36. Advanced Notrump Defenses¶
This section explains some more defenses after your opponents open or overcall 1N. Some can also be used in balancing a passing-out 1N.
Two-suited hands are often more powerful than their HCP count alone would indicate. We’ve already learned the basic Unusual 2N and Michael’s Cuebid. For interfering with their 1N opening, we have Cappelletti and D.O.N.T. .
In all these methods, the two-suited bids promise at least 5-4 in the suits. Vulnerability should be considered. Any bid which may force to the three level requires extra points or shape, comparatively.
In case you want to get creative and invent your own, a note on ACBL regulations:
X or 2♣ can show 0 specified suits. In that sense they are privileged. It is ok if 2♣ shows an unspecified suit or 2♣ shows clubs and a higher suit or X shows an unspecified suit.
2♦ can show “a one-suited hand with an unspecified major suit”, or any specific suit with an unknown or known companion such as “both majors” or “diamonds and a higher suit.”
Other bids must show at least one definite suit. E.g., 2♥ can be hearts and a minor, or hearts and a four card minor, but not any major and a minor.
When our 1N opener is doubled for penalty, some variation on the 1N defense you’ve chosen can be an easy to remember Runout. See in particular Advanced Runouts.
Landy¶
Landy is simple: 2♣ shows both majors, at least 5-4. According to the Bridge Guys website, Landy can claim to be the very first conventional method. Many variations have evolved with respect to the replies by advancer, but for a simple agreement, the advancer just chooses his best major, or (rarely) bids a minor suit with very poor majors but a good long minor. Woolsey below is an up-gunned Landy.
Meckwell¶
In this modification of D.O.N.T., the double works harder in order to make 2♥ and 2♠ natural. After opponents open 1N, either in direct seat, or after two passes by partnership agreement,
X! Long minor or both majors
Response: 2♣!(relay); then the doubler passes, corrects to 2♦, or bids 2♥ to show both majors.
2♣! Clubs and a major suit
2♦! Diamonds and a major suit
2♥ Shows long hearts
2♠ Shows long spades
2N Shows both minors
You may enjoy combining Meckwell with the Meckwell Escapes runout.
Modified Cappelletti¶
In this modified or “modern” Cappelletti, the 2♣ bid works harder in order to make 2♥ and 2♠ natural. After opponents open 1N, either in direct seat, or after two passes by partnership agreement,
X Equal hand, penalty-oriented
2♣! Diamonds or, a minor and a major.
Advancer bids 2♦!(relay), and intervenor then passes or bids his major. Advancer can then ask for the minor with 2N! (good hand) or 3♣! (pass or correct).
2♦! Both majors
2♥ Shows long hearts
2♠ Shows long spades
2N Shows both minors
3♣ Long clubs
Bloomen¶
Bloomen is related to Cappelletti. All 2-level suit bids are natural long suits. A double is a relay to 2♣, and then intervenor bids one of the Capp two-suited bids: 2♦ for both majors, or 2M for a major and a minor. As usual, 2N asks for the minor. Doubling and then bidding a suit at the three level is a strong six-carder, while bidding directly at the three level a normal preempt.
Woolsey¶
Woolsey is sometimes called Multi-Landy. After a 1N opening or overcall:
X Shows an equal hand, penalty-oriented
2♣! Shows both majors, as in Landy.
2♦! Shows a single-suited hand in an unspecified major suit. Advancer relays with 2♥!(forced), pass or correct.
2♥! Shows long hearts and an unspecified four-card minor. 2N asks for the minor.
2♠! Shows long spades and an unspecified four-card minor. 2N asks for the minor.
2N Shows both minors.
Defenses to Woolsey¶
How should you defend against the Woolsey 2♦?
Experts concede that Woolsey is difficult to defend against, which is why there was resistance to allowing it before 2015. At the club level most players will survive pretty well with stolen bids and common sense.
One problem here is that you don’t have a Stayman bid unless you agree to use 3♣.
Responder can always pass first, of course, and see what their major is. Passing first and then bidding should be stronger than immediate action. A second double should be penalty oriented.
More sophisticated defenses are based on Lebensohl.
Mohan¶
Mohan is designed to compete against weak 1N openers. It is recommended over a 1N opener showing an upper range of 14 or fewer HCP. Two suited bids can be 5-4 . We lower our standards because it is as important to be finding our own games as to interfere with theirs.
The bids are:
X shows an equal hand and is penalty oriented.
2♣ shows the majors; if partner does not have a preference, he bids 2♦ to let intervenor pick.
2♦ is a transfer to hearts, which must be accepted if responder passes.
2♥ is a transfer to spades, which must be accepted if responder passes.
2♠ shows hearts and a minor suit.
2N shows spades and a minor suit.
Three of a minor is natural and constructive.
Three of a major is preemptive.
Note why the three of a major is preemptive. The person holding this hand could have transfered to his suit and then raised to get to the same place. Not needing two bids with the same meaning, the “slow” bid of 3M is the strong one, an idea similar to Lebensohl.