[bb79]

Some basic questions :

When the auction starts with 1D-(2C)-

---X promises both majors or one of the majors? [we don't use negative free bids]
---if it goes on 1D-(2C)-X-(p)-?, what do you bid with 4-2-6-1 shape and 17hcp? would 2s be NF? is 3D forcing?

Thanks,

[Gerben42]

Ideally you would have both majors, but you can bid it also only with 1 major if you can deal with any response from partner.

With your example hand I would bid 3♠. 2♠ and 3♦ would not be forcing. It's a messy auction so this is why Sabine Auken suggests to bid 2♣ over 1♦ as often as possible

[rogerclee]

Gerben42, on May 2 2009, 10:20 AM, said:

With your example hand I would bid 3♠.

3♣ seems like a better call to me!

[gnasher]

If 3♠ is forcing, you should do that, obviously. If it isn't, you have to bid either 4♠ or 3♣. Neither is entirely satisfactory.

[hanp]

Good to discuss whether 3S is forcing, I play it isn't so I would bid 3C.

The double shows at least one major.

[JLOL]

Jumps after a negative X being forcing is a good agreement, at the very least it stops stupid negative Xs.