[skjaeran]

I'm playing in the Oslo area in Norway.

Norwegian Standard is the predominant standard system. It's natural, 15-17 NT, 5443 min suit length for openings at the 1-level. Some play Walsh, some open 1♥ with 44M/5+♥.

2/1 is growing in popularity, mostly among top players.

Transfer responses to 1♣ is also gaining popularity, it started to evolve 5-6 years ago in the Trondheim area, I and my partner adopted it early on, else it was mostly juniors playing it.

2-level openings vary. You can see normal Multi and 2-suiters M+m or garbage Multi combined with constructive wk2M and other variations.

[Free]

Belgium - French side: because of the French influence, almost everyone plays 5 card Majors, 4 card ♦, short ♣, 2♣ semi GF, 2♦ GF

Belgium - Dutch side: since the system regulations are very flexible, you can encounter all sorts of stuff. However, the biggest majority plays 5 card Majors, longest minor, strong NT. Playing 1M-1NT forcing is also quite popular, but for some reason 2/1 GF is not. Some strong ♣ systems and Polish Club variants are also quite popular. In some areas a mini precision 2♣ opening (Weak with 6+♣ or 5♣-4M) is popular, but I have no idea why...

[Gerben42]

Local area: Nuremberg

The experts play 5-card majors, light openings with light 2/1 bids and weak NT.
Most others play either German teaching standard (basically French std.) or good old Acol.

[DRWTAHOE]

It is very interesting to read what's going on in your world or your neck of the woods. Of all the varaitions of bridge language and how we get to where we want to be and which vechicle to use is mind boggling. What has not changed and never will is the "deck" the 4 suits and the 13 cards in those suits.

What is paramount is playing with a steady partner. Get your story together, tell no lies and use the cards and the opponents to your best advantage. Try to make a purse out of a sows ear and trying to beat the odds, try Vagas you may have a better chance. Vegas they don't care about your stupity or embarrasment. They love your money.

I have been there. Enjoyed the buffet and shows.

[sireenb]

Local Area: Amman, Jordan

The 'Standard' system taught to everybody is Natural, French Style. It is based on 5 card Majors, ♦ by 4, short ♣ and a 15-17 1NT. 2♣ is strong Ace asking. 2♦ opening shows an intermediate one-suited hand and again asks for Aces. 2♥/♠ weak. Upside down attitude and normal count are common though there are a few who either never heard of signals and/or do not bother with them.

The Multi combined with two-suited 2M openings is gaining popularity. Some players have shifted to natural responses to 2♣ with 2♦ relay. Many players have also added Bergen raises and forcing 1NT.

A few players are shifting to 2/1. One or two pairs play weak NT. There are some pairs who like to experiment with new systems or conventions but the majority tend to stick to what they have always played.

Precision is virtually non-existent. Some pairs play a variation of Precision but with no relays or asking bids. My partner and I are the only Precision players who use asking bids and relays.

[andy_h]

In Australia, it depends which state you live in.

In Brisbane, most people here play Standard with 5533 and 15-17NT or 15-18NT.
A few play 2/1 and the ones playing strong club don't really have a clue on what they do.
2 level openings are either natural and weak, or multi+muiderberg.

In Sydney, I suspect most play Standard or 2/1.

In Melbourne, 2/1 is like non-existent with most people playing Acol and sometimes Standard. 2 level openings are either multi+muiderberg or spec 2's.

These also correspond to what the juniors play as well, that is it depends which city they're from.

In national tournaments, most of the top players are playing 2/1 or Standard. Transfers over 1♣ is slowly gaining popularity.

[Elianna]

I played against a pair yesterday who played a system they called "Roth-Stone Acol".

I couldn't figure out where the parts of the title came from.

They also checked off that they opened light. The only acol part I could see is that one of their NT ranges was 11-14 (they also listed 15-17). Everything else seemed normal (for North America, meaning 5 card majors, weak 2s, etc). Except they played "inverted majors".

I also played against another pair that played canape openings and responses. No pre-alert on that one. They did alert all bids as they happened, though.

[Phil]

kenrexford, on Jan 29 2009, 07:27 AM, said:

By far, the most common oddity locally is the "Montreal Relay."

LOL Montreal Relay has reared its head in the Palm Springs Area too.

It's a mix of poorly played 2/1 and SAYC overall. There is a teacher that advocates a "simplified" 2/1 that involves the showing of stoppers after a 2/1 start and that has wound its way into the fabric.

Palm Springs is mostly snowbirds, so you have this salad bowl of methods from the northern half of the country and Canada. You see Lavinthal, O/E, and some UDCA. A lot of Walsh, since Rhoda has been teaching their awhile.

Some other oddities are Suction over 1N, attitude leads over NT, and Top and Bottom cues (3♣ over any opening).