IDAC and Wonder Bids

The origin of this concept is based upon ideas of the family Crossley, namely Mr. Clarence F. Crossley Jr., born in the year 1924 of Henderson, Nevada, United States, and sons Mr. David M. Crossley, born in the year 1948 of Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, and Mr. Robert (Bob) E. Crossley (website), born in the year 1951 of Corte Madera, California, United States. The development of the concept is attributed by the family more to Mr. Robert (Bob) E. Crossley.

Family Biography

Mr. Clarence F. Crossley Jr., a Doctor of Medicine, who graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, in the year 1938, was an avid bridge player. He was both a physician and an anesthesiologist. He was also a former President of District 17, the Western Conference, Marin County, California, and Nevada Bridge Units.

His son Mr. Robert E. Crossley is a bridge professional, juggler, and a film maker. During the 1970s he traveled extensively for Travel With Goren, teaching the techniques of the game of bridge. He also became a director and directed many students of the game, who traveled the globe via cruise ships. He initially played his first game of bridge at the early age of seven and became a Life Master at the age of 16. He won the prestigious Vanderbilt Trophy in the year 1974 at the age of twenty-three with his brother Mr. David Crossley, and team mates Robert Crossley, Eric Kokish, Joey Silver

Mr. Robert E. Crossley authored two publications on the game of bridge, namely Advanced Concept in Bridge and Learn and Enjoy Bridge. He also authored Idak and Wonder Bids, which was published in The Bridge World magazine in the year 1975, in the July issue, Volume 46, Number 10. Mr. Robert E. Crossley also developed the conventional method of Crossley 2 No Trump, which was employed in the 1970s prior to the development of the Jacoby 2 No Trump conventional method.

Mr. Robert E. Crossley operates the website of the Crossley Bridge Center. Information from this website relating to the history of the family has been separately compiled and has been only archived and preserved on this site in .pdf file format for future reference.

Note: The contributions of Mr. William Crossley as per email message of June 20, 2013, and who is currently living in Brazil, have been most helpful and are greatly appreciated.

About Mr. Robert E. Crossley

Robert E. Crossley is a Grand Life Master with over 10,000 masterpoints. He started playing bridge at 7 years old, competed in his first National Tournament at age 12, became a Life Master at 16, and became the youngest player ever to win a National Knockout at age 23. This win, the 1974 Vanderbilt Cup, qualified Robert E. Crossley , partnered with his brotherDavid (Dave) Crossley, to compete in the International Team Trials held to select the North American Team.

Robert E. Crossley has many overall placings in other National Tournaments, including three top ten finishes in National Teams in both 1994 and 2002. He has competed in tournaments in many parts of the world including France, Italy, Morocco, Israel, and Australia. In 1990 he won the prestigious Danish Pairs Championship, the Albani Cup. He has won the Caribbean/Central American Teams (1993, 1995, 1999 and 2005).

Robert E. Crossley comes from a family of bridge experts dating back to his grandfather, Cap Crossley Sr., who was one of the first Life Masters in the Western United States.

Concept Definition

This concept constitutes a defensive bidding method against strong, artificial Club opening bids. IDAK is an acronym for Instant Destroyer And Killer, and IDAC is an acronym for Instant Destruction Against a Club.

Note: If the partnership is not vulnerable, then the principle of IDAK or IDAC is employed.

Note: If the partnership is vulnerable, then wonder bids are employed. The distinctions between the two principles are explained below.

Note: The concept is based on the state of the vulnerability. When not vulnerable, the defense employs the bidding structure of the IDAK concept and when vulnerable, the defense employs the concept of Wonder Bids..

Origin of Designation

For the purists among our visitors it must also be noted that the designation IDAK is also the designation for the killer android. In the television series Lost in Space, which aired beginning in the year 1965 and ended in the year 1968, the episode titled Revolt of the Androids, #224, which was the second of the two sequels to The Android Machine, Verda is sheltered by the Robinsons after she is marked for destruction by the Celetrial Department Store. The episode originally aired on March 8, 1967.

It is the Celetrial Department Store, which dispatches the killer android IDAK ALPHA 12, or the Instant Destroyer and Killer, to accomplish the destruction of Verda. The actor inside the robot costume is Don Matheson. Verda is played by Dee Hartford. A short synopsis describes how Dr. Zachary Smith, Will, and the Robot are chasing after a ruby-eating creature,when they encounter a super-android who identifies himself as IDAK (Instant Destroyer and Killer). Thinking the robot could be useful to him Dr. Zachary Smith tries to draw up a service contract.

Meanwhile, the female android Verda returns to the Robinsons after escaping a disassembly order, and she warns them of the android that was sent to destroy her. When IDAK detects Verda's presence, he goes after her, but the family is determined to save Verda by playing off the human emotions of the android IDAK. However, what the family is unaware of is the fact that a second IDAK is sent to replace the flawed IDAK, one which is stronger and less susceptible to human feelings. This android carries the designation of IDAK OMEGA 17 and was portrayed by Mr. Dawson Palmer.

