ALTRINCHAM BRIDGE CLUB. November 2008
Defence bidding over !NT opener
About six years ago, I penned a memo about the two bidding sequences:
opposition you opposition partner
a) 1NT 2C* Pass 2D, 2H or 2S
Pass 3C all pass
b) 1NT 2C*
Pass 2D, 2H or 2S
Pass does not bid 3C all pass (you pass or bid 2H or 2S)
(where 2C* was alerted each
time as asking for a major suit - Landy).
There still seem to be confusion about the two sequences a) and b).
Before going any further, it is necessary to comment on the EBU permitted bidding levels. At our club, you may play up to and including level 3 (eg. the multi two diamond opener is level 3). Having said that, I would imagine that 95% of our club players only use a simpler level 2 system.
Because level 3 is permitted at our club, this means that pairs using level 3 may play any response they like to the opponents opening 1NT bid. Hence, both a) and b) above are both legal.
On the alert, or your convention card, you must label b) above as Landy (asking for a major suit)
If, however, you are using the procedure as in a) above, then you must alert it as “the majors or clubs “. If you do not do this, then it is an illegal bid & the Director may decide to adjust the score. (you could alert it as hearts and clubs etc if this is your system).
You are not likely to meet up with them, but you should be aware that there are other uses of the 2C* as used above. You will only find out their meaning by asking what the alert means at the appropriate moment.
Level 2 is for simple club bridge and novice bridge and is played by the majority of our club players. If you enter a novice competition & are only allowed to play at level 2, then there are restrictions affecting the sequence a) above. As far as I can see, any player, when at our club, may use sequence a) above because you may use as little or as much of level 3 system as you wish – but do not forget to alert properly.
Peter Dawson ( Nov 2008)