[Tramticket]

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IMPs (Butler Pairs)
System: Weak NT, 4-card majors (i,e, 1♦ promised 4+).

Partner will have invitational+ with diamond support or any strong hand without a clear bid.

Please comment if it makes a difference to your bid if 4♦ at this point is (a) Minorwood, (b) Natural and forcing.

[If you don't like our use of the 2♥ cue-bid, I am happy to hear other suggestions].

[nige1]

Tramticket 'IMPs (Butler Pairs). System: Weak NT, 4-card majors (i,e, 1♦ promised 4+).Partner will have invitational+ with diamond support or any strong hand without a clear bid. Please comment if it makes a difference to your bid if 4♦ at this point is (a) Minorwood, (b) Natural and forcing. [If you don't like our use of the 2♥ cue-bid, I am happy to hear other suggestions]'
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Your bid depends on your agreements. Perhaps,, here ...
-- 2♠/3♣/3♥ = ART STOP for notrump (or CUE, if you later go above 3N).
-- 2N = N/F. With ♥ stop.
-- 3♦ = N/F. 5+ ♦s.
-- 3N = NAT S/O.
-- 4♦ = RKC?
-- 3♠/4♣/4♥ = SPL (void).

With understandings like these, 3♥ (showing a stop) seems most descriptive.
Because, If partner might just have a good hand, then you have too few controls to commit to contracts beyond 3N,
For example, with ♠ A Q x ♥ x x ♦ A x x x ♣ J x x x, partner might try 3NT.

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[pescetom]

I too would bid 3H showing a stop, as the least of all evils. RKCB here would be 4C for us, but we'll already be lucky to make game here.

[Cyberyeti]

We play 2♦ atill inverted but not GF and may contain 4 spades, so 2♥ tends to be a 3 card raise without a heart stop (we play 2N nat) or a GF hand with 3 diamonds.

[Tramticket]

nige1, on 2019-July-11, 01:46, said:

Your bid depends on your agreements. Perhaps,, here ...
-- 2♠/3♣/3♥ = ART STOP for notrump (or CUE, if you later go past 3N).
-- 2N = N/F. With ♥ stop.
-- 3♦ = N/F. 5+ ♦s.
-- 4♦ = RKC?
-- 3♠/4♣/4♥ = SPL (void).

With understandings like these, 3♥ (showing a stop) seems most descriptive.

I'm not sure about bidding 3H to show a heart stop - we would tend to bid NT with a stop and suitable shape (less fussy about stops in the other suits). I guess that 3H for us would show extra strength WITHOUT a stop. Maybe I should bid an off-shape 3NT, since I agree with you that the hand lacks controls to go past 3NT.

[Tramticket]

Cyberyeti, on 2019-July-11, 03:56, said:

We play 2♦ atill inverted but not GF and may contain 4 spades, so 2♥ tends to be a 3 card raise without a heart stop (we play 2N nat) or a GF hand with 3 diamonds.

This would probably work well here as partner's 2H would not suggest diamond support. Partner did hold a heart stop (AXX), but with an 18-count, partner would bid 2H as a general force.

But I think that it is more usual for inverted minors to be off in competitive auctions.

[Cyberyeti]

Tramticket, on 2019-July-11, 11:38, said:

This would probably work well here as partner's 2H would not suggest diamond support. Partner did hold a heart stop (AXX), but with an 18-count, partner would bid 2H as a general force.

But I think that it is more usual for inverted minors to be off in competitive auctions.

I know it's more usual, which is why I mentioned the method, I'd be happy with either 2N or 3♦ over 2♥ with a slight preference for 3♦, now partner can do various things, but I think you're well placed and if partner has AKx, xxx, xxx, KJxx you don't get too high

[HardVector]

I'd bid 3n. I would assume that 3h would ASK for a stop.

[pescetom]

HardVector, on 2019-July-11, 20:31, said:

I would assume that 3h would ASK for a stop.

So would GIB, I think, which confused me as a beginner.
Maybe some US player could enlighten on the origin and diffusion of this convention.