[Fluffy]

Supose the bidding goes, with opponents passing:

2♦-2♥
2♠


What do 2NT, 3♣, 3♦, 3♥ and 3♠ mean now?

[MrAce]

2♦--2♥
2♠

2NT = ogust or stiff asking or feature whatever you choose.
3m= Depends on what direct 3m would mean

3♥= Invitation 6+ ♥ hand.(Some play it forcing) It may sound strange that a hand like this would bid 2♥, but it actually is not. When u have a ♥ holding that makes it impossible for pd to have weak ♥ this is the only way to keep ♥ suit in picture since 3♥ would be preemptive. Some may argue that with this hand responder could bid 2♠, but unfortunately 2♠ is NF and pd will pass, while we can be cold for 4♥.

x AQTxxx AK xxxx for example, you would like to play 4♥ if pd has a fit.

Of course u may choose not to play this in fear of playing 2♥ when have 6-6 fit and opponents would just pass it out. It just wont happen unless you abuse this treatment.

[mich-b]

We play :
2NT = Inivite to 4♠
3♣, 3♦ = signoff (3m response to 3♦ would be forcing)
3♥ = natural, 6+ cards , forcing.
3♠ = non invitational.

But I have been thinking that perhaps slightly better is :
2NT = both minors.
3♦ = Invite in ♠ (Since we could pass 2♦ if we really wanted to play there)

[Fluffy]

Seems you both think 3♥ is at least invitational strong, MrAce even put a hand very very similar to what I held yesterday (x AKxxxx AQxx xx), I think we use 3m over 2♦ artificially, but we can pass 2♦.

Couldn't 3♠ be invitational now? doesn't seem like the opponents will get to the 4 level now if we pass althou we've seen more rare* things, perhaps they aren't likelly enough to take care of them.


*: English question: "more rare" doesn't sound very right to me, is it correct?

[Free]

I play the following (our multi is weak only):
2NT = weak with both minors, void ♠
3m = signoff, void ♠
3♥ = good hand, natural (same as 2♦-2♠-...-3♠)
3♠ = INV with ♠

I don't feel the need to play anything else, except perhaps 2NT as a relay to ask for shortage (after 2♦-2♠ opener can show shortage when he has ♥, this has proven to be quite useful).

[Gerben42]

2NT: Invite to 4♠
3m: Natural not forcing but constructive
3♥: Invitational with good suit
3♠: Blocking bid (4th seat couldn't bid a ♠ T/O before)

[whereagles]

When I used to play the multi, 3♥ was "I really have hearts. Pls pass."

The others I never bothered to define, so by meta-rules they would be natural and NF. NF because if it were forcing, I'd have bid them directly over 2D already.

[mich-b]

whereagles, on 2011-September-14, 04:15, said:

When I used to play the multi, 3♥ was "I really have hearts. Pls pass."

If you arrange opener's rebids after responder bids 2NT , in such a way that the eventual 4M (or 3M) contract is played by the responder, you get as as a side benefit , the possibility to play in 3♥ , when the opener actually had ♠s , and responder has ♥ and wants to signoff there.

Something like :
2♦ - 2NT
3♥ = min weak 2 in ♠ etc....

[kgr]

Gerben42, on 2011-September-14, 03:13, said:

2NT: Invite to 4♠
3m: Natural not forcing but constructive
3♥: Invitational with good suit
3♠: Blocking bid (4th seat couldn't bid a ♠ T/O before)

Same, but with 3♥ undefined.
(I don't think we want to define it because we normally don't bid 2♥ with ♥-length)

[gnasher]

Fluffy, on 2011-September-14, 02:15, said:

*: English question: "more rare" doesn't sound very right to me, is it correct?

No, it should be "rarer".

Regarding your main question, I agree with Gerben.

[FrancesHinden]

Well some of this depends on your possible responses to the multi last round.
I play 2NT as lebensohl in response to 2D: either to play in 3m, or invitational with my own major, or to offer choice between 3NT and 4 partner's major
(3C is the INV+ relay, 3D is FG with 5-2 or 5-3 majors)

So for me 2D - 2H - 2S - 3H is weak, because invitational with hearts would have bid 2NT last round.
2NT is invitational with a spade fit
3C/3D are weak, didn't bid 2NT last round because they had a (partial) heart fit e.g. 1336 or so.

I never have these auctions, because either one of the opponents has always bid by now, or 2S is going to get passed out in a misfit.

[piratepete]

My partnerships prioritize exploring for ♠ contracts at this point, rightly or wrongly:

2NT: leb, to sign off in 3m/3♥ or invite in ♠
3♣: range- and shape-asking
3♦: gf, asking in first instance about quality of spade suit, sets up asking bids
3♥: no agreement, must be forcing as 2♦-2♥-2♠-2NT-3♣-3♥ available
3/4♠: defensive

[manudude03]

I play 2NT as ogust and new suits are invitational. 3S is pre-emptive (3145?)