System Summary for Transfer-Oriented Symmetric Relay
as played by mabraham and TOSR on OKbridge
The full version of this system may be found here here.
A Suggested Defence to our openings may be found here.
Back to Systems page.
Notes on learning TOSR.
Last updated on 16/9/99.
General Information
We are a highly ethical and experienced OKbridge partnership and self-alert
and explain our actions as we bid them. Further information is always
available, please ask us. We allow undos if requested in reasonable
time. If an undo request is late we are happy to skip boards. If you
feel you were given misinformation, then we will be reasonable.
Cardplay
Our leads are standard (4th highest from an honour (AKQJ or T), top of
touching honours, top of sequence from interior sequences down to J98x)
but we will tend to lead top or bottom from 3+ small cards. Our carding is
upside-down count and attitude with natural (high-low) suit preference when
required. We give count frequently.
System Approach
We play a relay system where in most constructive auctions one partner
describes his hand very accurately, while the other partner makes
non-descriptive "tell me more" relay bids. We have never psyched any of
our openings, nor psyched any of our responses. We like the definition in
our system too much to break it by psyching. Some constructive actions
(particularly opposite a passed partner) have been known to be light on HCP but
strong on playing strength. In competitive auctions we freely use double to
show competitive hands with shortage in the suit doubled. Shape will be
constrained by the previous auction, and need not be a classical
"takeout/negative/competitive" shape. Our preemptive actions are "normal",
with normal suit quality for the level and vulnerability, but will not conceal
four-card major suits.
Opening Bids
- 1C is 15+ any shape, but might be lighter with strong playing hands. Our
negative 1D response is usually 0-7hcp, but might be 8-15hcp with only
0-1 AK controls. Our relay continuations are game forcing, but some
invitational sequences can occur. One-level interference does not cut relays.
In first and second position:
- 1D is 10-14 hcp 4+H but might have a second suit that might be longer,
or be 3-suited in the majors. A first relay to this is any invitational
or better hand (i.e. 11+ or so) but does not imply fit. Subsequent relays
are almost game-forcing. Non-relay constructive auctions are rare, occuring
mostly after opener shows spade suit longer than hearts.
Suit-based second-seat interference at or below 2C will not cut relays.
- 1H is 10-14 hcp 4+S, 0-3H, but might have a minor suit that might be
longer. A first relay to this is any invitational or better hand (i.e.
11+ or so) but does not imply fit. Subsequent relays are almost
game-forcing. Non-relay constructive auctions are rare. Suit-based
second-seat interference at or below 2D will not cut relays.
- 1S is 10-14 hcp 4+C,4+D, either two- or three-suited in the minors.
The 2C relay after this opening is based on at least an invitational hand,
but does not imply any particular fit.
Suit-based second-seat interference at or below 2S will not cut relays.
But in third or fourth position these three openings become "natural",
and no relays are available:
- 1D is 10-14 hcp 4+C,4+D either two- or three-suited in the minors.
- 1H is 10-14 hcp 4+H but might have a minor suit that might be longer,
or be 3-suited in the majors or be balanced with both majors.
- 1S is 10-14 hcp 4+S, usually 0-3H unless 5+S 4+H, but might have a
longer minor suit.
Other openings bids are:
- 1NT is always 12-14 balanced, but is made on some hands with weak 6-card
minors that would rather not play in 3 of that minor (see 2D opener). We
use double-under transfers in place of normal Stayman and transfers,
where a suit bid promises a holding in the suit two higher. In the case
of major suit transfers, only 4+ holdings are promised initially.
- 2C is Ekrens... 5-9 hcp with 4+H 4+S. Vulnerable it will be 54 either way
and have decent suits. Not vulnerable is quite flexible. mabraham is a
little less disciplined than ces with this opening.
- 2D is a 4-way multi. Either weak two 5-9 in either major, or 10-14 with
six card minor (i.e. including Precision style 2C and "2D" openers).
These are always single-suiters (so the minor-suit options don't have the
possibility of 4-card majors on the side). Our continuations are mostly
pass-or-correct (meaning "Partner please pass my bid if you hold this
suit, or bid descriptively") with 2NT a forcing response.
- 2H is 5-9 5+H 4+minor (5+5+ vulnerable)
- 2S is 5-9 5+S 4+minor (5+5+ vulnerable)
- 2NT is 5-9 5+4+ minors (5+5+ vulnerable)
- 3C,3D,3H,3S are all normal preempts
- 3NT is a minor 4-level preempt
- 4C,4D are constructive 4H, 4S bids
- 4H, 4S are destructive
Relays
Relays are available after 1C,1D,1H,1S openings, but a passed hand cannot
ever relay (since it is limited to 0-9 or 0-11 if balanced). We have
extensive agreements when you interfere in our relay auctions, mostly
geared to continuing the relay. We can lose a net of up to 3 steps from the
relay structure without the relays being broken. Lead-directing doubles
invariably gain us relay steps, and we have been known to redouble and
play there :-)
Overcall Structure
We play a highly aggressive overcall structure. Overcalls at the 1-level
are around 6-14 and are routinely 4-card suits (though not 4333 hands)
and carry no lead-directing inference. Not vulnerable, 1H over 1C would
be acceptable on xx Txxx KQx Qxxx, but could also be Ax AKxxxxx Qxx x.
Continuations at the 1-level are not constructive, and continuations at
or above 1NT are transfer-oriented.
Our 1NT overcall is a 6-14 takeout of the opponents' suit... it guarantees 3
cards in all unbid suits, and varies from 4432 to 7330 in shape. Vulnerable
it is not made with a 4432 shape. We have an escape mechanism if you double
the 1NT overcall, and it finds any 5-2 or 5-3 fit that exists (and plays
somewhere reasonable otherwise). The 1NT overcall is not forcing, and 4th hand
may pass on any hand that thinks 1NT is likely to be our best spot.
