[jillybean]

Are there any new thoughts as to best way for opener to proceed here?

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[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

the main q is, do you have an agreement, what 2S / 2NT showes?

Do you always open NT, if you are in range?

I dont play 2C as arb. GF, so I have no idea, what standard cont. are,
I think you should tell p about your distribution, and however you do it,
will be fine.

It is common to play 2NT as 12/14 or 18/19, selling the hand as 18/19 is
certainly not wrong.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[DavidKok]

I think we did/would do a good job of upgrading out of 15-17, this hand is much too strong for that. I would rebid 2NT.

[jillybean]

Yes, I am playing “Schuler Shift” here and we are playing mini nt
I was surprised by Norths redbid here, at the WBG and I am more interested in what is happening in the bridge world, expert std?

[DavidKok]

If you are looking for treatments here, I am familiar with five styles (of sorts). In no particular order:

• 'Standard'. Going past 2M requires extras. 2M is the catchall on hands too weak to do the former, and also contains the hands with 6(+)M without a cheaper side suit. Some people reduce the strain on the 2M rebid by permitting or demanding regular jumps with 6(+)M hands.
  
• 'Shape first'. Going past 2M does not promise extras. You bid your shape.
  
• Schuler Shift. A conventional hybrid between the two. 2NT contains hands with 6(+)M. The 2M rebid is always exactly a 5cM, and denies a cheaper side suit. Some people play that 2M is always limited, in which case strong balanced hands have to jump.
  
• Relay/artificial. Assign artificial meanings to most or all rebids - for example Ambra, GRAMMY or other such relays. Tends to be high effort, medium reward. Most people playing this only focus on 1M-2♣ and not the other four 2/1 auctions, or even swap the other four out to not be game forcing auctions.
  
• Light artificial. Like number 4, but without a fully developed structure. Typically something like "1M-2♣; 2♦ shows any minimum, other bids are natural and show extras".

I think most people would rebid 2NT with your example hand. In standard this shows "18-19 NT or 12-14 NT with all side suits stopped", so in practice it is reasonably often the former. The plan is to bid on over partner's signoff. In shape first it simply shows 5M332, and again by bidding on over a signoff you will show your strength later. In Schuler Shift I would rebid 2M, but it depends on partnership agreements. The last two are very different for each partnership.

[jillybean]

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That's a useful summary above thanks, David.

[pescetom]

jillybean, on 2024-October-25, 12:09, said:

That's a useful summary above thanks, David.

Very useful indeed.
I'm comfortable with Standard, would hate to have partner bid 3NT here.

[mike777]

2NT as others have mentioned.


If you are looking for something completely different 😊

Try Mexican 2D opener.
Balanced hand this point range.

[jillybean]

Many years I had a partner who wanted to play mex2♦, we never did get use it.

Schuler Shift. A conventional hybrid between the two. 2NT contains hands with 6(+)M. The 2M rebid is always exactly a 5cM, and denies a cheaper side suit. Some people play that 2M is always limited, in which case strong balanced hands have to jump.

This is my concern playing SS, I dislike the jump. Perhaps this attitude is from playing with weaker partners who would jump to 3nt in case I passed.
(this is really not a fear any of my partners should have!) If we have a strong balanced hand, starting cue bidding at the 4 level should be ok?

[mike777]

I understand
It at least lets partner know you don't have that point range and balanced. Negative inference helps a bit..

[blackshoe]

Want to play Mexican 2!D? Switch to Romex. :-)