My proposed Ekren system

So what's Ekren then? It's a weak two, traditionally bid with 2D. The idea is that you show two four card majors, and ask partner to pick one. Apparently it usually works - like a normal weak two, it's good for passing on some information, stealing the odd contract, making the odd cheap sacrifice and messing up the opposition's bidding.

Anyway, here's my proposal for how it should work given our local set of conventions etc. A bit stronger than usual, but...

To bid 2D, you need:

• 6-12 HCP
• 8 or less losers
• No voids
• 4-5H, 4-5S

Other bids, like normal weak two's in the majors, and weak 1NT, take priority. The 8-loser condition removes about 20% of the times when you'd want to Ekren, but makes it safer, and easier to explore for game. If you have a void, it makes it hard for partner to find an escape, and besides, you'd do better using the void as a nasty surprise in defence.

Responses:

• 2H, 2S: "Shut up partner, I've no game interest, let's play in hearts/spades"
• pass: "Yeep! We're best off in diamonds, I've got 5+ of them, and no 3-card major".
• 3C: "I've got 5, probably 6 clubs, no 3-card major, no game interest"
• 3D (optional): 'Reverse Ekren' - "I'm 3/3 in the majors, 7 losers, opening points. Would you like to play game, or just to settle things at the 3 level?"
• 3H, 3S: "4 of the major, opening points, 7 losers, game interest. Do you have 7 losers too?"
• 4H, 4S: "Shut up partner, we're in game!"
• 2NT (optional): "Now we're cooking with gas! Please bid 3C if you're not interested in game (low-end points, 8L), your shorter major if you're 5/4 so I can cross over, 3D if you're 5/5, and 3NT if you're strong and 4/4. Remember, this is like a 2C opener, turn me down now or it's forcing to game."