[32519]

Vampyr, on 2013-July-25, 13:20, said:

No, our auction was as follows:

---

2NT was not forcing, and yes the there is a question as to whether 3♠ was forcing. Whether the contract made is immaterial; it was a good slam.

After reading all the nonsense posted here, your original auction was fine. No need to change it.

[Free]

mike777, on 2013-July-25, 14:01, said:

if 2h is forcing over 2c then a jump to 3h over 2c must be forcing?

Not necessarily, you can also play the jump as an INV with 5-5 (making 1m-1♠-1m-2♥-whatever-3♥ forcing).

[the hog]

I prefer this, not suggesting this s an auction for everyone. However I intensely dislike the 2C bid.

I prefer Steve Moe's auction. If you don't like opening 1D on a weak 4-5 hand, I like the following:

1C 1S
1NT 2D Trf to H
2S 3H Forcing 5/5
3NT 5C Exc

[mike777]

1c=1s
2c=3h
p

sounds like scared bridge.

if you want to play it as nf ok.

prefer to play:
1c=1s
2c=2h
p

as scared bridge

not that in 40+ years I have ever passed.

[CamHenry]

Vampyr, on 2013-July-25, 12:36, said:

Our methods aren't all they could be, but we did reach 6♠ on the following layout. I am interested in how others with possibly better methods would get there.

---

West dealer, teams if it matters.

I think we do quite well on this hand. We have the advantage of playing a nebulous 1♣ opening, limited to 15HCP, with split-range transfer responses. Our auction goes:
1♣-2♥ 10-15, no 5cM, not 4-4 majors; if balanced it's 11-13 / ♠, either a pure weak takeout (e.g. KJxxxx and out) or preparing a slam try
2♠-3♥ To play opposite the weak hand / natural, second suit
3♠-5♣ Suit preference; mild slam interest (as it's a control-rich hand) / Exclusion
5♠-6♣ 2 keycards / king ask
6♠-pass no outside kings

[Vampyr]

Many people have suggested Exclusionary Blackwood in opener's suit. This bid was chosen in the other room, and there they played.

[Cyberyeti]

Vampyr, on 2013-July-26, 16:01, said:

Many people have suggested Exclusionary Blackwood in opener's suit. This bid was chosen in the other room, and there they played.

Don't play exclusion if you don't have firm rules about when a bid is exclusion, what was the auction ?

[Vampyr]

Cyberyeti, on 2013-July-26, 16:02, said:

Don't play exclusion if you don't have firm rules about when a bid is exclusion, what was the auction ?

I'm afraid I don't know.

[Zelandakh]

For your system how about:

1♣ - 1♠;
2♣ - 2♥;
2NT - 3♦;
3♠ - 4♥;
4NT - 5♠;
6♠?

It is also always an option to treat a 2245 hand as balanced.

You asked about other methods too - for my system the auction might go:

1♦ = max 17, 4+ diamonds, unbal
... - 1♥ = INV+ relay
1♠ = min without 4 spades (unless 4441/4450)
... - 1NT = GF relay
2♣ = 4+ clubs
... - 2♦ = relay
2NT = 4♦5♣
... - 3♣ = relay
3♥ = 2245
... - 3♠ = relay
4♥ = 5 controls
... - 4♠ = relay
5♥ = controls in all suits except hearts
... - 6♠

[fromageGB]

I am in awe of people like Zel and Phil here who can remember complicated systems with relays. With strong NT and Twalsh (we count a 2245 as balancedish) West does not get a chance to show long clubs, so 5♣ is an exclusion ace ask where we would not do that if it was opener's suit. Lucky I suppose. Simply :
1♣ 1♥(spades)
1♠(2 or 3, 12-14ish) 3♥(better than GF, long suits (1♣ 2♦ would be mere GF 55xx))
3♠(agreement) 4♣(serious one-under denial cue)
4♦ 5♣(exclusion)
5♥(2 keycards) 5NT(kings? he may have the king of diamonds as well)
6♠(none - clubs are still excluded)