Checkback Gladiator (XYZ variant)
We use Checkback Gladiator to an XYZ auction. There are 3 artificial relays in Checkback Gladiator:
- 2♣: several variants:
- to play 2x
- strongly shaped invitation
- balanced invitation
- special game force to rebid 3NT
- 2♦: game-forcing checkback
- 2NT: transfer to clubs
As a corollary, natural 2x are wide-range invitations and 3x become slam tries. Compared with XYZ in literature, direct 2x are swapped with the variants in 2♣. This is because invitations are prone to competition.
1♣ - 1♥ - 1♠
| 1♣ - 1♥ - 1♠ - | |
|---|---|
| 1NT | MIN, 7–10, 0–3♠, 4–5♥ |
| 2♣! | CB Gladiator, F1 |
| 2♦! | FG CB |
| 2♥! | INV, 5+♥ |
| 2♠! | INV, 4+♠ |
| 2NT! | TRF, (PRE or FG), 6+♣ |
| 3♣ | S/T, 5+♣, 5+♥ |
| 3♦ | S/T, 5+♦, 5+♥ |
| 3♥ | S/T, 6+♥ |
| 3♠ | S/T, 4+♠ |
| 3NT! | COG, 44(32) |
| 4♥♠ | NAT PRE |
| 1♣ - 1♥ - 1♠ - 1NT - | |
|---|---|
| 2♣ | NF, 11–16, 5+♣ |
| 2♦! | 4SFG |
| 2♥ | INV, 3=♥ |
| 2♠ | FG, 5+♠ |
| 2NT | BAL FG |
| 3♣ | FG, 6+♣ |
| 3♦ | FG, 6+♦ |
| 3♥ | FG, 5+♠, 3=♥ |
The 2♣ checkback
The special game force here is mild balanced slam try (15–17), interested when opener bypasses 2♦.
| 1♣ - 1♥ - 1♠ - 2♣ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♦! | P/C, 11–16 |
| 2♥ | INV, 3=♥ |
| 2♠ | FG, 5+♠, 0–2♥ |
| 2NT | FG, 4=♠ |
| 3♣ | FG, 6+♣ |
| 3♦ | FG, 6+♦ |
| 3♥ | FG, 5+♠, 3=♥ |
| 3♠! | FG, 5+♣, 4=♠, 0–2♥ |
| 3NT | BAL S/T, 21–23, 4=♠ |
| 1♣ - 1♥ - 1♠ - 2♣ - 2♦ - | |
|---|---|
| P | MIN, 5+♦ |
| 2♥ | UNBAL MIN, 5+♥ |
| 2♠ | MIN, 4+♠ |
| 2NT | BAL INV |
| 3♣ | INV, 5+♣, 5+♥ |
| 3♦ | INV, 5+♦, 5+♥ |
| 3♥ | INV, S-SOL 6+♥ |
| 3♠ | INV, 4+♠, 5+♥ |
| 3NT | BAL 15–17 |
The 2♦ game force
This game-forcing checkback probes 3-card support or a whole extra trick (about 15–17). This strength cut helps slam investigation since the 2♣ checkback asks for half-tricks.
With 17 and three hearts, 2♥ shows four spades and 3♥ shows five or more. With at most two hearts, 2♠ also starts at 17.
| 1♣ - 1♥ - 1♠ - 2♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♥ | (11–16, 3=♥) or (17, 4=♠, 3=♥) |
| 2♠ | 17+, 5+♠, 0–2♥ |
| 2NT | 11–14, 0–2♥ |
| 3♣ | 15+, 5+♣, 0–2♥ |
| 3♦ | 18+, 5+♦, 0–2♥ |
| 3♥ | 17+, 5+♠, 3=♥ |
By passed hand
There are definitely no slam tries by passed hand. Direct 3x become strongly shaped invitations without a doubt. The debate is whether 2♦ is still an artificial checkback. To avoid confusion, I suggest keeping 2♦ artificial. Openings in the third and fourth seat can be light. Hence, 2♦ invites full openers.
| P - 1♣ - 1♥ - 1♠ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♦! | STR INV, 5–6♥ |
1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT
The special game force via 2♣ is choice of games with (5332). This treatment helps concealing declarer’s distribution most of the time.
| 1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - | |
|---|---|
| 2♣! | CB Gladiator, F1 |
| 2♣ - 2♦! | P/C |
| 2♣ - 2♥ | MAX, 3=♥ |
| 2♦! | FG CB |
| 2♥! | INV, 5+♥ |
| 2♠! | INV, 4+♠ |
| 2NT! | TRF, (PRE or FG), 6+♣ |
| 3♣ | S/T, 5+♣, 5+♥ |
| 3♦ | S/T, 5+♦, 5+♥ |
| 3♥ | S/T, 6+♥ |
| 3♠! | SPL, 0–1♠, 6+♥ |
| 3NT | 12–15, 4=♥ |
| 4♣! | SPL, 0–1♣, 6+♥ |
| 4♦! | SPL, 0–1♦, 6+♥ |
| 1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♥ | S/O, 5+♥ |
| 2♠ | INV, 4+♠, 6+♥ |
| 2NT | BAL INV |
| 3♣ | INV, 5+♣, 5+♥ |
| 3♦ | INV, 5+♦, 5+♥ |
| 3♥ | INV, S-SOL 6+♥ |
| 3NT | COG, 5♥(332) |
1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT
| 1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT - | |
|---|---|
| 2♣! | CB Gladiator, F1 |
| 2♣ - 2♦! | P/C |
| 2♣ - 2♥ | MAX, 4=♥ |
| 2♣ - 2♠ | MAX, 3=♠ |
| 2♦! | FG CB |
| 2♥! | INV, 4+♥, 5+♠ |
| 2♠! | INV, 5+♠ |
| 2NT! | TRF, (PRE or FG), 6+♣ |
| 3♣ | S/T, 5+♣, 5+♠ |
| 3♦ | S/T, 5+♦, 5+♠ |
| 3♥ | S/T, 5+♥, 5+♠ |
| 3♠ | S/T, 6+♠ |
| 3NT | 12–15, 4=♠ |
| 4♣! | SPL, 0–1♣, 6+♠ |
| 4♦! | SPL, 0–1♦, 6+♠ |
| 4♥! | SPL, 0–1♥, 6+♠ |
| 1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♥ | INV, 5+♥, 5+♠ |
| 2♠ | S/O, 5+♠ |
| 2NT | BAL INV |
| 3♣ | INV, 5+♣, 5+♠ |
| 3♦ | INV, 5+♦, 5+♠ |
| 3♥ | INV, 4+♥, 6+♠ |
| 3♠ | INV, S-SOL 6+♠ |
| 3NT | COG, 5(332) |