[Zelandakh]

Flem, what are you responding with a weak 5224, 4225 or 5(21)5? You know you want to play in a black suit but there does not appear to be a weak bid to cover this. If you handle these hands via a 2NT response then you should probably change the responses so that 3♣ shows spade shortage (3♦ can ask the strength) and 3♦♥♠ show club shortage so that you can always stop in 3 of the longer black suit.

Incidentally, your assertion that WNT structures demand some sort of mini-Roman is an overbid since much depends on the rest of the system and how the responses are organised. That said, my WNT system does have issues with a 4=4=4=1 hand opposite a weak 3=3=2=5 hand. I do not think the problems are common enough to offset losing a preemptive use for the 2♦ opening though. Perhaps I should at least look into this for 4th seat though...

[Flem72]

Zelandakh, on 2012-November-28, 02:33, said:

Flem, what are you responding with a weak 5224, 4225 or 5(21)5? You know you want to play in a black suit but there does not appear to be a weak bid to cover this. If you handle these hands via a 2NT response then you should probably change the responses so that 3♣ shows spade shortage (3♦ can ask the strength) and 3♦♥♠ show club shortage so that you can always stop in 3 of the longer black suit.

Incidentally, your assertion that WNT structures demand some sort of mini-Roman is an overbid since much depends on the rest of the system and how the responses are organised. That said, my WNT system does have issues with a 4=4=4=1 hand opposite a weak 3=3=2=5 hand. I do not think the problems are common enough to offset losing a preemptive use for the 2♦ opening though. Perhaps I should at least look into this for 4th seat though...

TY: Good suggestion re: 2N responses.