What now?

[phil_20686]

Seems like a lot of people dont play any good system here, and its a big loser imo. I picked up some system of a polish player that works pretty well here:

 

after 1!s-2!h

 

3H= 3 hearts, minor shortage, extras, then 3s agrees hearts and asks for shortage, 3N agrees spades and asks for shortage.

3N= 5-4-(1-3) 11-14, 4c asks for singleton

4m= 5-4-(13), 15+

4h= 11-14 5-4-2-2

 

all other minimum hands bid 2s, and over the (virtually obligatory) 2N asking,

3h = 3 hearts,

4m = 5-3-1-4, 11-14.

 

 

Some relevant continuations:

 

1S - 2H 3H - 3S -?

>>>> 3NT = shortage C, no cue in D

>>>> 4C = shortage clubs, cue-bid in D

>>>> 4D = shortage diamonds, cue-bid in C

>>>> 4H = shortage D, no cue-bid in C

 

 

1S - 2H 3H 3NT -?

>>>> 4C = shortage clubs, cue in D

>>>> 4D = shortage diamonds, cue-bid in C

>>>> 4H = shortage C, no cue-bid in D

>>>> 4S = shortage D, no cue-bid in C

>>>>

 

So since my partners have shown extras and 5-3-1-4 (or 6-3-1-3 with poor spades), then I will bid 3S to agree hearts and ask for the minor shortage, then I should be able to get enough info to bid the grand or not with confidence. He will probably show diamond shortage with a club control. You should be well placed after this. If partner shows a club shortage you will certainly blast exclusion in spades. It might be close opposite a diamond shortage. Probably settle for some cue bids and give partner the option to bid GS or not.

[whereagles]

I'll try and find the key cards, but I think this is very likely to fail and we end up in 6♥...

[awm]

As someone who plays 2/1 not necessarily forcing to game, we have:

 

3♥ shows extras and almost always four-card support

4♥ is fairly minimum and normally 5422

4m is a splinter, usually fairly minimum and always 4-card heart support

 

With extras and three-card support, we can start by bidding a four-card minor or bidding 2NT (which is a balanced GF) and then bidding hearts later. With a minimum and three-card support (or a really horrible hand that doesn't want to be in game despite 4-card support) we can start with 2♠ (catch-all, forcing one round) and then correct to hearts later.

 

Obviously this SAYC-based style (where 2♠ is waiting and anything else is GF) is very different from Acol (which has a lot more non-forcing bids). But in any case, we don't have huge issues with limiting opener's strength.