5+ - 5+

This convention provides specialised sequences for accurate bidding of hands with 2 suits of 5 or more cards each.
♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

There are 6 sequences that BETA provides starting with the opening bid that describe hands with 5-5 or better distributions. ABSOLUTE MINIMUM SPECIFICATION IS SIMPLY <=7LTC.
LTC count should be made strictly  - follow Harison Gray.
Please note this specfication is somewhat aggressive

In BETA hands conforming to the above specification are NEVER to be opened by either:
Your LTC counts should be made according to the following rules:
In each suit of 5 or more cards count 1 losing trick for each A or K or Q that's missing!
In short suits:
A Void or singleton A count 0.
Other singletons count 1
Doubletons count 1 for each A or K missing
Tripleton: count 3 missing A,K&Q; count 2 missing A or K; count 1 with AKx or AQJ or KQJ;  count 0 with AKQ or AKJ.

Arrival Routes
a) From opening bid. All cases require a maximum of a 7LTC count

You have reached this point with one of the folllowing 6 routes:
  Direct:
 Via a  2♦ Opening and a 3♣ or a 3♦ rebid:  Via a 1♠ or 1♦ opening and a 3♣ rebid with or without a jump!




Ex: 1♥-1♠(P)-2♦(opp)-3♣  Shows 5+ Hearts and 4+ Clubs i.e. Natural 1 round force (Beta's change of suit rule)
Ex:  1♥-1♠(P)-3♣  Shows 5-5 or better in  Hearts & Clubs <7 LTC..

Take note that jump responses to the 3 level in a new suit by partner are mostly Break-outs with long suits. Also: 1mi - 3mi (same minor are also pre-emptive in nature - part of the inverted minor convention.)

Always remember in BETA that any new suit bid without jump is to be considered forcing for 1 round. - This is BETA's change of suit rule. [enforced as we have abandoned requiring 'reversing values']. Paired with this is the usage of BETA's Forcing Negative Double which we can use freely in our auctions - however the doubler needs to be aware that the strength must be present to be adequate to handle the minimum partner has already showed. [this does not apply to Protective Double which is simply illiciting partner's suit.]
Finally when the responding partner rebids a suit: It shows a long suit in a weak hand. This remains true even if his initial response was at the 2level.

b) Shown By overcalls <= 7LTC
c) Shown By 3mi overcalls <= 5LTC
d) Shown by a 1N overcall and 2♥ rebid <= 5LTC
BETA's 55+ convention now Kicks in following any of the above introductory sequences AUTOMATICALLY.

Note: Following all the above sequences showing  5-5 or better the responder is considered to be now: fully in control. This is logical as opener's hand is well described. Responder now must assess his bidding based on how well tthe hands fit.

Opener has promised <=7LTC or  <=5LTC (see above) and responder's JOB is  to  examine the  fit between the hands and decide his  exact number of covers his hand provides while the 5-5 bidder will show his controls after responding to 4N inquiry . 

The responder has the responsibility of choosing the final denomination and level of the final bid. The 5-5 holder is expected to accept this with the possibility ONLY with good reason to increase the level BUT NEVER to change the denomination.

The following text gives an overview of the procedure to follow:-

First Choice to be made: 

Key decision for responder: if at least game is probable,  proceed with BETA's 3NT inquiry bid - a key distributional inquiry. See detail below.
Alternatively responder can select one of his partners suits to play and close the bidding safely at the 3-level or 4-level. However opener may have a lower LTC than the minimum is permitted (that's <7 or <5 depending on the arrival route). It is allowed for the opener to raise the level BUT must never change the suit chosen by his partner.
On very rare occasions neither of partner's suits are supported in your hand BUT you instead you hold a LONG suit in a weak hand of 8+ cards. BETA allows you a breakout option to bid your suit - this will be almost certainly be better than playing in one of partner's suits.

Responding to our 3NT inquiry:  Note the trial period has concluded and based on my learnings these 4 responses now have a very similar but also more informative definition and cater with suprisingly rare intervention - :

Second Key Choice for responder to make follows:

Following the 3N 'shape' inquiry which has determines shape information in the other 2 suits - essentially where the shortage is. information.
This key information gives a strong  insight into how the two hands fit together & critically where responders controls in the other 2 suits fit.

Responder's Choices:

1. If judgement shows 11 tricks is the limit - i.e. Slam unlikely -  Responder needs to close in 5 of his preferred suit. As explained above the 55+ bidder has the ONLY the right to continue to slam if he has other information that's unavailable to his partner otherwise should accept and PASS. However if Responder can contract in a 4-level Major game this would be prefered.
Note: The 55+ hand has the right to re-adjust the contract to a small slam BUT only with good reason... AND must accept the trump suit  as chosen by the responder.
B. Responder 2nd option is simply to bid the small slam. Assuming he has no expectation of a GRAND.
C. Investigate possibility of a grand with a 4N call using the remaining bidding space of the 5 level.

Technically small slams need to be bid with  about a 50% PROBABILITY and grand slam need at least a 75% probability.

Its the actual LTC in the two suits. Initially we are aware that some 55+ are specified with <=7 LTC and others with <=5LTC  

Bid 4N to request a precise LTC correction count from partner if you are confident the total loser tally is <=3.

Responding to our 4N inquiry

This will give you two pieces of further deduction:
These refinements should enable one to make a shrewd decision on chances of a grand etc!

FINAL WORD. This now needs a good workout in the field. We will soon learn the strengths and weaknesses which could lead to further innovation. This is the second specification with considerable experience already taken note of.

Remember a 6 level contract is worth bidding on a known 50%+ chance.
However a 7 level contract needs to be 75+%
If this is follows you will likely to be on firm ground as far as IMP scoring is concerned.

Handling Intervention

On occasions an opponents might intervene. This may lie beyond your intended 3N or 4N asking bid - now a 3N inquiry is announced by a *|**.  Opener replies as normal in 4 steps. Similarly interference blocking a 4N inquiry is signalled by *|**

If opener has  seen a 3N bid or * by his partner and an intervention is made by an opponent the four steps follow BETA usual standards in conventional situations::
Step 1:        PASS
Step 2:        *|**
Step 3        +1
Step 4        +2

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