[Vampyr]

 fromageGB, on 2016-May-06, 04:58, said:

I don't think this is anything to do with weak NT. I play 15/16 NT, and 1♦ 2♦ 2 any is forcing, but this is with an unbalanced diamond, not a better minor type.

When opener has a weak NT and responder has a minimum do you sign off in 3♦ then?

[Caitlynne]

I am confused. You describe a commonly used solution, noting you have recently adopted that solution in a partnership, and then ask if a solution exists. Well, you explained one solution that exists!

There is no reason that opener could not have bid the spade stopper, allowing the partnership to discover the wide open situation in the heart suit.

[Cyberyeti]

 Caitlynne, on 2016-May-06, 11:09, said:

I am confused. You describe a commonly used solution, noting you have recently adopted that solution in a partnership, and then ask if a solution exists. Well, you explained one solution that exists!

There is no reason that opener could not have bid the spade stopper, allowing the partnership to discover the wide open situation in the heart suit.

And this will ensure you of a bottom or a big loss when you play 4♦= and everybody else makes 3N either because they lead a spade or they only have 4 hearts to cash.

[Liversidge]

 Caitlynne, on 2016-May-06, 11:09, said:

I am confused. You describe a commonly used solution, noting you have recently adopted that solution in a partnership, and then ask if a solution exists. Well, you explained one solution that exists!

Now I am confused! I said we use inverted minors where responder bids 2 ♦ with 10+ points and opener can start cue bidding for stops at the 2 level. That's not the position with the hand I quoted. Playing inverted minors my partner would have responded 3♦ with 6-9 points, but now cue bidding would have to start at the 3 level, and I was asking if it was still a good idea. Several posters have said they would prefer to blast 3NT rather than cue bid and end up in 3NT with the strong hand on the table or in 4♦ having telegraphed weakness. I think it was a reasonable question and I got what I reckon is good advice.

[mikestar13]

I've played inverted minors where opener shows a stiff if he has one and blasts 3NT if he doesn't. With ♥x rather than ♥Qx, the defenders will find the heart lead whether you tip it or not, so finding out if partner can stop the suit is a good percentage bet. If your distribution is more balanced, there is a good chance they won't find the lead if you don't tip it. More sophisticated methods would allow responder to show a stiff as well, at least in the 1m-2m case.

[NickRW]

 Vampyr, on 2016-May-06, 05:56, said:

When opener has a weak NT and responder has a minimum do you sign off in 3♦ then?

FromageGB opens 1C with a weak NT, so the question doesn't arise.

[helene_t]

Playing weak nt, you should probably play the weak double raise is very tight since opener shouldn't have too much of a gamble with a balanced 16-19. You can probably afford to make the strong raise with 9 points, maybe even 8, especially in a 4-card major system where you don't need to be able to stop in 2NT.

[Vampyr]

 NickRW, on 2016-May-10, 03:50, said:

FromageGB opens 1C with a weak NT, so the question doesn't arise.

I thought an off-shape weak NT was implied.