Avoidance

My experience with these sort of bids at Pairs over a number of years is that Vulnerability is critical. With 5-4 they are +EPV Non-vulnerable & -EPV Vulnerable.

I agree with Rainer, that the ability to stop in 3C is not something to dismiss. I think that you need at least one invitational or invitational plus sequence here. You will often want to play in 3C with 10-12 opposite 9-11. 2NT natural wrongsides NT, so either 3C or double or both need to include invitational hand types. This is so whatever importance you attach to finding a heart fit.

Phil, would/do you also apply this reasoning to (1NT)P (2 Red Suit Transfer) X as was I think suggested by Cathy Chau?

Wheel. Re-inventing. See p197 Robson -Segal "Partnership Bidding In Bridge." 1993

EBU Blog 3 "The Dutch managed to top that though with a 25-4 loss to mighty Guadeloupe, possibly the most extraordinary result seen in world bridge” Current score (after 13 of 16 boards) England 4 Guadeloupe 25

You are only looking at the last 9 rounds. The qualifier was cross-imped separately. In total for all 26 rounds Gold/Forrester +152 +35 = +187/380 boards = +.49 IMP per board Bakhshi/Townsend +108 -12 = 96/340 boards = +.28 IMP per board Crouch/Patterson = +21 -10 = 11/280 boards = +.04 IMP per board Fantunes =+361 -73 = 288/420 = +.67 IMP per board Hegelmo/Helness = 192 +122 = 314/400 = +.79 IMP per board. Zimmerman/Multon = -17 +36 = 19/180 = +.11 IMP per board.

3NT

Ask Zia

Purely as an anecdote & with a natural 3C rebid & 4H denying a diamond control. 1♥-2NT 3♣-4♣ 4♥-4♠ 6♣

So pluses 1)Have a way to make a M suit slam try with a strong H suit over 2S (could use 4H over 2H anyway) 2)Can show both m s in one bid below 4 of opponents' M 3)3 level m overcalls more likely to deliver a six card suit 4)Can play in 3NT opposite 5OM+/5m+ 5)Have more ways to show a good m two suiter so can be more accurate as to strength minuses 1)Can't show both 5+/5+ suits with 5M+ in one bid. Makes it harder for partner to judge over a raise of the weak two to game 2)With a big(usually solid) m suit you have to start with a dbl rather than a cue & may have to correct partner's 4M bid to 5m

If you currently play 2NT-3NT as CONFI and want to keep it, but are convinced by Bluecalm's arguments, you could instead use a Walsh Relay to combine i)the heart transfer & ii)CONFI (2+ control points balanced/semi-blanced slam try) in your 3D response: 2NT-3D* 3H- 3S* CONFI - control ask (reponder's other rebids promise 5H+) 2NT-3D* 3S (4-5H 5-7 control points A=2 K=1)-3NT CONFI control point ask (responder's other rebids promise 5H+) 2NT-3D* 3NT (4-5H 8 control points) -4C (CONFI- ask for 2nd suit/distribution - 4D/4S/5C 2nd suit, 4H = 5H 4N = 3433) (responder's other rebids promise 5H+) 2NT-3D* 4C (4-5H 9 control points) (Or 2NT-3D*-3NT(S)/4C/4D (4-5H 8 control points 4-5 card suit/shown bid 3+ of top 4 in that suit)-next step (not 4H)-CONFI ask for 2nd suit/distribution 2NT-3D*-4H 4-5H 8 controls no strong side suit/(9 control points), then 4S = CONFI) etc.

2♦(2♠)? dbl 4-5H 2NT Puppet to 3C i)to play or ii)or then 3D to play 3C 6H+ INV+ 3D INV 3H TFR-no S stopper 3S TFR i)to play 3NT or ii)slam try with C - follow with 4C or iii)slam try with D support -follow with 4D 2♦(2♥)? 2S NF dbl 4-5S 2NT TFR - clubs weakish to play 3C (or GF not worried about wrongsiding) 3C TFR i)weak raise or ii)no H stopper follow with 3H* 3D INV 3H 6S+ INV+ 3S TFR i)ii)iii) as above

Luv Lionel (played it for 18 years, X should be 11+ though & passed by 10+ not 4S) Luv the majors How about Multi-Lionel 2♠= weakish 2♥= majors 2♦= hearts(any) or spades(goodish) 2♣= clubs & hearts X= spades & another