1NT forcing:handling sandwich seat intervention

[Chamaco]

Hi all,

I posted a similar thread on Kaplan inversion (1H-1S/1NT), but then I realized I needed to investigate the basics of the same sequence in "classical" 1NT forcing auctions.

 

Blow I list 2 sets of sequences, one set of the 1S-1NT forcing sequence, and one sequence for the 1H-1S (natural) sequence after 4th seet preemption.

 

==========================

Set 1

 

SEQUENCE 1- double showing strength

 

1S-(p)-1NT*-(DBL)

 

 

SEQUENCE 2- simple overcall

 

1S-(p)-1NT*-(2m)

 

 

SEQUENCE 3- preemptive overcall

 

1S-(p)-1NT*-(3/4m)

 

 

SEQUENCE 4- 2S/2NT showing a 2-suiter

 

1S-(p)-1NT*-(2H/2NT)

 

============================

 

Set 2

 

 

 

SEQUENCE 5- preemptive overcall

 

1H-(p)-1S -(3/4m)

 

Is support double on ?

If so, how do you discriminate the strength of hand with 3 card support (e.g. minimum opener with 3 card support, vs reverse with 3 cd support) ?

 

How do you set spades trumps without signing off if you are interested in slam and want to set trumps because you only need keycards ?

[fifee]

============================

 

Set 2

 

 

 

SEQUENCE 5- preemptive overcall

 

1H-(p)-1S -(3/4m)

 

Is support double on ?

If so, how do you discriminate the strength of hand with 3 card support (e.g. minimum opener with 3 card support, vs reverse with 3 cd support) ?

 

How do you set spades trumps without signing off if you are interested in slam and want to set trumps because you only need keycards ?

Support Doubles are usually on through 2♥ only for most partnerships.

 

If I was interested in setting trumps and investigating for slam, I would cuebid the opponent's suit to tell partner I am interested if they overcall at the 3 level.

 

If they overcall at the 4 level, then we do our best to overcome the bidding room that was eaten up by the overcall. Depends upon the hand, naturally.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

I dont really understand the question, but then,

I dont aim for highest precision, I just want to

survive.

Ask yourself, what would you do, if partner

responded 1NT in standard

 

Set1

1) ignore the double, with the strong fit variant

responder will make another move

2) ignore the overcall, i.e. if the suit qualifies

and your only bid is 2M bid it, even if it is only a 5

card suit

=> It may help to play 2NT as artificial,

lebensohl style, to differentiate between

a strong opener and a weak one, this will help

you, when opener has a 2 suited hand

Double should probably penalty oriented

3) Pass with minimum, with add. strength bid on, 3S

should be 6 card, you would like to survive on the

3 level in case partner has no fit

Double should probably penalty oriented, a strong NT,

in case you always open your 5 card mayor

4) Double with add. strength, else bid competitive

 

Set2

You cant, in case you are only interested in Keycards,

bid 4NT, RKBC for spades

Of course the questions remains, why did you not

open stronger?

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[han]

Here is what I would play, not claiming that this is best:

 

1S-(p)-1NT*-(DBL)

 

Who plays the double here as strength instead of take-out? Nobody I know, so not worth discussion I think.

 

1S-(p)-1NT*-(2m)

 

double=take-out, typically denying 4 hearts. All other bids natural, 3C over 2D shows both extra and 5-5.

 

1S-(p)-1NT*-(3/4m)

 

Double = take-out, any call besides pass shows serious extras.

 

1S-(p)-1NT*-(2H/2NT)

 

Over 2NT for the minors: Double shows good hand with (presumably) interest in defending. Pass followed by double is penalty. 3m shows strong hand without stopper in the other minor. 3H shows good hand but not forcing (else double first).

 

1H-(p)-1S -(3/4m)

Is support double on ?

 

Over 3m:

You can certainly play this (although most players don't), but then double should not be mandatory but show extras. 3S has a large range, but jump to 4S with weaker hands than normally. 4m should show powerhouse with 4-card support imo.

 

Over 4m: I would still play the double as take-out (e.g. Qx AQ10xxx x AKJx over 4D), and showing quite a good hand. All bids become rather large ranging.

[Chamaco]

Of course the questions remains, why did you not

open stronger?

Because with a 55 2-suiter I open 2C if, and only if I have at least 10 absolutely SURE tricks in hand.

With only 9 sure tricks and a 2-suiter, I will open 1 of a suit, I hate opening 2C with 2 suiters:

second suit is always lost with normal methods, and other more accurate method (a la Chris Ryall) are soldom agreeable quickly with most partners.

 

Basically, with a 2 suiter, I will try and look for any reason to avoid opening 2C.

 

Moreover, in the sequence 1H-(p)-1S-(3/4m), if opener is 5431 or 6421 short in their suit and with some 20 hcp and good textures, slam can depend only on RKCB, even if we opened at the 1 level.