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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♠-11–17, 4+♠
1NTMIN, 0–3♠, 4–5♥, 0–3♦
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, 4+♦, 5+♥
3♥S/T, 6+♥
3♠S/T, 4+♠
1♦-1♥-1♠-1NT-NAT MIN
2♣NF, 4+♣
2♦NF, 6+♦
2♥INV, 3=♥
2♠INV, 4=♠, 0–2♥
2NTFG, 0–2♥
3♣INV, 4+♣
3♦INV, 6+♦
3♥FG, 3=♥
3♠INV, 5+♠, 6+♦

The 2♣ checkback

The special game force here is mild balanced slam try (15–17), interested when opener bypasses 2♦.

1♦-1♥-1♠-2♣-CB Gladiator
2♦(R) MIN
2♥INV, 3=♥
2♠INV, 4=♠, 0–2♥
2NTFG, 0–2♥
3♣INV, 4+♣
3♦INV, 6+♦
3♥FG, 3=♥
3♠INV, 5+♠, 6+♦
1♦-1♥-1♠-2♣-2♦-MIN
2♥S/O, UNBAL 5+♥
2♠S/O, 4+♠
2NTBAL INV
3♣INV, 6+♣
3♦INV, 4+♦
3♥INV, S-SOL 6+♥
3♠INV, 4+♠, 5+♥
3NTBAL 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.

Obvious maximum rebids are 2♠ and 3♥. The other rebids show minimum hands.

1♦-1♥-1♠-2♦-FG CB
2♥11–14, 3=♥
2♠15+, 4+♠, 0–2♥
2NT11–14, 1–2♥
3♣11–14, 3+♣, 0–2♥
3♦11–14, 6+♦, 0–2♥
3♥15+, 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♠-11–17, 4+♠
2♦!STR INV, 5–6♥

1♦-1♥-1NT

The special game force via 2♣ is choice of games with relatively balanced and exactly 6 cards in the bid major. It is not (5332) because 1♦ is never (4333).

1♦-1♥-1NT-BAL MIN
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, 4+♦, 5+♥
3♥S/T, 6+♥
3♠!SPL, 0–1♠, 6+♥
4♣!SPL, 0–1♣, 6+♥
4♦FG, 4+♦, 6+♥
1♦-1♥-1NT-2♣-2♦-P/C
2♥S/O, 5+♥
2♠INV, 4+♠, 6+♥
2NTBAL INV
3♣INV, 5+♣, 5+♥
3♦INV, 4+♦
3♥INV, S-SOL 6+♥
3NTCOG, 6=♥

1♦-1♠-1NT

1♦-1♠-1NT-BAL MIN
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+♠
3NT12–15, 4=♠
4♣!SPL, 0–1♣, 6+♠
4♦FG, 4+♦, 6+♠
4♥!SPL, 0–1♥, 6+♠
1♦-1♠-1NT-2♣-2♦-P/C
2♥INV, 4+♥, 6+♠
2♠S/O, 5+♠
2NTBAL INV
3♣INV, 5+♣, 5+♠
3♦INV, 4+♦
3♥INV, 5+♥, 5+♠
3♠INV, S-SOL 6+♠
3NTCOG, 6=♠