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Natural 1♥ - 1♠

As the opening is limited to 11–16, the reverses are not forcing. The reverses show a maximum 5+ 5+ two suiter.

1♥ - 1♠ -
1NTBAL 12–14
2♣11–16, 4+♣
2♦11–16, 4+♦
2♥11–14, 6+♥
2♠11–14, 4+♠
2NT!15–16, 6=♥, ≤ ♥AJ9
3♣♦15–16, 5+#
3♥15–16, ((6+♥, AJT+) or 7+♥)
3♠15–16, 4+♠
3NT!Gambling, 7+♥ AKQ, no outside A/K
4♣♦!SPL, 0–1#, 4+♠

Checkback Gladiator

Checkback Gladiator is also in effect after 1♥ - 1♠ - 1NT, similar to 1♦ - 1M - 1NT. There are 3 artificial relays in Checkback Gladiator:

  • 2♣: several variants:
    • to play 2x
    • strongly shaped invitation
    • balanced invitation or choice of games
  • 2♦: game-forcing checkback, usually a choice of games
  • 2NT: transfer to clubs

As a corollary, natural 2x are wide-range invitations and 3x become slam tries.

1♥ - 1♠ -
1NT -
2♣!CB Gladiator, F1
2♣ - 2♦P/C
2♣ - 2♥!P/C, 4+♦
2♣ - 2♠!MAX, 3=♠
2♦!FG CB
2♥INV, 2–3♥
2♠INV, 5+♠
2NT!TRF, (PRE or FG), 6+♣
3♣S/T, 5+♣, 5+♠
3♦S/T, 5+♦, 5+♠
3♥S/T, 3+♥
3♠S/T, 6+♠
1♥ - 1♠ -
1NT - 2♣ -
2♦ -
2♥S/O, 2+♥
2♠S/O, 5+♠
2NTBAL INV
3♣INV, 6+♣
3♦INV, 6+♦
3♥MAX INV, 53(32)
3♠MAX INV, 6+♠