[Flameous]

We took a load off our strong club opening and switched to unlimited 1♦ opening. (Unlimited in sense that it's below GF)
We used openers rebids as transfers even when it was limited but now we reworked the structure for purposes of differentiating ranges of 10-14, 15-17 and 18+ and keeping open the options for using relays and so on. This will be one lengthy post, but if go trough the trouble of reading it, let me hear your thoughts and places for improvement.
Our 1♦ opening promises 3+♦, unbal hand and 10+ (6+relay points) or 19-21 bal, it has all the hands with 4♦ and longer clubs, although 74s and more extreme you often consider one suited. In a more natural context of unbalanced ♦, you can get more accurate GF sequences in comparison when opener holds 18+ hand.

I will first list many sequences defining the following bids. In the end I will give bidding sequences for showing different hand types as opener assuming responder bids the weakest call (takes a preference/completes a transfer)

1D - 1H (Nat or GF relay)
->
1S = 4+C
1NT = 4S, 10-17 (If 3 card support of hearts, 10-14)
2C = 6+D
2D = 3H, min or 3H, 4S 15-17 or 4H GF or GF 6+D, 3H
2H = 4H, min
2S = 4S, 5+D, GF
2NT = 19-21 Bal
3C = 55+, 15-17
3D = 6+D, no 3H, 15-17
3H = 4H, 15-17
3S = 4H, 6+D, 15-17, 0-1S
3NT = 7+ solid D, with 1-2 tricks on the side
4C = 4H, 6+D, 15-17, C void
4D = 1471, 15-17
4H = 4H, 6+D, 15-17, singleton club


1D - 1H - 1S (4+C)
->
1NT = GF relay
2C/D = pref
2H = 6+H, 8-11
2S = 5+H, 4+C, inv+
2NT = Nat inv
3C/D = Nat inv (45+)
3H = Nat inv

1D - 1H - 2C (6+D)
->
2D = Pref
2H = 6+H, 8-11
2S = GF relay
2NT = nat inv
3C/D = Nat inv
3H = Nat inv
3S = Splinter
3NT = To play

1D - 1H - 2D (3H min or 4H GF or 3H, 6+D GF)
->
2H = Min, 4-5H
2S = GF relay
2NT = Nat inv
3C/D = Short suit inv
3H = General inv
3S = splinter
3NT = To play


1D - 1H - 1S - 2C/D (Min, preference, with 32 in minors, pref clubs)
->
2D = 64 minors, min
2H = 3H, (54) minors, 15-17
2S = 4135/4144/4045/4054, 18+
2NT = Invite with longer D
3C = nat invite
3D = Both minors with doubt about 3NT (no spade stopper or 3H), 18+
3H = 55+ minors, 18+
3S = 46+ minors, 18+
3NT = to play


1D - 1H - 2C - 2D (Min, preference)
->
2H = 3H, 6+D, 15-17
2S = 4!S, 6+!D, 15-17
2NT = Inv with bad Ds
3C = 64 minors, 15-17
3D = 6+D, 18+ (With shortness?)
3H = 6+D, 18+ (Without shortness?)
3S = 64 minors, 18+
3NT = 7+ solid Ds with more on the side than direct 3NT


1D - 1H - 2D - 2H (Min, 4-5H)
->
2S = 4351/4360, 15-17
2NT = 4H, no shortness (2452)
3C = 4H, spade shortness
3D = 6+D, 3H, 18+
3H = 3451
3S = 2461
3NT = 3460
4C = 2470
4D = 1471


1D - 1S
->
1NT = 4+C
2C = 6+D
2D = 4H5+D, 10-17 (If 6D, 10-14)
2H = 3S min or 4S GF or 4H5+D 18+ or 3S, 6+D 18+ (This is a bit cramped bid which is the cost of making 2D NF)

So to the all the wonderful things you can show:

1. Hands with support:
Min with 3 card support: Transfer to partners suit and pass
Min with 4 card support: Direct raise
Medium with 3 card support: Make a describing transfer bid before raising partner (With the exception of 4351/4360 you transfer to hearts and bid spades)
Medium with 4 card support: Without 6 card suit, raise to 3. With 6+D, splinter.
GF with 4 card support: Transfer to partners suit and splinter/some other descriptive bid
GF with 3 card support and 6+D: Transfer to partners suit and bid diamonds.
GF with 3 card support and both minors: Transfer to clubs and bid 3D to show doubt about 3NT which might be due 3 card support or lack of stopper in oM

