[PrecisionL]

In our Copious Canape Club System [Ultra Club Improved!], we are now trying to merge the old Matchpoint Precision approach of 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ showing 4 or more ♥s (forcing for one round) with the modern approach of using the 1♥ Relay ALSO for balanced 20+ hcp hands.

This is tough to sort out because of the possibility of opener having 4 or 5♥s.

One solution is to use the Toad Club approach where the 1NT rebid by responder shows 5-7 hcp and either 5♣ or 5♠. However, this does not allow enough room to distinguish between 3 and 4-card ♥ raises [like Berkowitz-Cohen once did with 2♣ (0-2♥) and 2♦ (3♥  exactly)].

Does anyone have experience with this approach or ANY other ideas of making the 1♥ Relay multi-functional?

[Cascade]

Alan Sontag had a two-way 1♥ rebid in Power Precision that he played with Peter Weischel.

[rbforster]

One approach I used for a while is to keep the 1♥ purely relay (strong, 20+), and use 1♠ to show a non-strong 2-suiter. The simple version of this would be:

1♣-1♦:

1♥ art, any 20+ or equiv
1♠ min 5/4+ 2-suiter except both minors
1N 17-19, including 5M332 and 4441's
2♣♦ 5+ suits, unbal and limited
2♥♠ 6+ suits, unbal and limited
2N 5/5+ minors, limited

Over 1♠ (I treatment I like), I use the following:

P to play (weak long spades)
1N asking for the longer suit (major if equal), most invites
2♣ p/c for the cheapest suit
2♦ asking for longer major
2♥ to play (weak long hearts)

[awm]

Sam and I sort of play this. Our methods actually involve 1♦ showing either 0-4 or certain GF hands, but it's probably possible to substitute the semi-positives. After 1♣-1♦, we play:

1♥ = either 4♥ and longer ♦, or 5+♥, or 4441/4450 short in a black suit, or 21+ balanced without 4♠
1♠ = 4+♠, possibly a longer minor, forcing one round
1NT = 16-20 balanced
2♣ = 5+♣ unbalanced, may have a 4-card red suit, minimum values
2♦ = 5+♦/4♣ or 6+♦, minimum values
2♥ = 4♥ and 5+♣, extras
2♠ = 5+/5+ minors, forcing one round
2N = 6+ minor semi-balanced, substantial extras
3m = 6+ minor, short in other minor, no 4M GF
3M = short in other major, no 4M, GF, either a minor one-suiter or (31)(45)

After 1♣-1♦-1♥:

1♠ = normal 0-4 response
..... 1N = really big balanced hand
..... 2♣ = shows 5+♥ and another suit or 4441, forcing one round
..... 2♦ = 4♥ and longer ♦ or 1444, minimum
..... 2♥ = 6+♥, minimum
..... 2♠ = 4♥ and 5+♦, extras but less than GF
..... 2N = GF balanced hand
..... 3♣ = GF 5+♥/5+♣
..... 3♦ = GF 4♥/5+♦
..... 3♥ = GF natural
1N = GF relay
2♣ = 0-4 with 5+♣ and 5+♦
2♦ = 0-4 with 5+♦ and 5+♠
2♥ = 0-4 with 4+♥ (opener can bid 2N natural w/o 4♥ or make game tries)
2♠ = 0-4 with 5+♠ and 5+♣

1♣-1♦-1♥-1♠-2♣:

2♦ = either 4+♠, or 3-1 in the majors
..... 2♥ = minimum ♥ + a minor
..... 2♠ = minimum 4-5 majors
..... 2N = 4+♣ extras (only 3♣ and 3♥ NF now)
..... 3♣ = 4+♦ extras (only 3♦ and 3♥ NF now)
..... 3♦ = 6+♥ extras (only 3♥ NF now)
..... 3♥ = 5+♥ 4+♠ extras (only 3♠ NF now)
2♥ = 2-3♥ (non-pass continuations are natural and show extras)
2♠, 3♣, 3♦ = 6+ suit, normally 0-1♥
2N = 3♥ and side singleton

[rd6789]

I play 1C-1D;1H as forcing p to bid 1S and showing either 5+H or strong balanced 19-20, 23-24 - kokish style


with balanced hands opener rebids 1NT=19-20, 2NT 23-24

(opener would have rebid 1NT not 1H with balanced 17-18, and 2NT with 21-22)

(we open 1nt 14-16 so we get to play all our gadgets after 1nt for all balanced hands in the range 14-20)

if opener is unbalanced we rebid 2C after 1C-1D;1H-1S to show 3 or 4 spades, and 2D to show less than 3 spades

[blahonga]

After 1♣ - 1♦ we play

1♥ 16-19 with 5+♥ or 20 any (except 20-21 with 5+♠)
1♠ 16-21 5+
1NT 17-19 including 4441, 5♥332 and 5m4M22
2m 16-19 unbalanced, no four card major
2M 16-19 4M, longer minor and a shortness
2N 16-19 55 minors
3♣/♦/♥ good 16-19 6♠ and 4♣/♦/♥
3♠ 9 tricks with ♠
3NT to play

After 1♣ - 1♦-; 1♥ we play

1♠ 0-4 any or 5-7 bal with 2♥
1NT 5-7 5+♠ or 5+♦, 0-2♥
2♣ 5-7 5+♣
2♦ 5-7 5+♦ and 3+♥
2♥ 5-7 bal with 3-4♥
2♠+ 5-7 natural with 5♥ gameforce.

After 1♣ - 1♦-;1♥ - 1♠ -; we play

1NT 17-19 bal or semibal
2♣ 23+ GF
2♦ 16-21 5+♥
2M 20-22 4M longer minor with shortness
2N 20-22 both minors
3m 20-22 onesuited
3♥ 9 tricks with ♥

If it looks interesting and you want more details give me a shout.

Mattias