Principles of IDAK / IDAC

The principles of the IDAK are based upon the opponents opening a strong, artificial Club on the one level.

A.	If the defense has a long suit, the defense will bid the suit immediately below that suit at the given Level deemed appropriate. In this case, bidding No Trump would show the Club suit although the opening was 1 Club. This should not be understood as a transfer bid, since the responder can pass this bid of the suit with a long suit of his own in that suit bid. In the case that the defense is two-suited, then the principle is to transfer first and then rebid the second suit. This transfer is communicated with the second bid.
B.	If the defense bids 1 Spade after a strong artificial Club opening, this bid shows a definite pattern of 4-3-3-3 or a long Spade suit. If the defense bids 1 Spade and has a long Spade suit, the responder first assumes that it shows a definite pattern of 4-3-3-3 and bids his best suit. The partner then can show his long Spade suit by rebidding Spades at the level of the auction.
C.	If the defense jumps in Spades by one level after a strong artificial Club opening, then both Minor suits are promised. The responder can bid No Trump to discover which Minor suit is preferable.
D.	After a strong artificial Club opening, the defense can double. A double shows any 3-suited hand. Following are possible responses.
		Responses
		1.	With a one-suited holding, the responder bids 2 suits lower than his real suit. For example, a response of 1 Spade, after his partner's double of 1 Club, shows a one-suited holding in Diamonds. The doubler now has the option of bidding the indicated suit with support, in this case, Diamonds, or passes the 1 Spade response owing to good values in Spades. A jump by the responder is a matter of partnership agreement as to whether it shows increased values and/or strength.
		2.	With both Major suits and an interest in preempting, then the responder will respond with 2 No Trump, forcing the auction to the three level, knowing also that the doubler has support in at least one of the Major suits.
		3.	With both Minor suits and an interest in preempting, then the responder will respond with 3 No Trump or higher, forcing the auction to the four level, knowing also that the doubler has support in at least one of the Minor suits.
		4.	With a constructive holding with 9 plus high card points and a two-suited holding, the responder will bid 1 No Trump. The doubler will now proceed to bid up the line if there is no interference. Without interference, the normal bidding sequence can proceed without hindrance. If there is interference, then the doubler should double again to show shortness in the bid suit by the opponents. If the doubler has, however, moderate to excellent values in the suit bid by the opponents, then the double must pass to communicate this information to his partner, who still has the opportunity to bid.
		5.	With a two-suited holding containing Spades and Diamonds, then the responder will jump in either suit, which promises the second suit. If the responder has a specific two-suited holding with Hearts and Clubs, then the responder will jump in either suit, which promises the second suit. It is a matter of partnership agreement as to whether, in this case, bidding the lower-ranking suit first shows weaker values and bidding the higher-ranking suit first promises stronger values.

This, in essence, is the foundation of the Instant Destroyer And Killer and/or Instant Destruction Against a Club concept. Since much is a matter of partnership agreement, the details of the concept and the strength-showing responses and/or rebids should be first agreed upon.

Principles of Wonder Bids

Wonder Bids are also a defensive bidding system against a strong artificial Club opening and sequences. The Wonder Bids are used primarily when the status of the defense is vulnerable as in contrast to the IDAK or IDAC defense bidding system. After a strong artificial Club opening and/or response to such an opening, the defense can enter the auction, using the following guidelines of the Wonder Bids.

A.

Any non-jump suit bid, the Wonder Suit, shows that particular suit or the other three suits, a 3-suited holding, which can include Clubs since the strong Club opening is totally artificial and may show no Clubs at all. The responder is more or less guessing (or wondering) as to the options of 1 intended suit or a 3-suited holding, but with an interfering bid before defense takes action, the guess is somewhat eliminated. However, instead of raising his partner, the responder can continue the auction to gather additional information.

Responses

1.

Bid No Trump on the corresponding level with four or better cards in the wonder suit. This response is not forcing to game or even one round if his partner has a 3-suited holding with a stopper in the fourth suit.

2.

Bid two of any suit with four plus cards if partner has support and tolerance for the wonder suit. In the case that his partner has support and tolerance for this suit, then the partner will pass. If the partner does not have support for this suit of the responder, then the partner rebids his long suit. In the case that the responder bids a new suit and is doubled by the immediate opponent, the partner of the responder can, having no support whatsoever in the suit bid by his partner, redouble for Takeout.

B.	A double promises both Major suits.
C.	A bid of No Trump promises both Minor suits.
D.	A jump in Diamonds promises a two-suiter in Diamonds and Hearts.
E.	A jump in Hearts promises a two-suiter in Hearts and Clubs.
F.	A jump in Spades promises a two-suiter in Spades and an unknown Minor suit.
G.	A response of No Trump by the partner asks for a bid of the unknown Minor suit.

Note: This, in essence, is the foundation of the wonder bids, but the values, strength and length, and the distribution shown through non-jump and jump defensive overcalls are a matter of partnership agreement. This fact must not be overlooked.

 

 

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.