MickyB

1♦ wouldn't be forcing as a limited opener, but I don't know whether it would ever be right to pass it without either holding diamonds, or a hand that strongly suggests partner holds diamonds. Either 1NT as 'bid your (longer) minor' or 2♣ as 'pass or correct' would work for reaching a safe part score.

Other than 5 card majors, the other openings don't really exist yet! The obvious ideas are 1C 11-13 bal or any 17+ with a 14-16 NT, or 1C any 16+ with a 12-15 NT. I guess 2♣ and 2♦ could be natural single suiters if that was significantly better than opening these hand types with 1♦. I guess it could be...then 1♦:1♠, 2minor could show 5minor4H, with a 1N rebid showing a minor 2 suiter. That then raises the question of what to do with the extra bid after 1♦:1♥ - 1♠ could show the minor 2 suiter (1NT then asking for the longer minor), which would leave 1NT free to show something - a maximum of some desciption? Sorry for rambling, any thoughts appreciated!

I am considering using a 1♦ opener as showing 11-15/16 points, 5+ cards in either minor. Does anyone have any experience of this or something similar? Cheers ;)

Yup, you've got it. 1♠:2NT, 3♣:3♦, 3♥/4♣/4♦ shows a min, singleton in the suit bid. 3♠ shows a min with no shortage 3NT shows a min 5332

Firstly, if i may - a word on your partnerships. A theoretically superior system will make very little difference to your results. Before you see this benefit, you will have many losses - bidding misunderstandings, errors in both bidding and play due to concentrating on remembering the system, and the time spent on system that could have been spent reading a book on play or bidding judgement. Having said that, if learning a new system is something that both of the partnership enjoy, then go for it. Just don't pressurise anyone into doing anything they aren't keen on. And I mean keen, not just 'accepting', I speak from bitter experience! Now, a suggested answer to your question: Jacoby 2-step. It isn't intended particularly for using with limited opening bids, but my guess is that it would work quite nicely, in fact I may give it a go in the near future. 3C = min, no good second suit, no void. 3D = any strength, good second suit or void. 3oM/4C/4D = max, singleton 3M = max, no shortage 3N = max 5332 After 3C, a lot of responding hands will sign-off in 4S. Otherwise 3D asks more, and opener bids 3H->4D as he would have done on the previous turn with a max. After 3D, 3H asks for more info: 3S shows a void, 3N asks where (if hearts are trumps, 4H then shows a spade void). 3N shows a max 5422, 4C asks for the good 2nd suit. 4C/D are natural, 5-5s, and 4H shows spades as the second suit. Hope that is helpful, good luck!

Ooh yes, had completely missed the 'user defined' hand constraints option, thanks very much, that's brilliant :) On reflection, I agree with you on the skip bid issue. Thanks again!

It may be quite complex to implement, but it would speed things up a lot if people started the next round when ready even in a clocked tournament. I'd be very keen on an individual tourney where you move around the table during a round, playing once (or maybe twice) with each person. This could be in a standard or a Swiss movement. I really like the set hand types in the partnership bidding area, a few more would be welcome - personally I'd quite like a Precision 2♣ opener. I'd also like to show my support for removal of the 'autoplay singleton' feature, an enforced delay of about 5 seconds after a skip bid and allowing people to sign up as subs before a tourney starts. Cheers, Mike