5 Misused Conventions

[@adamlea6339]

The problem with Blackwood is sometimes people use it when they won't know what to do with the information provided by the response. A classic example is using it with something like a small doubleton in a side suit, they find out they are missing a key card and bottle it because they are scared of the defence cashing AK on the opening lead. What they should be doing is cue bidding to find out if they have a side suit missing any controls, if they do they can immediately put the brakes on the auction.

[@ligafftheindifferent3495]

I would add a whole host of 2 suited bids over 1NT. It seems like some players just feel they must bid over a 1NT opener and are ore than willing to do so on some pretty average 5-4 hands and treat it like a 2 suited hand instead of a simple overcall. It seems like their range in terms of points can often be very wide as well. Such bidding leads to big minus scores and to missed games since partner is prone to be happy with any plus score since bidding game will be bad when partner is light.

[@adamlea6339]

With takeout doubles, I've come across people who think they are used to show any opening strength hand.

[@BridgeWithPete]

People often do that hence it is in misused conventions. There are definitely opening strength hands you do not want to double with.

[@johnwest2156]

for Negative Doubles if the bidding went, Partner opens 1 club OP overcalls 1 Diamond a Double by you would show 4/4 in the majors and 6+ hcp's, and if the bidding went Partner opens 1 club OP overcalls 1 Diamond then you bid 1 Heart would that not show 6+ HCP's and 4+ hearts, but also Deny's 4 Spades??

[@jyutzler]

I mostly agree but I'd put support doubles ahead of Michael's.

[@echotango4911]

So what should you use instead of 2 clubs opener?

[@BridgeWithPete]

You should still use 2C for strong hands but don't overuse it.

[@StephenWong14]

To you is it acceptable to do takeout double with 3 cards at opener's suit?

[@BridgeWithPete]

It can be. It depends on do you have extra points which suits are you trying to get to. What other options do you have. I usually try to pass but the lower the level the more likely I will be to double.

[@haykalahmad3528]

I use rkc, but is still use cue bid if i can. But i dindnt ask Q in rkc, i ask K with the answer 0/4 123,when i ask king i just bid 1 step over my p but its not the trump

[@unclealand]

Whatever that first convention was (Mynawood?) it’s alertable and therefore no misunderstanding should occur. Gerber and RCK has been successfully used by rational players for a long time, and I’ve never seen any pair use either as their ONLY slam convention. (Cue bidding is useful, but it depends on the auction.) I have never seen strong 2C opening with 16 HCP. Or 17 or 18 HCP. It’s an announcement of 21+ HCP. Partner has standard responses to that. I’m confused where you play Bridge.

[@BridgeWithPete]

With alerts they are only allowable information for your opponents. You are meant to ignore partner either alerting or failing to alert, using that information is illegal. Roman keycard is a good convention and gets used correctly a lot but it also gets misused by inexperienced players a lot. That was what I was trying to point out. Top players extremely rarely play Gerber, it is usually better to play other conventions. I think you would be surprised how many club players have only been taught roman keycard or gerber and never use any cue bidding. I see people use 2C enough of hands like AKQxxxx, - , AQTx , xx. I don't like it but it does happen. I am from Australia but have played in lots of places.