Gazilli makes most sense in a 2/1 system where the 1NT response to a major opening can be a wide range.
Rebid structure
After opening 1♥ and hearing 1♠ from partner opener rebids like this. The structures if partner responds 1NT to either major opening are identical:
| 1NT | 11 — 14 | balanced |
| 2♣ | Gazilli | |
| 2♦ | 11 — 16 | 3+♦ |
| 2♥ | 11 — 16 | 6+♥ |
| 2♠ | 14 — 16 | 6♥ & 5♠ |
| 2NT | 14 — 16 | 6♥ & 4+m |
| 3♣ | 14 — 16 | 5♥ & 5♣ |
| 3♦ | 14 — 16 | 5♥ & 5♦ |
| 3♥ | 14 — 16 | 6+♥ (great suit) |
2NT rebid
Opener has shown a 6-4 shape with a better than minimum hand. Responder can now bid 3M to play, 3♣ pass or correct or 3♦ asking for the minor.
Gazilli
Gazzilli is a 2♣ rebid after a 1 of a major opening and is either natural showing clubs or conventionally 17+. The responses are as follows:
1♥ — 1♠ — 2♣ — ?
| 2♦ | 8+ | any |
| 2♥ | 5 — 7 | 2+♥ |
| 2♠ | 5 — 7 | 6+♠ |
| 2NT | 5 — 7 | 3 suited short ♥ |
| 3♣/♦ | 5 — 7 | 6+♣/♦ |
1♥ — 1NT — 2♣ — ?
| 2♦ | 8+ | any |
| 2♥ | 5 — 7 | 2+♥ |
| 2♠ | 5 — 7 | 3 suited short ♥ |
| 2NT | 5 — 7 | 5+♣ 5+♦ |
| 3♣/♦ | 5 — 7 | 6+♣/♦ |
1♠ — 1NT — 2♣ — ?
| 2♦ | 8+ | any |
| 2♥ | 5 — 7 | 5+♥ |
| 2♠ | 5 — 7 | 2+♠ |
| 2NT | 5 — 7 | 3 suited short ♠ |
| 3♣/♦ | 5 — 7 | 6+♣/♦ |
Priorities
Responder with a weak hand should first look to bid a 7+ suit of their own then two of openers major with 2+ support finally a shorter suit or three-suited hand.
Follow Up
When responder bids 2♦ opener either rebids their major showing the weak option or any other bid 17+ GF.
If responder makes another bid they have a tight range of hands and opener is usually well placed to pick the contract or invite.
2NT and 3NT rebids
If opener rebids 3NT after Gazilli it shows 18 — 19 balanced, 5M332. The 2NT rebid can be used in one of two ways: to show 15 — 17 balanced (if you don't like 5M332 in your 1NT) or like the immediate 2NT rebid to differentiate a sixth card in the major suit.
Examples
| West | East |
| 1♥ | 1♠ |
| 2♣ | 2♦ |
| 3♣ | 3♦ |
| 3NT |
West shows 17+ points, 5+♥, 4+♣ and a diamond stop. East has shown 4+♠ and 8+ points. The auction may be over at this point or East can bid on.
| West | East |
| 1♠ | 1NT |
| 2♣ | 2♦ |
| 2♠ | 3♣ |
West has a natural 2♣ rebid, East shows 8 — 9 points by signing off in 3♣, 2NT would have been invitational.
| West | East |
| 1♠ | 1NT |
| 2NT | 3♦ |
| 3♥ | 4♣ |
At 3♥ West has shown 14 — 16 points with a 6-4 shape in spades and clubs. East has agreed clubs and is waiting for a cue.
| West | East |
| 1♥ | 1NT |
| 2♣ | 2♥ |
| 3NT | Pass |
West has 18 — 19 points balanced. East has 5 — 7 with 2 or possibly 3 hearts. East has denied a long suit.
| West | East |
| 1♥ | 1♠ |
| 2♣ | 2♠ |
| Pass |
East has 5 — 7 with 6+ spades. West has a natural 2♣ rebid or a poorly fitting 17 count.
You can improve some of the precision in the strong auctions by defining opener's 3NT rebid. For example 1H-1S-3NT and 1M-1NT-3NT should show a balanced hand with a good six-card major without a three-card side major (unless auction is 1H-1NT-3NT).
