[pescetom]

jillybean, on 2026-August-04, 10:24, said:

I think it's smart to leave it blank. We can always add something in later, once we've mastered our basic system and find a cool convention worth slotting in there.

I like to fill in dangerous blanks with harmless (or even useful) but low memory load meanings whenever possible. It respects USP and reinforces the ban on traditional meaning. Here a mixed 5-card raise meets that just fine.

jillybean, on 2026-August-04, 10:24, said:

I too have had it marked as splinter, you know what I think about using that bidding space.

I have no particular objection to a splinter of Responder with the right hand (space is not a cost if it would be more valuable to opponents), but it is already a low frequency affair and I don't see that we need to differentiate singleton/void or that we gain much from conserving the natural jump in other major.

[bluenikki]

mike777, on 2026-August-04, 10:52, said:

1M=3NT

Exactly what it sounds like
14-16 balanced, stoppers, 3card support.

I would not agree to a natural meaning to 3NT that did not promise 4333 in blood. Do you have any meaningful experience with your method?

[pescetom]

bluenikki, on 2026-August-05, 09:36, said:

I would not agree to a natural meaning to 3NT that did not promise 4333 in blood. Do you have any meaningful experience with your method?

I agree that the agreement of mike777 looks a dubious method.
But natural is in the eye of the beholder, FWIW I do not consider natural a response of 3NT with known fit, even if 4333.
I would call that a fit-showing picture bid (and not play it).

[mike777]

bluenikki, on 2026-August-05, 09:36, said:

I would not agree to a natural meaning to 3NT that did not promise 4333 in blood. Do you have any meaningful experience with your method?

Yes, 4333 correct. Yes it works fine.
Easy to remember, natural, frequent enough sort of...

[mike777]

pescetom, on 2026-August-05, 13:04, said:

I agree that the agreement of mike777 looks a dubious method.
But natural is in the eye of the beholder, FWIW I do not consider natural a response of 3NT with known fit, even if 4333.
I would call that a fit-showing picture bid (and not play it).

dubious, why?

Yes this falls in the raise category...

[pescetom]

mike777, on 2026-August-05, 14:48, said:

dubious, why?

Because you only know 5 cards of the hand of Opener and have just nuked two levels of bidding.

[mike777]

pescetom, on 2026-August-05, 15:17, said:

Because you only know 5 cards of the hand of Opener and have just nuked two levels of bidding.

Agree with your facts, just not your conclusion but ok...
Responder is tightly defined.

What ever problem hands, I doubt they are frequent..but ok