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Checkback Gladiator

Responder rebids by Checkback Gladiator, my XYZ variant with invitational direct 2M rebids. That chapter covers the scheme, the name, and its history. This one gives the T-Walsh tables, where the transfer response shifts strength from responder to opener: responder passes the completion more often, and 1♠ is available as a second response.

After the completion

The completion is non-forcing. Responder passes with 0–7, as the 1-level is low enough to survive a 4–2 fit. Other rebids adapt Strawberry Polish Club’s Checkback Gladiator. 2♣ is a one-round force: a constructive signoff, an invitation, or a special game force. 2♦ is an artificial game-forcing checkback. Natural 2M are invitations, and 3x are slam tries.

1♣ - 1♦ -
1♥ -
1♠F, 8+, 4=♠
1NTNF, 8–10, 0–3♠
2♣!CB Gladiator, F1
2♦!FG CB
2♥!INV, 5+♥
2♠!INV, 4=♠, 5+♥
2NT!TRF, (PRE or FG), 6+♣
3♣♦S/T, 5+#, 5+♥
3♥S/T, 6+♥
4♥S/O
1♣ - 1♥ -
1♠ -
1NTNF, 8–10
2♣!CB Gladiator, F1
2♦!FG CB
2♥!INV, 4+♥, 5+♠
2♠!INV, 5+♠
2NT!TRF, (PRE or FG), 6+♣
3♣♦♥S/T, 5+#, 5+♠
3♠S/T, 6+♠
4♠S/O

The 2♣ checkback

1♣ - 1R -
1M - 2♣ -		M = R + 1
2♦!P/C, 11–14
2M15–17, 3=M
1♣ - 1♦ -
1♥ - 2♣ -
2♦ -
PS/O, 5+♦
2♥S/O, 5+♥
2NTBAL INV
3♣♦INV, 5+#, 5+♥
3♥INV, S-SOL 6+♥
3NTCOG, 5♥(332)
1♣ - 1♥ -
1♠ - 2♣ -
2♦ -
PS/O, 5+♦
2♥INV, 5+♥, 5+♠
2♠S/O, 5+♠
2NTBAL INV
3♣♦INV, 5+#, 5+♠
3♥INV, 4+♥, 6+♠
3♠INV, S-SOL 6+♠
3NTCOG, 5♠(332)

The 2♦ game force

1♣ - 1♦ -
1♥ - 2♦ -
2♥11–14, 3=♥
2♠BAL 12–14, 4=♠, 2=♥
2NTBAL 12–14, 2–3♠, 2=♥
3♣15–17, 3=♥, 6+♣
3♥15–17, 3=♥
1♣ - 1♥ -
1♠ - 2♦ -
2♥BAL 12–14, 4=♥, 2=♠
2♠11–14, 3=♠
2NTBAL 12–14, 2–3♥, 2=♠
3♣15–17, 3=♠, 6+♣
3♠15–17, 3=♠

Second response 1♠

1♣ - 1♦ -
1♥ - 1♠ -
1NTBAL 12–14, 2–3♠
2♣UNBAL 11–14, 3=♥, 0–3♠
2♥15–17, 3=♥, 0–3♠
2♠11–14, 4+♠
3♠15–17, 4+♠

After 1NT

Checkback Gladiator still applies. This is Strawberry Polish Club’s 1♣ - 1M - 1NT with about 6 points moved from responder to opener: responder passes with 0–4, invites with 5–6, and forces to game with 7+. Over 2♣, opener shows support rather than a maximum, since 1NT is a single range.

1♣ - 1♦ -
1NT -
2♣!CB Gladiator, F1
2♣ - 2♦!P/C
2♣ - 2♥3=♥
2♦!FG CB
2♥!INV, 5+♥
2♠!INV, 4=♠
2NT!TRF, (PRE or FG), 6+♣
3♣♦S/T, 5+#, 5+♥
3♥S/T, 6+♥
3♠!SPL, 0–1♠, 6+♥
3NT6–9, 4=♥
4♣♦!SPL, 0–1#, 6+♥
1♣ - 1♥ -
1NT -
2♣!CB Gladiator, F1
2♣ - 2♦!P/C
2♣ - 2♥4=♥
2♣ - 2♠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, 6+♠
3NT6–9, 4=♠
4♣♦♥!SPL, 0–1#, 6+♠

After 2♣ - 2♦, responder continues as after the completion, but invitations are 5–6. Over 2♦, opener answers as after the completion without the strength split: 2M shows 3 cards, 2 of the other major shows 4 cards, and 2NT denies both.