nullve

If hearts split 3-2, it doesn't matter which suit you try first, so you may as well assume they don't split 3-2 and play on diamonds first.

How about opening 1N on all quasi-balanced1 minima, at least those without a 5c major? Would that be too extreme? (I'm trying to come up with a good Weak 1N version of my structure above, and that's obviously easier if the 1N opening covers more shapes.) 1 in Glen Ashton's sense

2♠. (8 total points. :))

No, he didn't.

Something more concrete: 1N = 11-13, either bal. or (4441) / 10-12, either 5m(422), 5m(431), 6m(322) or 6m(331) 1N-?: (...) 2♣ = ♥-Muiderberg, weak / GF 2♦ = Crawling Stayman, weak 2♥ = Major Flash, weak 2♠ = ♠-Muiderberg, weak 2N or 3♣ = Puppet Stayman (...) 1N-2♣; ?: 2♦ = SPL H / SPL m, 3 H ...2♥ = to play opposite 3 H ...2♠ = GF relay ......2N = SPL H, hence 3-4 S .........3♣ = relay ............3♦ = 3 S ...............3♥ = relay ..................3♠ = 3145 ..................3N = 3154 ..................4♣ = 3136 ..................4♦ = 3163 ............3♥/♠/N = 4 S ............Specifically: ............3♥ = 4144 ............3♠ = 4135 ............3N = 4153 ......3♣ = SPL D, 3 H .........3♦ = relay ............3♥ = 4315 ............3♠ = 3316 ......3♦/♥ = SPL C, 3 H ......Specifically: ......3♦ = 4351 ......3♥ = 3361 ...2N = 5H4+C, accepts game opposite 4+ C ...3♣ = 5H4+D, accepts game opposite 4+ D ...(...) 2♥ = no SPL, either 2-3 H or 3433 (=> 2♠ = GF relay, with continuations analogous to those I gave over 1N-2♦; 2♥-2♠ here) 2♠ = no SPL, 4-5 H, not 3433 (=> 2N = GF relay, with continuations analogous to those I gave over 1N-2♦; 2♠-2N here) 2N = SPL S, hence 3-4 H ...3♣ = relay ......3♦ = 3 H .........3♥ = relay ............3♠ = 1345 ............3N = 1354 ............4♣ = 1336 ............4♦ = 1363 ......3♥/♠/N = 4 H ......Specifically: ......3♥ = 1444 ......3♠ = 1435 ......3N = 1453 3♣ = SPL D, 4 H ...3♦ = relay ......3♥ = 4414 ......3♠ = 3415 3♦/♥ = SPL C, 4 H Specifically: 3♦ = 4441 3♥ = 3451 Probably a hole somewhere...

Barry Crane's rule for finding queens and jacks.

2♠=? (except "spades")

