[Fluffy]

2NT slam killer is common knwledge, but 1NT on the other hand is a very good start for slams, specially the more restricted shapes you have (I restrict 5 card majors, but others restrict 6 card minors or 5-4)

Sorry for not reading all your biddings, I have my own relay methods, for example on this hand I would start with 1NT-2♣-2♥-2♠, but if partner had no major I'd start with 1NT-2♣-2♦-2♥-2♠(forced)-3♦ showing diamonds and club shortness with one partner. With the other I'd start with a strong club and everything is completelly different.


Hope jilly doesn't mind for spamming her thread. But wanna ask you, how would you bid the same hand with 2 small hearts instead of AK?

[han]

awm, on 2010-December-13, 20:21, said:

I'd rather play a structure where 3OM is a simple slam try agreeing opener's major suit, and my jumps to the four-level are splinters.

I think what you suggest is fine and the differences in comparison with Baze are marginal. You lose the spade splinter when hearts are trump, and you lose the lower keycards ask. In return you get 2 or 3 extra cuebidding steps. The fact that the splinter suit is hidden doesn't seem that important to me.

[TWO4BRIDGE]

Fluffy, on 2010-December-16, 07:37, said:

.... But wanna ask you, how would you bid the same hand with 2 small hearts instead of AK?

Opener.............. Responder
A K x x............... Q J x x
J x x x................ x x
Q J..................... A K 10 x x x
A x x.................. x

1NT.....................2C
2H......................??

As long as bidding the LONG MINOR next w/4oM and you consider it at least GF -- no matter which structure one uses ( even if you play 4-suit transfers ) -- you will get to 4S:

In regular Baze:
1NT - 2C
2H - 3D! ( 4s/5+d, GF>>slammish )
??
... 3H!/3S! = cues agreeing Diam
... 3NT = agree neither; to play
... 4S = 4-4 in the Majors >> and Responder will PASS

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And in my system where 3C! = GF >> slammish, and either:

a ) 4s/5+d or
b ) Ht fit, asking for cuebids ; where 3C! puppets to 3D! to ask which

1NT - 2C
2H - 3C!
3D! - 3H!( a ) whereas 3S! = ( b )
4S ( out of same options as above ) - pass

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ps. Since I play 15-17 1NT ( and not a Big Cl system ), the following sequence you showed is NF for me:
1NT - 2C
2H - 2S = 8-9 invite, 4s but not 4h; or 4s/6m, weak

[Zelandakh]

Sorry Don, this post passed me by. I actually play Puppet by choice these days but I think the concept remains the same. When I played normal Stayman I used the agreement bids (3D for H and 3H for S) as modified SID. Also, the sequence 1NT - 2C - 2D - 2H - 2S works in exactly the same way as 1NT - 2C - 2S in normal Stayman with 3H as the agreement bid (see below for example).

1NT - 2C
2H

2S = range ask
2N = clubs (but note that slammy hands with 4M and longer clubs begin 2S)
3C = 5+ diamonds (weak or GF)
3D = agrees hearts
3H = INV
3S/4m = splinter

=====
1NT - 2C
2S

2N = nat
3C = diamonds
3D = minor suit Stayman
3H = agrees spades
3S = INV
4m/H = splinter

I am with awm about the relative importance of Gerber versus cues - otherwise it would be easy to assign a bid for keycards after 3D/3H.

In my structure, if I were playing a strong NT (I don't) it would go

1N - 2C = puppet Stayman
2D = no 5-card major
... - 2H = denies 4 hearts
2S = 4 spades
... - 4C = 4+ spades, 0-1 clubs
4D = slam interest, no diamond control
... - 4H = diamond control, no heart control
4S = no heart control

I think West is worth a slam advance with ace of the splinter suit even as a minimum - I am an incurable optimist I guess. *sigh*

[han]

Play that 3H, 4C, 4D and 4H all show a slam tries in spades. The natural 3D is useful for hands that do not have a spade fit.