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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Sunday
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Basic
strategy
0000). How to use 0001). Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 0002). 28 for minor 0003). 33 for NT slam 0004). Suit slam 0005). Importance of length 0006). Convention card 0007). ACOL and American Standard, differences 0008). A-Z Glossary 0690). A-Z Glossary
Hand
evaluation
0010). Balanced-Unbalanced 0011). How strong is your hand, HCP 0012). Distribution points 0013). Losing trick count 0014). Barrier-Reversing 0015). Selection of opening suit 0016). Showing shape 0017). 4441 distribution 0018). The skip over principle 0019). Rule of 20 Opening 1 of a suit 0019a). Rule of 25 Opening 2 of a suit 0019b). Rule of 500 Max penalty risk on preempt if doubled 0019c). Law of total tricks 0019d). Rule of Protective bidding
Opening
bids
0020). Plan of attack 0021). Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT 0022). Bal, 20+ points 0023). Bal, 15 to 17 HCPs, strong NT 0025). Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit 0026). Unbal, Strong 2s 0027). Unbal, Pre-emptive 0028). Unbal, Gambling 3NT 0029). Benji Strong 2s
Responder
1st bids
0030). After 1NT, General principles 0031). After 1NT, Weak 0032). After 1NT, Getting out of trouble 0033). After 1NT, 11+ balanced 0034). After 1NT, 11+ 4-card major 0035). After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced 0036). After 1NT, 19+ 0037). After 2NT 0038). After 1NT, and Enemy has interfered 0039). 1 NT responses 0040). After 1 Suit, With fit 0041). After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit 0042). After 1 Suit, No fit, no new suit, probably balanced 0043). After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid 0044). After 1 Suit, Very strong 0045). After 1 Suit, Weak freak 0047). After 2 Suit, Strong 2s 0048). After 2 Suit, Weak 2s 0049). After 3 Suit, Responding to preempt
Openers
rebid
0050). Unbalanced, The general idea 0051). Unbalanced, You are weak 0052). Unbalanced, You are strong 0053). Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT 0054). Unbalanced, Delayed support 0055). Balanced
Responder
rebids
0060). Responder rebids, The general idea 0061). Choice of two suits 0062). Responders reverse 0063). After 1NT rebid
Basic
Convention
0080). Stayman 0081). Transfer 0082). Transfer after 2NT 0161). Minor suit transfer
Slam
bidding
0090). Slam, Spotting the chance 0091). Blackwood 0092). No-trump slam 0093). Gerber 0094). Extra slam techniques
Interfering
bids
0100). Overcalls, the basic idea 0101). Overcalls, in a suit, over a suit 0102). Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT 0103). Overcalls, in NT, over a suit 0104). Overcalls, Jump overcall 0105). Overcalls, Double then bid a suit 0106). Overcalls, Bidding opponents suit 0107). Overcalls, Balancing (protective) 0108). Overcalls, Overcall a preempt 0109). Overcalls, Preemptive double jump 0110). Overcalls, To overcall, or to double 0111). Overcalls, Response to 1NT after suit overcall (Lebensohl) 0115). Defence after 1NT 0116). Competitive bidding 0117). Be cautious sometimes 0118). Sacrificing Be bold when non-vulnerable 0119). Sacrificing 0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0126). Doubles, Protective double
Doubles

0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0123). Doubles, Negative double 0124). Doubles, Double a 1NT overcall 0125). Doubles, Double a suit over 1NT 0126). Doubles, Protective double 0127). Doubles, Responsive double 0128). Doubles, Double then bid a suit 0129). Doubles, Penalty 0130). Doubles, Support double 0131). Doubles, Lead directing double 0132). Doubles, Maximal double 0133). Doubles, Redoubling - coded meanings 0134). Doubles, Forcing Pass 0135). Doubles, Re-opening double 0139). Doubles, Index of doubles
Advanced
Convention
0150). Majors Jacoby 2NT 0151). Majors Splinters 0152). Majors Weak 2s 0153). Majors Weak 2 defence 0154). Trial bid 0160). NT and minors 4th suit forcing 0161). Minor suit transfer 0162). DONT Bidding When Opponents open 1NT 0163). Game tries 0166). Grand Slam Force 0167). Roman Keycard Blackwood 0168). Cue bidding for controls 0170). 2-suited Overcall Unusual 2NT 0171). 2-suited Overcall Michaels cue bid 0172). 2-suited Overcall Landy over 1NT 0173). Overcall Unassuming cue bid 0179). Very advanced

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Quick summary

Your opponents are weak, and have tried to mess things up for you, 'cos they fear you will make a good contract. So overcall them if you can.
There are three options

Double for Take-out (opening points, short in enemy's suit)
Suit Overcall: 12 points at the 3 level (or 6 at the 2 level), & a 6-card suit (or v. good 5-card suit)
2NT Overcall: 16-19 points balanced-ish with a stop in enemy's suit.

Don't double for penalties if you are good in their suit! You'll confuse your partner & end up in trouble. Penalties can come later.

