We tend to give less count signals than other pairs. Our first discard tends to be count in the suit discarded unless it is needed for some other purpose.


McNay - Stoltz System Summary     convention card ============================= Weak NT 12-14 (13-15 3rd seat Vul) 2/1 game forcing by unpassed hand Mid-chart convention ==================== By unpassed hands, 1H - 2S shows an invitational hand in diamonds, with less than Qx in support for hearts. Suggested defense: Double => lead direcing in spades 2N => length in both clubs and spades Methods teams may need to prepare for ===================================== 1 minor - 2 hearts shows 5+ spades, 4+ hearts, about 4-7 HCP 1 minor - 2 spades denies a 4-card major, typically 4/5 card support for the minor (could be 3 card support) 8-10 balanced Other methods ============= 1N forcing over a major, and could contain up to 15 HCP After major suit opening or overcall by us, jump to 3 of suit below our major is artificial mixed raise of major. Always on. After opening, if unpassed hand jumps to 3 of lower-ranking suit that is natural and invitational (exception: jump to 1-under major opening is artificial mixed raise of major) If opponents double our major suit opening or overcall we play next-suit transfers starting at 1N up to suit below our major. Two-way new minor Blackwood - 1430 Opponents open 1N, we play extended Capelletti: 2C = 1 suiter or 6 of minor + 4 spades 2D = majors 2M = M + minor 2N = minors 3m = 6 of m + 4 hearts Leads and Carding ================= 3/5 opening lead only versus suits A from AK versus suits 4 best versus NT Honor opening leads versus NT: A asks attitude about Q or unblock J K asks unblock Q or J, else give count Q asks for attitude about A, K, or J (and if one of these on board, then 10 also) J standard, except we lead J from QJ98(x), which asks for attitude or unblock 10 Standard count and attitude


Marfell - Freeman Unusual Calls     convention card
Connie and Ed play three things that are significantly unusual.  Two were invented by ED, the third came from Jade Barrett.  Note that there are other local players who have adopted both FrAction and Fracoby. Fracoby 2NT: 2NT over 1 of a major guarantees at least 4 trump and a limit raise or better. This includes "cover card" or "shape" limit raises like: Kxxx x Axxxx Txx. So, you are expected to have 3 or more cover cards, no specific number of points. Responses: 3C: Any seven+ loser hand. 3D: Balanced, non-minimum -- loser based NOT point based.  Includes stiff K as balanced. 3H: Singleton/Void Club  [6- losers] 3S: Singleton/Void D  [6- losers] 3N: Singleton/void in other major  [6- losers] 4C/4D/[4H if spades]: Source of tricks 5 cards or more. 4 of Major: 7-2-2-2 without an outside Ace After 3C: 3D: Asks and is a slam try [same responses as over an immediate 3D below] Any bid other than 3/4 of major or 3D is a Forced cue bid auction, including trump Cue bids. The one unique option is if in spades, 3H  can be used as Last Train, for a Tweener Limit Raise/Game Force [eg - Kxxx xx AKx Jxxx] After 3D: Since you have a BALANCED hand with 6 or fewer losers, you need to know partner's controls. All suits are in play. Note, that I have found that singleton Ks tend to work better as 3D responses to 2NT than singleton responses, since partner's points in that suit take full value. Also note that over 3D we differentiate between shape responses [as mentioned above] and all other responses. As are 2 controls. Ks are 1 control. Trump A/K count the same as others. 3H: 0-2 controls [but full values for a limit raise] 3S: 3-4 controls [but full values for a limit raise] 3N: 5+ controls Iff you have the shape only limit raise, you do not respond controls, but your shortness [BTW - if exactly a LR with shortness, splinter to begin with unless you have too many controls]: 4C/4D: Shortness, undervalued 4H: Shortness in other major, undervalued. If partner's response to the 3D may be enough, you cuebid.  Partner only counter cuebids without the minimum.  So he has 2, 4, 6+ controls OR  has fewer with shortness or a bunch of useful Quacks. If they interfere: Double is penalty oriented. If partner has a regular 4-4-3-2, 9-12 HCP limit raise, you want to defend. Pass implies that you were going to bid at that level or below; it is considered a "forcing pass" through 3 of your major. Otherwise, bid as though no interference occurred. Where 3NT shows any no longer mentionable singleton/void -- of course it is most likely in their suit. If they double 2NT, Rdble shows the 3D rebid. Pass shows the 3C bid and the 3 level shows a singleton or void. Jumps by either partner to the 5 level are Exclusion at any point. FrAction FrAction is Freeman's Action over no trump.  It is only IN BALANCING SEAT over a 1NT opening. In balancing seat over 1N - P - P bids mean: X - Any two suiter that is willing to sit for a penalty pass by partner. Partner will assume around 10HCP, but it may be a well spotted 8HCP.  So it is basically a COOPERATIVE double. -- responder bids first playable strain.  If responder bids a Major, he is suggesting to play there. 2C - A 3-suited hand including clubs. 4-4-3-2 can be treated as either 2 or three suiter depending on strength [if not good enough to double, must go three suited], and even a 3-3-2-5 is a reasonable hand for this action. 2D - 3 suited, no clubs. -- over both of these, responders actions are pass or correct. 2H, 2S, 3C, 3D – Natural 4C or 4D Opening An opening bid of 4C or 4D is RKC in that suit.  However, it does not promise significant length in the suit opened.    Examples of potential 4C openings:   AKQJxxxx  x A Qxx    or   AK  x Kx QJTxxxxx.   In both cases, RKC in clubs determines best contract.   Similarly, opening 2C with a next round bid of 4C or 4D is RKC in the corresponding major.  So the auction 2C - 2D / 4D is RKC in Spades.   This structure is from Jade Barrett and we are unsure if he has a name for it.


