Helmic Escape over our 1NT Doubled

Very pleased to see the good description of this vital gadget.

I would be interested to hear views on two points.

1.  Why should a weak responder XX with a five or more card suit, why not just bid it.  I do see the one in four chance advantage that if the long suit is clubs then the 1NT opener becomes declarer with the lead coming up to him.  It's less stress on the memory to know you just bid the 5+ card suit.

2.  There is a procedure for a weak responder with a 4333 distribution.  The Helmic forced Pass (alertable, forcing).

The weak responder passes (alertable, forcing), opener XX, responder bids 2C, opener bids a four card suit, and responder passes.  A seven card (or longer) fit has been found. 

There is no problem when the responder is strong with 8+ high card points.  Opener 1NT, opponents X, strong responder passes (alertable forcing), opener XX, and responder passes.  Opener finishes up playing in 1NTXX expecting to make.

The addition of the Helmic forced pass allows responder to handle all situations;  Strong with 8+hcp, weak with a 5+ suit, weak with two 4 card suits and weak with 4333 distribution.

I would be very interested to hear other peoples views on this useful gadget that completes the 1NT X escape mechanism.

Peter Pfeifer

 

Started by Peter Pfeifer on 18 Mar 2018 at 01:45PM

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  1. Peter Pfeifer18 Mar 2018 at 01:50PM

    The NZBridge description I refered to was "Escape over 1NT doubled".

    Helmic is the additional gadget for a 4333 distribution that I think should be added to the teaching material.

    Peter Pfeifer

  2. Peter Pfeifer22 Mar 2018 at 10:07AM

    Point 1.   The weak responder with a five card suit has to go through the relay of XX, 2C, then showing his five card suit, otherwise the 1NT opener would think his bid of a suit is the lowest of two four card suits.

     

  3. GILES HANCOCK22 Mar 2018 at 03:26PM

    Hi Peter

    Yes, I think the whole system is called Helmic / Helvic / Halmic / Ronnie Wriggle.

    Your additional tweak with 4333 hands is part of the system as I know it, and yes it could be included in the NZB Notes.

    cheers, Giles

     

  4. STANLEY ABRAHAMS27 Mar 2018 at 01:48PM

     

    But first a logic comment. The XX promises a 5+ suit, and as has already been written, only when the suit is clubs, is the weak hand exposed. Another way of saying this is  3 times out of 4 the 1NT hand is exposed, AND THE DEFENDERS CANNOT SEE HOW STRONG IS THE REDOUBLER,  MAKING THE DEFENCE A LOT HARDER. (After all, it could be anything from 0 to 7, how can they tell?)

    The other difference is that 4333 is only half as frequent, 10.54% vs 21.55%, as 4432. 

    Have never worried about  the 4333, so have never had the opener redoubling. Though I can see how it works.

    Have played this for more than 60 years, still waiting for a bad score.

     

  5. Peter Pfeifer28 Mar 2018 at 09:20PM

    Hi Stanley,

    Thank you for your comments on the Helmic defence.  Interesting point, the weak hand having a larger point range 0-7
    compared to 12-14 opener may make it more difficult for the defenders. A counter arguement would be that it may be better to hide the tenaces that the 1NT opener may have. Who knows?

    I agree, the 4333 frequency is low (thanks for the actual percentages), but it does occur, and it's not too much brain strain to use the
    full system. I'm pleased you have used it for so long with good results.

    My main reason for writing is to see if NZBridge actively teach this defence. I have just joined a new bridge club that teaches a 1NT X defence called Rambo. Never heard of it before, its big, ugly and horribly convoluted. Helmic uses the same basic ideas and is much smaller and easier to remember. I'm hopeing to find partners not indoctrinated at an early age with ugly Rambo. Please teach helmic.

    Thank you.

  6. KAREN MARTELLETTI18 Jun 2018 at 05:54PM

    Hi all

    I think the teaching group was trying to offer a simple defence for now. Like any systems and conventions, there are more than one solution.  I am sure the teaching group oly wishes to cover one solution in the lessons and not confuse the students by offering too  many solutions.  Maybe some of the lesser known conventions could become part of some advance lessons ?

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