1NT overcall by the opps

[jdaming]

Do any of you play any special conventions over 1M-(1NT)-?? (I am thinking of their 1NT being the 15-17/8 variety)? What about in precision where the 1M is limited to 11-15? Even systems that you have heard of people playing would be helpful. Do most people use the same system they would use over opps 1N opener? Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Siegmund]

Standard is X = penalty, new suit constructive but nonforcing. In other words, more like a 1M-X system (with X taking the place of XX) than a notrump opening system.

 

I'm sure you will get a few other suggestions. We have lots of imaginative system folk on the boards.

[Stephen Tu]

You definitely don't want to use the same system as if the opp opened 1nt. You have significant extra information, that partner has values and a suit, which makes penalizing them much easier.

 

Over a major, I don't see any good reason not to just play standard natural. You want to be able to raise naturally, penalize, and get to all the other suits.

 

Over a minor, it is perhaps OK to use one of the minors to show both majors (some people use opener's minor), on the theory that raising to the 2 level naturally is not as useful/frequent, since if we have fit, 4th hand will often just outbid us in a major, and with RHO having length/strength in the minor partner will be on their 3cd opener more often.

[PhantomSac]

You definitely need a bid to show both majors over the 1N bid if partner opened 1m imo.

[andy_h]

I agree that it's important to have a bid that shows both majors over 1m-(1NT)

 

I normally play 1m-(1NT)-2♣ to show both majors

and 1M-(1NT)-2♣ to show (52) in the majors

so this sacrifices the ability to compete in clubs which might not win at the end of the day anyway.

[nigel_k]

I like to use 2♣ as 'two places to play', one of which may be secondary support for partner's suit. This covers a lot of hand types that would leave an awkward guess if just playing natural. You do have to scramble around a bit and it may be hard to compete if they bid more, but I don't want to give up other natural bids or play something different for each opening bid which I will then have to remember.

[fromageGB]

With one partner I play transfers, and have found this very useful. It gives up the ability to defend 1NTX but I have never missed it. 1M (1NT) X is a transfer to clubs, 2♣ a transfer to diamonds etc.

 

Transfers of course put the overcaller on lead when partner is playing in your long suit. The transfers also come in handy when you can show a lower suit and then rebid 2M to show secondary support.

 

We play transfer to M shows a full strength raise, possibly with a shortage, as opposed to a 2M that may be bid on few values and just length. Having said that, I do not think the ability to show 2 types of raises is worthwhile with a strong NT over opener (do you ever want to invite game?), so you could play this with Andy's good idea to show 52 in the majors. (Our methods fail when the opener has hearts and responder has spades.) So over 1♥ (1NT) :

X = clubs

2♣ = diamonds

2♦ = heart raise of any sort

2♥ = specifically 5 spades and 2 hearts

 

The OP specified a major open, but again, in agreement with the others, over a minor open I agree it can be handy to show both majors. X does that for me, as we play standard defence to a 1NT open, where X = both majors or 5cm+4cM. As this X shows some values (~7HCP) opener has the option of passing with a stronger hand. (Not the case with the Major open, as a transfer to clubs may be made on a weak hand.)

[Finch]

With one partner I play transfers, and have found this very useful. It gives up the ability to defend 1NTX but I have never missed it.

This is one auction where I do think the ability to double for penalties is useful. At IMPs you can get some fairly serious large scores, and at matchpoints you have the chance of +200 or +300 against your partscore.

 

It's also handy because a 1NT overcall is frequently psyched NV in the auction P P 1suit 1NT (or P 1suit 1NT) and a penalty double is a good way of telling partner about your strength.

 

I just played everything natural for years, until I was persuaded to play only 1C (1NT) 2C as the majors (in a short 1C style system).

[ONEferBRID]

A) Some play CAPP over the 1NT interference... which retains the DBL for penalty.

 

B ) Another is Mitchell Stayman where a raise in partner's minor shows both Majors.

1m - ( 1NT ) - 2m! ... and Opener has the option of passing with a long minor.

[Siegmund]

Very surprised that this is a penalty double you "wouldn't miss." I'd say it's the 2nd-most-profitable penalty double in the game (behind 1NT-(2M)-X ) at the regional-and-lower levels. There are a lot of people who don't have good runout methods, and even those who do sometimes have nowhere to run.

 

I can see giving up 1m-(1N)-2m to show the majors. Maybe.

[655321]

I agree with others that some bid to show majors is very useful.

 

With one partner I play transfers, and have found this very useful.  It gives up the ability to defend 1NTX but I have never missed it.  1M (1NT) X is a transfer to clubs, 2♣ a transfer to diamonds etc.

 

Even if you want to play transfers, surely it would be better to keep the penalty double and give up on the transfer to clubs. The penalty double on this auction is very profitable, and if I had to choose between being able to play 2♣ and the penalty double, it would not be a close decision.