Gibson - Brower/Redden agreements David and I play a slightly modified suction in direct seat by an unpassed hand over opponent's NT.   Our bids over NT are as follows: Clubs = Diamonds, Majors, or spades and diamonds Diamonds = hearts or spades and clubs Hearts = spades or clubs and diamonds Spades = Clubs or Diamonds and Hearts NT = clubs and hearts. Advancer's bids are all pass or correct with the following exceptions:   NT bids are a relay to clubs, in an attempt to play advancer's suit a "raise" of overcaller's artificially bid suit is a limit raise or better for all possible combinations. Mike Redden and I also play suction over NT in all seats. Our bids over NT are as follows: Clubs = Diamonds or Majors Diamonds = hearts or spades and clubs Hearts = spades or clubs and diamonds Spades = Clubs or Diamonds and Hearts NT = clubs and hearts or diamonds and spades Advancer's bids are all pass or correct with the following exceptions:   NT bids are a relay to clubs, in an attempt to play advancer's suit a "raise" of overcaller's artificially bid suit is a limit raise or better for all possible combinations. All of our other treatments are GCC in both partnerships.  David and I are playing a weak NT in a 2/1 system, and Mike and I are playing a strong NT in a 2/1 system. These disclosures are for both the championship flight and the flight A GNT trials.


Bertens - Roman mid-chart agreements The only mid-chart things Huub and I do are: 1m - p - 2h = 5s, 4(5)h, < invitational and When the opponents open 1nt, our 2d overcall shows a major 1-suiter with a good hand (like an opening bid).


Coquillette – Moscow agreements Sherwin and I are still playing KS, but we play Chicken KS now at teams. When we are vulnerable we play 15-17 1NT openings. We have some minor suit bids that are different from 2/1: 1d/1M/2c is 15+ hcps, 1m/1M/3m shows 9 tricks, 1d/1M/3c shows 11-14 hcps and 5/5 in minors. We have one unusual bid: 2d openers show 4441 hands with 11-14 hcps and a singleton in one of the blacks. We also play fit showing jumps all of the time. We don't play Michaels, but play top and bottom instead.


Montgomery – Sather agreements     convention card Stan and I are playing Modified Fantunes. We play transfer responses to our 1 Club opening. We play Gazzilli and XYZ with transfers. We play that 2C after 1D, H, S could be a WK limit raise else it is GF We play that 2D/ M is not forcing if opener rebids at or below 2 of his major. We play 2NT and 3 level Bergen style bids after 1D, H, S These conventions work as follows: 1) Transfers after 1C 1D shows 4+H and 0-11 points 1H shows 4+S and 0-11 points 1S shows no major and 0-11 points 2) Gazzilli is a rebid of 2 Clubs after opening 1D/H/S. It shows a strong 17+ hand. Responder makes a minimum bid in a bid suit to show 0-6 points; else he has 7-11 points. 3) XYZ with transfers happens after 3 bids at the 1 level after a non club opening. 2C is invitational, other suits are transfers. If responder bids again after a transfer it is GF. (no competition) 4) 2C after a non club opener could be a weak limit raise or it is GF. It could contain a 4 card major. 5) 2NT after 1D, H, S is a balanced forcing raise. Rebids show singletons. 3Level responses to 1D, H, S show singletons and range. The following is a short description of our system. I don’t think listing the conventions we play is enough information to provide to a player unfamiliar with Fantunes. We have no artificial forcing opening. All 1 level suit bids are forcing. Responder must bid. Opener can make a further forcing bid and responder can make a HOM (Hand of Misery) response to show 0-5 pt. We play that a rebid of 2C after an opening bid of 1D, H, S, is Gazzilli a strong artificial force. We open 10-13 distributional hands with 2 of a suit unless they are both majors. Our 1 club if balanced could have only 2 clubs. We use xfer responses at the 1 level and in competition. Our 1 Diamond open bid is distributional with 5 or 4-4-4-1, or if balanced has 5 diamonds. Our 1 of a Major could be 11-14 if both majors else 14+ Our Wk notrump (12-14) can contain many 5-4 hands as long as they are not both majors. Responder’s 1 level responses are limited on the upper end to about 10 points. With 10+ points responder makes a game forcing call. Game forcing calls over our 1 club opening are: 1NT 10-14 which might contain a 4 card major 2 of any suit which shows 5+ in the suit bid, 2NT 15-17 which might contain a 4 card major 3 of any suit which shows a singleton in the suit bid and a 5-4-3-1 hand Game forcing calls over 1D are: 2C could be a weak LR in D or a game force with clubs or balanced 2H, S showing 5+ in the suit bid 2NT a balanced game force 3H, S 9-11 and 12-14 with a stiff somewhere Game forcing calls over 1H are: 2C could be a weak LR in H or a game force with clubs or balanced 2S showing 5+S 2NT a balanced game force 3C, D, 9-11 and 12-14 with a stiff somewhere Game forcing calls over 1S are: 2C could be a weak LR in S or a game force with clubs or balanced 2D is game forcing unless opener bids at or below 2 of his suit. Responder can pass 2 of a major. 2H showing 5+ H 2NT a balanced game force 3C, D 9-11 and 12-14 with a stiff somewhere