[jgillispie]

Recently, I have been reworking the current scheme I use over 1N. The system currently covers:

- Weak 5♥/♠, 44/43 ♥/♠
- Invitational values w/ 4-5 ♥/♠
- 6+ ♥/♠ GF
- 5-5 GF Hands
- 5-4 GF Hnads
- Uncovering all major fits

As of now there is no definition for these auctions:

1N-P-

- 3♣
- 3♦
- 3♥
- 3♠
- 3N
- 4♥
- 4♠

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

[whereagles]

One of the best uses for 1NT-3x is splinter. This is a very rare convention, even among experts, but a very useful one. Hand types for it are your usual three suiters (4441) and you can also dump some minor 1-suiters there (6331/7321). Just don't put 5431s there, as it gets REALLY messy to sort out stuff (I've been there). It can also be made on a void (5m440, 7330). If you're interested I can pop-up some follow-ups.

As for 1NT-3NT I really recommend to keep it natural... If something, you can put there a "very mild natural slam invite", so that if opener forgets it, the contract will still be the best one in 90% of the cases.

Finally, for 1NT-4M, I think most play that as natural, i.e. some hand that prefers to receive the lead instead of transferring, say. Qxxxxx -- KJxx Kxx.

[helene_t]

You don't have any ways to show minor suits so far, and 2♠ and 2NT are already used so you can't play minor suit transfers. So it seems like you are forced to play something like:

3♣/♦: to play.
3♥: slam interest with clubs
3♠: slam interest with diamonds

You could put the strong 5-5 minors suit hands into 3♥ as well, then opener can bid 3♠ if willing to play 3NT opposite a club one-suiter but not opposite a two-suited hand.

Alternatively, you might consider playing 3♥/♠ as showing shortness in that suit with an unknow long minor (or both minors).

[Zelandakh]

You apparently have no single-suited minor suit slam try so using 3m for those seems obvious. You are also missing sequences for 3-suiters so using 3M for this might also be a good idea - pick whichever shortages are most awkward for the rest of the system. Not using 1NT - 3NT naturally would be a mistake. That you have 4m covered but not 4M suggests you are using SA Texas. If so then just use 4M to play. You might also consider using normal Texas and getting 4♣ and 4♠ as your spare bids instead.

[PhilKing]

All the hand types you say you cover can be easily handled with quite a bit to spare just using 2♣/♦/♥, so something is wrong with the structure so far.

[helene_t]

Just noticed that you seem not to have a way to bid invitational hands with 6+ hearts or spades. Maybe you have to give up on the weak hands with clubs:

3♣: diamonds, weak or strong
3♦: hearts or spades, invitational
3♥/♠: gf with clubs, showing shortness

[kenrexford]

This discussion is a collection of peculiar ideas, to say the least.

[PhilKing]

kenrexford, on 2014-August-29, 07:53, said:

This discussion is a collection of peculiar ideas, to say the least.

The ultimate insult.

[alexiacob]

- 3♣ both minors(5-5) weak
- 3♦ both minors (5-5) GF
- 3♥ 3145(54 mm) GF
- 3♠ 1345(45 mm) GF
- 3N to play
- 4♦ trsf ♥ (use if opp interfference might be possible, 6cards, max 10 HCP)
- 4♥ trsf ♠ same

6+ minor hands GF use trsf, then cue
5-4 MM GF use smolen convention. As a consequence, the auction 1NT-2♥-2♠-3♥ shows both majors 5-5
5-4 MM invitational: use staym, after 2♣-2♦ 2M shows 5 cards in the suit and 4 other major (some use this only in team events to find thin games)