[mikeh]

strong 1c, on 2026-September-01, 04:45, said:

same

Here's our 2D responses:
1NT -2D
2H shows 4; 2S asks if Opener has another 4-card suit; bid up the line else bid 3NT 3433
2S shows 4. 1NT asks if Opener has another 4-card suit; bid up the line else bid 3NT 4333
2NT shows 44 in the minors 32 in the Majors
3x shows 5332 shape
3NT shows 4333 with a 4-card minor

what's yours ?

After 1N 2D:

2H denies hearts, denies a 5 card minor. Now 2S asks for more info and 2N denies 4 spades, 3C shows 4 spades and 4 diamonds. 3D shows 4 spades and 4 clubs. 3H is 4=2=2=5. 3S is 5 spades and 3N is 4=3=3=3.

After 1N 2D 2H 2S 2N, denying 4 in either major 3C asks for exact shape

1N 2D 2S shows 4 hearts, denies spades. 2N is a relay

1N 2D 2N is 5C. 3C relay for exact shape

1N 2D 3C is 5D, and 3D relay

1N 2D 3D Is 4=4 majors, 3H relay

There’s a lot…and I mean a lot…more to the structure. I re-read the method every time we enter any significant event. We played the basic stuff I outlined above spades since the late 1990s but we’ve added a lot more complexity in recent years. In some sequences the later relays ask for min, mid or max strength, and if at any point (after the initial relays) responder bids beyond 3N:

4C forces 4H, after which any bid by responder (which can be pass) sets the contract. Opener bids 4D to show a maximum, if he hasn’t yet defined his strength

4D is keycard in clubs, 4H is diamonds, 4S in hearts and 4N in spades.

We play basically the same structure after 1C 1N, where 1C is 2+ and is either long clubs or balanced, possibly with up to 5 diamonds and 1N is a balanced or semi balanced game force. We have artificial responses to 1N and 2C shows all balanced hands except for those with 17-19. So 1C 1N 2C 2D works exactly as after 1N 2D.

We only play weak 1N (10-13) in 1st through 3rd nv. All other openings are 14-16 and we play an entirely different method over that, based upon 4 way transfers but with a lot of artificiality.


A major reason for our weak notrump structure is the desire to maximize the chances that responder will declare games or slams in suits, often after an auction in which responder has not made a single descriptive bid other than to ask questions.

Not only do we have the stronger hand on play but declarer hasn’t said anything about his shape other than that, given what opener has described, he wants to play the final contract.

[WasWinM]

strong 1c, on 2026-September-01, 04:53, said:

I taught Peter 2-way because ((I think) it's easier for a beginner and I agree that it works fine with our weak NT. What was your NT range and what was the strength of your 2C bid vs 2D ?

I honestly can't tell you as that was David's system (you had to play his system to play with David), and that was sometime in the 1970s so I don't recall specifics. I can tell you NT was 15-17.

[strong 1c]

mikeh, on 2026-September-01, 08:38, said:

After 1N 2D:

2H denies hearts, denies a 5 card minor. Now 2S asks for more info and 2N denies 4 spades, 3C shows 4 spades and 4 diamonds. 3D shows 4 spades and 4 clubs. 3H is 4=2=2=5. 3S is 5 spades and 3N is 4=3=3=3.

After 1N 2D 2H 2S 2N, denying 4 in either major 3C asks for exact shape

1N 2D 2S shows 4 hearts, denies spades. 2N is a relay

1N 2D 2N is 5C. 3C relay for exact shape

1N 2D 3C is 5D, and 3D relay

1N 2D 3D Is 4=4 majors, 3H relay

There’s a lot…and I mean a lot…more to the structure. I re-read the method every time we enter any significant event. We played the basic stuff I outlined above spades since the late 1990s but we’ve added a lot more complexity in recent years. In some sequences the later relays ask for min, mid or max strength, and if at any point (after the initial relays) responder bids beyond 3N:

4C forces 4H, after which any bid by responder (which can be pass) sets the contract. Opener bids 4D to show a maximum, if he hasn’t yet defined his strength

4D is keycard in clubs, 4H is diamonds, 4S in hearts and 4N in spades.

We play basically the same structure after 1C 1N, where 1C is 2+ and is either long clubs or balanced, possibly with up to 5 diamonds and 1N is a balanced or semi balanced game force. We have artificial responses to 1N and 2C shows all balanced hands except for those with 17-19. So 1C 1N 2C 2D works exactly as after 1N 2D.

We only play weak 1N (10-13) in 1st through 3rd nv. All other openings are 14-16 and we play an entirely different method over that, based upon 4 way transfers but with a lot of artificiality.


A major reason for our weak notrump structure is the desire to maximize the chances that responder will declare games or slams in suits, often after an auction in which responder has not made a single descriptive bid other than to ask questions.

Not only do we have the stronger hand on play but declarer hasn’t said anything about his shape other than that, given what opener has described, he wants to play the final contract.

What is your relay asking in. 1Nt -2d- 3c(5332 with diamonds) ? We only have 4C as control asking after opener has shown shape.

[mikeh]

strong 1c, on 2026-September-01, 11:13, said:

What is your relay asking in. 1Nt -2d- 3c(5332 with diamonds) ? We only have 4C as control asking after opener has shown shape.

3D sets diamonds. Now 3H is 3352, 3S 3263, 3N 2353