I've worked on something similar: 1♣/1M = modern Precision 1♦ = modern Precision 1♦, 2♣ or 2♦ opening, but 11-13 if bal. 1N = 14-16 2-level = weak preempts 1♦-? (basic idea, but expect to find stupid mistakes): P: rare 1♥ = 0-12, either 5+ S or 4S4-H ...1♠ = 3-S3-H / max, 4 S ......1N = 4S4-H or 53(32)1 .........P = min, 3- S .........2♣ = max, 3-S5+C .........2♦ = max, 3-S5+D ............2♥ = 4H1-D ...............P = 3 H .........2♥ = ? .........2♠ = max, 4 S ......2♣-2♠ = "0-12, 5+ S" ......Specifically: ......2♣ = Gazzilli: 0-12, either 5+S4+C or 5233 / 10-12, either 5+S4+D or 5+S4+H .........2♦ = max, relay .........2♥+ = min, nat. ......2♦ = 0-9, 5+S4+D ......2♥ = 0-9, 5+S4+H ......2♠ = 0-9, 6+ S ...1N = min, 3-S4H ......P = 0-12, either 4S3-H or (optionally) 53(32) ......2♣ = 0-12, either 5+S4+C or 5(32)3 ......2♦ = 0-12, either 5+H4+D or 5332 ......2♥ = 0-9, 4+ H ......2♠ = 0-9, 6+S3-H ...2♣ = max, either 3-S4H5+C or 1444 ...2♦ = max, 3-S4H5+D ...2♥ = max, 5H6+m ...2♠ = min, 4 S ...(...) 1♠ = 0-9, 4(+)S5+H ("Flannery") / 0-12, 3-S3-H / 10-12, 6M3-OM ("IJS") / any GF ...1N = min ......P = 0-12, 3-S3-H ......2♣ = GF relay ......2♦ = Flannery: 0-9, 4(+)S5+H ......2M = IJS: 10-12, 6M3-OM ......(...) ...2♣+ = max. ...E.g. the simple but possibly suboptimal ...2m = max, either 6+ m or 5m4O ......P = m tolerance, weak ......2♦ = 6+ D, weak ......2♥ = Flannery: 0-9, 4(+)S5+H ......2♠ = GF relay ......(...) ...2♥ = max, 4H(441) ...2♠ = max, 4144 ...2N = max, 5D5C 1N = 0-12, either 3-S4H or 35(32)1 ...P = min, 3- H ...2♣ = max, either 3-H5+C or 4144 ...2♦ = max, 3-H5+D ...2♥ = min, 4+ H ...2♠ = max, 4+ H ...2N = max, 5+D5+C ...(...) 2♣-2♥ = "0-12, 5+ H" Specifically: 2♣ = Gazzilli: 0-12, either 5+H4+C or 2533 / 10-12, either 5H4+D or 4(+)S5+H2 ...2♦ = max, relay ...2♥+ = min, nat. 2♦ = 0-9, 5+H4+D 2♥ = 0-9, 3-S6+H 2♠ = 0-9, 6+m4+Om 2N = 0-9, 5+D5+C 3♣ = 0-9, 3-S3-H3-D7+C 3♦ = 0-9, 3-s3-H7+D3-C (...) 1 (53)(32) is a (mild) problem shape in this structure if Responder has 0-12. 2 [30 Aug 2016:] It's probably better to put 10-12, 4(+)5+H in the 1♠ response instead and play 1♦-1♠; 1N-2♣ = "Flannery or GF". Don't know how to make the 1♦ opening work if it contains 14-16 bal. instead of 11-13 bal., but I might have some ideas. Added, 3 June 2018:

Thank you, Larry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factory_ship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_meth_lab

One thing I don't like about (1M)-2M = Michaels is that Advancer has no inv+ relay available over (1M)-2N = Unusual. That's why I've toyed with (1♠)-?: (...) 2♠ = 5+R5+C ...2N = inv+ relay ......3♣ = min (NF) .........P = C tolerance, can't afford to find out which red suit p has .........3R = P/C .........(...) ......3♦+ = extras (GF) ...3♣ = < inv, C tolerance, can't afford to find out which red suit p has ...3R = < inv, P/C ...(...) 2N = 5+H5+D1 ...3♣ = inv+ relay1 ......3♦ = min (NF) ......3♥+ = extras (GF) ...(...) (...), and similarly over (1♥). 1 Also part of jorj5500's (George Cuppaidge's) 2-suited scheme described here. EDIT: Or, sort of midway between the above and Cuppaidge's scheme, (1♠)-?: (...) 2♠ = 5+D5+C / extras, 5+H5+C ...2N = inv+ relay ......3♣ = min, 5+D5+C (GF) ......3♦ = extras, 5+D5+C (GF) ......3♥ = extras, 5+H5+C (GF) ...(...) 2N = 5+H5+D ...3♣ = inv+ relay .....3♦ = min (NF) .....3♥+ = extras (GF) ...(...) 3♣ = min, 5+H5+C ...(...) ...3♦ = GF relay ...(...) (...)

Pass. (Yes, we might have slam.)

