[pescetom]

MP

---

Natural (4+) 1♦ with 15-17 1NT, for the rest your preferred methods and usual partner.
Your call now?

[mike777]

2C

Opener will make a natural rebid, nothing fancy.

If 2D, I will rebid 2NT.

[mw64ahw]

Potential slam on if the fit can be found?
1♥ natural
or
1♠ GI asking for partner's shape in my esoteric UB♦

[Cyberyeti]

My preferred methods don't work with a 15-17 NT (as I don't have to cover 12-14 bal)

I would bid 2♣(not GF) and over 2♦ bid a variant of Bourke 2♥

[jillybean]

Yes, 2♣gf

To be honest, I don't know if 2M/2C will be a shape or a stopper, we seem to be heading for a stall in 3nt

[pescetom]

MP

---

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2026-September-01, 11:24, said:

MP

---

2♥ artificial asking

partner bids:

2♠ with 4♠ not 6-4 max
2N with 4♥ not 6-4 max
3♣ with 3♣ min-ish
3♦ nothing much more to say minimum
3♥ good with 6♦/4♥
3♠ good with 6♦/4♠
3N good with 3♣

[pescetom]

Cyberyeti, on 2026-September-01, 12:04, said:

2♥ artificial asking

partner bids:

2♠ with 4♠ not 6-4 max
2N with 4♥ not 6-4 max
3♣ with 3♣ min-ish
3♦ nothing much more to say minimum
3♥ good with 6♦/4♥
3♠ good with 6♦/4♠
3N good with 3♣

3♣ with 3♣ min-ish

[Cyberyeti]

pescetom, on 2026-September-01, 15:51, said:

3♣ with 3♣ min-ish

3N, although your minimum may be better than ours

[mikeh]

jillybean, on 2026-September-01, 11:13, said:

Yes, 2♣gf

To be honest, I don't know if 2M/2C will be a shape or a stopper, we seem to be heading for a stall in 3nt

It’s shape. I went through this for you not very long ago. I suggest you re-read my explanation. Since 2C DID NOT DENY a major, opener’s 2M bid is still looking for a fit. Only once a player has denied a biddable suit are bids in that suit cues or probes or mark time bids.

Whether 1D 2C 2D denies a major is for partnership discussion…if, as I prefer but which many don’t, 2M by opener promises a bit above a minimum, then the 2D rebid may be stalling, allowing responder to bid a major if he has one. If 2D denies a major, then 2M by responder becomes ambiguous, but responder isn’t expecting a raise very often.

[jillybean]

I do know that. I'd be confident that one or two partners know that too—but anyone else? It's completely a guess, totally undiscussed.The reality is that I do not have the luxury of serious, long-term partnerships yet. It makes navigating these conversations a bit different when you're still figuring things out or keeping things more casual.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

I dont understand 2C, 0% of my HCP are contained in the suit,
selling it as a 4 carder is too simple?

1H is more than obv., it simplifies a lot of auctions.
For that matter 1D - 2C are auctions loved by 2/1 player, and it
is not even clear that this specific auction is GF.

anyway:

After

1D - 2C
2D - ...

I bid 2H, showing 54, the obv. risk being that we miss a 4-4 in spade,
which comes as a total surprise, because if 2S over 2H is natural, is
anybodys guess.

If you play that opener can bid 2H / 2S without add. strength, ..., I
guess the weak NT bids 2NT, than I would bid 3NT.

[mw64ahw]

mw64ahw, on 2026-September-01, 09:43, said:

Potential slam on if the fit can be found?
1♥ natural
or
1♠ GI asking for partner's shape in my esoteric UB♦

Now after
1♦ - 1♥
2♦ - 3♣ GF
or
1♦ - 1♠ GI
2♦ 6♦ no side suit - 2♠ shape? GF

[pescetom]

 mikeh, on 2026-September-01, 18:00, said:

Whether 1D 2C 2D denies a major is for partnership discussion…if, as I prefer but which many don’t, 2M by opener promises a bit above a minimum, then the 2D rebid may be stalling, allowing responder to bid a major if he has one. If 2D denies a major, then 2M by responder becomes ambiguous, but responder isn’t expecting a raise very often.

Yes I probably should have spelled out that 2D here is denying a major, I remember that you are one of the few who still expect some extras for the reverse.

[pescetom]

 P_Marlowe, on 2026-September-02, 00:57, said:

Hi,

I dont understand 2C, 0% of my HCP are contained in the suit,
selling it as a 4 carder is too simple?

1H is more than obv., it simplifies a lot of auctions.
For that matter 1D - 2C are auctions loved by 2/1 player, and it
is not even clear that this specific auction is GF.

Yes I was a bit surprised more people here did not prefer 1H, given the feeble clubs and missing diamonds: although in our field most chose 2C like here (and everyone considers it 100% game forcing).
For North, 1D-1H;2D denies a four card major.
How do you continue over that?

[jillybean]

The majors easily compensate for the feeble club suit. Getting the game force on the table is paramount.

Next bid, shape not stoppers.