[pasker]

Could any1 suggest some good responses and basic continuations to a 2d opener showing 18/19 bal?
thanks
Ben Paske

[mike777]

I play this all the time if you wish, PM me and I can email you full documentation.

I play it in context of 14-16 opening nt in first and second seat and 15-17 in third and fourth.

Alot of the bids used over 14-16 nt will be employed over the Mexican 2D opener also.

For starters...90% of your auctions go:

2d=2s=(relay)
2nt(forced)=etc.....

You will also need to discuss how "offshape and semibalanced" you want your 18-19 balanced openers to be....I still am not sure .

[joshs]

Let me invent a method:

First:
2D-2S Forces 2N then
Normal methods
except 2S then 3H is INV with spades.


2D-2H: Forces 2S then
2N Shows Clubs Weak or Strong (4 level rebid) OR an INV 5-5 with clubs and a higher (3 level rebid)
3C Shows Diamonds weak or Strong OR an INV 5-5 with diamonds and a major
3D Shows 6S and 4H INV
3H Shows 5S and 5H INV
3S Choice between 4S and 3N

And Direct 2N or higher:

2N Distributional 1 suited Slam Try
3C Asks partner to x-fer into his suit (3S=C), next bid shows shortage
3C INV Bid 3N with a good fit
3D INV Bid 3N with a good fit
3H 4144 GFing
3S 1444 GFing

There are many possible alternate schemes. Perhaps concentrating on showing singletons instead of all the invites?

[Cascade]

You can make a response structure with little effort.

We play

2♦ 2♠ forces 2NT

2NT

Now we use our normal structure over a 2NT opening.

We also play 3-Any is our normal response structure over 1NT - for us these show shortages.

This leaves 2♥ and 2NT we use these primarily to show two-suited hands with a major.

2♥ is a transfer to spades and then the next bid is a second suit. This is also used to sign-off in 2♠.

2NT forces 3♣. You can pass to play with long clubs or any other bid shows a two-suiter with hearts. 3♥ is hearts and clubs.

[Robert]

Hi everyone

I played these bids over a 18-19 2D opening many years ago.

2D-2M(bid better major to 'sign off' in 2NT)

2D-2NT=pick a minor

2D-3C=Stayman(if 5-4 shape Smolen style follow up)

2D-3D=5-5 majors

2D-3H=Confit(Control/fit asking bid)

After 2D-2M responder used transfer bids. Bidding one major and a transfer to the other major was Jacoby style.

Bidding one major and a transfer to the same major showed a minor single suited hand. Hearts-hearts=clubs and spades-spades=diamonds.

I play a Big club system now so the 18-20HCP hands open 1C and rebid 1NT.

Regards,
Robert

[paulg]

Lauria & Versace noted the following in their system notes over 2♦ - 18-20 balanced.

2♥ = 4+♠ or slam try 6+♣/♦/♠;
2♠ = 4+♥;
2nt = transfer to 3♣ :

• sign-off in ♣ or ♥;
  
• slam try 6+♥;
  
• slam try balanced;

3♣ =

• asking for majors;
  
• 5+♥ 4♠;

3♦ = 5+♠ 4♥;
3♥ = forcing to game two-suiter in the minors singleton or void in ♥;
3♠ = forcing to game two-suiter in the minors singleton or void in ♠;
3NT = forcing to game two-suite in majors at least 5-5;

paul