[inquiry]

Your parner opens 1C and you hold,

♠ A K Q J T x x
♥ x x
♦ x x
♣ x x

What do you bid?

Same auction, but you hold,
♠ x x
♥ x x
♦ K Q T 9 5 4 3 2
♣ x

What do you bid?

I hate preempting to the four level in a minor, especially when partner has an opening hand of unknown quality. Maybe 3NT is the best spot, and a 4♦ bid on the second hand just missed it. And what about the first hand? How do you convey this beautiful suit and nothing else of value. Do you bid 1♠ followed by 4♠?

The solution to this is, if you agree preempting to four of a minor over partners opening bid is not a good idea is to use both 4♣ and 4♦ to show the first hand type, clubs shows hearts and diamonds show spades.

The requirement here are.

A solid major (AKQJ) of seven cards
No side ACE or KING

Over the jump, partner can signoff in the major, bid slam if appropriate, bid any suit side suit above 4M to ask for number of cards in that suit (4NT ask for the suit between responders jump and the major), or bid the inbetween suit to ask if opener holds any singleton or void. Responder bids the suit swith the shortness in that case.

Over the new suit ask by opener, first step 3 (or more), 2nd step doubleton, 3rd step singleton, 4th step, void.

This doesn't come up much, but if you are like me and don't want to preempt partner with 4m, there is no real reason not to play it. And when you don't use this rare bid, choosing instead an auction like 1m-1M-1x-4M for lack of a solid suit, it clarifies these other, more common auction.

To simplify, you can lose the new suit ask, and just play the asking bid the "inbetween" suit. Or if you like to force to 4M with a suit like AQJTxxx or KQJxxxx plus a side ACE (and now inbetween suit ask for side ace). I am torn between which way is the best way.

Ben

[whereagles]

Idea seems good, though I doubt it will become popular.

Incidently, 1st hand has 12 cards

[helene_t]

Good idea.

A compromise: Play 4 of the other minor as a constructive preempt in either major, then 4 of opener's minor is still preemptive.

[pclayton]

My teammates use a similar treatment. Works especially well in a weak NT structure which they play, since it allows you to right side the major after a minor opening.

Dunno though, on the 1st hand I'd try real hard to get to 3N with those doubletons and 7 tricks.

Needless to say this can be played in competition too.