ReplyDeleteThe Italians feel strongly that you should not miss a 3-5 major fit when responder is weak, so this approach allows 1S-1NT-2C-2D-3S to show either a six-card spade suit with three hearts, or balanced 18-19 with 5S, 3H, 32mm.
That sounds like a great idea, thank you.
DeleteEverybody, do what Paul says!
1. Do you commit to game with 18-19 opposite a response? Could you explain why, after 1H 1NT 2C 2H 3NT, responder has denied 6m? Anyway, not likely that responder will want to show H then a minor, the worst imo is when responder just wants to find some playable partscore. (No "Is 1H playable?" jokes, please :P)
ReplyDelete2. Considered swapping the 2S and 2NT rebids after 1H 1NT? Maybe too much of a memory problem given everything else, I just hate the idea of P/C in constructive auctions (1H 1NT 2NT) where responder is so wide ranging and hasn't started to describe their hand and it seems ridiculous to play the same thing after 1H 1S=4+ 2NT. (Looked as though you were playing Kaplan Interchange from the first table where it says 1H-1S, but then your later structure looks like natural.)
3. How do rebids change after 1S 1NT, in which you need a weak balanced shape and also 5S/5H and 6S/4H distinctions, presumably split across three ranges, too. How do you resolve these after 1S 1NT 2C 2NT (short S 5-7 I guess?).
There are lots of merits to Gazilli but for sure I'd want to go through ten pages of notes before playing it, and I wouldn't play it after 1H 1S natural :P
1:
DeleteUsually 18-19 is worth game opposite a response. At worst you have 23 combined highs.
1H 1NT 2C 2H - shows no better suggestion than 2H, it doesn't deny a 6 card minor... but then you might chose KQJxxx clubs over two small hearts.
2:
Yes, swapping works well but as you say it's another thing to remember.
In the 1H 1S if opener makes such a tightly defined jump shift then responder can place the contract. In all other auctions you're not behind the natural bidders. You bid 1H 1S 2C 2D 3C when everyone else bids 1H 1S 3C.
When I played this with Dave I played Kaplan Interchange but I haven't played it since.
3:
After 1S 1NT either rebid 2S or a 3 card minor with the weak balanced shape.
Simplest way is to bid 1S 1NT 3H on the 5-5 and 2NT on the 6-4 consistent with the major minor shapes. Better is to include it in 1S 1NT 2C 2D 2H.
There's so many ways to show so many things.
Thanks for the response.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't defining responder's 2N rebid as "3 suited" leave out some 2-suited hands?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you bid after 1H-1S-2C with a weak 5=1=5=2 or 5=1=2=5?
Or after 1S-1N-2C with weak 1=2=5=5?
Good spotting!
DeleteWith 5 clubs it seems the best lie is 3C. If partner is weak you have a 10 card fit and if partner is strong maybe a 5-2 or 5-1 will have play.
Sometimes it's just a case of finding the best lie. What would do with 5=1=5=2 over 1H-1S-2C natural?
I agree clubs should show only 5. With a weak 5=1=5=2 over 1H-1S-2C natural, at least I can pass at the two level.
DeleteAfter 1H-1S-2C, I play that 2NT shows 5-7 with 5+ diamonds, may also have clubs, 3♣ shows 5-7 with 5+ clubs and 3♦ shows 8-10 with 5 spades and 5 diamonds. With a weak 5-1-2-5 you have to decide whether to rebid two spades or three clubs.
ReplyDeleteAfter 1S-1NT-2C, 2NT and 3♣ are unchanged, 3♦ shows six diamonds, 8-10, and 3♥ and 3♠ are weak SPLINTERS with 5+ clubs.
I like that approach. Now since 2N shows diamonds instead of a 3-suiter, the problem hand becomes the 4=1=4=4 after 1H-1S-2C or 1=4=4=4 after 1S-1N-2C. Then is a preference back to partner's major the best lie?
ReplyDeleteYes, the weak 4441 hands are a problem that natural bidding does not face, but bidding opener's is the only answer.
ReplyDeleteHow does opener respond with 4522 11-13HCP after 1H - 1NT - ?
ReplyDeletePass. Game is unlikely with a misfit even if responder has eleven points.
ReplyDeletePaul is correct here. The problem hand is 4522 with 14-16 which merits an uncomfortable 2C or 2D rebid (usually 2C if it's raining and 2D in the sunshine).
ReplyDelete