Article 153526 of rec.games.bridge: From: David Stevenson Subject: Re: How does the "Cole" convention work? Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2001 15:29:36 +0100 Reply-To: David Stevenson Micha Keijzers wrote >in the Dutch newsgroup someone asked about the bidding situation when >you hold a 15-17 HCP balanced hand, while playing a 9-11 NT opening. He >mentioned that sometimes you are stuck with these hand. Henk Uijterwaal >mentioned the use of the "Cole" convention. He gave a reference to a >Bridgeworld of somewhere early in the '90's. However, not all of us are >subscriber to the Bridgeworld, so I'd like to ask you, if someone can >give me a description of this convention. ???????????? I play Cole. The way I play it is that if the bidding goes 1m - 1M - 2C or 1H - 1S - 2C then 2C shows either three card support for responder's major or clubs. 2D now asks for further clarification. All this was taken from TBW article. I also play that in response to 2D: 2NT = strong, with clubs 3C = weak with clubs 2M = weak with 3 M's 2H [after 1S] = nat, with 3 S's 2S [after 1H] = nat, strong, with 3 S's 3D+ = nat, strong, with 3 M's If you have both clubs and 3 M's then you respond to show the 3 M's. Those rebids I worked out for myself from experience of playing it. Note that Cole works well for me because I play a 1NT rebid as 13-17, and use it freely on 5422s, 5431s with a singleton in partner's suit and so on. It works surprisingly well. What has that got to do with a 15-17 balanced hand when playing 9-12 [which I do]? Nothing. I think your poster was confusing Cole with something else, maybe Crowhurst. I play Crowhurst 2C over a 13-17 1NT rebid. -- David Stevenson Bridge RTFLB Cats Railways /\ /\ Liverpool, England, UK Fax: +44 870 055 7697 @ @ ICQ 20039682 bluejak on OKB =( + )= Bridgepage: http://blakjak.com/brg_menu.htm ~ Article 127086 of rec.games.bridge: From: eddiegrove@hotmail.com Subject: Re: Cole 2C rebid Date: 11 Apr 2000 08:33:55 -0700 gordonrainsford@btinternet.com (Gordon Rainsford) writes: > Does anyone know of any information on the internet about the Cole 2C > rebid? I've searched Deja.com & the Internet Bridge Archive, but can't > find anything with much detail. Thanks. > > -- > Gordon Rainsford > London, UK I don't know where I got the following. I figure from r.g.b., but I couldn't find it in a deja search. My apologies to whoever wrote it. I wish I could include an attribution. S/he posted a synopsis without permission, and now I am reposting without permission. :) The Bridge World sells back issues for not too much, though I suppose the overseas shipping could be a deal breaker. If you decide to buy some, let me know and I will try to check for dates Woolsey-Manfield bid in CTC. Eddie ---------------------------- COLE is a convention suggested by Bill Cole and popularized by Woolsey-Manfield. Kit Woolsey published a 2-part series on COLE in THE BRIDGE WORLD: March 1991 p.16-18 and April 1991 p.16-20. Sample auctions can be found in Challenge the Champs (sorry, no dates available). Here's a synopsis without permission from the author: abbreviations used: m = minor om = other minor M = major OM = other major relay = one bid higher (including NT) GF = game force + = that bid OR HIGHER [] = typists comments The convention treats openers 2C rebid after 1m - 1M as an artificial force. Responder relays with 2D unless a descriptive bid can be made. RELAYING with 2D says NOTHING about responder's strength! COLE is off after any non-pass by opponents. COLE is on regardless of which seat opener is in. OPENER'S POSSIBLE HANDS: Minimum raise of Major - 3 card support rebid 2M over 2D 2NT is now a puppet to 3C P/3D SIGNOFF 3m natural FORCE (invite would not relay) Long Clubs must be prepared to play at 3-level to complete description if opening 1D -- 5-5 in minors if opening 1C -- 7 clubs or very strong 6 clubs rebid 3C over 2D 3M = FORCE (invite would not relay) Strong NT count unsuitable for NT opening (often because of singleton in responder's Major) rebid 2NT over 2D 3m SIGNOFF 3M FORCING 3om relay 3D 4D + 6C 3H maximum heart holding (2 if 1M=Hearts, 4 if 1M=Spades) 3S 6 card minor (ie 6331) 3NT 5431 or 5422 All other rebids after 2D relay describe difficult to bid hands 3D game forcing / long broken minor / 0-2 in M 3H relay 3S highest singleton 3NT middle singleton 4C lowest singleton 3S asks 3NT unless middle singleton 3NT asks PASS unless highest singleton else bid 4C 3H game force / solid minor / lower singleton does not deny 3 card support! 