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Simplified Fantunes

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Simplified Fantunes Modified Fantunes – Version 1.10 1 Introduction a 1-level opening bid a balanced 11-count or an unbalanced 10-count is usually enough to force to game. This article describes a version of the Fan- tunes system as being played by Gerben Dirk- sen (Gerben42) and Han Peters (Hannie). It Opening a 1-bid you will categorize your hand is largely based on the system by Italian su- in one of the following strength classes: A perstars Fulvio Fantoni and Claudio Nunes, normal hand which is worth about 13 – 17 nicknamed Fantunes. There are also some points, a strong hand, worth about 18 – 20 Polish Club elements included. The system points, a semi game forcing hand or a game is very flexible and most of all very natural. force. The advantage of the Fantunes system is ex- perienced in several ways. The extremely Opening on the 2-level can be approximated solid 1-bids make both competetive and un- by the rule of 18. Since these bids are located contested auctions much easier than standard around the average strength of a bridge hand opening bids because responder can bid more they are extremely frequent and yet the range with less and still control the auction. On the is very small so that partner will usually have other hand, the 2-bids are very frequent and an idea about the potential of the hand. although they preempt the auction for us too, even more so for the opponents. 1.1 Opening Bid Structure 1.2 Passed hand bidding The opening bid structure is very natural: If partner is a passed hand the minimum 1- 1♣ 13+ 5+♣ unb. / 4414 / 15+ bal.* level opening strength is increased by one 1♦ 13+ 4+♦ unbal. (4♦5♣ poss.) point. even a passed hand might be strong 1♥ 13+ 5+♥ enough to force to game, the response struc- 1♠ 13+ 5+♠ ture is not changed after the 1-level opening 1NT 12 – 14 (semi)bal., 5422, 5M poss. rd + bids. In 3 seat the 2-level bids can be very 2♣ 9 – 12, 5 ♣ th wide ranging, in principle 0 – 13. In 4 seat 2♦ 9 – 12, 5+♦ these bids show approximately 10 – 13 HCP. 2♥ 9 – 12, 5+♥ 2♠ 9 – 12, 5+♠ 2NT 21 – 22 balanced * May include a 5-card major if 15 – 17 ba- lanced. 2 1♣ opening bid The most interesting feature of this system is that the 1-level opening bids are forcing and unlimited. The minimum required strength The opening bid 1♣ shows either a balanced is best described by the Rule of 22, i.e. the hand with at least 15 HCP which may include length of the two longest suit added to the even up to 5 Diamonds, or 5 cards in a major HCP is at least 22. If you prefer Zar evalua- if 15 – 17 HCP, or an unbalanced hand with tion, the minimum opening strength is about 4 or more Clubs. 4441-hands with a short half a level more than a standard minimum major should be opened 1♦. 1♣ is unlimited opening bid, i.e. at least 29 Zar. Opposite and forcing. 1 2.1 Responses to 1♣ After the 2♥ rebid responder can relay with 2♠, after which opener describes naturally. 1♦ 0 – 5 any distribution up to 7 without 4-card major 2.2.1 Responder’s rebid 14+ balanced GF 5 – 5 not both minors + + With a GF balanced hand rebid 2NT. With 1♥ 6 4 ♠, longer minor possible the 2-suiters rebid on the 3-level: 1♠ 6+ 4+♥, longer minor possible 3♣ ♣ + ♥/♠ 1NT 8 – 10 bal., no 4-card major 3♦ ♦ + ♥ 2♣ GF, 5+♣ 3♥ ♥ + ♠ 2♦ GF, 5+♦ 3♠ ♠ + ♦ 2♥ 5♥ + 4♠,5–8 2♠ Invitational, 5+4+ minors The lower rebids are natural and weak. 2NT GF,5♥/♠332 or 5+♣ 5+♦ 3♣ Invitational, 6+♣ + ♣ ♥ ♠ 3♦ Invitational, 6 ♦ 2.3 After 1 – 1 / 3♥♠ 11 – 13 bal. no stopper in other M The 1♥/♠-response inverts the major suit re- 3NT 11 – 13 bal. stopper in ♥ + ♠ sponses after the opening bid of 1♣/♦. The two main advantages of this approach are 2.2 After 1♣ – 1♦ • The stronger hand, opener, will play more often. This is especially true for The 1♦ response is Polish style as are the 1♦ where 1♥/♠ may be bid on 0 HCP, responses. With a minimum balanced hand but also for 1♣ which may include a very one should rebid the longer major, which can strong balanced hand. be 3 cards. Also note the 2♥-rebid, which is a Multi Reverse. • If