[awm]

I'm looking for suggestions as to follow-ups in this auction:

1♦(1) - 1♠(2)
2♦(3)

(1) 11-15 balanced, three-suited, or both minors 0+♦
(2) Natural 4+♠, could have longer minor even if strong, forcing one round
(3) exactly 1♠-4♥-5♦-3♣ with 11-15 points

It would be nice to be able to sign off in all four suits, invite in all four suits, and force to game (either specifying all four suits, or with one reasonably cheap relay). At the moment partner and I are playing that 3♣ is a GF relay (asking strength/controls) and all other bids are natural (with 2NT and above being invitational to game). It's not clear that this is best however.

If it matters, an immediate 2♠ over 1♦ is weak with a range of something like 0-8; it essentially has to deny game interest opposite an 11-13 notrump even with a 3-card fit.

Anyone have suggestions?

[helene_t]

2♥ puppet to 2♠, to force to game with 2NT or to sign off in some suit.
2♠ through 3♥ invitational.

Maybe it would be nice to have a low-level ask for controls which could be used for invitational hands with a bunch of spades and also for slamish hands.

[awm]

The concern is that it seems like we have to lose some natural bid here.

2♥ is actually a pretty useful natural bid -- it is opener's second-longest suit after all. It might be desirable to be able to play in 2♥ on some occasions.

[jdonn]

I was thinking about this a while and I think I finally got a good solution. You could do 2♥ and 2♠ to play, and then something along the lines of transfer lebensohl for the higher bids. I like this way, taking advantage of not needing a diamond signoff since responder could pass 2♦:

2NT is weak or gf with clubs, or invitational with diamonds. Opener must bid 3♣, responder passes to play, bids 3♦ inv with diamonds, anything higher GF with clubs and descriptive in whatever way your general style dictates.
3♣ is invitational with clubs.
3♦ is inv+ with hearts.
3♥ is inv+ with spades.
3♠ is gf with diamonds (pretty much opener would bid 3NT with a bad hand for slam or slow values).

You can sign off, invite, or GF in any suit, and the only natural bid lost is the obvious one, 2NT.

One potential alternative is include GF with diamonds in 2NT (then over the relay, 3♥ = clubs, 3♠ = diamonds). That would free up direct 3♠ for something. Transfer to 3NT, range ask, control ask, whatever. In any case I think this general structure is your best bet.

[jdonn]

helene_t, on Apr 19 2008, 04:00 PM, said:

2♥ puppet to 2♠, to force to game with 2NT or to sign off in some suit.
2♠ through 3♥ invitational.

Maybe it would be nice to have a low-level ask for controls which could be used for invitational hands with a bunch of spades and also for slamish hands.

Seems to me that it would be better to give up a natural 2♠ than a natural 2♥, especially given how they play a direct 2♠ response (he says 0-8 but the description makes it sound more like 0-10). If that was your angle you could easily do something like this:

2♠: Invitational in any strain, opener bids 2NT if min. This even lets you play 2NT if you have no fit.
2NT: Signoff in a minor (or spades I guess).
3♣+: Natural and forcing.

[cherdano]

How about:
2♥ to play
2♠ any invitational hand
2N natural forcing
3x natural forcing
This just gives up the sign-offs in the black suits.

[Flame]

2M = to play
3X = invite
2NT = weak in ♣ or GF
after 2NT opener must bid 3♣ then reponder pass or bid 3M,4m as a GF setting the suit. or 3♦ as a relay.

You get sign up in all suits (as mentioned by Jdonn you dont need ♦ signup)
You get all invites, and all GF/relay, just one step higher then your 3♣ option.

[effervesce]

Since your 1♦ - 2♠ is weak with spades, it doesnt make sense to make 1♦-1♠- 2♦ - 2♠ as signoff.

Thus:
2♥ = to play
2♠ = GF OR invitational in NT. Opener bids 2NT with min, shows controls with max. After 2NT min, 3♣ is the controls ask.
2NT = puppet to 3♣ - correction to 3X as invitational, 3NT as mild slam try in clubs
3♣ = invitational with clubs
3♦/♥/♠ = GF, setting trump
4♣ = GF, setting trump

The main problem with the above is the inability to play in 2♠ when responder has an hand with 6 spades that might have invited if there was a fit - but hey, 1♦ - 2♠ should cover that problem most of the time. It gains on the other schemes given by others in that you can still _invite in NT_, a problem not solved by the other schemes posted so far (and especially important at MPs). Also, you get to relay at a lower level, as well as have slam tries in a minor sorted at a lower level, allowing you to stop in 3NT.