Strong 1♣ opening, strong 1N response

We have at least 16+13 HCP here, mostly it is enough to find an 8-cards fit to find a playable slam, thus it's useful to raise immediately as soon as someone discovers this, to let the other move towards slam or limit his hand.

Principles, general rules:

• game bidding usually shows flat minimal hand (16-17 / 13-14 HCP), and in case of 3N it shows misfit too
• after splinter bids we don't play our usual continuation, because our strength and fit is enough for the other to ask keycards or to offer a sign-off with a minimal, non-fitting hand.
• usual slambidding is applied only when the (nearly) full distribution of one player was discovered, but it is less frequent here
• but often we can ask for keycards on low levels, when a fit was established, in this case we can ask for queens too
• if we a raised a minor to level 4, it is always ORKC (even if it is bid on level 4 first as a natural bid)
• in case of 4-4-card or 5-3 major fitn even 3N is ORKC!
• 4N without a found fit is usually some extra strength (about 18 or 15) wthout a fit
• if you (about) showed your shape and partner offers a sign off and you decide to bid on then ...
• on NT you show your controls according to CONFI (4k+1, 4k+2 etc.)
• on suit you show your keycards according to RKC (and don't ask!)
• if the balanced opener bids 3N on a shape-relay which shows extra (we have 20 + 13 HCP at least) then each suit bid is RKC in the named suit

• 2♣: balanced hand 18+ HCP if we play strong NT (May have 2-2-4-5 (other 5-4s not), can't have 5m4M-22 or 5M-332 or 4-4 majors)
• 2♦: 4+ ♥, any other suit can be longer. (44M-32, 5♥-332 or unbalanced hand)
• 2♥: 4+ ♠, denies 4+ ♥, but may have longer minor. (5♠-332 or unbalanced hand
• 2♠: 1-suiter 6+ ♣ or 5♣-4♦-31. On this:
  • S1: relay, 3♣ = 5♣-4♦-3-1, 3♦: 6+♣, no shortness (shape known), the rest shows shortness with 6+ ♣ (with a strong hand we bid 4♣, instead of 3N, and continue with Kickback)
  • L2: 4-cards fit, shortness ask, then CYS or ORKC
  • 3M: NAT, 5-cards suit, looking for 3-cards fit (with 6 you'd better ask)
  • 3N: 4-4-4-1, weak
• 2N: one-suiter 6+ ♦. Same bids as with ♣, but it cannot be 5431 here.
• 3♣: 55+ minors (according to the 2-suiter scheme)
• 3♦...3N: 5♦-4♣ according to the 2-suiter scheme (3♠ = 18-19, 3N = 20+ (Responder names trumps, which is RKC)

• 2♦: Relay, can be bid with anything, and with a lot of hands we can bid only this one. (you may bit other with : 5+ ♠, 6+ ♣/♦ and shortness, 54+ ♣♦ with shortness). Now:
  • 2♥: 4-card ♥ (later 3♣...3N, as after 2♠), or minors (later 2N, on further relayre 3♦ = 2-2-4-5, 3M = doubleton) 3♣...3N: 4-card ♥, as with ♠
  • 2♠: 4-card ♠. S1-re 3♣ = 4-card ♣, 3♦ = 4333, 3♥♠ = 4-card ♦, Lo/Hi doubleton
  • 2N...3N: as on mini 1N-2♣
• 2♥: 5+ ♠, sholud be bid with a shortness (without that you'd better ask opener's shape and strength).
  Continuation is similar to 1♦-1♠-1N-2M, i.e. S1 = doubleton support (NAT on this), S2 = 3-cards fit, S3 = 4-cards fit (SPL on S23, which followed by S1 = RKC, or 4♠ = weak misfit)
• 2♠...3♥: as from opener, but always promises a shortness (asks without it)

with 4+ support we bid 3M or SPL, with 3-card support 2♥, the rest denies even 3-cards support:

• 2♥: exactly 3-card ♥
• 2♠: 4+ ♠. On it: 2N = 3-card ♠, 3m: NAT (4+), 0-2♠, 3♥: 6+, 3N = 2-5-3-3
• 2N: 44+ minor, 0-2 ♥, 0-3 ♠. Now 3m: 4+ suit, ORKC, 3♥: 6+ ♥, 3♠: 5+ ♠
• 3m: 5+ suit, other minor is less than 4
• 3♥: 4+ ♥, no shortness. Now 3N = ORKC(♥), new suit: shortness, Responder can ask with S1 (or bid 4♥, which is weak misfit)
• jump shift: 4+ ♥, SPL. Now S1 = RKC(♥), 4♥ = weak misfit
• 3N: 4-1-4-4, 13-14 HCP, usual slam bidding

with 4+ support we bid 3M or SPL, with 3-card support 2♠, the rest denies 3-card support:

• 2♠: exactly 3-card ♠
• 2N: 0-2 ♠, 44+ in two other suits or 2-5-3-3. NAT continuation, i.e. 3m = 4+ suit, 3♥ = 3-card ♥, 3♠ = 6-card ♠ (in this order - if you omit a step, you don't have that)
• 3m: 5+ suit, other minor is less than 4
• 3♥: 6+ ♥, no 4-card minor
• 3♠: 4+ ♠, no shortness. Now 3N = ORKC(♠), new suit: shortness, and Responder can ask with S1-gyel (oe bid 4♠, which is weak misfit)
• jump shift: 4+ ♠, SPL. Now S1 = RKC(♠), 4M = weak misfit
• 3N: 1-4-4-4, 13-14 HCP, usual slam bidding

• 2♠: 4+ ♠ If later bids 3♥ that is 5-cards, just tried to find a 4-4 fit. Now:
  • 2N: 3-cards ♠
  • 3m: 5+ suit, 0-2 ♠
  • 3♥: 2-3-4-4 usual slam bidding
  • 3♠: 4+ ♠, no shortness (3N = ORKC(♠), new suit = SPL)
  • 4m: 4+ ♠, SPL
• 2N: 5+ ♣, only 4-card major. Now 3♣ = 3+ fit, ORKC
• 3♣: 5+ ♦, only 4-card major. Now 3♦ = 3+ fit, ORKC
• 3♦: 4441, singleton in the other major, usual slam bidding
• 3M: 5+ M, asks for (relay)cue bidding
• 3N: ORKC(M)
• 3oM, 4♣♦: 5+ major, SPL. Now 4M = weak misfit, other S1 = RKC