[Bende]

I am playing a couple of different versions of a 5533 2/1 system. One uses three weak two bids and one uses 2♦ Flannery. I quite like the effects of Flannery on the rest of the system, like 1♥-1♠ showing a five card suit and 1♥-2m; 2♠ showing extras. Now, I am thinking about getting rid of the 18-19 balanced hands somewhere to free up 2NT to show problem hands in sequences like 1♦-1♠; 2NT. One way to do this would be to play 2♦ showing 18-19 balanced.

Now, is it completely crazy to lose the possibility to show a weak 2♥ opening by playing 2♦ as 18-19 balanced and 2♥ as Flannery?

[spotlight7]

Bende, on 2021-February-22, 01:54, said:

I am playing a couple of different versions of a 5533 2/1 system. One uses three weak two bids and one uses 2♦ Flannery. I quite like the effects of Flannery on the rest of the system, like 1♥-1♠ showing a five card suit and 1♥-2m; 2♠ showing extras. Now, I am thinking about getting rid of the 18-19 balanced hands somewhere to free up 2NT to show problem hands in sequences like 1♦-1♠; 2NT. One way to do this would be to play 2♦ showing 18-19 balanced.

Now, is it completely crazy to lose the possibility to show a weak 2♥ opening by playing 2♦ as 18-19 balanced and 2♥ as Flannery?

Are you allowed to use the Kaplan Inversion? Where 1H-1S

acts like a forcing 1N and opener rebids 1N with 4S.

You still can use 1H-1N* to show 5Ss.

That would allow you 2D* as 18-19 and 2H as a weak Two bid.

[TylerE]

I would pay all of my oppoenents to play 2!D=18-19.

By all means, starting the bidding above your likely best contact.

[apollo1201]

2H is less preemptive than 2S, as it allows a « cheap » overcall.

Therefore, some pairs are ready to lose the bid to show sth else they find more useful, more frequent, or that fits better with the rest of their system, for a best use of this opening.

So it is definitely not completely crazy to give it up, to answer OP question.

[helene_t]

Flannery 2♥ and Mexican 2♦ both make some sense, and I think you can live without the 2♥ opening. When you have a 2♥ opening hand, you have to chose between pass, 1♥ and 3♥. Usually one of the three options is not completely crazy. Make sure you have a consistent style so that partner knows what you are doing and so that you don't have ethical issues with slow 3♥ opening etc.

You can also consider something like:
1♣=natural OR 18-20 bal
1♦=natural OR 12-14 bal
2♦=multi
2♥=Flannery