Matthew's Journal

Very much seconded on only playing conventions you *both* will fully remember. Even if you can use a convention, it often gets you to the same contract as not using it - only a few hands do you gain an advantage by using the convention. If you're more likely to forget the convention than it to be useful, best not to use it at all. Often simple is best. I lose count of the number of people I've played against at tournaments who play a million fancy conventions, but can't remember them (or even better, haven't considered what happens if I overcall over their conventions) giving me a good result through them just messing up.

I have never ever found any hand where I'd have found Gerber useful, or had it used against me successfully. I have gained lots of points on many occasions in tournaments by people attempting Gerber against me, and failing to rememeber it, and ending up in absolutely the wrong slam. My conclusion to this is to not play Gerber. And there are sometimes hands you really want a natural 4C bid.