Responding to a 3NT overcall

[paulg]

Partner's 3NT overcall of a pre-empt is one of the most wide ranging bids in bridge. For example,

 

IMPs; Love All;

 

(3♦) - 3NT - (Pass) - ?

 

I did notice that one Irish Camrose pair are playing:

4♣ asks (4♦=16-18 flat, 4♥=19-21 flat, 4♠=22-25 flat, 4NT/5NT/6NT= based on long running suit)

4♦ = Flint (puppet to 4♥), to play 4♥/4♠ without slam-interest

4♥/4♠ = natural, NF, slam-tries

 

I am trying to bolster our methods and wondered what others play?

 

Thanks

 

Paul

[Finch]

We play

4C asks (different responses: 4NT minimum, cue bid extra values c. 20+, suits natural)

4D Flint to play anywhere - 4M or 5m - without slam interest (overcaller can break with a seriously good hand but very rare indeed)

4M/5m natural NF slam try

4NT invitational opposite a 'normal' 3NT bid (16-18 ish)

 

After 3M pre-empt, the cue is also available, usually as a big 2-suiter. This isn't possible after 3m as we use 4C/4D artificial as above; you have to jump cue.

[Free]

We play everything in transfer:

4♣ = Stayman (trf opponent's suit)

4♦ = transfer ♥

4♥ = transfer ♠

4♠ = transfer ♣

 

Easy with enough possibilities for constructive auctions at a high level imo.

[pclayton]

Partner's 3NT overcall of a pre-empt is one of the most wide ranging bids in bridge. For example,

 

IMPs; Love All;

 

(3♦) - 3NT - (Pass) - ?

 

I did notice that one Irish Camrose pair are playing:

4♣ asks (4♦=16-18 flat, 4♥=19-21 flat, 4♠=22-25 flat, 4NT/5NT/6NT= based on long running suit)

4♦ = Flint (puppet to 4♥), to play 4♥/4♠ without slam-interest

4♥/4♠ = natural, NF, slam-tries

 

I am trying to bolster our methods and wondered what others play?

 

Thanks

 

Paul

I "played" this in one partnership. It came up in a discussion at a regional about 5 years ago. It didn't actually come up at the table.

 

For the next three years it didn't some up once, but I think we both would have remembered it had it would have.

 

I think its a reasonable approach, and solves a headache for a 1 in 5,000 hand type.

[Finch]

In the context of this auction coming up at all, responder has two problem hand-types:

 

a) The mild-slam try type (which in this scheme bids 4M NF slam try)

<_< Strong 2-suiters

 

There isn't a good scheme I've seen that deals well with both. The 4M NF slam try comes up at the table sufficiently often that I can think of 3 occasions in the past 3 years.

[Apollo81]

Partner's 3NT overcall of a pre-empt is one of the most wide ranging bids in bridge. For example,

 

IMPs; Love All;

 

(3♦) - 3NT - (Pass) - ?

 

I did notice that one Irish Camrose pair are playing:

4♣ asks (4♦=16-18 flat, 4♥=19-21 flat, 4♠=22-25 flat, 4NT/5NT/6NT= based on long running suit)

4♦ = Flint (puppet to 4♥), to play 4♥/4♠ without slam-interest

4♥/4♠ = natural, NF, slam-tries

 

I am trying to bolster our methods and wondered what others play?

 

Thanks

 

Paul

Not worth the effort. Even when a 3NT overcall of a preempt does occur, most of pard's hands are clear passes.

 

It's been over 2 yrs since I had a non-pass call in this situation.

[dima]

Hi

 

I play

4♣ = range asking (4NT = weakest, the lower the better, 4♦ = running suit)

4♦/♥ = Transfers if possible.

 

Sure 4♦ as Terminator is a stronger idea but imo not worth trouble.

 

In about 3000 hands we got to use the agreement once, worked rather well. :P

Dima

[ulven]

Over the years, I haven't had much problem with this auction (as far as I can remember) then I got 2 problems on just this theme last week !!!

 

1) all NV/imps

Jxxxx/AJxxx/T/Tx

 

p - p - 3C - 3NT;

p - ??

 

2) all V/imps

AT8xx/QJxx/x/Kxx

3D - 3NT - p - ?

 

On both occasions we belonged in 4M, which leads me to believe that it's more important to cater for the possibility to find a M-fit than to invite slam. Overcalling 3NT isn't only wide-range hcp-wise but also shape-wise.

 

Next up is devising some mechanism...