Defensive bidding notes

[MickyB]

Does anyone know where I can find standardish system notes for defensive bidding? I've had a few misunderstandings in competitive auctions lately (1C-X-1S-2S, 1H-P-2H-3S, 2C-P-P-X, XX-P where 2C was Precision) and want everything documented, but starting from scratch sounds like a mammoth task!

 

TIA

[Free]

I have some notes on the system me and p play. It uses powerdoubles and 2-suited overcalls (44+ hands). It has given us some great possibilities to intervene and find good partscores. The main disadvantage is the powerdouble in contested auctions, but we still manage to find decent contracts most of the time.

[kenberg]

If you mean: "Playing in a casual partnership what should the various bids mean" I can only say if you ever find out please let me know.

 

In a more established partnership it has always seemed efficient to me to say something like "let's both buy, say, Lawrence's book on Doubles and agree to play most everything in it". Nothing covers everything but such an approach should sharply reduce the number of misunderstadings.

[Fluffy]

Everytime I playwith a pick-up partner and the bidding goes something like:

 

1♥-1♠-2♣-ps

??

 

 

Or

 

 

1♦-1NT-ps-2♥

ps-??

 

 

I just flip a coin to decide what did my partner intend with that bid :/

 

Maybe I should make apoll on each, then find out how majority of people would play those sequencecs with a pickup partner, I would then guess more than 50%.

[DenisO]

The contested auction section in this might be of interest. It was developed some years ago for the English under-20 International squad. Not sure what you do when you've reached 20 :P

 

http://tinyurl.com/bg8zo

 

Denis

[Cascade]

I have some notes on the system me and p play. It uses powerdoubles and 2-suited overcalls (44+ hands). It has given us some great possibilities to intervene and find good partscores. The main disadvantage is the powerdouble in contested auctions, but we still manage to find decent contracts most of the time.

Hi Free

 

Can you expand on these ideas please. Is this similar to the meta-overcalls idea?

 

TIA

[flytoox]

Mike Lawrence's book on overcall and takeout dbl will serve you well. You dont need anythign fancy.

[MickyB]

Thanks Denis, I'd forgotten about that. It looks pretty useful.

[Free]

I have some notes on the system me and p play.  It uses powerdoubles and 2-suited overcalls (44+ hands).  It has given us some great possibilities to intervene and find good partscores.  The main disadvantage is the powerdouble in contested auctions, but we still manage to find decent contracts most of the time.

Hi Free

 

Can you expand on these ideas please. Is this similar to the meta-overcalls idea?

 

TIA

The basic philosophy is to overcall your Major suits like normal, and overcall on 44+ hands as well. Therefor you need to use your 1NT and 2m bids, so minor suit overcalls are made at the 3-level (and on a 6+ card).

 

1♣ - ?

1♦ = 5+♥

1♥ = 5+♠

1♠ = 4+♠ and 4+♦

1NT = 4+♥ and 4+♦

2♣ = 4+♠ and 4+♥

2♦ = normal 2-level overcall in ♦

other bids are weaker

 

1♦ - ?

1M = 5+M

1NT = 4+♥ and 4+♣

2♣ = 4+♠ and 4+♣

2♦ = 4+♠ and 4+♥

3♣ = 6+♣

other bids are weaker

 

1♥ - ?

1♠ = 5+♠

1NT = 4+♦ and 4+♣

2♣ = 4+♠ and 4+♣

2♦ = 4+♠ and 4+♦

2♥ = 3-suiter short ♥

3m = 6+m

higher bids are weaker

 

1♠ - ?

1NT = 4+♦ and 4+♣

2♣ = 4+♥ and 4+♣

2♦ = 4+♥ and 4+♦

2♥ = normal 2-level overcall in ♥

2♠ = 3-suiter short ♠

3m = 6+m

higher bids are weaker

 

So basicly, the 1♣ opening is a little different than others, but 1NT shows the lowest suits, and 2m bids are 44+ hands with the bid minor and the highest unbid Major (or 1m-2m with both Majors).

 

We need powerdoubles so these bids are all limited. Without a passed partner we play these around 7-14, with passed partner we can be weaker. Powerdoubles are made with any hand with 15+HCP.

 

Remark: when we have a 5+ card in a Major we could overcall, then it's a poor 5+ card when we showed 44+. Otherwise just overcall and rebid your second suit when you think it's necessary. :)