Overcalling a weak 2 with two long minors

[Liversidge]

Is there a way of giving partner a choice of minors after the Opps open 2♥ and you are 5+/5+ with 10-12 HCP, with most honour points in the two long suits?

Over a 1 level opening bid we would use the Unusual 2NT.

[Cyberyeti]

Not so much with that sort of strength, there are schemes that will allow you to do it with better hands.

[mycroft]

Traditionally, the "pick a minor" bid over a preempt is 4NT.

 

Not 2NT, as you see here, because it's needed for the strong NT opener (or whatever range you give to it). Not 3NT, because "3NT is to play with the following [very] few exceptions..."

 

As Cyberyeti said above, "with better hands", obviously, as you are forcing 5m, and bypassing 3NT (although partner could pass 4. I've seen it once).

[Cyberyeti]

Traditionally, the "pick a minor" bid over a preempt is 4NT.

 

Not 2NT, as you see here, because it's needed for the strong NT opener (or whatever range you give to it). Not 3NT, because "3NT is to play with the following [very] few exceptions..."

 

As Cyberyeti said above, "with better hands", obviously, as you are forcing 5m, and bypassing 3NT (although partner could pass 4. I've seen it once).

 

Well you can use 4m as that suit and spades, then play 3♥ as both minors so you only force to 4m, but most people play 3♥ looking for a heart stop.

[The_Badger]

Hi Terry (Liversidge),

 

As the other commentators have said, a direct 2NT overcall is reserved for a strong balanced hand over a weak two opening.

 

However, lots of other factors come into play such as whether IMPs or MPs, vulnerability, whether overcalling or balancing, whether you and/or your partner have passed already, the actual shape of the hands - there's a world of difference between a 5-5-2-1 hand and a 6-5-1-1 - and the quality of the suits, etc.

 

That said, except if you have an exceptional hand that lends itself to the direct 4NT pick a minor bid, the best option - usually - is to pass and see how the auction pans out.

 

To bid direct over a 2♥ or 2♠ opening bid with

 

♠x ♥xx ♦AJxxx ♣ AJ9xx would be extremely frowned upon :(

 

Once in a blue moon you will get lucky, but more often than not you will get penalised.

[msjennifer]

Is there a way of giving partner a choice of minors after the Opps open 2♥ and you are 5+/5+ with 10-12 HCP, with most honour points in the two long suits?

Over a 1 level opening bid we would use the Unusual 2NT.

I am not very sure ,if,Roman two suited overcalls can be used perhaps with some modifications,if at all necessary.

[Caitlynne]

Though most folks play leaping michaels over weak 2 bids in the majors these days to show a minor with the other major, there is another scheme that allows you to show all possible two suiters:

 

Cue bid = clubs and other major) top and bottom

4C = clubs and diamonds

4D = diamonds and other major

 

But, perhaps the best approach is leaping michaels combined with the cue bid defined to show both minors. After all, when your partnership has enough values to consider bidding game, you will often want to steer toward the 9 trick Notrump game rather than an 11 trick minor suit game. Defining the cue bid to show the minors keeps 3NT in the picture.

[rmnka447]

I am not very sure ,if,Roman two suited overcalls can be used perhaps with some modifications,if at all necessary.

One problem with providing a method to show lighter two suiters is that you put more of a load on the takeout double over a weak two in order to show the strength of a "strong" two suiter.

 

After a number of hands came up where intervener had a strong 2 suited hand and made a takeout double to start, it became apparent that it was difficult to ever show both suits in the ensuing auction.

 

If, say, you reserve the jump in a new suit for a strong hand with that suit and the next higher unbid suit, you position advancer to make a pretty good judgment on where the hand belongs. It also means a takeout double is primarily either a shapely hand with support for all unbid suits, or, a strong one suited hand.

 

But then that would mean with a "minimum" range two suiter, you bid one suit and hope to get your second suit in if you can.

 

Pay your money, take your choice.

 

I'm always willing to listen to new ideas on how to improve the way you compete.