kenrexford, on 2014-March-03, 07:03, said:
I wanted the "shape first" approach form Roman Club without losing the competitive value of weak two openings. Beginning with the following principles . . .
- There will be special sequences for three-suited hands to keep them out of all other sequences.
- Weak two opening bids in all four suits (like the original Roth-Stone).
- Light initial action (10-14 HCP 1NT opening in all seats at all vulnerabilities, and open nearly all 11-counts as "full openings").
- Bid early, bid often, and stop on a dime when there's no game.
- Lots of limit bids to help partner stop when we're not going anywhere special.
- Full GCC compliance.
. . . I eventually ended up with a playable system. Partner and I have had good success at regional tournaments in both teams and pairs. Perhaps, we'd have done just as well with K-S or 2/1, but I like to doubt it. Having both 1♣ and 1♦ as artificial one round forcing openings was the key. Having wide NT ranges and three ways to "open" 1NT (directly, as a rebid after opening 1♣, and as a rebid after opening 1♦) gave us a playable notrump structure where we show balanced hands from 10-22 HCP with 1NT openings or rebids. Limited canape rebids provide the brakes. Four different ways to "open" 2NT allow tight ranges for balanced hands above 22HCP that give us precise bidding in a zone where there's little or no room for invitational calls. Hiding all three-suited hands under one rebid each after the 1♣ and 1♦ openings keeps those shapes from complicating other auctions---and provides helpful ways to specify shape and range when the rare three-suiter raises its ugly head.