This is a proposal for the use of some nomenclature for describing bid types by the suits they show or might show. I broached the idea one evening after a session at my local bridge club. It didn't meet with universal acclaim—more the opposite.
We typically call a bid (such as a Michaels 2♦ overcall of a 1♦ opening or an unusual no trump overcall) that shows two specific suits two‑suited or a two‑suiter. Is there a relatively short way of describing a bid (such as a weak only Multi) that shows one out of two specific suits? (That is, I'm looking for a short way to describe a bid that shows one suit or another suit that won't be confused with a short way to describe a bid that shows one suit and another suit.)
Half‑suited or a half‑suiter is the proposal. The bigger the number, the more specific the hand type is that the bid shows. A particular two‑suiter is more specific than a particular one‑suiter, which in turn is more specific that a particular half‑suiter. (The numbers are just meant for doing comparisons, not arithmetic.)
So, for instance, someone playing Multi‑Landy over the opponents' no trump might describe his 2♣ overcall as a major two‑suiter, and his 2♦ overcall as a major half‑suiter.
Ian Casselton's recent article about "Defence to DBL of 1NT showing a single-suiter" was the prompt. In it there is the phrase "where DBL of an opponents 1NT opening shows one of three or four single-suiters (e.g. DONT, Brozel and similar defences)". My proposal would recast that as "where DBL of an opponents 1NT opening shows a third- or quarter-suiter (e.g. DONT, Brozel and similar defences)".
Opinions?
Benefits include:
Plus... it's free!