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, 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 - | |
|---|---|
| 2♣ | NF, 4+♣ |
| 2♦ | NF, 6+♦ |
| 2♥ | INV, 3=♥ |
| 2♠ | INV, 4=♠, 0–2♥ |
| 2NT | FG, 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♣ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♦ | (R) MIN |
| 2♥ | INV, 3=♥ |
| 2♠ | INV, 4=♠, 0–2♥ |
| 2NT | FG, 0–2♥ |
| 3♣ | INV, 4+♣ |
| 3♦ | INV, 6+♦ |
| 3♥ | FG, 3=♥ |
| 3♠ | INV, 5+♠, 6+♦ |
| 1♦ - 1♥ - 1♠ - 2♣ - 2♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♥ | S/O, UNBAL 5+♥ |
| 2♠ | S/O, 4+♠ |
| 2NT | BAL INV |
| 3♣ | INV, 5+♣, 5+♥ |
| 3♦ | INV, 4+♦ |
| 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.
Obvious maximum rebids are 2♠ and 3♥. The other rebids show minimum hands.
| 1♦ - 1♥ - 1♠ - 2♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♥ | 11–14, 3=♥ |
| 2♠ | 15+, 4+♠, 0–2♥ |
| 2NT | 11–14, 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♠ - | |
|---|---|
| 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 - | |
|---|---|
| 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♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♥ | S/O, 5+♥ |
| 2♠ | INV, 4+♠, 6+♥ |
| 2NT | BAL INV |
| 3♣ | INV, 5+♣, 5+♥ |
| 3♦ | INV, 4+♦ |
| 3♥ | INV, S-SOL 6+♥ |
| 3NT | COG, 6=♥ |
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♦ | FG, 4+♦, 6+♠ |
| 4♥! | SPL, 0–1♥, 6+♠ |
| 1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ - 2♦ - | |
|---|---|
| 2♥ | INV, 4+♥, 6+♠ |
| 2♠ | S/O, 5+♠ |
| 2NT | BAL INV |
| 3♣ | INV, 5+♣, 5+♠ |
| 3♦ | INV, 4+♦ |
| 3♥ | INV, 5+♥, 5+♠ |
| 3♠ | INV, S-SOL 6+♠ |
| 3NT | COG, 6=♠ |