[bluecalm]

Assuming 2NT is 20-21 with 5M-3-3-2 possible as well as 2-2-(4-5) if hand is appropriate.

As I see it's good to have: (SI is slam invite)
-SI with a major suit
-SI with 6+minor suit
-some way to bid both minors
-weak major 2suiter
-SI major 2suiters
-5M-4m+ SI
-4M-5+ SI
-Some way to play in 4M if opener has 5 of that major

That's a lot of stuff and there isn't a lot of space. So far we usually played without puppet stayman (which gives you advantage of easy way to bid 5 4 majors hands and frees other major after the transfer which can be used for slaminvite in that suit thus leaving 4m as natural SI. This is system has some problems though.

Anyway, what is your favorite system for handling those auctions ?

[whereagles]

What I like is something based on Tony Forrester's TRS system (a wierd intermediate pass system which happened to have nice 2NT follow-ups).

In addition to the usual 5-card stayman/transfers, it featured

2NT 3♠ = puppet to 3NT. To play 3NT or minor suit oriented slammish hands.
2NT 3NT = baron, FORCING. (Yes, very dangerous I know lol.)
2NT 4m = slam try in the linked major.
2NT 4NT = NF with 55 minors, non slammish.

After 2NT 3♠ 3NT, resp would follow with

4m = 5m+4 other m, slammish.
4M = slam try in the linked minor.
4NT = NF slam try with 55 minors.
5♣ = slam forcing with 55 minors.

[hanp]

I think it is good to play South African transfers over 2NT. That frees up 4H and 4S which can be used as slam tries in the corresponding minor. Once you have that you can use 3S to show both minors. I think that's very good.

There are various versions of puppet available that allow you to find a major suit fit when responder is 5-4 in the majors.

I started to appreciate it more after moving to the Netherlands. I posted this auction with my girlfriend recently where she made the beautiful 3NT bid after having found a 4-4 spade fit with (2D) - 2NT - 3C - 3D - 3H - 3S. I was very thrilled about that auction, not least because it won us a lot of IMPs.

After a 3-level transfer I prefer to play that 3NT shows a good hand with 3-card support. That means that after an auction such as 2NT - 3D - 3H - 4C, opener can cue 4D with a good hand for clubs. It is even better when responder has the red suits.

[Bende]

2NT -
3♣ = Stayman
3♦♥ = Transfer with follow-up: Bid in oM = SI with M, 4m = nat
3♠ = Balanced SI+, asking for five card suit
3NT = To play
4♣♦ = 5+m-4+om, GF+
4♥♠ = 6+M, SI
4NT = SI, typically 4333

2NT - 3♣;
3♦ = No major
...3♥♠ = 5M-4oM, GF+
...4♣♦ = 6+m, SI+
3♥ = 4-5♥, at most 3♠
...3♠ = 4+♥, SI
...4♣♦ = 6+m, SI+
3♠ = 4-5♠, at most 3♥
...4♣♦ = 6+m, SI+
...4♥ = 4+♠, SI
3NT = Both majors
...4♣ = 6+♣, SI+
...4♦♥ = Transfer
 4♠ = 6+♦, SI+

2NT - 3♠;
3NT = No five card suit
...4x = Four card suit; suits are bid up the line and 4NT used when we run out of suits. With a fit for bid suit, the number of aces according to RKCB can be shown by a bid at the five level.
4x = Five card suit
...4NT = Natural
...5x = Number of aces according to RKCB

[gnasher]

3♣ = 4-4 majors or longer, or balanced slam try with 4 spades. Then:
- 3♦ = no major. Then Smolen; responder's 4m = 4 spades + 4m.
- 3♥ = 4 hearts only. Then 3♠ = slam try for hearts 4m = 4 spades + 4m
- 3♠ = 4 spades only.
- 3NT/4♣ = Both majors, splitting the range. Then responder's bids are transfers.

