[CSGibson]

I'm toying with an idea after opening 1N and getting 2S interference. Right now we define X by responder as negative, but its wide-ranging, covering good sub-invitational hands that want to compete all the way up to invitational hands. Its the invitational hands that have more problems, since partner will take out the double with 4 hearts on a wide range of hands.

My idea is simple, and based on the principle that opener can use 2N as two places to play in the auction 1N-(2S)-X-(P), 2N

If opener has a max with 4 hearts, he bids 3♥ right away.

If opener has either a non-acceptance with 4 hearts or any hand that wants to offer 2 places to play, he bids 2N. Responder treats it as 2 places to play, and opener can now pull to 3H as a non-acceptancel with 4 hearts (or go through with the 2 places to play plan).

Thoughts?

[Avoidance]

Wheel. Re-inventing.
See p197 Robson -Segal "Partnership Bidding In Bridge." 1993

[Zelandakh]

I think straube was toying with this idea 6 months or so ago. Am not sure what he made of it. The thread is probably still around somewhere. This concept - they bid spades and we bid hearts immediately with a good hand and indirectly via NT with a weaker one - is useful in a number of auctions. It comes up more often at the 4 level but there is no reason why it cannot be extended down to the 2 level too. A (more complicated) method using the principle has also been discussed on here for the specific auction (1♠) - P - (2♠).

[CSGibson]

Sweet, at least the idea has enough merit that others have done the same thing/thought of it. If I was the first to think of it, then I would be less confident in its merit.