5+ - 5+

This convention provides specialised sequences for accurate bidding of hands with 2 suits of 5 or more cards & <7LTC.
♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

There are 6 sequences that BETA provides starting with the opening bid to announce hands with two 5+ card suits. ABSOLUTE MINIMUM SPECIFICATION IS SIMPLY <=6.5LTC.

In BETA the following strong hands are absolutely NEVER to be considered as 5-5+ hands:

Counting LTC of 5-5+ hands

In each suit of 5 or more cards count 1LTC for each A or K or Q missing
Thats up to 3LTC in each of your 5+ cards suits
In each of the short suits:
A Void or singleton A count 0LTC.
Other singletons count 1
Doubletons count 1 for each A or K missing
Tripleton: count 1 for each A,KorQ missing ; count 1 for each missing A or K or Q

Distributions of 5-5-+ side suits

5-5 side suits are 2-1 or 3-0
6-5 side suits are 1-1 or 2-0
6-6   "      "                     1-0

This  tells us that one side suit will be eithe a VOID or a SINGLETON.
We will use this in BETA's 3N inquiry!

Arrival Routes from Opening bid

1♠ or 1♦ opening and a 3♣ rebid with or without a jump! showing 5-5+ in Spades & Clubs or Diamonds & Clubs te: a 2♣ rebid shows 5|4 cards.

Pls Take note that jump responses to the 3 level in a new suit are Break-outs with long suits.
Also: 1mi - 3mi (same minor are also pre-emptive in nature - part of the inverted minor convention.)
Also: 2Ma - 3mi shows 6+ card minor weak also denies Major support
Also: 2♦ - 3mi shows 6+ card minor weak

Remember in BETA that any response in a new suit bid without jump is to be considered forcing for 1 round. [This is BETA's change of suit rule is enforced as we have long abandoned the classical rebid  'reversing values']. Paired with this is the usage of BETA's Forcing Negative Double which we can use freely in our auctions - often asking in the unbid suits.

Arrival routes by means of o'calls
3mi jump overcalls: Not pre-empts  <= 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 fully in control.
Only the responder has the responsibility of choosing the 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 change the denomination.

Responder's 1st decision to be made: 

1stKey decision: Consider if at least game is probable, is there a reasonable possibility of a slam to be bid? If there is: Bid 3NT a key distributional inquiry bid, else bid game directly if that's the limit of the hand as you see it. It could still be better to bid 3N - a direct bid is most suitable when based on distribution more than honour cards. Nevertheless  making a 3NT request in most cases  still makes sense  when  your intention  is  a Major game.

1st Key decision for the Responder: there are 5 options available at this point:
i)   Looking for a minor  game  a  bid of 4 of the minor asks partner to decide  for  the minor game or to PASS
ii)  Bid game in a Major or minor based on distribution to close the bidding quickly.
iii) Close the bidding, short of game, by passing the last bid suit or simply bidding the other suit
iv) Bid 3NT. This is a shape inquiry which is based on the fact that the distribution of the other 2 suits either contains either a void or a singleton.
v)  On very rare occasions neither of partners suits fits well with your hand BUT you hold an 8+ card suit:-  Beta allows you a breakout option to bid your suit - this is rather rare but not impossible!

Before we examine the 3N inquiry  there is another important point to discuss.  This arises when one of the options above closes the bidding as far as the responder is concerned. It is permitted that the opener with additional values/features that are not known to the responder, permits opener to raise the level of responder's  chosen suit (but never the suit!)

Responding to the 3N inquiry:-

Simple!.Its all about losers in the two side suits. ..
Its based on the fact that 5-5 hands have maximum 3 cards in the other suits and these will be distributed 3-0 or 2-1.
If you have a 'void' or singleton ACE:- i.e. NO loser in a side suit:-
Bid 4H if it is in the lower of the two side suits
Bid 4S  "  "  "  "   "   higher "   "    "      "      "
If you have a  'singleton':- that is just 1 loser in a side suit
Bid 4C if it is in the lower of the two side suits
Bid 4D  "  " "  "   "   higher "   "    "      "       "

The responder uses this information to decide to either close the bidding in game or part score straight away or to further investigate the hand with BETA's further inquiry of 4N - nothing to do with Blackwood! convention which is less than useful with hands of extreme distribution.

4N Inquiry can be used when seriously considering a slam as it may not be possible to stop at the 5-level.

4NT Inquiry

This inquiry asks the number of cards beyond the minimum 5-5 that are held  in the 2 principal suits.

Note: Responder should not use BETA's 4N inquiry unless reasonably expecting a 6+ level outcome.

We are aware the distribution of 5-5 hands would be 3-0 | 2-1 in the other 2 suits and the 3N reponse would have concluded  5-5+ hands but we are not aware of 6-5 or 6-6 or 6-7 distributions.
Now a 4N response of 5C tells us distribution is 55[21]or 55[30] or a 5D response: [65][20] [65] 1-1 and the 3N  response would have told us which! Finally 5H response 6-6-[10] or [7-5][10] & 5S a [6-7]00.

5N Inquiry

Note: Can be used on 6-5 or better hands with slam promise

If decision is required between a small or grand slam  a 5N request can help as it asks for losers in the key suits - missing A's, K's or Q's: 6C: 2 missing 6D: 1 missing 6H: none missing!
We would also be aware that the other suits would correspondingly be 1-1 or 2-0 (and in this case we would already be able to distinquise between these configs with the result of the initial 3N inquiry!) or 1-0|0-1 or 0-0 respectfully!
This leaves responder with his final contractual bid!

Regarding combined cards in the 2 main suits: One extra means 6,5,[2-0|1-1] &
two extra means 6-6|7-5[1-0|0-1] & 1 loser in side suit.
3 extra implies  7-6|6-7  & No losers in side suits!
This can be up to 3 cards less. As far as the 2 side suits are concerned is like transfering probable losers to winners!