New (improved?) MisIry

MishoVnBg has expressed an interest in a version of MisIry where 2NT is a transfer to 3♣ and weak, or a strong two suiter without clubs and with hearts.

I have resisted this change for a couple of reasons. Primarily because I didn't want to give up a natural 2NT that the entire field was playing, and because I didn't want to mess with the meaning of other bids in the system to adjust for the loss of the bid that describes a balanced 20 to 21.

Yesterday, while studying yet more MisIry hands (some posted here), I realized that Misho is right. Starting with 2NT GREATLY simplifies MisIry, and with the new features added to Inquiry 2over1 nothing is loss by doing this.

The traditional strong 2NT hands are opened 1 of better minor, and then use 3NT rebid (or if possible 2NT showing major raise). So that, 1C-1D-3NT is balanced 20-21 without four card major. With 4 card major, jump shift to the major then blast 3NT. It is not optimal in some sense (because weaker partner will declarer major suit fits after 1m-1M, but who knows, this might turn out ok.

Here is a couple example hands why New MisIry is better

MP-1                    Dlr: West
Board 129   S 43        Vul: None
            H T432
            D 8
S Q8        C JT7654    S JT97
H Q9865                 H KJ
D KT5                   D 7632
C A83       S AK652     C K92
            H A7
            D AQJ94
            C Q

02-Jan-00  5:49:39 PM Duration 05:40
NEW MISIRY
North    East     South    West
Pass     Pass     Pass     3D
Pass     3H       Pass     3S
Pass     Pass     Pass

OLD MISIRY
Same, but North would feel guilty about
passing since partner might have same
hand with spade queen-Jack (3 loser)

 =======================================
  # Contr   Ld  Decl     Tr  Score   Pts
 =======================================
  1 4SX   W H6  dbldummy  8  -300   0.00
  2 3N    W H6  brigby    4  -250   0.97
  3 3N    W SQ  neiderp1  5  -200   2.43
  4 5C    W H9  callie    7  -200   2.43
  5 3N    W H6  cj1       6  -150   5.83
  8 4S    W H5  NLilja    7  -150   5.83
  9 5S    W SQ  irmrob    8  -150   5.83
 10 2N    W D5  skydi     6  -100  15.05
 11 3D    W H6  aladam    7  -100  15.05
 12 3S    W DT  Bobbie1   7  -100  15.05
 22 4S    W H6  R_Jacobs  8  -100  15.05
 23 5S    W CA  TERRY99   9  -100  15.05
 24 2N    W H5  chaps     7   -50  31.55
 28 3D    W H6  robkat    8   -50  31.55
 31 3S    W H6  blueboot  8   -50  31.55
 32 3N    E HK  SteveS    8   -50  31.55
 33 4D    W H5  mwinc     9   -50  31.55
 42 4S    W CA  tobym     9   -50  31.55
 43 5C    W H5  smilee   10   -50  31.55
 46 1S    W C3  DCT       7    80  43.20
 47 2C    W H6  skleeger  8    90  46.60
 51 2D    W H6  farrel    8    90  46.60
 53 2H    N D8  Roald     6   100  50.00
 69 1S    W H6  Pete_R    8   110  62.62
 70 2D    W H6  Coleys    9   110  62.62
 73 2S    W H6  rtk       8   110  62.62
 77 3D    W CA  Demary    9   110  62.62
 85 1S    W H6  JRMayne   9   140  83.01
 89 2S    W H6  Aruba     9   140  83.01
 95 3S    W H6  MR1       9   140  83.01
 96 1N    W H6  Lyndia    9   150  92.23
 97 1S    W H5  gl       10   170  93.20
100 4S    W H6  seatbelt 10   420  95.15
102 3N    W H6  ramu     10   430  97.57
104 4SX   W CA  toothman 10   590  99.51



Let's examine a routine hand opposite a new MisIry auction...
You hold...

♠ K 10 4 2
♥ 10 3 2
♦ Q 4
♣ A J 10 5

Bidding
3♦ - 3 ♥
4 ♣ - 4♥
5 ♣ - 6♣

Explanation. 3♦ showed hearts or a strong two suiter with diamonds and without hearts. 4♣ showed three losers, with both minors (3NT would have shown same hand but 4 losers). Responders 4♥ bid denied control in hearts, and suggested something in spades.

Over 4♥ opener can bid 4♠ to ask if spade ACE is held, or he can bid 4NT to ask for distributional queens, or he can bid 5♣ as a warning that spade cover is wasted (or that two heart losers exist). When opener bids 5♣ you simply bid 6&clubs, as you have two covers (diamond queen and club ACE).

If partner had bid 4NT, you would have bid 7♣ as spade king would have been cover then.