[MickyB]

I'm considering continuations over a strong club. It seems to be generally accepted that, with one balanced hand and one unbalanced hand, it is optimal to have the balanced hand relaying; and with two unbalanced hands, dialogue bidding is to be preferred. What about with two balanced hands? What if both hands have denied a shortage, but one or both could be semi-balanced?

It seems to me that there is just too much information to be transferred for relays to work as well as they do when one hand is unbalanced - all four suits need scanning, and often a key ten or nine will be the difference between a good slam and a poor slam. On the other hand, a simple quantitative assessment of the two hands is reasonably accurate. Maybe one hand should resolve shape to enable partner to check that distributions are not mirrored, followed by checking the strength of a key suit (perhaps a 5-3 or 6-3 fit that is hoped to be a source of tricks; or a 4-4 fit that may provide the 12th trick, or may have a slow loser that is avoidable in 6NT)?

[Free]

I guess it's useful to use 1♦ as GF here: opener with balanced hand can relay, with unbalanced he can show his hand. If responder shows a balanced hand as well, you may consider relaybreaks and go to natural bidding: start with the number of cues, search for a fit (CONFIT). If both hands are unbalanced, you may also consider relay breaks.

Might combine the best of both worlds.

[MickyB]

Yup, something like that is the plan - maybe having 1♥ as balanced or extras, planning to break on the next round if unbal.

[hrothgar]

Here's my thoughts:

With one unbalanced hand and one balanced hand, its best if the balanced hand asks and the unbalanced hand shows.

With two balanced hands you want to use natural bidding. The critical decision is (likely) to be whether you have the right stoppers for 3NT. Relay bidding is quite bad for this.

With two unbalanced hands, your main priority is to discover whether you have a complete misfit or whether you have a fit. If you have a fit, relay bidding with work wonderfully. If you have a misfit, you want to be able to limit hand strength ASAP and, if appropriate, signoff in 3N