Defense against natural openings
Level 1 openings including 1C/D with a 2+ suit
- DBL: Takeout. Promises 3 cards in the un-bid majors and 2 in the un-bid
minors. Maybe light with the right distribution.
- If opponent RDBLs
- All jumps are pre-emptive
- Pass asks DBLer to “get us out of here”
- If opponent passes
- Cue-bid is only forcing
- Other bids are limit
- Level-1 overcall: 8-16 HCP, 4+ suit
- Raises: Pre-emptive
- Cue-bid: Limit raise or stronger
- Jump cue-bid: 4+ fit, constructive raise
- Shift: Round forcing
- 1NT: Stopper, 8-11 HCP
- 2NT: Stopper, 12-14 HCP
- 3NT: To play
- Level-2 overcall (without jump): 10-18 HCP, 5+ suit
- Raises: Pre-emptive
- 2NT: Stopper, 9-12 HCP
- 3NT: To play
- Cue-bid: May be with a forcing raise
- Jump cue-bid: Fit, short in opening suit
- Shift: Round forcing
- 2D over 1C/D: Both majors
- Other jump overcalls: Weak
- Cue-bid: Natural over 1C and a Precision-style 1D, Michaels over 1H/S
- 2NT over a major: 5+5+ in the minors
- 2NT over a minor: 5+5+ (excluding opening suit), very strong offensively
- 1NT: Balanced, 16-19 HCP over a minor, 14-17 over a major. Developments
are as after 1NT opening including after opponents’ intervention.
- Jump cue-bid over 1C: Natural, weak
- Other jump cue-bids: Ask partner to bid 3NT with a
stopper
- 3NT: Stopper, 2 or fewer controls
- 4NT: Stopper (at least Kx), 3 or more controls
- 4C: No stopper, 2 or fewer controls
- Other suit bids up to the game: Natural
- Cue-bid: No stopper, 3 or more controls
- Other bids: Pre-emptive
Developments if 3rd seat does NOT pass
- Negative DBL through 4H
- Snapdragon DBL through 2S
- New suit: Round forcing
- Jump shift: 4+ fit and a good suit
- Cue-bid: Strong, usually with limit+ fit
- Raises: pre-emptive
- Jump cue-bid at level-3: Mixed raise (4+ fit, weaker than limit, too strong
for a pre-empt)
- Jump cue-bid at level-4: Splinter
- Jump to 2NT: 4+ fit, balanced
- Other NT: Natural
- RDBL: 7+ with Hx or any 11+HCP
When our 2-suited Overcall is DBLed:
- Preference: Hx(x)
- RDBL followed by preference: less than Hx(x)
Natural 2C (i.e. Precision Club)
- Overcall: 8-15 HCP, 5+ suit
- 3C: 5+5+ in diamonds and hearts
- 2NT: 5+5+ in spades and diamonds/hearts
- 3S: fit, not forcing
- 3C: Relay
- 3NT: To play
- DBL: Take-out, 3+ cards in both majors or any 16+ HCP
- Other bids: Pre-emptive