[blml] Law 27 - relay

[David Burn]

[TM]

> This is so confusing.  In the olden days, 2H was always allowed without
> penalty provided not conventional.  So the IBer with an opening hand
> would have probably bid 4H and barred partner, rather than risking his
> passing.  Now there seems to be a thought, that provided partner
> knows that the the IBer does in fact have an opening bid, he can
> change to 2H under 27B1 (a), without any UI worries.  So a bidding
> edifice might be structured starting at 2H instead of 2NT according
> to DALB. As you say, surely this cannot be??  Please?

Not only can it be, it already is. Even under the 1997 Laws, it is
apparently possible to play inverted major suit raises - that is, to play
1H-2H as natural and forcing - by the simple expedient of first responding
1H. With a normal raise to 2H, one simply responds 2H.

One cannot, of course, play these methods very often, otherwise it will be
suspected that one is deliberately making insufficient bids, contrary to Law
72B1.

David Burn
London, England