A cuebid of your suit and the next two higher suit bids are two-suited
showing 6-14 and at least 5+/4 in the indicated suits. The lower-ranking
suit is always 5+. Not vulnerable at the two-level, the higher-ranking suit
will be precisely 4 cards, but vulnerable or at the three-level it tends
to be 5. It works like this:
OpeningOvercall| Meaning | | |
| 1C | 2C | 5+D 4S (the two suits touching C) |
| 2D | 5+D 4H (the suit bid and the next higher) |
| 2H | 5+H 4S (the suit bid and the next higher) |
| 1D | 2D | 5+C 4H (the two suits touching D) |
| 2H | 5+H 4S (the suit bid and the next higher) |
| 2S | 5+S 4C (the suit bid and the next higher) |
| 1H | 2H | 5+D 4S (the two suits touching H) |
| 2S | 5+C 4S (the suit bid and the next higher) |
| 3C | 5+C 5+D (the suit bid and the next higher) |
| 1S | 2S | 5+C 5+H (the two suits touching S) |
| 3C | 5+C 5+D (the suit bid and the next higher) |
| 3D | 5+D 5+H (the suit bid and the next higher) |
Making these bids denies the ability to overcal 1NT for takeout, thus
denying some 5431, 5440 and 5530 shapes.
A double of your 1-level suit opening shows 15+ any shape. There are no
relay continuations, however all of advancer's actions after responder's
pass or redouble are transfers.
One inference from our overcall agreements is that we rarely balance in
the passout seats with the kind of marginal hands that would only act
in the passout seat. Because partner can bid with all his strong hands and
two-suiters, bid for takeout, and can pre-balance on piles of excrement,
if it goes 1D P P ? then partner is either 4333, or has a diamond stack,
or has a subminimal club overcall for the prevailing vulnerability. If he
has values to bid he certainly won't have a 4-card major. These factors
prejudice 4th seat bidder towards passing, particularly hoping to catch
natural openings with strong two-suiters at the one level, and (strong)
notrump hands that are constrained by system to open a suit.
Suggested Defence to Unusual Openings
The defences below are for the first- and second-seat transfer-style 1
level openings. Our third- and fourth-seat openings are natural and we
recommend your normal methods.
Defence to 1D opening (showing hearts)
- X = Diamonds
- 1H = Your normal takeout X of standard 1H opening
- 1N = Your normal 1NT overcall but has stopper(s) in H
- 2C,2D = Normal two level overcalls.
- 2H = Michaels (per your normal agreement for 1H-2H against standard)
- 2S = Normal 1H-2S meaning
- 2N = Your normal 1H-2NT meaning (e.g. Unusual for the minors)
- 3C,3D = Your normal three level jump overcalls.
Defence to 1H opening (showing spades)
- X = Hearts
- 1S = Your normal takeout X of standard 1S opening
- 1N = Your normal 1NT overcall but has stopper(s) in S
- 2C,2D,2H = Normal two level overcalls.
- 2S = Michaels (per your normal agreement for 1S-2S against standard)
- 2N = Your normal 1S-2NT meaning (e.g. Unusual for the minors)
- 3C,3D,3H = Your normal three level jump overcalls.
Defence to 1S opening (showing both minors)
Style 1: (simple)
- X = Takeout for the major suits.
- 1N = Your normal 1NT overcall.
- 2C,2D,2H,2S = Natural overcalls.
- 2N = Big major two-suiter.
Style 2: (advanced)
- X = Takeout for the major suits.
- 1N = Your normal 1NT overcall.
- 2C = Normal two-level heart overcall.
- 2D = "Normal" two-level spade overcall.
- 2H = Weak jump overcall in hearts.
- 2S = Weak jump overcall in spades.
- 2N = Big major 2-suiter.
- 3C = Asking for a club stopper for 3NT, probably with solid major.
- 3D = Aksing for a diamond stopper for 3NT, probably with solid major.
- 3H,2S = Normal three level jump overcalls.
Defence to Ekrens 2C (weak with both majors)
This bid is difficult to defend against. Responder with long clubs and
poor major holdings might elect to pass 2C.
Style 1: (simple)
- X = Normal two-level club overcall
- 2D = Normal two-level diamond overcall
- 2H = Normal two-level heart overcall
- 2S = Normal two-level spade overcall
- 2N = 16-18 balanced with major stopper(s).
Style 2: (advanced)
- X = Strong hand, some penalty interest of at least one major suit.
Subsequent doubles by either hand are takeout-oriented.
- 2D = Normal two-level diamond overcall.
- 2H = Strong hand lacking heart stopper (need not be balanced)
- 2S = Strong hand lacking spade stopper (need not be balanced)
- 2N = (16-18) balanced with major stoppers.
- 3C = Normalish two-level club overcall.
Defence to Multi 2D (weak in either major or 10-14 with 6+ in either minor)
We recommend that doubles of responses to 2D that we describe as
"correctable" or "pass-or-correct" be for takeout of that suit.
Style 1: (simple)
- X = Diamonds, or a strong hand
- bids = Natural with the suit bid.
- 2NT = 16-18 balanced with Stayman and transfers.
Style 2: (advanced)
- X = strong hand, might have penalty interests. Subsequent doubles by
either hand are takeout-oriented.
- bids = Natural with the suit bid.
- 2NT = 16-18 balanced with Stayman and transfers.
Style 3: (not especially recommended)
- P = any doubtful hand (preemptive responses to 2D occur, but are rare)
- bids = Good overcalls with the suit bid, 6+ suit, 13+ (or whatever)
- 2NT = 16-18 balanced, crisp values.