Gerber

[han]

2/1 GF.

 

1H - 2C

2D - 2H

2NT - 4C

 

Is this it?

[Gerben42]

No, you bid ♣ naturally before. If you play "minorwood", that's this.

[kenrexford]

Ugh! I suppose some would play that.

 

For me, this would notmally be just a picture jump, showing something like ♠Jx ♥KQxx ♦xx ♣AKJxx (no diamond or spade control, two top hearts, three of the top four clubs). However, as for me Opener's declining to bid 2♠ denied a spade control, 4♣ would also show a spade control. I would even take this a step further and say that it promises a second-round control (normally a stiff or the King). My usual default, as well, is that the control type must be the King (because of follow-up bidding), such that Responder simply cues with either 1st-round spade control or with a stiff.

 

With a stiff, for example (but otherwise the same hand), Responder would cue 3♣ (two top clubs). If Opener cues 3♦ (necessarily), Responder cues 3♥ (two top hearts). Responder has now shown a lot of the same features. If Responder later never cues 4♦, Opener can just about visualize the exact holding.

[han]

I thought this showed a 2-3-2-6 shape with good clubs and trumps and no outisde controls Ken. With 2425 you can jump to 3H over 2D.

 

Minorwood makes as much sense as Gerber imo, very little.

[kenrexford]

I thought this showed a 2-3-2-6 shape with good clubs and trumps and no outisde controls Ken. With 2425 you can jump to 3H over 2D.

 

Minorwood makes as much sense as Gerber imo, very little.

That may be the normal definition. However, as for me bypassing 2♠ denies a spade control, that definition would not make sense, for the obvious reason.

 

The idea of 3♥ as a classic 2425 may be standard, as well. I, however, (strangely?) like 3♥ as a splinter in support of diamonds. I'd bid 1♥-2♣-2♦-3♥ with Jxx-x-KQxx-AKJxx, for example. (No spade control, stiff heart, two top diamonds, three of top four clubs.)

 

I would bid 1♥-2♣-2♦-4♥ with a classic 2-4-2-5 with the normal definitions described already, though. But, the sole reason to not do that immediately is the holding of a spade control, a card that is now necessary in light of Opener not cuebidding 2♠. Hence, the delayed jump shows the missing spade control.

 

This, of course, is the control-biased approach, rather than the pattern-biased approach.

[mike777]

I would guess responder has something like:

 

Jx....Qxx...Jx....AKQTxx or

Jxx...Qxx....J......AKQTxx

[andy_h]

Wow, I've never seen this before. I guess no outside controls and good clubs sorta makes sense. Does this mean hearts or clubs are set as trumps? hmm..