Dubious Logic

Happy Birthday George Rosenkranz

Last month George Rosenkranz, one of bridge's most famous players and theorists, turned 100. Better known in our world for his writings and successes, his professional life was as a chemist. Born in Budapest he studied under 1939 Nobel laureate Leopold Ružicka in Switzerland. With Nazi agitators active in Zurich, Ružicka found him a position Ecuador. He had reached Havana at the time of Pearl Harbor, and was then given leave to remain in Cuba by the USA.

His talent for synthesising hormones led to him heading a laboratory in Mexico City. Their work resulted in the production of the contraceptive birth pill, prednisone, cortisone and many other steroids. He never did make it to Ecuador, having met his wife Edith in Havana, they settled in Mexico. He represented that country at the World Team Olympiad three times.

Rosenkranz developed many ideas in bidding, this one bears his name:

East makes a negative double, usually showing hearts and South's redouble? Rosenkranz suggested it should show a top honour and the simple raise deny one. Tactically it is better to raise aggressively and deprive the opponents of easy bids (like West's 2 above) so the 'Rosenkranz Redouble' has evolved to show a hand that would otherwise pass, either because it was too weak or too short in spades (Ax or Kx).

Of all Rosenkranz's ideas the most notable is Romex, probably the best ever toolset for bidding strong hands. Its unique diversion is the Dynamic No-trump, a forcing 1NT, showing a good hand, not necessarily balanced – a bit like an Acol Two. Romex also has artificial game-forcing 2 and strong-balanced 2NT openers and a mid-range balanced (19-20) 'Mexican 2'.

Four strong openings – great if you are a good card-holder. Fan of Rosenkranz that I am, even having played Romex, it seems now to belong to a different age, when opponents bid less. That said, the Mexican 2 has mustered a sort of come-back, as a two-club opener (often 18-19; neither this or the Mexican is the same as the club-player's 2 which may be any hand-type in range).

Rosenkranz was ahead of his time in using computer simulations, before the advent of desktop, let alone personal, machines. He had his faithful researchers look into the circumstances required to make slam good with two balanced hands and 30+ HCP. Not inconsiderable effort revealed these requirements:

1. 31-32 HCP.
2. At least 10 controls.
3. No significant duplication (of third-round controls).
4. At least an 8-card trump fit, with an excellent trump holding.

'Controls' are Ace = 2, King = 1. High card points were known from opening bids, what was needed was a way of discovering controls: CONFI (later CONFIT) was born. The principle is to check controls before looking for a fit. This is an example from Rosenkranz's 1975 book, 'Win With Romex'.

1. Mexican, balanced 19-20 HCP
2. Either clubs (maybe very weak) or a balanced slam-try
3. CONFI, asking for controls
4. 7 Controls (A=2, K=1)
5. Guaranteeing at least 10 combined controls, 4+ diamonds
6. No diamond fit but 4+ hearts
7. Four-card heart raise with one honour (with two, 6 immediately)
8. Heart suit good enough for slam opposite king or ace.

After the control-ask the bidding is natural, if either control-count or fit is insufficient, the partnership can bale into no-trumps. You may not play the Mexican but CONFI can be employed after 1NT or 2NT, say after Stayman, with some suits explored, even at a high level, say 4.

Published Saturday 24.Sep.2016