Martel-Stansby
2NT as game-forcing major raise
Note also that it is useful to think of the opening bidder's hand as being split into three ranges of points (including distribution):
very minimum (12-15),
middle (16-17) and
strong (18+).
One frill which might not have been in your version:
After 1M-2N-3C:
3M says that slam is possible if opener has a maximum (minimum) with a stiff.
Without such a hand opener signs off in 4M (thus again giving away no information or giving the
opponents any bids to double).
So here's the system:
UN-PASSED HAND 2NT: Game force, 4-card support; opener assumes balanced but could have a singleton. Opener's re-bids:
3C = Minimum.
3D = No splinter, some extra values, suitable for slam.
3H = Other Major splinter, extra values.
3S = Diamond splinter, extra values.
splinters, steps are high, middle,
3N = Club splinter, extra values low (or high, low if only 2)
4X = 5-card suit to A or K, extra values.
After 1M-2NT-3C, 3D asks.
Opener's re-bids:
3H = some splinter.
3S asks: high, middle, low;
4D = club splinter, slammish,
4H = club splinter, bad.
3S = 6-3-2-2
3N = 5-3-3-2 Not bad for slam.
4C, 4D, 4H/1S = side suit in 5-4-2=2 hand (note that 4-5-2-2 is not possible because of Flannery).
4M = No splinter, bad for slam.
1M-2NT-3C-3M = Slam interest opposite max + splinter. Show splinter (H, M, L) with max
(AKxxx,x,xxx,KQxx) else bid 4M.
After 1M-2NT-3D, 3H asks.
Opener's re-bids:
3S = 6-3-2-2.
3N = 5-3-3-2.
4C, 4D, 4H = side suit in 5-4-2-2 hand (4H after 1H = 4-5-2-2 [Note: too strong for Flannery]
Subsequent cue-bidding normal except early signoffs show unsuitable or minimum hands and do not deny specific controls. 3NT = cue bid similar to DI 4NT. [Note: In general in Martel-Stansby when a major has been agreed and 3NT is not a reasonable contract, a bid of 3NT by either partner shows a hand not entirely unsuited to slam, while a cue-bid shows definite slam interest. This is called "Frivolous 3NT". A similar idea of Rodman is that the cue-bids are "courtesy", while real slam interest is shown by bidding 3NT. This is called "Serious 3NT". -- DV] When opponents compete after 2NT: Ignore double except RDBL to look for penalty. After 1M-(P)-2NT-(3X): P = Shaped minimum, X asks for clarification (opener's 3NT = shaped, no stiff, 4M = 5332, slammish; 3/our M = splinter in opponent's suit). X = penalties (not of 3S). Bid splinter or 3NT with extra (3/our major = splinter in opponent's suit). 4/Major = balanced minimum. 1H-(P)-2NT-(3S): X = stiff spade, 11-15 HCP. 3N = 15+ HCP, no stiff. 4S = stiff, very slammish (15+ HCP).