2. Hands with both minors:
Min hand with (54), 55 or 46+ minors: Transfer to clubs and pass the preference
Min hand with 6+4 minors: Transfer to clubs and bid 2D over 2C preference
Medium with 55 minors: Rebid 3C
Medium with 46 minors: Transfer to clubs and bid 3C
Medium with 64 minors: Transfer to diamonds and bid 3C
Medium+ with (54) minors: Transfer to clubs and bid 2NT (Denies 3 card support for major)
GF with 55+ minors: Transfer to clubs and rebid 3H (With wilder shapes you can bid 4m)
GF with 64 minors: Transfer to diamonds and rebid 3S
GF with 46 minors: Transfer to clubs and rebid 3S
GF with (54) minors: Transfer to clubs and rebid 3NT or 3D to show doubt about 3NT

3. Singlesuited diamond hands: (These deny 3 card support)
Min hand with long diamonds: Transfer to diamonds and pass (With 3 card support you can opt which one you prefer to show)
Medium hand with good long diamonds: Rebid 3D
Medium hand with bad long diamonds: Transfer to diamonds and rebid 2NT
GF hand with long diamonds and shortness: Transfer to D and rebid 3D
GF hand with long diamonds and no shortness: Transfer to D and rebid 3H
Solid 7+ diamond suit with just something little on the side: Rebid 3NT
Solid 7+ diamond suit with more stuff on the side: Transfer to D and rebid 3NT

4. Hands with other major:
Over 1H:
Bid 1NT with any 10-14 and 15-17 unless 3 card heart support or 6+D
Medium 4351/4360: Transfer to hearts and bid spades
Medium 4S6+D: Transfer to diamonds and bid spades
GF 4135/4144/4045/4054: Transfer to clubs and bid spades
GF, 4S and no clubs: Jump to 2S

Over 1S:
With any min or medium 45 reds: Rebid 2D (With 1444 min you can try 2D or just transfer to clubs and pass the pref and hope for the best)
With medium 46+ reds: Transfer to D and rebid 2H
With GF 1444/0445/0454/1453: Transfer to C and rebid 2H
With other GFs: Transfer to spades and try to untangle it with appropriate rebid then.


There it pretty much is, hope you enjoyed and got some great ideas how I can maybe improve on this. I think it's a great improvement on the second best thing Gazzilli.

[Free]

I haven't read everything, just quickly the first part, and it looks interesting. I'll look at the rest later. 1 quick question at the moment: your 1♦ opening is unlimited but below GF, but is it forcing or not?

[Flameous]

Not forcing, though we maybe strain to respond bit more lightly than some natural systems. Any unbal ♦ hand you'd open 2♣ in natural system is opened 1♣.

This structure is indeed easily adjusted to any system (natural or not) that just plays 1♦ opening unbalanced, ie. natural with balanced club or polish club. It assumes though that you open all 5M6d hands with 1M. I'm not sure if it would be possible to work those freaks in this system and I don't really care to even try.

[benlessard]

We are playing something similar for quite a while. Our 1D is 4 unbalanced 11-23. Ill keep the meaning of your bid for comparaison

1D - 1H (Nat or GF relay)---------------------------------------------------- US its hearts or 9+ (inv are great to put here) or S+D fit

1S = 4+C ---------------------------------------------------------------------idem non GF 1444,0454,0445 are there too.
1NT = 4S, 10-17 (If 3 card support of hearts, 10-14)-------------------------- 6D any strenght or 12-14 with 4H (without 4C)
2C = 6+D (us its spades 12-14 or GF)
2D = 3H, min or 3H, 4S 15-17 or 4H GF or GF 6+D, 3Hs --------------------------its D+S 15-17
2H = 4H, min------------------------------------------------------------------ its 15-17
2S = 4S, 5+D, GF ------------------------------------------------------------- us its short S H+D GF
the rest is for us is patterning

2NT = 2452
3C = 3451
3D = 2551 (doesnt exist so show 4441)
3H = 2461
3S = 3550 (doesnt exist so show 4450
3Nt = 3460
-------------------------------
1D - 1H - 1S (4+C)
->
1NT = GF relay ----------------------------------------------------------------(unclear pref 33,23 22 in the m) or 9+
2C/D = pref --------------------------------------------------------------------(idem limited to 8pts)
2H = 6+H, 8-11 -----------------------------------------------------------------(6H but 5-8)
2S = 5+H, 4+C, inv+
2NT = Nat inv
3C/D = Nat inv (45+)
3H = Nat inv

