[fromageGB]

A partner and I are trying a variation of a defence to 1NT where X (in 2nd or 4th seat) shows both majors and nothing else. (It used to have other alternatives, but we want to get the best major fit.) With a basic reply of 2♣ as no preference, and "indicating" which major when you have preference, you can always play in the best major fit. After 2♣, doubler "indicates" his longer or better.

The room you have also enables you to put a predetermined hand on lead, by "indicating" with either a transfer or a direct bid of the major. So the question is :
Is it better to put the 1NT opener always on lead, so that he is leading away from his tenaces?
Or is it better to have the known hand with both majors as dummy, so the defence has no knowledge of the other hand's distribution?

The second option always has 2♦ spare for meaning "I hate majors - pass or correct to 3♣" This bid would also be available with the first option only when X is in 2nd seat. A 4th seat X would have 2NT as "hate majors".

A point to note is that a 2nd seat strong balanced hand cannot double, so the protective X with both majors can be made with quite a weak hand (they are passing out in 1NT).

[glen]

When we played this (see DONT NO in http://www.bridgemat....com/overnt.htm), the advances, in either seat, were:

Pass: lead your best major (we had great results passing the X).
X: (if they bid), penalty, but if of minor, partner is to pull with weak 5-5.
2m: pass if at least partial fit, otherwise bid.
2M: (or cheapest major suit bid) to play.
2NT: asks for further description.
3m: forcing, natural.
3M: GI, good fit.
3NT: to play based on longer minor, stopper in other minor.
4m: 4♣ transfers to 4♥, 4♦ transfers to 4♠.
4M: to play.

We found that the advance of 2m was useful - this could be a five card minor, and would allow us to play that suit if there was no good major fit.

About "2nd seat strong balanced hand cannot double". We played "the more HCP held the less shape necessary". Eventually this meant that if holding 16+ balanced, one could double even if just 3-3 in the majors. When the strong balanced hand was 3-2/2-3/2-2 in the majors, we found that passing in 2nd seat usually did not hurt, since either responder or 4th seat would bid with one or both majors.

[Free]

It's hard to vote because both options mean the same when 2nd hand doubled...

[fromageGB]

Free, on 2011-December-12, 06:30, said:

It's hard to vote because both options mean the same when 2nd hand doubled...

Perhaps you have spotted that it may be different when 4th seat doubles?

[gnasher]

I think putting the strong hand on lead is more important.

[Statto]

The double dummy answer will surely be to put opener on lead......

[Statto]

...particularly against a strong NT...

[Fluffy]

put the strong hand on lead, not close

[Free]

fromageGB, on 2011-December-12, 10:43, said:

Perhaps you have spotted that it may be different when 4th seat doubles?

That's why I specified "2nd hand" The question is only relevant for 4th seat.

[fromageGB]

Thanks for the inputs. We weren't sure, but this settles it. We'll do it that way.