DEFENSES
OVER NT OPENINGS by Walt Sturm
Two-suited
defenses (TSD) over opponents` NT openings are useful because distribution
offers some safety, especially if a fit with partner is found. You may also be able to compete
successfully for your own contract or push the opponents overboard.
An
early TSD is the Landy Convention in which a 2C overcall promises both majors,
usually 5-5, at the expense of losing the natural 2C bid. Ripstra is similar except that the
better minor is bid. This costs
both minor overcalls but occasionally uncovers a minor fit. Neither helps with a major-minor
two-suiter.
Two better solutions which
are quite similar are Pin-Point Astro and Brozel. Both revolve around the heart suit. An overcall of 2 in either minor shows
that minor and hearts. An overcall
of 2H shows both majors. An
overcall of 2S shows spades and an undisclosed minor which partner may transfer
to by bidding 2NT. In P-P Astro, a
double is for penalties and is best used over weak NT`s. In Brozel, a double is a transfer to 2C
with any one-suiter and is best used over strong NT`s. Perhaps the best current TSD is
Hamilton (a.k.a Cappelletti) since it includes both penalty X`s and one-suited
overcalls. 2C is any one suiter
which is usually a transfer to 2D after which you bid your suit, but partner
has the option of bidding a very good suit of his own. 2D shows both majors. Two of either major shows that major
and an unspecified minor which partner may request by bidding 2NT. A 2NT overcall is Unusual NT for the
minors, as usual.
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