bigtrain

Definitely concur with the above thoughts. One of the downsides to a penalty/card X of 1NT is it allows the opponents to play 2m, so you should take advantage of it. I suggest... pass = usually forcing to XX (or possibly a 5-card minor) XX = 2 suits same shape P-f-2C = minors or blacks p-f-2D = reds p-f-2H = majors All direct bids are natural.

Personally, I welcome competition over my strong clubs. It frequently aids declarer play and adds the defend option to our menu of choices. So, fear of that competition has little impact on my decision to upgrade. The main "upgrade" issues being true hand value and most effective/efficient auction.

1C is the clear choice. Opening 1D makes the hand impossible to describe... 1D-1x//2D is a huge underbid but 1D-1x//3D buries the clubs. Also the hand easily values 17 or 18 points.

3C is an error in my opinion - there is no reason to introduce clubs with a moderate suit and a semi-balanced hand. Best for opener to bid 2NT, allowing responder to describe his hand. Opener is then better placed to continue the auction.

Here ya go... My link

With 43+ in the majors advancer should bid 2D to find the major. Therefore, 2C-f-2H is something else. 3+C and 5+H has a higher probablity than a non-fitting 56+. But I guess either is playable.

Hands like this show why it's best to break up the balanced ranges by using 2NT as natural. I would strongly recommend opening 2NT with this and similar hands.

Natural, invitational seems a clear choice to me. That does the most to contribute to a sensible major suit response structure in a limited opening environment.

1) 3NT feels best, with good spades and shape partner can still bid 2) This is a prefect hand for P/X-I... P-f-4♠ showing a flexible hand

It's not the weak NT range - it's the fact that balanced 16s have to be included in the 1C opener.

The major reason Meckwell dropped the 10-12 NT was that it distorted their constructive auctions. Dropping the other NT ranges 1 point was something they found was major negative. Multi is another thing entirely. The reasons that Multi and transfer preempts were dropped are numerous, and clear regardless of system.

I haven't played CABs for quite awhile, but as I remember them a two-tiered structure works well... Responses to the initial ask: none/third/second/first/first & second Responses to the reask: length/strength/both So in this example, S3/reask shows the singleton king.

sorry, no

Nothing - responses to 3H only go through 4C

1N-2N//3C just denies a 5-card major; 3M shows a 5-card major (3D isn't used) Over 3C, responder's 3M shows 4-cards in the other major; his 3D shows (31)(54)