[phoenix214]

Actually while on the note on NT systems. Which is the best NT system available now. I was looking at some and its a bit hard to tell.

[Vampyr]

 quiddity, on 2013-July-25, 15:04, said:

I think it is so bad because:
1. It comes up rarely and hence is liable to be forgotten.

I hate when people use this as a reason for not liking a convention. There should be an implicit understanding that a pair using the device will not forget it.

[helene_t]

 Vampyr, on 2013-July-27, 16:48, said:

I hate when people use this as a reason for not liking a convention. There should be an implicit understanding that a pair using the device will not forget it.

Yes, but pairs that decided not to play it may have chosen so because they were afraid of forgetting it.

[Zelandakh]

 phoenix214, on 2013-July-24, 11:10, said:

And following things up, how do in natural biding you normally drive to slam with lets say an 16 count 4432, with lets say 4 spades and 4 diamonds

One of the possible solutions is to play a Baron-style (ie 4 card suits up-the-line) follow-up after Stayman. So after 1NT - 2♣; 2♦, 2♠ = Baron range ask, handling normal game invites as well as balanced slam tries looking for a minor suit fit. Similarly, 1NT - 2♣; 2♥ - 2♠ = Baron range ask. After a 2♠ response, we do not have enough space for such a 2-way bid. Instead, you can re-arrange things to use 3♦ as Baron: 1NT - 2♣; 2♠ - 3♦ = minor suit Baron with ♥ linked to ♣ and ♠ linked to ♦.

You can do something similar with Puppet too but here it is easier since you only really have to handle the 2♦ response:
1NT - 2♣; 2♦
==
2♥ asks if Opener holds 4 spades; then 3m next time around is Baron
2♠ shows 4 hearts and denies 4 spades; then 3m over 2NT is Baron.


So with 4 spades and 4 diamonds, you would respond 2♣. If partner bids 2 of a red suit you continue 2♠. Partner will now either bid 2NT with a minimum (upon which you bid 3♦), or bid a 4 card minor with a maximum (and now you can show your diamonds).

In Britain it is popular in some parts to use an immediate 2♠ response over 1NT as a Baron range ask. This is arguably simpler than the delayed Baron method above but is (imho) theoretically inferior.

There are other methods around too, some using a full relay structure, but I think those are probably better left for an interested reader to discover.