[Free]

It could also be a ♠ preempt... Then my partner should alert almost every bid and say "hey, he might have a completely different hand type, about 0.1% of the time". Over strong openings I may agree, but not in every situation.

Over a strong 1♣ or any other strong bid, psychs are very common, it's general knowledge. I also think our CC states 'frequent psychs' over strong 2♣ openings...

[hrothgar]

Free, on Jun 4 2006, 05:13 PM, said:

It could also be a ♠ preempt...    Then my partner should alert almost every bid and say "hey, he might have a completely different hand type, about 0.1% of the time".  Over strong openings I may agree, but not in every situation.

Over a strong 1♣ or any other strong bid, psychs are very common, it's general knowledge.  I also think our CC states 'frequent psychs' over strong 2♣ openings...

The issue is not whether or not psyches are general knowledge

Once partner is systemically protecting you by not raising Hearts with a "super-fit", the method has become systemic and must be alerted...

[Free]

hrothgar, on Jun 4 2006, 03:25 PM, said:

Once partner is systemically protecting you by not raising Hearts with a "super-fit", the method has become systemic are must be alerted...

It's also common sense not to push opps to the good contract, just for fun...

[hrothgar]

Free, on Jun 4 2006, 07:07 PM, said:

hrothgar, on Jun 4 2006, 03:25 PM, said:

Once partner is systemically protecting you by not raising Hearts with a "super-fit", the method has become systemic are must be alerted...

It's also common sense not to push opps to the good contract, just for fun...

I'm not arguing about the effectiveness of the methods. Nor do I believe that these methods are illegal or unethical if properly disclosed. However, I suspect that you'd run into some real problems with an appeals committee if you overcalled 4♥ with the hand in question and partner failed to raise with a "super-fit". I'd rule against you in a second and I'm a friend of yours.

I see a lot of costs associated with not providing appropriate disclosure of your methods, both during appeals committes and the respect of your peers. As a corrolary, I don't see any real losses from alerting your 4♥ overcall as a "wonder bid". Partner's pass of 4♥ should be alerted as either not fit or a super-fit.

I take that back... There is one way in which this type of disclosure would cost: Not disclosing your methods makes a lot of sense if you expect significant gains by keeping the opponents in the dark about your methods.