[Antrax]

flametree, on 2011-December-12, 14:21, said:

One option after 1NT-2x-2M is :
4NT is quantitative, slam-invitational, showing 5-3-3-2 (maybe some 5-4-2-2 hands too).
5NT is slam-forcing, showing the same shape.

4NT can't be RKCB, since you haven't agreed a trump suit yet.

If you had 6+ of your major, you'd use Texas Transfers prior to bidding 4NT.

If you're not playing Texas, you can still get by using 4C here as Roman Key Card Gerber, setting the major as the trump suit. You lose the ability to splinter a club shortage.

Completely agree, which is where my question stemmed from, as for TWO4BRIDGE, 4♣ would be a self-splinter. So, I was wondering how his methods ask for aces, since all the bids were taken. Presumably "system on" means 4♣ would be a self-splinter even if I'm not a passed hand opposite an NT overcall.

[Zelandakh]

Antrax, on 2011-December-13, 01:23, said:

Completely agree, which is where my question stemmed from, as for TWO4BRIDGE, 4♣ would be a self-splinter. So, I was wondering how his methods ask for aces, since all the bids were taken. Presumably "system on" means 4♣ would be a self-splinter even if I'm not a passed hand opposite an NT overcall.

You would only use "transfer then 4C" as a key card ask with 6 in the trump suit. When you have 6 there are lots of options around for setting the trump suit and asking for key cards. I think giving up on the ability to have a good cue auction for cheap key card asks is a really bad idea in this spot and believe Don does too - our methods are reasonably similar.

With a 5♠332 hand I just do the standard thing - transferring and bidding 4 or 5NT. Of course you can also play key card responses with 3+ spades if you want, or you can play a hybrid method where 5C is a minimum preference for spades (with 5D RKCB) and 5D to 5NT as key card responses with 3+ spades and a max. It does not matter too much imho so long as you can remember - having lots of special rules for specific situations is an open invitation to forgetting so I think it is best to use the same method as you would use over similar quantitative bids.

With 5♥332 I use 1NT - 2D; 2H - 2S as a range ask containing several different hand types. This allows for stopping in 3NT or 4H sometimes although you have to be careful with this as the criteria for accepting a game invite are different from accepting a slam invite. Again, I would not ask for aces or key cards unless a fit is shown. Note that it is possible to use 1NT - 2H; 2S - 3C just like 2S over the heart transfer. The reduction of space makes it a little more awkward though.