Do we need complicated bidding systems to reach the best contracts? The Portland Club (men only) operates a no conventions at all policy, which most of its members don’t stick to if they are playing outside tournaments. Some however treat ‘natural’ bidding with a fervour bordering on the messianic. One such was the ghastly Demetri Marchessini. The first time I played Biarritz, some 20 years ago, he had hired a super professional team; he partnered French world champion Paul Chemla and their teammates were Tony Forrester and Tom Townsend. Natural methods only obvs. On the second day Tony and Tom bid and made 4♠ after a 1NT opening. DM questioned how they got to the winning game and was told they had used Stayman. The whole team was fired on the spot!
Here is a hand, played by Chemla, from the French double Olympiad winning team in the 1980s:
South jumped in Spades on his second go to announce a very good suit, then jumped again to try and show it was a solid 7-bagger.
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