nige1, on 2018-October-17, 07:02, said:
Cyberyeti pinpoints the problem. What do calls mean after 1♦ - 1♠ - 3♦ - ??.
Perhaps
Theoretically, it might be better to swap some of the meanings of 3♥ and 3N, But in practice, most players with a ♥ stop would bid a thoughtless 3N.
Perhaps
- Pass = NAT
- 3♥ = ART (ASK for ♥ stop or NAT 2-suiter (Ms) or Advance CUE for ♦)
- 3N = ♥ stop. Might also have ♣ stop.
- 4♣ = CUE for ♦.
- 4♦ = NAT F1 invites ♠ preference. (Should this deny a high-card control in a round-suit?)
Theoretically, it might be better to swap some of the meanings of 3♥ and 3N, But in practice, most players with a ♥ stop would bid a thoughtless 3N.
You can't do everything. For us, a 3♥ would show heart values - likely requesting a club stop (but may be both majors, or an advance cue bid). This, of course leaves us poorly placed and guessing, if we have a club stop but no heart stop. It would theoretically be possible to come up with a scheme such as:
3♥ = heart stop, but no club stop
3♠ = club stop, but no heart stop
3NT = stops in both
4♣ = 6-card spade suit
4♦ = Slam Invite in diamonds
Too artificial for us to remember though.
The other interesting point is that the sequence 1♦, 1♠; 3♦, 4♦; 4♠ is an offer to play in spades, rather than a cue bid (or response to minor-wood). I tend to agree and think that this is particularly important at MPs.