Blofeld, on Feb 9 2006, 01:21 PM, said:
After (1NT) X (XX), it makes sense to have some way of responder naturally running to a minor at the two level. e.g. 2♣, 2♦ natural, pass for opener's minor after which pulling to the next step up asks for opener's major?
Otherwise I agree with Adam.
Well its more common to play all bids mean the same as without the xx, and pass to get to your own minor. Either way is fine, of course, but the following simple agreement should handle all sequences:
After partner makes an ART bid whichs gets xed:
ALL bids mean the same as without the x (including pass to play)
xx says I have my own suit (in many auctions this shows a specific suit): e.g.
1N-2C(majors)-x-xx would be diamonds since you would pass with clubs.
After partner makes an ART x which gets xxed:
ALL bids mean the same as without the x, except:
If xx was strong, then pass is a desire to run to your own suit, otherwise pass is to play
N.B.: These agreements for pass and xx are not universal, and are just a suggestion. These auctions usually causes confusion in an unpracticed partnership.
Note some Implications of these agreements. Suppose you are like a few of my partnerships and play (1D)-2D as 4+H and 5+C and the auction goes
(1D)-2D-(x)
P=Diamonds
xx=Spades
2H,3C=to play
2N=Game Try (as before)
2S=Spades
Well there are 2 ways to get to spades, so in my regular partnership (John Pendergrass) we play xx is definitive "I want to play in my own suit" while the 2S bid (the other way of getting there) would be offering a choice (logically between spades and clubs).
Anyway, its just a suggestion. It does allow you to play in ever suit, including the xed suit.