[mgoetze]

3½ years ago, AWM suggested that 1♦-1♠-1NT, in the context of an unbalanced 1♦ opening with ♦>=♣, should show hearts, forcing. This leaves 2♥ and 2♠ as different ways to raise spades.

Assume that one of these shows a 3-card raise (though they could also reasonably be a good and a bad 4-card raise). In contrast to 1♦-1♥-1NT/2♦ = nonforcing 3-card raise (the other of 1NT/2♦ showing a single-suited hand) and 1♥-1♠-2♦ = 3-card raise (Zirconia), there is only one way to get out at the 2-level.

So I thought, why not go full Zirconia on this auction and have 1♦-1♠-1NT = 4 hearts OR single-suited? 2♣ is fourth suit invitational and basically relays for whether opener does have 4 hearts (while allowing opener many higher bids with non-minimum hands these would need to be defined), and this frees up 2♦ to be a non-forcing 3-card spade raise and 2♥ to be whatever I want, possibly including stronger spade raises.

Thoughts?

Meanwhile, a hand:

---

How should the bidding proceed from here?

[Kungsgeten]

I like the idea of 1NT being 4 hearts or single-suited. We currently play 1D-1S; 1NT as "Gazzilli": 6+ diamonds or extras. If you do not feel the need for this, your method seems nice. Perhaps something like:

1D--1S;
1NT = 4 hearts or 6+ diamonds. F1
2C = Nat NF
2D = 3 spades NF
2H = 3+ spades, F1
2S = 4 spades NF
2N = Both minors, extras NF
3C = Both minors GF
3D = Club SPL, mild extras
3H = Heart SPL, mild extras
3S = Typical 4-2-5-2, mild extras

1D--1S; 1NT---
2C = Relay, INV+ or 4 hearts
...2D = Nat min
...2H = Nat min
...2S = 6+D extras
...2N = 4H extras
2D = Preference
2H = 5 hearts NF
2S = Nat
2N = INV
3C = 5-5 GF
3D = INV
3H = 5-5 GF


In your problem I would bid 4D (or another bid if you have one showing diamond support). I'm not entirely sure this is right, but my guess is that opener will not bid like this if he doesn't want diamonds to be supported.

[awm]

This looks pretty good to me. Probably can afford 1d-1s-1nt-2c-2d-2h as a relay here too. Then maybe 1d-1h-1nt also single suit with similar continuations?