3S Minor Keys ============= This treatment fits into a structure over 2NT where 3C/D/H look after the majors, 3NT is natural and 4D/H are transfers. Without resorting to an either-or 3D, it falls on 3S and 4C to cater for minor single-suiters and two-suited both minors. At the very least this scheme sets clear meanings for otherwise rare and undefined sequences. 3S = both minors or long diamonds 4C = long clubs The responses to 3S are key-cards for the minors (MKs) combined with disposition for diamonds. Because such sequences will be rare I've gone for an easy mnemonic which is, 3 * 4 * 5 Or more precisely, a nested series, 3 * 4.3 / 4.4 / 4.5 * 5.3 / 5.4 / 5.5 Where the big number is the count of minor keys and the small number is the sum of diamond length plus the number of honours (A/K/Q) in the suit. For both big and small numbers, '3' means "3 or fewer" and '5', "5 or more". Honour doubletons get marked down, KQ is '.3'. This isn't a magic bullet - many deals still require guessing (sorry, judgement) - but it often solves responder's problem immediately. The additional diamond-length information often settles the which-minor question when responder is two-suited. To develop it I dealt hands; initial sample space being at most 2 cards in each major, 7+ HCP. I've adjusted later runs to include relevant 5-4-3-1, 5-5-3-0, 6-4-2-1 and 6-4-3-0 shapes. For long club hands I've used a simple Deadwood treatment (Bad/odd[3]/even[4?]/2+Q/4+Q). Definitions ======== 2NT - 3S asks for a count of the six minor key-cards. 3NT is bad news and responder may pass, then three responses for each of the 4-key and 5-key holdings. Responder is committed to at least an invite after 4 keys and slam over 5. In subsequent bidding, where direct questions are asked (queens, exclusion-type) and step replies are expected, the first is worst, then increasingly better. When a suit is set or suggested, step-1 is the best news and 4NT is a natural attempt to play there. Jumps to 5m are middling. Opener's Rebids ============ 3NT = 0-3 keys 4C = 4 keys, at most 2 diamonds or xxx 4D = 4 keys, diamonds Hxx or xxxx 4H = 4 keys, diamonds HHx or Hxxx 4S = 5 keys, at most 2 diamonds or xxx 4NT = 5 keys, diamonds Hxx or xxxx 5C = 5 keys, diamonds HHx or Hxxx Where (H = A/K/Q) Responder's Continuations =================== 3NT is different because responder can simply give up and anything else means that slam is still possible. There are fewer asks and the auction is more consultative. Responder may hold diamonds but has received information about a potentially irrelevant club king. Curiously this is seldom awkward; responder has eschewed searching for a major fit and very often the club king is a working card. In any case, I am not proposing to resolve this doubt: sorry. It also seems that unless responder wants to know, control-bidding by opener isn't important (except, perhaps for preferring 6NT to 6-minor). This is just as well because 4H and 4S must be used for showing something how much responder's suit is liked. By opener; step-1 is best, 4NT is worst, other bids are fudges By responder; 4H = about clubs, 4S = about diamonds, 4NT about clubs The most common reason for not knowing what to do is uncertainty about the trump queen and/or minor length. Sometimes responder may know of 'support' opposite but it be critical that opener has the trump queen (the difference between Qx and xxx or Qxx and xxxx). Responder can find the minor queens, 4S asks in diamonds 4NT asks in clubs This might seem the wrong way around but 4NT for CQ is not obligatory and when opener is short in diamonds (4C response) responder can show his two-suiter with 4H. When diamonds become more strongly indicated as the minor of choice (4D/H) 4S is cheap and 4NT unlikely unless CQ is the final piece. 4S queen ask: 4NT = no DQ, 5C = DQ no CQ, 5D = both queens (no extras), 5H = 1 extra, 5S = 2, etc. 4NT queen ask: 5C = no CQ, 5D = CQ (no extras), 5H = 1 extra, 5S = 2, etc. After an enquiry for queens, responder can continue with the cheapest bid to ask for extra tricks (a major king is a trick, a major KQ two etc.) In both asking schemes "step-1 is bad news" - not a 'sign-off' because opener may not know what trumps are. After opener's 4C rebid or higher ------------------------------- 4D = sets diamonds, invites opener to evaluate (4H = good, 4S = OK, 4NT = poor) 4H = suggests clubs (4S = good, 4NT = poor, 5C = OK) 4S = asks for DQ as above 4NT = asks for CQ as above 5C = NF, both minors, invites raise in either minor with length/trump queen 5D = NF, diamonds, invites raise with *diamond* keys and queen 5M = Exclusion: step-1 = sorry, I have that major ace, step-2 = I don't! 2NT - 3S 4C - 4D 4H = Good hand for diamonds [DQ/good fit plus good control combinations] (4S = DQ?) 4S = OK hand for diamonds (no DQ/good fit but good controls) 4NT = insufficient extras 5C = 5+ clubs alternative strain 5D = diamond length, key card missing 2NT - 3S 4C/D - 4H 4S = Good hand for clubs (CQ and good controls) 4NT = insufficient extras 5C = clubs (either CQ or good controls) After opener's 3NT rebid ----------------------- After 3NT responder can clarify his hand-type with 4-minor over which opener uses 4L as responder did over 4C+. In addition, for slam, he may need a special hand opposite because of opener's lack of keys. Here and here only, responder's 4M shows a void and 4NT is natural (not an ask as above). Pass = possible 4C = both minors (4D = diamonds, 4H = clubs, 4S = good for both, 4NT bad news) 4D = diamonds (4H = Good for diamonds, 4S = OK, 4NT = no fit) 4M = void; 4NT possible opposite wasted values, opener needs working keys 4NT = INV, most likely 5-4-2-2 5C = both minors, slam possible only opposite 3 controls and minor queens 5D = diamonds, slam possible only opposite 3 *diamond* keys Over 4M opener gives a count of working minor-keys; 4NT = bad duplication, at most 2MKs, minor queens, no 4-card fit 5m = 2MKs, preference for minor 4S = 2MKs, equal minors 6m = 3MKs, preference for linked minor, no queen 5NT = 3MKs, equal minors, at least 1 queen 5M = 3MKs, preference for linked minor, at least 1 queen ------------------------------------------------------- That's it for now. I've bid hands as examples which are attached. Actually, I've done 4 x 16 but the last sheet is left as an exercise for anyone who has read this far. Comments welcome, Chris