[bluecalm]

Quote

So, if 5143 is such a problem after 1♥ - 1♠ // 2♣ (assuming that 2♠ is the game force), why not play 2♦ there shows exactly 5♠ and an invitational hand. Then the auction can proceed smoothly and can stop in 2M.

Because it's useful to have natural 4th suit ? By "natural" I mean a hand which doesn't have 4th suit stopper. For example:

AKxx xx xxx AKxx

1H - 1S
2C - ???

You want to bid 2♦ here. You also want to bid it with Axx/Kxx of diamonds to make partner bid NT.
Also 2♠ is natural here, even if game forcing. Sometimes you don't get dealt 5+spades.

Quote

I was wondering if then 1H-1S, 2C-2D was to play.

Some hands where Meckwell bid 2D:

['VERSACE Al', 'RODWELL Er', 'LAURIA Lor', 'MECKSTROTH']
('4.AK843.543.AT92', 'AQ875.9.AT82.K85')
p 1H p 1S
p 2C p 2D
p 2H p 3N
p p p p

['Alan Sontag', 'Jeff Meckstroth', 'Peter Weichsel', 'Eric Rodwell']
('Q.J9843.AQ9.K762', 'AKJ73.7.JT52.AT5')
1H p 1S p
2C p 2D p
2N p 3N p
p p p p

['Rodwell', 'Branco', 'Meckstroth', 'Chagas']
('A7.J8743.2.AQ987', 'KQT9543.A.A.T542')
p 1H p 1S
p 2C p 2D
p 3C p 4C
p 4D p 4H
p 5D p 6C
p p p p

['Rodwell', 'Versace', 'Meckstroth', 'Lauria']
('K3.KQT73.A9.JT32', 'QT862.A5.62.AQ95')
1H p 1S p
2C p 2D p
2N p 3N p
p p p p

['Meckstroth', 'Eisenberg', 'Rodwell', 'Hayden']
('8.AJT87.K75.KQ97', 'AJ943.642.A2.AT4')
p 1H p 1S
p 2C p 2D
p 2N p 4H
p p p p

As to 2♠:

['Weinstein', 'Rodwell', 'Garner', 'Meckstroth']
('T5.AT976.AKQ7.T3', 'KQJ973.K83.4.AJ2')
p 1H p 1S
p 2D p 2S
p 2N p 3H
p 3S p 4H
p 4S p p
p

['Meckstroth', 'Stansby', 'Rodwell', 'Martel']
('Q7.KQJ32.KQJT9.3', 'AJT98653.5.A.T92')
1H p 1S p
2D p 2S p
3C p 3S p
4C d p p
r p 4D p
4H p 4N p
5C p 5H p
6C p 6S p
p p

['Meckstroth', 'Westerhof', 'Rodwell', 'Jansen']
('K72.A9743.AKJ6.2', 'AT9863.Q2.Q4.KQ5')
p 1H p 1S
p 2D p 2S
p 3S p 4D
p 4H p 4S
p p p

So it's forcing and probably 6+ spades.

[straube]

I would think with AKxx xx xxx AKxx that they'd start with 2C.

All of your examples of 1H-1S, 2C-2D sequences show responder having 5 or more spades. I'm guessing that...

1H-1S, 2C-2D is GF and consequently promises a 5th spade (with only 4 they make a 2/1 first).

1H-1S, 2C-2S is GI with six spades

1H-1S, 2D-2S is GF and consequently promises a 5th spade.

[bluecalm]

Yeah, probably. Unfortunately vugraph archives has only so much of Meckwell hands and we will not know unless they play more :-)

[Siegmund]

Just out of curiosity... the forum has refused 3 days in a row to let me download the attachment at the head of this thread - in both IE and Firefo - but the number of downloads keeps increasing. Is it just me? Is the document available anywhere else?

[glen]

 Siegmund, on 2011-March-27, 18:19, said:

Just out of curiosity... the forum has refused 3 days in a row to let me download the attachment at the head of this thread - in both IE and Firefo - but the number of downloads keeps increasing. Is it just me? Is the document available anywhere else?

I don't get a refused message, I get "We could not find the attachment you were attempting to view."

[awm]

Part of why I posted the attachment was to see if that functionality works on the new forums. Seems a bit iffy.

Anyway, the same file is available from my website.