you bid 1♠ to show ♥ the opponents have one less bid available to show ♠, on 1♣ – 1♦ – ? the other hand after 1♥ showing ♠ they 1♥/♠ Can be 3 or 5 cards if 15 – 17 bal. have one extra bid, but in this case we May be passed only with 0 – 3 have the master suit. 1NT 18 – 20 balanced After the response of 1♥, 1♠ shows 4 cards 2♣ 13 – 17, 6+(5)♣ in ♥, completing the inversion. A 2♦-rebid 2♦ 23+ bal. / GF shows a GF hand with at least 3-card support 2♥ SGF, not 1-suiter or 6 – 4 (Odwrotka), otherwise bid naturally: 2♠ 18 – 20 5+♣ 4♦ 2NT Semiforcing 1-suiter 1♣ – 1♥(♠) – ? + 3♣ 18 – 20, 6 ♣ 1♠ 13+, 4♥ unbalanced, F1R 3x Semiforcing, 6 – 4 1NT 15–18− balanced, no 4♠(♥) + After the 1NT rebid the same system as after 2♣ 13 – 17, 6(5) ♣ + opening 1NT is used with the certainty that a 2♦ GF, 3 card support strong 2-suiter shown by responder is 10+ and 2♥(♠) GF unbal. no 3-card support at least 5 – 5. This is the only exception to 2♠(♥) minimum, 3/4-card support + + responder having a 4-card major other than 2NT 18 – 20 / 23 bal. no 4♠(♥) with 0 – 5 HCP. 3♣ Invite, 6♣ + 3-card support 3♦ GF, 6+♣ + 4♦ After the 2♦ rebid, 2♥ is the relay bid, then: 3♥(♠) GF,6+♣ + 4♥(♠) 2♠: GF 3-suited, 2NT = 23 – 25 NT (see the 3♠(♥) Invite, 4-card support 2NT opening bid for further bidding), higher 3NT Solid ♣ with stoppers = natural and GF. 4♣ GF, 5♣ 4♠(♥)22 2 2.3.1 After 1NT rebid 2.5 After 1♣ – 1NT 2♦ is to play, 2♣ is Checkback, after which After the 1NT rebid opener can bid naturally, opener shows his strength and support: or ask what responder has with the 2♦ Relay. Responses to the relay: 2♦ minimum, no 3-card support ♥ ♣ 2M minimum, 3-card support 2 5 ♠ ♦ 2oM maximum, 3-card support 2 5 2NT maximum, no 3-card support 2NT 4333 3♣ 4 – 4 minors 2.3.2 Responder has a 6-card major 2.6 After 1♣ – 2NT With a 6-card major in response to 1♣ and Opener will usually relay with 3♣ after which opener’s unbalanced rebid, with 6 – 9 HCP or responder transfers to his major, or bids 3♠ so make a simple rebid after making a reverse with both minors. Other rebids by opener are major bid. A jump to the shown major is GF natural and show extreme shapes. (for example 1♣ – 1♥ – 2♣ – 3♠). 3 1♦ opening bid 2.3.3 Bubrotka The opening bid 1♦ shows an unbalanced In the sequence 1♣ – 1♥/♠ – 2♦, opener hand with at least 4 cards in Diamonds. It in- shows a GF hand and at least 3-card support cludes 4441-hands with any shortness except of partner’s major. Partner will now bid like ♦, and may include hands with 4♦ 5♣ if the this: ♣ suit is bad. 1♦ is unlimited and forcing. 2♥ 6 – 9, 4 cards 2♠ 10+, 4 cards 2NT 10+, 5+ cards 3.1 Responses to 1♦ 3♣♦ 8 – 11, 5+ card + 4M 3♥ 6–9,5♥ unbal. In contrast to the responses to the other open- 3♠ 6–9,5♥332 ing bids, the responses 2♣/♦ are not forcing + 3NT 6–9,6 ♥ to game but since fewer possible final con- 4♣♦ Splinter tracts have to be considered this is not a prob- lem. Notice the Bergen-style 3♣-response After the response to the relay, opener con- that covers the gap between the preemptive tinues naturally. This is especially useful to 3♦ and the inverted 2♦. find a 4 – 4 fit in the other major. 1♥ 0+ 4+♠, longer minor possible 1♠ 0+ 4+♥, longer minor possible 2.4 1♣ – 1M – 2M 1NT 0 – 8, no 4-card major 2♣ Inv+, 5(4)+♣ 2♦ Inv+, 4+♦ This shows an unbalanced GF hand with less 2♥ Invitational, 6+♥ than 3 cards in partner’s major. It also denies 2♠ Invitational, 6+♠ a 6 – 4 distribution or solid ♣. After this re- 2NT 9 – 10, bal. sponder will describe his hand without much 3♣ 6–8,4+♦ extra strength, or ask opener to do so with a 3♦ 0–5,5+♦ 2NT relay, which shows slam interest. 3NT 11 – 13 bal. 3 3.2 After 1♦ – 1♥/♠ be passed, which will normally show a near- minimum hand without 6♦ or 4♣. With 13 There is a difference here to the responses to – 20 opener will either rebid 2♣ or 2♦. With 1♣ in that there is no lower limit to the 1♥/♠ SemiGF hands opener can choose between 4 responses. Also, if you have a less than in- natural bids: 2♥, 2♠, 3♣ and 3♦. 2NT is a vitational hand with 5♥ and 4♠ you should general GF hand, 3♥/♠ shows both minors respond 1♥.
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