Fixing the Forcing Nt and other useful things

[PerryK]

I am going to post a link. Please peruse it and tell me what you think. Thanks.

 

http://sdrv.ms/WMxJgG

[fromageGB]

I am more than a little wary of clicking dubious links to an unknown domain from an unknown contributor. Can you show your point directly?

[Finch]

Well done on taking the time to think about these auctions; almost any method is an improvement over 'standard' natural approaches.

I have to tell you however that your ideas are not particularly new - using 2C as a relay is a very common approach, although the continuations vary.

 

Your method has the following slight problems:

- after 1S-1NT-2C-2D opener has to rebid 2S on both a 5215 and a 5233 minimum i.e. you have no way of ever playing in clubs unless opener has a virtual game force (on a 5314 opener has to drive to 3H to show that shape)

- opener has to jump to 3NT on a balanced 18-19 on all your auctions. This means first that you have to keep your responses up to "classical" strength, and secondly that responder will be guessing whether to pull to a long suit or not - in particular you will miss 5-3 heart fits and play in 3NT instead, which might be costly.

- responder has no way to distinguish between a 5-count and a 9-count after 1S-1NT-2C-2D-2S-2M

 

The problem is that you are wasting the 1M-1any-2C-2D sequence.... one simple change is to play 1S-1NT-2C-2D-2H as balanced (forcing or non-forcing as you prefer) and 1S-1NT-2C-2D-2S as spades and clubs.

 

There's a very simple method that one can play instead: just play opener's 2C rebid as either natural or any game force; over this play responder's 2D as any minimum and other calls as constructive (or play responder's 2D bid as 9+ and other calls as weak, if you prefer). Then you can retain 2NT as strong balanced & 3 of a suit as natural invitational.

 

Or there are more complicated schemes that fit things together somewhat better.