[MickyB]

It seems obvious to use an artificial method here, as it's pretty useful for responder to be able to show hearts constructively (especially when 5-5) but with the ability to stop in 2♥. Any pet methods around? If it makes any difference, 2♣ almost denies 4♦ for me.

A few possibilities:

2♦ artificial and forcing
2♥ natural and non-forcing, but constructive

2♦ showing ♥
2♥ artificial and forcing, denying 4♥

2♦ showing ♥
2♥ showing ♠
2♠ balanced or wanting partner to declare NT
2NT raising ♣
3♣ showing ♦

Over 1♦:1♠, 2♦ there is less room available, although there's still a case for using 2♥ as artificial and forcing even there. In fact, it's almost certainly right for me to do so as I play that the 2♦ denies 4 hearts.

Any thoughts on methods in these auctions would be appreciated.

This post has been edited by MickyB: 2006-December-17, 22:29

[sathyab]

There's a convention attributed to Gittelman(?) that lets you bid 5-4, 5-5 major suit combinations of invitational and non-invitational strength directly over 1m. 1m-2h in the non-invitational variety with 5 spades and 4+ hearts, 5-9 HCP and 1m-2S is exactly 5-4 in Spades, Hearts and 9-11 HCP. The continuations are somewhat similar to those over good-bad 2NT. I don't happen to have a link handy for it, but I'm sure you can google it pretty easily.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

there is a simple method around, called
3rd suit forcing, which works similar as
NMF forcing, i.e. all inv. or better hands
go through the 3rd suit.
A jump in the 3rd suit shows 5-5 with inv.
values.

It works ok, you can of course play something
more fancy, which will be better, but it depends.
For me NMF is good enough, so I wont bother with
2-way checkback, and wont bother to play something
more elaborate than 3ed suit forcing.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[mikeh]

A scheme I have used for years:

1♣  1♠
2♣  2♦ art. 1 round force
    2♥natural non-forcing
    2♠ non forcing
    2N natural invite
    3♣ non forcing
    3♦ forcing 5-5 ♠-♦
    3♥ invitational 5-5 ♠-♥
    3♠ invitational

Then one builds off the 2♦ bid to show other forcing sequences: the development is pretty straightforward.

[whereagles]

In Europe we use mostly mikeh's scheme, except that the 3♥ jump is forcing 55.