--------------------------------------------------
1D - 1H - 2D (3H min or 4H GF or 3H, 6+D GF) -----here the 2D show 15-17 with 5D+4S
->
-----------------------------pass is pref
2H = Min, 4-5H ------------- GF relay
2S = GF relay----------------pref
2NT = Nat inv----------------rest is void showing (no inv is necessary)
3C/D = Short suit inv
3H = General inv
3S = splinter
3NT = To play

--------------------------------------------------------
1D - 1H - 1S - 2C/D (Min, preference, with 32 in minors, pref clubs)
->
2D = 64 minors, min
2H = 3H, (54) minors, 15-17
2S = 4135/4144/4045/4054, 18+
2NT = Invite with longer D
3C = nat invite
3D = Both minors with doubt about 3NT (no spade stopper or 3H), 18+
3H = 55+ minors, 18+
3S = 46+ minors, 18+
3NT = to play

here since we know the preference is under 9 pts. any bid by opener is GF describing a shape.

first step is showing 5C
2nd step is denying 5C and showing high short
3nd is 2254
4th and higher is low short.

random 6-8 pts vs GF 2155

1D--1H
1S--2C (pref)
2D (5C GF)---2H
???

2S = high short
2Nt = 2245
3C = 3145
3D = 2155
3H = 2146 (doesnt exist so 4045)
3S - 3055
3NNt - 1165
4C = 2065

-----------------------------------------------------

Annother important seq for us

1D--1H---1S---1NT (GF or weak unnclear pref allow us to play in the better partscore is responder is 22/23/33 in the m its also allow us to fing H fit if opener is ?444 type)

2C = 5C not 4H
2D = not 5C not 4H (so always 5/6D+4C)
2H = 4H (so 1444,0454 or 0445) 12-17
2S is GF with 5C
rest is usual pattening.

-------------------------------------------

1D - 1S
->
1NT = 4+C --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IDEM
2C = 6+D ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IDEM
2D = 4H5+D, 10-17 (If 6D, 10-14)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IDEM
2H = 3S min or 4S GF or 4H5+D 18+ or 3S, 6+D 18+ (This is a bit cramped bid which is the cost of making 2D NF)----------min raise or GF raise
2S ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15-17 RAISE


Basically what we are losing is a 3 cd raise.
only superchart cause it has non GF relays
slightly more vulnearble to preemption since 1D--1H could be 4342 with 7 pts or many 9-11 pts hands

What we are gaining is a huge relay structure for GF.
no need for invite bids. RArely play 3 level partscore (only when x444 shapes vs inv hand) .
1D--1S show 5 (could be 4 if with 6 clubs)
Much better description all over the map.



In similar setup (unbalanced D, art bidding is allowed) the things i know for sure.

1D--1H should be a relay OBVIOUS

people play too much partscore at the 3 level for no good reasons

1D---1H relay---1S (should show clubs not obvious at first but obvious when you start playing it)

1D---1H---1Nt should show 6D or a H raise or at least 3H.

range should be splitted so you dont need invites.

Things im fairly convinced

1D---1H----2D should show spades
1D---1H----2H should show hearts

1D---1H----1S----1N as asking wich m is longer (or do you have 5c) is great even when not GF
Bidding minors slams/games is the easiest way to beat strong teams.
Range like 12-14 or GF / 15-17 is better than

min // 15+

If you have a set of boards to bid ill be happy to bid them.

[benlessard]

Some ideas behind our system.

if responder has an invite and opener is minimum we play at the 2 level.

opener is min with DS

1D--1H
2C(DS min or GF) --pref
pass

6D

1D---1H
1NT--2C (inv or GF)
2D min

D+H

1D 1h
1Nt 2C
2H = min

D+C

1D 1H
1S 1Nt (inv or no pref)
2C (5 of them) -- 2D/3C are inv here
pass

If openener is 18-23 he can make 2 natural bid before reaching the 3 level instead of jumpshifting

2164 become

1d-1h
1S-2C (pref)
??

2D is step 1 (showing 5C)
2H is low short
2S is 2254
rest is high short.

so 2H---2S ask
2Nt = 3154
3C = 2164

When responder has a GF the cheapest bid that is not a preference is inv/GF

1D--1H
2D (D+S) ---2H is gf relay

1D--1H
1S(D+C)---1Nt = relay

1D---1H
1NT (6D)---2C is relay

after the 2nd relay a further bid setup GF or is inv.