[benlessard]

After a strong 2C.

2C-2D-??

a strong C and 1D neg

1C-1D-??

of a strong C and a positive 2D

1C--2D-??

I believe that in all those case its better to play a 4 card major scheme than a 5M scheme.

The 3 suiters and the 4M+5m are just too frequent and bidding 3m instead of 2M consumed too much space. Bidding NT with a stiff is also a source of problems. I even think its possible to play that the NT rebid show a specific range so that hand that do not fall into this range bid are allowed to bid a 4M even if balanced.

You would of course need artificial continuation to differentiate 5M+4m from 4M+5m but my feeling is that its worth it.

Maybe a compromise would be that Spades show 5 and Hearts could be 4.

I also think that 1NT--2D (H transfer) could be 4 is way better than 5+.

What do you think ?

[Free]

After a strong 1♣ you're absolutely right imo. There's plenty of space for responder to show some amount of support and for opener to clarify if he has 4 or 5+M. And any 2-level contract with a minimum opener and a semipositive responder is usually quite safe.

After a strong 2♣ I never really thought about it because I play 2♦ as positive after which 3♣-3♦ is a relay asking for a Major and 3M shows 4M-5+♦. When you play 2♦ as negative after which 2M shows 4+M, I think you'll run out of space too quickly. And where you can play at 2-level after a strong 1♣, you'll probably have to play at 3-level without a true fit too often after opening 2♣ (supposing you'll play 2M as forcing for a round). Moreover, opener has to distinguish between a 5-card and a 6-card more often imo.

Playing 1NT-2♦ as 4+♥ is definitely playable. In a sense, it's not even logical to play both Major suit transfers as 5+ cards, because the 2♥ transfer contains more hands and has less space than the 2♦ transfer.

[mgoetze]

Free, on 2015-March-07, 01:45, said:

it's not even logical to play both Major suit transfers as 5+ cards, because the 2♥ transfer contains more hands and has less space than the 2♦ transfer.

Which is why I remove one hand type (exactly 5 spades invitational) from 2♥ and put it in 2♣ instead.

[benlessard]

Quote

After a strong 2♣ I never really thought about it because I play 2♦ as positive after which 3♣-3♦ is a relay asking for a Major and 3M shows 4M-5+♦.

Its much easier to do it the otherway around going direct with the singlesuiter and go slow with the 2 suiters. Also the worse space consuming bids (3M) should be for less frequent less important hands like the minors.

2C-2D(Gf)-

2M= always 5
3m= could have 4M
3M= 4M+5D

wich is a scheme that I like but 2C-2D-3C is just painful. Responder cannot show D and doesnt show 6 when he bid 3M. The direct 3M with 4M+5D also often bury responder suit. 5431 and 6421 often play pretty well in the fragment.

VS

2M 4 could have 5m
3m denies 4M (over 3C you can play some sort of switch) 3D=ask for 3M or 6spades, 3H=6H,3S= 6diamonds
3M both minors

because it lead to using 2M more often.

If you take care of the bidding space I think you can have everything, opener should always be able to show 2 suiters and show the longest suit without taking too much space and responder should often be able to guarantee a 6 card suit.

[Free]

mgoetze, on 2015-March-07, 02:04, said:

Which is why I remove one hand type (exactly 5 spades invitational) from 2♥ and put it in 2♣ instead.

I also like this treatment, but still, there's more than just 1 hand type of extra space available after 2♦. 1NT-2♦-2♥-2♠ can start all sorts of auctions.