Agree! Control showing responses may prevent you from finding basic fits, like a 4-4 heart fit after 2♣-2♠(an ace and a king); 3♠. The only thing that makes control showing responses to 2♣ playable, IMO, is that the 2♣ opening is (or should be) so rare that it almost doesn't matter what you play over it.

frank0 and I have finished our match. 1st half: http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/tview.php?t=ARDCHALLENGE:ff73f93c.688d.11e6.8e99.0cc47a39aeb4-1471886976 2nd half: http://webutil.bridgebase.com/v2/tview.php?t=ARDCHALLENGE:3fb7dd95.690d.11e6.8e99.0cc47a39aeb4-1471941630 Memorable boards for me (and not because I did well on them!): * 7, 1st half (I have to remember that this isn't a GiB (or conservative 2/1) 1♠ opener.) * 14, 1st half (2♠ really felt like an underbid, but I did have "2+ ♠; 10- total points" and I wasn't sure if GiB would understand 2N followed by 3♠.) * 15, 1st half (Amusing how GiB's defence depended on whether declarer won with the A or K at trick one. I'm not defending anything I did on the board, though.) * 11, 2nd half (Resisted the temptation to open 2N(!!). It was also tempting to play for an overtrick (by risking a 6-1 diamond break), knowing that I was down 17 after 1 half. At least I had to think about it. :)) * 15, 2nd half (I thought for ages about what to do at trick 4, but somehow it didn't occur to me that p could have ♥KT left.) * 16, 2nd half (My line was probably too speculative, but playing low from dummy at trick 1 felt like giving up. (How often does GiB lead from a bare king like that?) Amazing 3N at the other table!)

Part of Chip Martel's defence to Swedish Club (described here): (1♣)-?: P = weak, unsuitable for 1♥+1 / opening strength, unsuitable for a standard 1♦ or 1M opening X = standard 1M opening 1♦ = standard 1♦ opening 1♥+ = destructive I wonder what Advancer is supposed do over (1♣)-P-(P). Of course, that might depend on the meaning of Responder's pass. 1 Not mentioned by Martel, but I don't think he's prepared to overcall 1♥+ on all weak hands.

8-12 NT in 1st/2nd seat NV is quite common in Norway, maybe especially at the top level. Here's a CC from 2012: http://info.ecatsbridge.com/Systems/2012europeanteams-dublin/openteams/norway/berg-svendsen.pdf. Blue Club's 1N opening, as described in the book by Garozzo and Yallouze, showed either a) 16-17 bal. or b) 13-15 with either 3325 or 3334.

My 1M openings and 1M overcalls are sufficiently similar that it's possible to play almost identical structures (modulo ranges) over them. And since I'm very happy with what I play over my 1M openings, I play essentially the same structure over my 1M overcalls, too, even if it means that I'm not making the best use of the "cuebid" that in some cases becomes available. In particular, since 1M-2♣ is ART, I also play (1x)-1M-2♣ as ART.

I think Welland-Auken play 2♣-?: 2♦ = 5+ H or waiting ...2♥ = 20-21 bal. / 5+ H, GF values ......P = 5+ H, very weak (assumes Opener has 20-21 bal.!!) ......(...) ...(...) 2♥ = 5+ S ...2♠ = 20-21 bal. ...(...) (...), which solves the right-siding problem and enables them to stop in 2M, the latter being an advantage of the "slow = weaker" approach.

Another possible use of QBal 1N with DBM+Velociraptor1 responses is after 1♣-1♦ in Precision, Swedish Club or similar systems. 1 Other "NT defences" (I don't know if Ken actually plays both DBM and Velociraptor as part of his weak NT defence, but it makes sense) might be used instead as long as the following hand types, * 6M3-OM * 5M3-OM * 4M3-OM5+m * 4+S4+H, are all treated with some respect on partscore deals. (So no Capp, DONT or Multilandy. But maybe Asptro.)

[deleted]

It shouldn't be. I'm just saying that if a pair playing 2C as "natural or Drury" for some reason wanted Opener to be able to evaluate his hand using exactly the same information about Responder's hand as in Frances's auction, then they could play that 2N asks for Responder's "Acol two-over-one" suit.

1♠-2♣ 2red-2♠ 2N-3♦ ?

Stockholm syndrome?

Pass. (I don't play West's pass as forcing, if that's what you're indirectly asking about.)

Ditto.