[skilldave]

Sure this has been discussed but can't find it anywhere.
Which are the best conventions to play over the semi-forcing 1N. i.e. after 1♥1N or 1♠1N.
Heard about bart which looks good. Don't know much about gazilli but been told it's good(does anyone have a good link), and don't know any other possiblilities beyond that.
Any suggestions? Thanks

[FrancesHinden]

Traditionally you have only two options: make a simple rebid, or make a game forcing rebid. In addition, responder can only make a minimum bid, or bid above 2NT. Most artificial methods, whatever they are called, make use of an artificial 2C bid by opener to split his hand types into 3 (minimum, medium, game forcing) and may also allow responder to show a bigger range of hand types.

Exactly what method you want to play will depend on how often you open 1NT with a 5-card major, as that removes a hand-type from opener's hand.

I play a method invented in England many, many years ago which I've found works well. It's obviously not the only possible method, and in fact I've come across various different forms of it. It's fairly simple; the fundamental part is as follows:

1S - 1NT - 3S is natural and game forcing
1S - 1NT - 2C - 2D is most weak hands; other bids by responder are more constructive

1S (5+ cards, may be any 5332) - 1NT
2C = clubs or balanced <=17 or invitational with spades
2D = diamonds (any range)
2H = hearts (not 5-5 invitational)
2S = spades, minimum
2NT = 18-19 balanced
3C = FG with diamonds
3D = FG with hearts
3H = 5-5 invitational
3S = natural and forcing
3NT = usually based on running spades in a 6322 or so

[one popular alternative is
2C = may be any balanced hand
2NT = game forcing 2-suiter, 3C relay from responder
3C/D/H 5-5 invitational]

1S - 1NT
2C -

2D = good hand with club support or any weak hand
2H = constructive with 5 hearts
2S = 8-10, doubleton spade
2NT = 10-11 invitational
3C/3D = 6-card suit, good hand
3H = weakish with very long hearts (we play 1S-3H as invitational)
3S = limit raise with 3 trumps

1S - 1NT
2C - 2D
2H = balanced or 6 spades (passable if responder is desperate)
2S/3C = NF with spades and clubs
2NT = 5224 highly constructive
3C = forcing with clubs
3D/3H patterning out, FG with clubs

1S - 1NT
2C - 2D
2H -

2S = NF
2NT = invitational with 4 clubs
3C/D = weak with long clubs
3H (if 2H wasn't passed) = very weak with long hearts
3S = limit raise with a club suit

[Jboling]

I like Gazzilli, and one can play it rather simple:

1M-1x-? (x being either ♠ or NT, M is a Major)
2♣ = forcing, one of the following three
a) natural 4+♣
b) balanced 12-17 (you can pass with the weaker ones if 1NT was semiforcing, or bid 1NT yourself if responders bid was 1♠)
c) any 17+
other = natural nonforcing, limited to the 11-16 range, new suits on the 3-level shows a 5-5. Like playing with strong 1♣ opening. 2NT can be defined as balanced 18-19, especially if you play with 4-card major openings, as 2♣ should promise 5+M.

After 1M-1x-2♣-?
2♦ = 8+ any
others = natural weak, about 5-7 points, with 2NT showing both minors (3+♣ and 4+♦), or alternatively 5+♦.

After 1M-1x-2♣-2♦-?
2M = 11-14, nonforcing
2OM = 15-17, responders 2NT only nonforcing (OM = Other Major)
2NT = 17+, 4 card side suit, 3♣ asks (M replacing ♣ in the responses). Can also include 5332 distributions, 3NT shows this.

Most play 2M as 11-16, 2NT as 15-17 balanced, and 2OM as some 17+. I like the idea of being able to stop in 2M when opener has 11-14, and 2NT when opener has 15.

You can add artificial bids if you like, especially 2NT can be defined as something more useful in many places. For example 1♥-1♠-2♣-2♦-2NT can be defined as 3-card ♠-support, so new suits on the three level would then only show a 4+ suit. You can miss a spade fit unless you use this agreement. A deal where Gazzilli with this agreement would have been useful:

Scoring: imps

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Bidding could go like this:
1♥-1♠
2♣-2♦ (Wests playing strength is enough for game after a 1♠ response)
2NT-3♥ (East wants to ask about the Queen of hearts)
3♠-4NT
5♣-5♦
6♥-7♠ (Two extra cards is hopefully as good as the Queen)

[kenrexford]

I have no comment on whether there are merits to an alternative approach, but to offer another structure...

I use "Power 2NT," in which 1M-P-1NT-P-2NT is a "relay" to 3♣ (relay in the sense that logical and natural alternatives are allowed), to show a GF hand (2NT...3NT shows clubs). This allows 1M-P-1NT-P-Jump to be NF but player. A jump shift is typically 5-5 with 5 losers.

With 19 Bal., 5332, open 2NT.
With 17-18 5332, some problem initially seems there, except...

Use a 2♣ rebid as "could be short" (2♦ is 4+). Semi-forcing. Next call will be "natural" in the context of BART or similar re-response. Might even have Opener make a strange leap after 2♣.

BTW, one problem hand is "solved" by having 1♠-P-3♦ be invitational to game with hearts; 1♥-P-2♠ also invitational/natural. The former "tightens" BART and allows some different understandings.

(One-under jump shift is a limix "Bergen," sort of an undisclosed mini-splinter.)