Which is better and why?

[Zelandakh]

You have given yourself an extra bid by assuming that suit agreement was below 3♥. Clearly an extra step means an extra bit of information can be exchanged. I was assuming that the last bid made was 3♥. The situation where a control (shortage) has been shown below 3♥ is also a special case giving you an extra step and therefore an extra bit of information.

 

I am not sure how you imagine this but I see each step as a binary bit acting as an OR gate. Both 0s = sign off, otherwise continue. Over 3♥ we have 4 steps and so can exchange 4 bits of information. I choose strength as the first bit and controls of the side suits as the last 3. If you have an extra bit then you can add an additional piece of information. That could be a further refinement of strength, as you suggest, or anything else you think is relevant (such as distinguishing between a singleton and a void in the shortage suit). In fact, when you have this extra bit you should be able to divide the strength range into 4 rather than 3 by using the above principle. The reason that you only get 3 ranges is the enforced 3♥ call. If you only bid 3♥ with the lower half range of the limited hands then you will achieve this effect. Incidentally, you could also choose to put the second strength range ask before the control bids getting back to the methods which I am suggesting. That would give you (calling the 4 range min, mid, max, super-max):

 

3♥ = min or mid (3♠ asks which)

3♠ = max

3NT = super-max, no spade control

4♣ = super-max, spade control, no club control

4♦ = super-max, spade control, club control, no diamond control

4♥ = super-max, spade control, club control, diamond control

 

which gives you everything you want (and more!) with little information leakage (only for a super-max limited hand opposite no slam interest).

[WGF_Flame]

imo, non serious is much better.

The main difference is that with weak hands (which i think are the majority of the hands) you will bid faster to game without giving extra cue bid information to the opponents.

I also feel its more "natural" and less dangerous in case you forget the system.