[kgr]

We have the agreement that new suit by advancer (1♠) is forcing:
Do you have agreements or expecatations about the continuations:

(1♣)-1♥-(P)-1♠
(P)-?
- What is minimum strength for 1♠? Can it be (very) weak with ♥-void?
What is now?:
- 2♣: Does it promise a ♠-fit? I would think it is just strong and forcing, but not yet promising a ♠-fit. How strong should it be?
- 2♦: This is NF?
- 1NT: Can it be a minimum overcall, with 5c♥; and single or doubleton ♠
- 2NT: How strong is this? 11 HCP or should it be stronger? (or maybe even good hand with ♠-support??)

Note:
Things are a bit more complicated for us because we play transfer overcalls (1♦ for ♥'s) over 1♣ and therefore they are unlimited.
But I didn't want to complicate my question with that... but if you have experince with transfer overcalls and forcing bid by advancer then you can of course answer with that in mind.

[helene_t]

Maybe a 2♠ advance would be weak? In any case, no, if 1♠ is forcing it can't be very weak. 8+ HCPs or such.

2♣ is just a waiting bid. It could be Jx-AQxxx-Qxx-xxx.

2♦ is nf.

1NT is 8-12. Could be 1534.

2NT is 13-15.

[whereagles]

kgr, on 2014-October-16, 06:24, said:

(1♣)-1♥-(P)-1♠
(P)-?
1. What is minimum strength for 1♠? Can it be (very) weak with ♥-void?
What is now?:
2. 2♣: Does it promise a ♠-fit? I would think it is just strong and forcing, but not yet promising a ♠-fit. How strong should it be?
3. 2♦: This is NF?
4. 1NT: Can it be a minimum overcall, with 5c♥; and single or doubleton ♠
5. 2NT: How strong is this? 11 HCP or should it be stronger? (or maybe even good hand with ♠-support??)

my agreements:

1. Min is 8+. Very weak with heart void --> PASS.

2. No. Just shows good opening hand (good 12 or 13+, up to overcall max of 17-18). To be honest, I can't remember the last time I bid this without a max, so you can define it as 15+.

3. Yes, NF. Can be a min overcall.

4. Not min. Shows 12-14. With 15-17 you either cue or bid 2NT.

5. As above.

[the_clown]

kgr, on 2014-October-16, 06:24, said:

We have the agreement that new suit by advancer (1♠) is forcing:
Do you have agreements or expecatations about the continuations:

(1♣)-1♥-(P)-1♠
(P)-?
- What is minimum strength for 1♠? Can it be (very) weak with ♥-void?
What is now?:
- 2♣: Does it promise a ♠-fit? I would think it is just strong and forcing, but not yet promising a ♠-fit. How strong should it be?
- 2♦: This is NF?
- 1NT: Can it be a minimum overcall, with 5c♥; and single or doubleton ♠
- 2NT: How strong is this? 11 HCP or should it be stronger? (or maybe even good hand with ♠-support??)

Note:
Things are a bit more complicated for us because we play transfer overcalls (1♦ for ♥'s) over 1♣ and therefore they are unlimited.
But I didn't want to complicate my question with that... but if you have experince with transfer overcalls and forcing bid by advancer then you can of course answer with that in mind.

1. With a good 6 or 7 card ♠ I am always bidding 1♠ regardless of my strength. Going down in 1♥ while 4♠ is making is not my cup of tea.
2. 2♣ shows a max overcall, it often is a hand with exactly 3♠ or strong bal.
3. Yes NF can be very minimal.
4. Yes can be minimum, often a stiff ♠.
5. good 16+, often a stiff spade.

[WesleyC]

My thoughts are:

- Very weak with a heart void should usually pass but it's important to be able to bid 1S on weak shapely hands like [KJTxx xx JTxxx x].

After (1C) 1H (P) 1S (P) I would use.

2C would be artificial, extras. Something like 13+ with a fit or 16+ without.
2D natural, non forcing.
1NT doesn't show extras (or promise a stopper).
2NT would be natural 15-17ish and promising a stopper. Probably a hand unsuitable for 1NT due to short spades.

---

However because I like to overcall and advance aggressively, my strong preference is to make 1 & 2 level advances not strictly forcing. Although the overcaller will stretch to keep the auction alive, they are allowed to pass with weak hands that don't have a convenient rebid. Having overcalled 1H, i'd be glad to pass 1S on hands like [xxx KQJxx xx Qxx] or [QT KQTxx xxx xxx] where the 1H bid was destructive and game for our side is unlikely.

The key to making this structure work is putting the very strong advances through the 2C cuebid (along with the raises). This doesn't really require much discussion because strong single suiters are extremely rare and when they do come up, over-caller inevitably has a minimum.