Comfy Canape Defense against 1NT Opening

[PrecisionL]

Since Multi-Landy or Woolsey are Mid-Chart Conventions (ACBL) over the opponent's Strong 1NT Opening (15-17 hcp) we are considering canape overcalls. I would appreciate any comments on your experience playing such defenses.

 

CoCa overcalls

dbl = A) 4-card spades plus a longer suit, or B) 6-card spades

 

2♣ = A) 4-card hearts plus a longer suit, or B) 6-card hearts

 

2♦ = 4-4 majors

 

2♥ = 5-card plus minor suit

 

2♠ = 5-card plus minor suit

 

The canapé structure of the dbl/2♣ CoCa bids (with a rebid in another suit denoting a longer suit) is what lends the convention its name.

 

Comfy Canape: http://en.wikipedia....mfy_Canap%C3%A9

 

Original reference: Johannes Koelman, Bridge Magazine IMP, September 2006. (in Dutch) [Added 4/6/13]

[MickyB]

It would be a improvement to play -

 

dbl = spades+another [could be 4S5H]

2S = six cards

 

as this would allow you to play 1N-X-P-2D as "pass with diamonds", letting you out in 2D opposite 5S4D.

 

It would also be an improvement to remove 5S4H from the 2C overcall and put it into 2D. With equal length in the majors opposite a 2D overcall, advancer would know to prefer spades, and the 2C overcall would be much easier to handle [consider 3352 opposite a 2C overcall - if partner has 4H5C you want to play in 2H, but you don't want to miss a superior spade fit opposite 5S4H].

 

However, even after these improvements, I think there are better methods out there.

[PrecisionL]

It would be a improvement to play -

 

dbl = spades+another [could be 4S5H]

2S = six cards

 

as this would allow you to play 1N-X-P-2D as "pass with diamonds", letting you out in 2D opposite 5S4D.

 

It would also be an improvement to remove 5S4H from the 2C overcall and put it into 2D. With equal length in the majors opposite a 2D overcall, advancer would know to prefer spades, and the 2C overcall would be much easier to handle [consider 3352 opposite a 2C overcall - if partner has 4H5C you want to play in 2H, but you don't want to miss a superior spade fit opposite 5S4H].

 

However, even after these improvements, I think there are better methods out there.

Thanks, Mike for your comments.

 

We have changed 2♦ overcall to show 5♠ + 4♥ or 5-5.

 

2♣ overcall to show majors 5-4 or better is better for finding the major fits for pair games, however the canape aspect fits in with the rest of our system philosophy: C3: Copious Canapé Club (Ultra Relay Club Revised)

[Zelandakh]

Have you considered just playing "Middlesex" Asptro?

 

X = penalty

2♣ = 4 hearts and a longer minor; or hearts; or majors with longer/better spades; or 1444

2♦ = 4 spades and a longer minor; or spades; or majors with longer/better hearts; or 4144

2M = 5 card suit, 4+ minor

 

This is usually used as a weak NT defence but perfectly playable. CoCa is similar enough that it should also be just fine. If you liked the Asptro set-up but dislike using double for penalties then you could easily pull out the minor one-suiters into double. You could chuck some of the major hands in there too, perhaps the good hands with longer/better hearts since those sometimes cause a problem.

[antonylee]

Hi,

I used to play the following with a few French juniors, a couple of years ago:

X=4♥5any or 55 majors (X followed by 2♥ shows 4♥5♠, X followed by 2♠ shows 55)

2♣=4♠5any

2♦=multi

2M=5M4m

 

When I moved to the US I put the one-suiters in X and moved X and 2♣ up one step, to 2♣ and 2♦. I think such methods are reasonably playable but I now prefer being able to show the long major immediately (or at least with a multi 2♦ call).

[Zelandakh]

X=4♥5any or 55 majors (X followed by 2♥ shows 4♥5♠, X followed by 2♠ shows 55)

2♣=4♠5any

2♦=multi

2M=5M4m

This defence is very similar to the one I came up with. The main difference is that I also allow hearts + both minors in the X and spades + both red suits in the 2♣ overcall. One thing I will note is that I think you have your rebids for both majors the wrong way round - X followed by 2♥ should show 5♠5♥ with X followed by 2♠ showing 5♠4♥.

[PrecisionL]

Gatlinburg Regional is over and we had very few Comfy Canape overcalls of the opponent's 1NT opening. Thus, no analysis of the pros and cons of this convention.

 

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