Posted 2013-December-21, 09:48
Sam and my notrump system solves this problem, among others. Here's how it works:
1NT - 3M = four cards in the bid major, singleton or void in the other major, normally kind of three-suited like 4144, 41(35), 40(45), 40(36)
1NT - 3D = four-plus diamonds, singleton or void in clubs, no 5M, we normally assume 3-4 in each major although we have no specific bid for (23)71
Opener can bid 3M over 3D to look for 4-4 fits. In general opener bidding the short suit in these auctions shows a "perfecto" with no wastage in the short suit (helps with light slam bidding). These bids are an absolute GF, we cannot stop in 4m. Bidding is sort of scramble-like, with responder's subsequent 3NT being removed by opener with a weak holding in the shortness and opener's 3NT suggesting cards in the short suit.
1NT - 3C = transfer to diamonds, weak or GF; can be 5D in a GF hand with (31)54 shape; subsequent 3M bid shows shortness in the other major normally 3163/3154/3064 shape (although we have no specific bid for 2173 and would presumably also bid this way, we normally assume 3M in the bid suit so opener can try 4M with five cards there).
1NT - 2NT = transfer to clubs, weak or GF; can be 5C in a GF hand with (31)45 shape or even 4C if (21)64 GF without slam interest; same as above except transfer followed by 3D shows 10 minor cards in a GF hand.
The above handle all shortnesses without a five-card major except short diamonds specifically. For the diamond shortness:
We play 2C stayman. After 1NT-2C-2X, 3D shows short diamonds without a known major suit fit. Typically this is 4414/(34)15/3316/4405/(34)06. With a known major suit fit we can splinter via 4D or just bid game.
With a five card major (but not four in the other major) we would start with a transfer. Assuming no super-accept, continuations include:
3C = exactly four diamonds; now opener can bid 3D relay and responder bids 3H (high shortage) or 3S (low shortage) or 3NT (5242 not forcing) or 4C+ showing very slammish hands.
3D = five-plus diamonds (actually we bid 4M-6D hands this way too); 3H relays (3S=5M, 3N=4/6 NF, 4C+ 4/6 slammish), 3S sets the major, 3NT to play, others set diamonds
We feel that showing the shortness is less important to the 3NT decision when responder has ten cards in two suits, because opener really needs to have help in both suits for 3NT to play well and we pretty much always have a reasonable alternative contract in our eight-card fit. Of course we can easily locate shortness via cuebidding if we agree a suit and have slam interest.
More continuations after transfers:
2NT = four-plus clubs; 3C relays and then 3D shows five-plus clubs (same as above), 3H shows four clubs with high shortage, 3S shows four clubs with low shortage, 3NT shows 5224 NF (as above).
3H = five-five in the majors; if after a transfer to hearts this is INV only, if after a transfer to spades this is GF
3S = single-suited slam try in the major
3NT = choice of games
4m, 4H after transfer to spades = shortness setting the major
4M = mild slam interest (could have signed off directly over 1NT)
2S (after transfer to hearts) = invitational hand with five-plus hearts
This leaves the 5-4 majors hands, and invites with spades since transfer to spades followed by 2NT is something else. These hands all go through stayman. If opener bids 2M:
2S (over 2H) = invite with five-plus spades, not forcing
2NT = invitational with four in the other major
3C = GF relay (usually to locate a 4-4 minor fit with a mildly slammish balanced or semi-balanced responder hand; can also find opener's 5M this way if we really care)
3D = short diamonds without an obvious major suit fit
3M = invitational
3OM = slam try in the major opener showed, asking for cuebids
4m = splinter with a fit for opener's major
4M = to play
If opener bids 2D:
2S = invite with five-plus spades, not forcing
2N = invitational with a four-card major
3C = GF relay
3D = short diamonds without a major suit fit
3M = GF with four in the bid major, five in the other major, 2-2 in the minors
3NT = to play, presumably shows a four-card major
4m = south african transfer, presumably was 6-4 in the majors now transferring to the six
4M = to play, presumably was 6-4 in the majors
2H = forces opener to bid 2S; some sort of hand with both majors
1NT - 2C - 2D - 2H - 2S:
Pass = five spades and four hearts weak (inverted crawling stayman; with 5H-4S weak we would just transfer to hearts, pass, and hope opponents balance in spades)
2NT = 4S-5H invitational to game (with 5S-4H invite we would have bid 2S over 2D)
3m = shortness in the other minor, with 5/4 majors either way and a GF hand; usually this is (45)(13) but other patterns are possible
3M = 6M with 4OM invitational
This handles all the shortnesses below 3NT. The few sequences not mentioned above:
1NT - 2S = quantitative ask, opener bids 2NT (min) or 3-suit (small doubleton in max) or 3NT (max no small doubleton); this is usually used with a quantitative game invite or with a minor suit invite; responders 3m over 2NT is a NF invite (opener can occasionally bid game over this with a nice fitting hand).
1NT - 4m = south african transfer to major
1NT - 4M = to play
Adam W. Meyerson
a.k.a. Appeal Without Merit
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ing) tr. v. - Any bid made by bridge player with which partner disagrees.