3S asks for 3 card support 3S game force / solid minor / higher singleton does not deny 3 card support! 4C asks for 3 card support 3NT solid minor / singleton in M / ~10 tricks (too strong for immediate 3NT rebid) 4m Singleton showing SPLINTER raise 4C = om 4D = OM 2OM any hand not previously described 2S to play opposite 3 card invite 2NT relay 3C a) if 1C -- min 64 (4H if 1S, 4D if 1H) b) if 1D -- GF -- 6D+4C or 5D+4C+3M OR if 1S maybe 6D+4H min!! responder assumes the weak hand. opener continues with the strong variety 1D 1H 2C 2D 2S 2N 3C GF! 3D asks 3H = 1354 3S = 2164 3N = 1264 1D 1S 2C 2D 2H 2N 3C GF or weak 64 3D to play!! P = QED 3H = 3154 GF 3S = 2164 GF 3N = 1264 GF 3H/3S to play!! opener pass or bid using similar code 3D Invite + 3 card support 6331 or if 1D may be (31)54 3H asks 3S = stiff om 3N = stiff OM 3S if 1S then = signoff 3NT signoff 3H GF + 3 card support 6331 [? or if 1D may be (31)54 - ah] 3S asks 3N = stiff om 4C = stiff OM 3S GF a) if 1C -- 5D + 6C b) if 1D -- 5+D + 5C (corollary: 1C then 2D & 3D = INV) 3N 6322 with 3 card support INVITATIONAL or better [? ah] 4m VOID showing SPLINTER raise 4C = om 4D = OM 3m to play opposite 6331 invite OPENER'S AUCTIONS THAT DO NOT USE COLE 1m - 1M - 2M guarantees 4 card support next step artificial relay (2S/2H or 2NT/2S) STEP 1 some 4432 with 2=om relay asks 3H = lower 4 card suit + min 3S = higher 4 card suit + min 3NT= lower 4 card suit + max 4C = higher 4 card suit + max STEP 2 4432 with 2=OM (complete shape now known) relay asks 3S = min 3N = max STEP 3 5422 min STEP 4 4333 min STEP 5 4333 max STEP 6 singleton somewhere relay asks 4H = lower singleton 4S = higher singleton 4D 5422 max 4H = lower void 4S = higher void 1m - 1H - 2H - 2NT game try with spade length Reverses/Jump Shifts are always REAL suits (4+ suit) otherwise use COLE intended as forcing but sub-minimum responder may choose to pass knowing of the 4+ second suit RESPONDER'S AUCTIONS THAT DO NOT RELAY OVER 2C REBID 1m - 1S - 2C 2H natural NONFORCE (weak 55 in majors) 2S normal rebid 2NT natural invitational / denies 5 spades (else relay to hear about 3 card support) 3C natural invitations / denies 5 spades 3D[/3H] 5-5 FORCING 3S natural invitational (same as after natural rebid) DISADVANTAGES loss of natural 2C rebid forces awkward 1NT rebids after minor suit openings, particularly hands with a singleton (example hands are included) some of these problems are handled via 1m - 1M - 1NT 2C checkback 2D/2H transfer (followup structure is stated to be complex) minimum 3-suiter with spade void is another problem hand. 1C - 1S - 2D! normal reverse OR 0445 minimum 2H relay 2NT = 0445 mimimum else = real reverse Al's Comments: 1) Auctions not mentioned are unchanged from 'standard' and left to the reader to extrapolate. 2) As far as I can tell, EVERY bid when playing COLE is alertable. This includes 1m - 1M - 2M because of the AGREEMENT that it guarantees 4 card support 3) Kit does not talk about whether the partnership always raises (via COLE) with 3 card support. If you choose that treatment -- that must be part of the explanation to the alerted 1NT rebid (ie denies 3+ support) 4) Kit explains the articles are not a complete description, highlighting slam followups being tricky. Especially troublesome is defining which suit is trump for key card purposes. He leaves it to us to figure out the rest. 5) BIG CLUBBERS -- this has limited value IF ANY. Those 2C rebids after 1D - 1M rebids are carrying too much weight as it is. The rest can only apply within the context of having a limited hand. I just can't see it. [but willing to be converted]