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

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.

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.

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.