[straube]

One of our contributors has privately informed me that Meckwell stopped responding 1S with three when they moved to a semi-forcing NT over 1H. Here's the old structure as I remember it...

1H-
.....1S-four+ spades, could be 3 if 3-1-(54) or 3-2-4-4
..........2L-natural
...............2S-artificial GF (but confirms 5 spades)
...............3S-12-13ish with six spades
.....1N-forcing
..........2C-could be 4-5-2-2
...............2H-confirmed 2-fit
...............2S-6 spades and probably 5-7 hcps
...............3C-six clubs or 5m/5m
...............3H-Hx in hearts and 5+ clubs, GI
.....2H-2-10 NV vs V if Qxx or better hearts
........4-10 NV vs NV if Qxx or better hearts
........8-bad 11 V

So with the new structure...

1H-
.....1S (four spades)
.....1N-semiforcing
..........2m-3+ if converting raise to 3N?
...............2S-strong raise of minor?
.....2H-what?
.....2S-six spades and wider range (5-10?)

Partner and I are considering moving to the new structure, but I'd appreciate having the gaps filled. If 1N isn't forcing, does that affect their immediate raises for instance? Seems like it wouldn't.

[glen]

One consideration is this: when we (my pds and I) looked at 1M-1NT semi-forcing, we found that if opener had a hand that would pass 1NT and responder had a limit raise with 3 trumps, if there was no singleton/void with the raise, then 1NT would be, over a set of hands, as least as good as the 3M or 4M contact reached by 1NT forcing.

A second consideration is this: the US top partnerships, including Meckwell, are late-to-the-game of 1NT semi-forcing relative to the Italians. Thus you might want to look at their methods as well.

[straube]

glen, on 2010-December-16, 23:40, said:

One consideration is this: when we (my pds and I) looked at 1M-1NT semi-forcing, we found that if opener had a hand that would pass 1NT and responder had a limit raise with 3 trumps, if there was no singleton/void with the raise, then 1NT would be, over a set of hands, as least as good as the 3M or 4M contact reached by 1NT forcing.

A second consideration is this: the US top partnerships, including Meckwell, are late-to-the-game of 1NT semi-forcing relative to the Italians. Thus you might want to look at their methods as well.

Thanks. Which Italians are you referring to? Can you describe their methods or post a link? Not married to Meckwell but we model after some of their methods.

[glen]

straube, on 2010-December-17, 01:59, said:

Thanks. Which Italians are you referring to? Can you describe their methods or post a link? Not married to Meckwell but we model after some of their methods.

For example, from when the Italians had supplementary sheets with their cc's, see Lauria-Versace's 07 cc, page 2 for 1M-2NT and supplementary sheet #1 for special responses:
ecatsbridge - lauria-versace.pdf