Yes, if you see this as worth a game forcing 2/1 then there is no problem. You can still get to the problem by weakening the hand slightly. Change the !CK to a Q or J or whatever is needed so that you look at the hand and decide that it is almost but not quite good enough for a game force. As you can see, even if the
were the 3, you can make 4
here, but it helps that partner has
Axx. At any rate, weaken the hand so that wherever you think you are willing to make a game forcing 2/1, the hand you hold is just slightly weaker. You want to invite not force, and you want to invite in hearts, how do you do it? The bots and BWS bid a direct 3
.
So that's the problem that I have in mind: Assume that you have a hand so that you want to invite 4
but it is not strong enough to force to game. How do you invite 4
? The bot/BWS approach has its merits, but I am sure not everyone does it that way, hence the post. I looked around a bit in Bergen and I did not see how he handles this. I am pretty sure that some would start with 1 NT intending to bid 3
, invitational, with the hand that they regarded as almost but not quite game forcing. Those that are deemed worthy of a game forcing 2
are easy, just as you say. You bid 2
.
Maybe someone will come up with a reference. Right now, the bots and BWS are all I have for references.
I presented the hand as it is because I agree with the bot's assessment that it is only worthy of an invitation (and not worthy of going on after the raise to 4
). But the hand can still illustrate a problem just by weakening it a bit.