Stayman and Transfers: recommend you use after 2NT.

"Borrow a king" in the 4th passout seat (balancing).

Not so different from defending a weak 3 opening.

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

« 0153 »

Advanced Convention. Weak 2 defence

continued. . ... (< back)

5. Responding to your partner's Weak 2 Overcall

Responding to a takeout double

It's very similar to responding to a normal takeout double.

The similarities
Partner is not doubling because he is strong in the enemy's suit, in fact quite the opposite. He has an opening hand, 4441 distribution or similar, is short in the suit just bid by opponents, with his strength spread across the other 3 suits.

The differences
You have less bidding space, and the enemy is both weaker and find themselves at a higher level of exposure.

Partner's normal response (0-8 points)

Unless there is an intervening bid from your opponents, your partner MUST reply ("take you out" of the double), even with 0 points. It's a forcing bid because you didn't really mean "double" in the conventional "doubled for penalties" sense. Partner bids his best suit, because he is forced to.

If you (the overcalling doubler) then go on to change suit with your rebid, partner should spot that something funny is clearly going on, which has a special meaning.

Different responses

Strong. The most common exception is when partner has 9-10 points (include distribution), in which case he would like to have said "hey, you are forcing me to bid, even with no points, but the fact is I would have bid anyway, because I've got plenty of points, 9-10 in fact, and game might be on". He does this by jumping. Doubler can now evaluate game.

However, after a weak 2 opening, there is less bidding space, and it may not be possible to do this without jumping to the 4 level, which you should avoid. Over 2 you have room for three bids in spades, 2, 3 or 4. But over 2 you have room for only two bids in hearts, 3 or 4.

So the 9-10 range is only used over a 2 opening. Over a 2 opening, you only have two ranges: 0-9 weak response, 10+ go for game.

I've got that 4th suit that you don't have, let's play in NT. Partner can bid NT if he has cover for the enemy's suit:

With 13+ bid 3NT.
Bid 2NT with 10-12 HCP.
With 8-10 HCP you'd like to bid 1NT - but the weak 2 opener's have pre-empted that option, so either risk 2NT or take your partner out of the double with you longest suit.

This follows the usual logic of responding in NT to a suit bid from partner, but with a higher minimum cut-off due to the likely singleton).

Party time. I've also got an opening hand !The responder should cue bid opponent's suit. The doubler should then make a descriptive bid.

But actually, I want to double ! So Pass. Convert the "take-out" double to a "penalty" double if very strong in the opponents' suit, simply by saying "no bid". You need 5-6 or more excellent trumps. The doubler is supposed to lead a trump, so that the enemy's trumps can be drawn. For this reason, it's not recommended that a takeout double be made with a void in the suit doubled.

Oh, and remember, do not pass is you're weak, or your partner might want to strangle you. Your partner is asking you to respond, so unless you're sure that "2 doubled for penalty" is the best, you should bid another suit.

Hand evaluation

Add points for shape; partner can support any of your suits, so you can assume that you have a fit.
If your partner was bidding in the '4th seat' he may have one fewer king, so you may should adjust your ranges by about 2 or 3 points.
Apart from the Ace, your points in opposition's suit are worth a lot less.

Examples

What should you bid after this sequence ?: 2♥ – Dbl – Pass

	Hand 10
	A J 6 2		You have 8HCP and a singleton, i.e. 11 points and 8 losers. Not enough for game, but enough to jump. Bid3 Not enough for game on your own, but enough to jump to 3, to show your 8-loser hand.
	8 4 3
	Q J 10 6 2
	5

What should you bid after this sequence ?: 2♥ – Dbl – Pass

	Hand 11
	A 6 4 2		You have only 8 HCP, and 9 losers. So make a minimum response and bid 2
	8 4 3
	Q J 10 6
	6 5

What should you bid after this sequence ?: 2♥ – Pass – Pass – Dbl

	Hand 12
	A J 6 2		Your partner bid in the 4th seat, so might have ‘borrowed' 3 points, so pay it back' as you evaluate your hand. You should bid only 2. If your partner then bids 3, raise to game.
	8 4 3
	Q J 10 6 2
	5

What should you bid after this sequence ?: 2♠ – Dbl – Pass

	Hand 13
	A J 6		You have14 HCP a spade stop. Your partner has 12+ HCP and support in all other suits. Because you have the ace, you will be able to get the lead and keep it: the Weak-Two bidder will hold very few high cards outside his spade suit. Bid 3NT.
	K J 7
	K Q J 7 2
	9 5

What should you bid after this sequence ?: 2♠ – Dbl – Pass:

	Hand 14
	A 6 4 2		You have 11 HCP and a singleton, which gives you enough for game, given partner must have 12+ HCP. However, dont pass, your spades are not good enough for a penalty double. Your hands should fit, with singletons in both hands likely, and opportunities for cross-ruffing. Bid 4
	A 8 4 3
	Q J 4 2
	5

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Sunday