Has Anyone Seen This Bid Before?

[Mbodell]

The reason for doing this is that it makes 2/1 responses show a real suit, which in turn makes it much easier to make good slam decisions. Fred is one of the leading proponents of this theory. It fits well within a 2/1 GF structure, not so well within an SAYC/SEF/Forum D/Acol base.

 

If you currently have the sequence 1♥ - 2♠ undefined then try this:-

 

1♥ - 2♠ = mini-splinter (limit raise with side shortage) or maxi-splinter (~16-19 support points with side shortage)

then 2NT from Opener is a relay and

3♣ = mini-splinter with club shortage

4♣ = maxi-splinter with club singleton

 

Why use both levels? Can't you just use the 3♣ bid for both and have responder bid on with the maxi. As long as the ranges are truly spit (so like 8-11 and 15-19) you will not have hesitation problems and you can leave more room for exploration.

[Zelandakh]

Why use both levels? Can't you just use the 3♣ bid for both and have responder bid on with the maxi. As long as the ranges are truly spit (so like 8-11 and 15-19) you will not have hesitation problems and you can leave more room for exploration.

The extra room is somewhat illusory because it is necessary for game exploration. After 1♥ - 2♠; 2NT - 3♣, let's say that Opener has a hand that wants to go to game. Playing the system as written they simply bid 4♥. If 3♣ were a 2-way bid then they would have to make allowance for this, presumably by bidding a non-serious 3♠ or some-such. But then non-serious covers any hand from a game accept up to a slam try. It just gets harder to sort everything out and these are otherwise idle bids, so I think the overall effect is better showing the range immediately. Others are more than welcome to take the idea and try it out in different forms...