Alternative Structure Idea for Overcalling One Club

[kenrexford]

In thinking through some things, it occurred to me that the GCC allows what might be an interesting alternative for overcalling One Club openings, even "natural" ones. The structure:

 

1. 2NT overcall = Unusual for Minors

 

2. 2♦ overcall = "Michaels" for majors

 

3. 2♣ Cuebid = Weak, with (a) one-suited diamonds, or (b) two-suited with a major and diamonds.

 

I won't insult by explain the follow-ups, which seem obvious.

 

Any thoughts on this structure?

 

 

 

[1eyedjack]

I worry slightly about the ambiguity over whether 2C has a major and if so which one, particularly if partner is a non-passed hand. But I guess you can't have everything.

[MickyB]

I don't see how the 2C bid would work. This seems worse than playing 2C S+D, 2D majors.

[whereagles]

the 2C overcall seems messy..

 

how aboud instead

2C = weak D or majors

2D = weak D + major

[Trinidad]

the 2C overcall seems messy..

 

how aboud instead

2C = weak D or majors

2D = weak D + major

That's obviously much better... except that it isn't GCC legal (in the ACBL) which was a condition to the problem.

 

Rik

[Zelandakh]

If we are going to include the major+minor hands in 2♣ then it seems better to me to play that Wilkosz style and keep the wjo in diamonds. That leaves 2NT for the minors and 3♣ for the majors.

 

I have looked at a range of structures involving moving the wjo in diamonds into 2♣ and my feeling is that you just end up not gaining very much, if anything. It works out better including one or both major suit wjos here instead. Since only one is possible under GCC rules that should be the least effective - hearts - leaving the more effective 2♦ and 2♠ natural. Putting it all together and making it legal:

 

2♣ = weak with hearts, or both majors

2♦ = nat

2♥ = ♠+♦

2♠ = nat

2NT = ♣+another (or just minors if you do not care about M+♣)

3♣ = ♥+♦

 

But is it really worth going through the GCC hoops just to be able to overcall in their suit? Probably not and there are plenty of reasonable GCC-legal schemes around when these are excluded.

[straube]

I like a more standard approach, although 2C as possibly 4S/5H with a 2D advance asking partner to rebid 2S with a 5/5 solves a problem that standard has.

 

If I have 5D/5C I can overcall 1D and then bid clubs. I think I'd rather use 2N for the reds.