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Espen Gisvold saw my Assumed Fit Ekrens notes and kindly wrote tome putting right a few historical points. After some rummaging Bjørn Ekren's original article in the now defunct journal "BridgeNytt" (Bridge News) turned up and she was kind enough to supply the following in translation:
EKRENS 2 Diamonds preempt | |
.. from the Norwegian Bjørn Olav is the first to write the technical column. There will be a lot of this kind of stuff, both openings and systems in general. Bjørn Olav, who is a system fanatic, will contribute on a regular basis. Not unnaturally he has chosen to start with his own creation, which in the course of one year has managed to become generally known. More and more players use Ekrens 2 diamonds.After having tried most of the available 2 diamond openings, without too much success, Ragnar Baardsgaard and I decided that we had to make up our own variation. One "wet" Friday evening we reached a solution. That 2 opening would show at least 4-4 in the majors and 3-10 hcp, regardless of vulnerability. At first sight this might seem pretty audatious, but our initial results proved surprisingly good. Often we were able to leap to 3 or 4 in a major after partner's 2 opening - making life miserable for our opponents. The board was then frequently won no matter what happened subsequently. The auction having begun ... 2 - pass - 4 of a major
On average we were able to open 2 on about one in ten boards - a lot more frequent than the other 2 diamond openings. While it might be sticking one's neck out too far to open 2 on Qxxx Qxxx x xxxx in first seat in unfavourable vulnerability (as a not unknown editor of Bridge Nytt did), Jon Andreas Støvneng's comment is telling - " I have never seen it to be wrong to open with 2". The downside was that from time to time we did get doubled, conceding a lot in undertricks, but this happened much less frequently than one might think. Playing teams, we were about to go for -1400 in 2 doubled when they let us of the hook, ending in 3NT. We lost that board, but our opponents were unhappy at having lost such a huge score. Such emotions often bring their own pay-off, as opponents attempt to compensate on subsequent deals. | |
Ekren methods | |
Defined 4- 4, 4-5, 5-4 or 5-5 in major and 3-10 hcp regardless of vulnerability.
Responses {The 3* response is due to Helness-Helgemo}
2/ = To play
2NT = Relay 3 = Natural, not forcing 3* = Invitation with 3-3 in the majors 3,3 = pre-emptive, to play Responses to the 2NT relay
3 any minimum
3 = 5-5 min or max 3 = 4-5 max 3 = 5-4 max 3NT = 4-4 max All the responses to 2 NT other than 3 clubs are forcing to game. After the 3 response, responder can make a new relay with 3 diamonds, or invite to game with 3 or 3
2 - 2NT
3 - 3 = second relay
.. 3 = 4-5
.. 3 =5-4 .. 3NT = 4-4
2 - 2NT
3 - 3/ = slam suggestion opposite 5-5 Double of opponent made after the 2 opening is for penalties. {Examples then followed}
BridgeNytt 2(1994) {Norwegian - no longer published}
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Some limited biographyBjørn Olav Ekren is a Norwegian grand master listed in the Oslo bridge club pages and sometimes seen in European competition. I don't know too much about Bjørn except that he came to prominence in the early 90's from mid Norway - the same school as Helness-Helgemo. I would welcome any further stories about this innovative, and clearly successful player. |
www.chrisryall.net/bridge/weak.two/ekren-1994.htm © Chris Ryall 1987-2008
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