[pescetom]

Gilithin, on 2021-November-15, 17:04, said:

What is the difference in Italy between an immediate 4NT and 2♠ followed by 4NT? And what do you use a direct 4♠ for if not range ask Baron?

As I said previously, almost nobody in Italy plays Range Ask, most are forced to go through Stayman to make an invite to 3NT. So there is no standard about Range Ask. I was just agreeing that it is a good idea to play it (if you use 2NT as transfer to diamonds) and pointing out a potential weakness.

FWIW in my own system which includes 2♠ Range Ask, we currently leave 1NT 4NT as natural and do not define 1NT 2♠; 2NT 4NT. So it would be possible to differentiate two invites to 6NT or to just use the 2♠ Range Ask, at the expense of memory load and/or mistakes (1NT 2♠; 2NT 3NT is a mild invite to 6♣).

I suggest a natural 1NT 4NT is perfect for beginners It's how to invite to game that is more difficult to recommend, but if we really want people to start with transfers to minors then I guess they need to learn Range Ask too.