[mike777]

Question: How is this hand bid today? xx, Kxxx, AJxxxx, x in this auction:

1C-1H-1S-?

XYZ


With lite openings I bid 2c which forces p to bid 2h with 3h's or rebid 2d if P can stand a pass of 2D or rebid 2s with a good 2 suited 5-5 etc hand. With sound openings I could raise 2d to 3d with junky openings I pass 2D.

[Winstonm]

Quote

I think its more useful to be able to raise partners clubs at the 2 level in a non forcing way than be able to bid the 4th suit in a non forcing way from a frequency point of view.

I have to admit that when I started playing again after another of my multi-year layoffs, I read Marty Bergen's ideas on Walsh and found them sound. So my style of Walsh is based on his ideas.

The question gets down to how complex of system you want to play it seems. By utilizing 2C as the only forcing bid in all 1-1-1 auctions, every other bid retains its natural meaning as far as suit and its strength as far as Walsh; it also eliminates totally the need for an artificial fourth suit bid, as both invitational strength and game forcing hands all begin with 1 bid by responder: 2C.

The give up is that with a weak 45 you have to use 3C instead of 2C to show a minimum club hand; however, the simplicity of the concept, I feel, outweighs the ability to compete precisely at 2C.

WinstonM