DONT and CAPP

[TheoKole]

ArcLight said

 

" I'm sure you've noticed in this day and age, a 2 ♣ overcall provides zero preemption to practiced opponents (they ignore it) and a 2 ♦ overcall doesn't get you much more.

 

 

How as the partner of the 1NT bidder how do you deal with the opponents bid of:

 

 

2♣ ? Double for Stayman? What about penalizing Clubs?

 

2♦? Doesn't that kill of Jacoby transfers? What do you do over 2 Diamonds?"

 

 

My regular partner and I play Lebenshoel (correct spelling?) over 1 or 2 suit overcallers.

 

Double is for penalty

 

2 ♥ and 2 ♠ are for passing and 3 ♣ and 3 ♦ directly are forcing,

2NT forces 3 ♣ which can be passed or corrected to 3 ♦ for passing,

 

the rest is a bit complicated: :)

 

2NT -> 3 ♣ -> 3 ♥ or 3 ♠ is inviting to game

 

(the rest is with the idea Slow Shows stoppers)

1NT -> (2X) -> 3X is stayman without a stopper for NT

1NT -> (2X) -> 2NT -> 3♣ -> 3X is stayman with a stopper for NT

1NT -> (2X) -> 3NT is points for game without a stopper

1NT -> (2X) -> 2NT -> 3 ♣ -> 3NT is points for game with a stopper

 

Over 1NT -> 2 ♣-> (double) it is very complicated

 

Redouble shows a willingness to play there with no 4 card major and good 5+ ♣with good spot cards

 

Without a club stopper NT bidder passes for the time being

2 ♦ shows no 4 card major and clubs stopped but not good enough for redouble

2 ♥ and 2 ♠ shows 4 card majors with at least 1 club stopper

Resonder bids as he normally would after these responses

 

If NT bidder passes without a club stopper, responder can redouble to say basically (answer my stayman question) and bidding goes naturally from there

 

If resonder bids 3 clubs he shows half a stopper and if he bids NT a full stopper

 

I know this system is very complicated but we found that after various mishaps, that the opponents were getting away with murder on their overcalls because we didn't have a system to combat them.

 

After a few 2 ♣ redoubled + 3 contracts ;) ( I LOVE that part of the convention), most of the opps remembered the last time they tried a double for a lead and they became pussycats again :) )

 

The system needs a lot of practice and total agreement to avoid accidents but in the long run, it is worth it.

 

Theo

[TheoKole]

By the way, if the overcaller is less than 3♦, then Texas transfers are still in affect as resonder will be making a jump bid.

 

*************

For 3 diamond overcallers and up, most bids are natural- 3 ♥ or 3 ♠ with a 5 card suit.

 

4X of overcallers suit for takeout (promises 4 cards in unbid majors)

4 ♥ and 4 ♠ to play

 

If opponents double a Jacoby transer then NT bidder accepts the transfer immediately with 3+ cards in the suit and a stopper in their suit or super accepts with 4+ cards in your suit and at least 1 stopper in theirs.

 

If the NT bidder passes then it means that he has less than 3 cards in responders suit or is without a stopper in their suit. Responder redoubles to tell NT bidder to accept the transfer and NT bidder responds as follows:

 

2NT - stoppers in their suit maximum (2 cards in your suit) (if responder is weak he responds 3 of their suit for transfer to probably pass at the 3 level)

 

2X - minimum or maximum with 2 or 3 card support or without a stopper in their suit

3X - super accepting maximum with 4 card support without a stopper in their suit

 

Again this system is complicated but it just about covers all the bases

 

Cheers

Theo