[olien]

So, I was doing system stuff on this auction, and it seems inefficient to use 2M here as natural and GF. So I was wondering what people would recommend.

What I have at the moment is something like so:
2m natural NF
2H similar to stayman, but not sure about which continuations are best
2S size ask
.......2N...minimum
.............3m invitational
.............3M shortness with both minors
.......3C...maximum
............3D natural invitational
............3M shortness with both minors
2N dunno what this should be?? maybe completing some of the 2H hands which will be used for responder to pattern out.
3m natural GF
3M shortness with long diamonds


Some input would be welcome.
Thanks

[MickyB]

Depends a bit what you respond on 4D4M GF and 4+D4M INV. I quite like being able to bid 1C:1D, 1NT:2C, 2D:2M on a 4M5D invite.

I quite like 2M as natural GF - it's a basic principle that unbalanced hands should describe themselves to balanced hands and not vice-versa, and you want the hand declaring 3NT to not have described itself. I guess you could invert the majors here if you want to further increase the likelihood of the relatively unknown hand declaring.

[olien]

With 4M 4♦, we respond 1M. 1♦ only has 4M if 4M 5+♦ GF.

I was thinking something along these lines:

1♣-1♦; 1NT:
2m natural NF
2♥ 4M 5+♦ GF
...........2♠ relay
......................2NT 4♥ (then 3♣ relays w/o ♥ fit, and 3♦ relays with)
......................3♣ 4♠ 5♦ (then 3♦/♥ relay w/o and w/ fit for M)
......................3♦ 4♠ 6+♦ (then 3♥/♠ relay w/o and w/ fit for M)
2♠ 4+♦ 4+♣ GF
...........2N relay
..................3♣ 5+♦ 4+♣ GF (then 3♦ relay for short, 3M=values)
..................3♦ 6+♦ no M short (3♥ relay)
..................3M shortness, 6+♦, slam interest
2N Natural INV
3m Natural INV
3M shortness, 6+♦, game only


so after 2♥-2♠:
2N 4♥ 5+♦
.......3♣ relay without ♥ fit
..................3♦ 4♥ 6+♦ (then 3♥ relays for short)
..................3M 4♥ 5♦ showing short
..................3N no short (or stiff H, and just looking for ♥ fit)
..................4♣ 2452, slam interest
.......3♦ relay with ♥ fit (then same steps, just up one, and resp can bid 4M to play)

3♣ 4♠ 5♦
.........3♦ relay without ♠ fit
..................3M showing shortness
..................3N no short (or stiff H and just looking for ♠ fit)
..................4♣ 4252, slam interest
.........3♥ relay with ♠ fit (then same steps, just up one, and resp can bid 4M to play)

3♦ 4♠ 6+♦
..........3♥ relay for short without ♠ fit (4♣=high short, slam interest)
..........3♠ relay with ♠ fit (then same steps, 4♠=to play)


and after 2♠-2N:
3♣ 4+♣ 5+♦
..........3♦ relay for short (then 3M=short, 3N=2254 mild SI, 4♣=2254 str SI)
3♦ 6+♦ no short M
..........3♥ relay
...................3♠ ♣ short
...................3N no short, mild SI
...................4♣ no short, strong SI


I dunno if this has much merit, but input would be welcome.

Thanks

[Phil]

How do you play 1♣ - 2♦?

[olien]

We play that as an invite ♣ raise.

The other responses to 1♣ are:
2♣ GF raise
2♦ as mentioned
2♥ 5♠ 4/5♥ 4-9ish pts
2♠ mixed raise
2NT natural INV
3♣ weak