Finding major fits and stoppers after multi

[BGN]

Does anyone have a good suggestion about how to proceed after say (2D = weak 2H or weak 2S) from LHO, 3C from pard, pass from RHO?

The problem is of course that you would like to be able to show a five card major if you have one, but ask for major suit stoppers in opener's probable suit ... when you don't know what his suit is!!

Maybe this is a good problem for simulation?

[Nigel]

We discussed this, partner calls 3D, and then you bid where your values are, initially treating the 3D bid as natural. After 2D, 3D overcall, there is no solution.
Nigel :eek:

[Kieran]

The quick solution is that after (Multi 2D)-3m overcall, 3M does double duty - as a cue raise with a stopper or as a suit. (The cue raise will revert to overcaller's minor if raised). After a 3H advance, opener can bid 3NT with something in spades, or bid 3S to check for a spade stopper.

It's imperfect, but it does some of the job of a cue raise, much of the job of a stopper ask, and can sometimes reach 4M.

[zol]

When I played with Richard J, he told me that the Poles use a technique which seems to work.
They designate the multi as a weak 2 in Ss and all subsequent bidding is on that basis. I played it with Richard and it seemed to be OK (small sample size to be fair)

[HughG]

The two cases of a 3C overcall and a 3D overcall are significantly different as Nigel suggests. In the case of 3C there is much less problem - 3D asks partner to clarify stoppers, 3M is natural. Over 3D overcall advancer has less options. 3M probably needs to be two-way either natural or stopper showing. When stopper showing it needs to have some support for overcaller's minor since overcaller may raise.

I discussed this with Pepsi. He says that they treat the multi as showing spades only in the first instance - double is TO of spades, pass then double is takeout of hearts. However after the first double all suit bids including spades are natural (except 3D if it goes 2D-X-Pass since you would pass with diamonds). In the given auction where partner has overcalled they do not presume the suit to be S, they play pretty much as above.
HG