3♦ = 5 hearts, or 4 hearts in a raise to 3NT, or 4 hearts in a balanced slam try. Then after 3♥:
- 3♠ = 4 hearts only. Subsequent 4m = 4-4 balanced slam try
- Others = 5 hearts, natural

3♥ = 5 spades

3♠ = raise to 3NT, or 5m-4M, or both minors (possibly 4-4), or 5m332 slam try. Forces 3NT, then:
- 4♣ = diamonds, forces 4♦, then 4♥/♠/NT as below
- 4♦ = minors
- 4♥ = 5 clubs + 4 spades
- 4♠ = 5 clubs + 4 hearts
- 4NT = 5C332 slam try

3NT = 4 spades, choice of games

4♣/♦/♥/♠ = one-suited slam try in ♥/♠/♣/♦


That covers all the two-suiters and all balanced hands (including 5332s). Three-suiters have to be bid like balanced hands.

The advantages are:
- You never give away unnecessary information about opener's hand
- On game hands opener always plays it.
The disadvantages are:
- They can double 2NT-3♠ or 2NT-3♦;3♥-3♠ for a lead
- With both minors, we get to 4♦ without knowing responder's exact lengths.

[NickToll]

3♣ relay for majors
. 3♦ one or both 4card majors -> 3♥♠ the other major - with both majors responder rebids 3♠-then-4♠, game hand, or 3♠-then-4♥, slam invitation
. 3♥ no 4- or 5card major -> 3♠ five spades and four or more hearts
. 3♠ five spades -> 4♥ spade fit, slam invitation
. 3NT five hearts -> 4♦ transfer to hearts, 4♥ slam invitation

3♦♥ transfer, opener super-accepts (with four cards) jumping to game or bidding a strong suit (3NT if the strong suit is the anchor, to keep retransfer available), responder bids 3♦-then-3♠ with five hearts and four spades

3♠ minor 2suiter, slam try or very unbalanced, opener picks a minor with a fit or bids 3NT otherwise

4♣♦ 1suited slam try in the linked major (4♣=hearts, 4♦=spades), opener denies interest bidding game in responder's suit, otherwise replies with RKCB steps (skipping the negative reply, of course)

4♥♠ 1suited slam try in the linked minor (4♥=clubs, 4♠=diamonds), same as before with 4NT reply as negative

After responding 3♣ or 3♠, a 4♣♦ rebid shows a 5card or longer suit: opener replies with RKCB steps, skipping 4NT as negative. After 2NT - 3♣ - 3NT (hearts), 4♠ is a slam try in diamonds, since 4♦ is needed as transfer. After responding 3♦♥, a 4♣♦ is a natural slam try (no RKCB), opener shows interest in the minor bidding artificially the other major.

[Free]

3♣ relay for Majors (includes 4M 5+m hands)
...3♦ = <4♥, <5♠
...3♥ = 4-5♥, <4♠
...3♠ = 5♠
...3NT = 4-4M

3♦ transfer ♥
...3♥ = 2♥, <5♠
...3NT = 2♥, 5♠
...3♠+ = 3+♥, cue

3♥ transfer ♠
...3♠ = 2♠, <5♥
...3NT = 2♠, 5♥
...4♣+ = 3+♠, cue

3♠ puppet to 3NT, signoff or strong hand with both minors

3NT = transfer ♣ (any strength) - yeah yeah dangerous...

4♣ = transfer ♦ (any strength)

4♦ = transfer ♥ (signoff or followed by Kickback RKC/voidwood)

4♥ = transfer ♠ (signoff or followed by RKC/voidwood)

4♠ = both minors, no SI

[peachy]

Auctions starting with a 2NT opener are notoriously difficult with many types of responding hands. No matter what methods are adopted, there always seems to be a hole somewhere... I will be reading suggestions here with interest.

[MTSummit]

3♣: puppet stayman
 3♦: have 4 card major(s)
 3♥/3♠: have 5 card major
 3NT: no 4+ majors

3♦/3♥: transfer, can show SI with new suit

3♠: minor stayman with both minors or weak 6+ diamonds
 3NT: no 4+ minors
 4♣: 4+ clubs, possibly 4 diamonds also
 4♦: 4+ diamonds, denies 4+ clubs

3NT: puppet to 4♣
 after 4♣: pass with weak 6+ clubs or show 3 suits SI by cue the short suit