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Tag: modified

CRO

This is a bridge acronym standing for:

  • Colour
  • Rank
  • Other

It’s similar to the Unusual NT and the Michael’s cue bid all wrapped in one. I think some people (me) have also called it Modified Ghestem as well.

It’s used to specify 55 distributions when the opponents have opened at the 1 level…the difference is you can specify exactly what suits the 55 are in where you might be left guessing using the Michael’s cue bid.

Same Colour (C)

So the Cue-bid (C) show at least 55 in two suits of the same colour…

Oppo BidYour BidMeaning
1♣2♣Shows 55 in the red suits
12Shows 55 in the black suits
12Shows 55 in the black suits
1♠2♠Shows 55 in the red suits

Same Rank (R)

This time the 2NT bid shows two suits of the same rank. Soif they bid a minor…you have at least 55 in the majors and if they bid the majors then you have the minors again at least 55.

Oppo BidYour BidMeaning
1♣2NTShows 55 in the majors
12NTShows 55 in the majors
12NTShows 55 in the minors
1♠2NTShows 55 in the minors

3♣ – The Other bid (O)

This one usually takes a bit more thinking about to work out but it’s easy when you get used to it!

Oppo BidYour BidMeaning
1♣3♣Shows 55 in diamonds and spades
13♣Shows 55 in clubs and hearts
13♣Shows 55 in diamonds and spades
1♠3♣Shows 55 in clubs and hearts

So the advantage of using CRO over say the Michael’s Cue Bid is partner knows what the other minor is:-

So if the bidding for example goes:-

Using a Michael’s Cue Bid

NorthEastSouthWest
1♠2♠4♠?

Suppose east has made a michael’s cue bid showing hearts and an unspecified minor. West might have a good sacrifice in Clubs but not have a sacrifice in hearts or diamonds…so he’s forced to pass as otherwise he’d be guessing to bid at the 5 level which could be a worse score than them making 4 spades.

This time using CRO

NorthEastSouthWest
1♠3♣4♠5♣
PassPassDoublePass
PassPass

This time West is able to bid clubs and find a good sacrifice…North south collect 300 for the doubled club contract but they could have made 4 spades vulnerable for 620!

The disadvantages of CRO are:

  • You tell the opposition what the other minor is
  • It’s slightly more stuff to remember
  • You lose the 3♣ bid as a natural bid
  • The opposition can use the minor as a cue bid as well

It sounds like I’m putting more negatives than positives but personally I think it’s worth it as I’ve found loads of sacrifices in the minors using this system and for me that outweighs the negatives.

Typical hands To use CRO

So these hands you could use CRO to describe your hand

  • ♠ 4 KQ1076 AJ1073 ♣ 72
  • ♠ AJ987 KJ1086 J7 ♣ 7

So I tend to visualise a hand with about 10 points

Hands NOT to use CRO

You wouldn’t do it with these hands:

  • ♠ AQ 107654 J10873 ♣ K
  • ♠ AKQ KJ1086 65432 ♣ Void

The first hand you don’t have 10 points in the two suits…but you have some defensive values. The second hand again has a lot of your points in the other major.

Modified Swedish Jacoby 2NT

So this is similar to a Jacoby 2NT bid…but different! It’s Swedish!

It’s also called other things: In Sweden it is called Stenberg 2NT, and in Denmark Bekkasin 2NT.

So partner opens 1M (so one of a major suit)….and assuming no intervening bids you now bid 2NT which is Swedish Jacoby. You can play it either game forcing or non-forcing to three of the major and shows possible interest in slam in that suit.

The responses are:-

  • 3♣ – Any minimum hand
  • 3 – A non-minimum with no singletons or voids
  • 3 – singleton clubs
  • 3♠ – singleton diamond
  • 3NT – singleton in the other major
  • 4♣ – void in clubs
  • 4 – void in diamonds
  • 4 – void in the other major

Suppose partner gives the negative 3♣ response…now 3 asks for singletons…

Again you bid step responses to keep the bidding as low as possible:

  • 3 – No singleton/void OR a void in spades if you’ve agreed hearts.
  • 3♠ – singleton club
  • 3NT – singleton diamond
  • 4♣ – singleton in the other major
  • 4 – void in clubs
  • 4 – void in diamonds
  • 4♠ – void in hearts

Unfortunately there is no room to show a void in spades if you have it if you have agreed hearts, without going past 4.

Again there are different ways of playing this system….this is my modification of Swedish Jacoby.

Any other bids are cue-bids and 4NT would be RKCB (4130).

Lets look at some examples

a)b)c)
♠ KQ1086
108
72
♣ AK73
♠ KQ1086
A872
K32
♣ 2
♠ AJ8643
KJ5
K742
♣ Void
♠ AJ54
62
AQ854
♣ Q2
♠ AJ543
4
AQ
♣ A9873
♠ K1097
A2
AQJ
♣ 7654

a) 1♠ -2NT – 3♣ – 4♠. The 3♣ shows a minimum and therefore you are no longer interested in slam and just sign off in 4♠.

b) 1♠ -2NT – 3♣ – 3 – 3♠ – 3NT – 4 – 4NT – 5♠ – 5NT – 6-7♠.

  • The 3 bid asks for further description
  • 3♠ now shows a singleton club
  • 3NT would be serious 3NT asking partner to cue bid
  • 4 would show the ace of hearts and deny the minor aces
  • 4NT would be RKCB (1430)
  • 5♠ would show 2 with the queen of trumps
  • 5NT is a king ask
  • 6 shows the King of diamonds
  • You eventually get to the good contract of 7♠

c) 1♠ -2NT – 3♣ – 3 – 4 – 4NT – 5♣ – 5 – 6♣ – 7♠.

  • 3 bid asks for further description
  • 4 now shows a void in clubs
  • 4NT would be RKCB (1430)
  • 5♣ shows 1 or 3….obviously 1.
  • 4 asks for the trump….knowing the partnership has a 10 card fit you pretend you have it and cue bid your kings by bidding 6♣
  • You eventually get to the good contract of 7♠

If you find Swedish Jacoby a little tricky then you mind want to play the normal Jacoby 2NT bid.

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