Multi-Landy is a convention used after the opponents open 1NT. It gets its name from the use of the Landy 2♣ overcall and the Multi 2♦ convention. One purpose is to more precisely identify major-suit fits.

The conventional calls over 1NT are as follows.

BidsMeaning
DoublePenalty 15+points (particularly against a weak 1NT).
Against a Strong NT it shows a 4-card major with a longer minor. Double after passing shows a 4-card major with a longer minor.
2♣At least 5-4 or 4-5 in hearts and spades.
This is the Landy part of the convention. 8-15 points
2♦5+ hearts or 5+ spades (no side suit).
This is the Multi part of the convention. 8-15 points
2♥At least 5-4 in hearts and a minor. 8-15 points
2♠At least 5-4 in spades and a minor. 8-15 points
2NTAt least 5-5 in clubs and diamonds. 8-15 points

Minimum points usually at favourable vulnerability or/and when 55 or 6 card suits…don’t bid vulnerable with garbage!

Some example hands that might use this convention are:

1)2)3)4)
♠ AQ102
♥ K10963
♦ 4
♣ K75		♠ KQ10942
♥ A8
♦ 842
♣ 75		♠ 6
♥ KQ1063
♦ AJ1085
♣ Q7		♠ KJ763
♥ 8
♦ AQ109
♣ Q76
5)6)
♠ 9
♥ 84
♦ AQ1085
♣ KJ763		♠ AQ
♥ K98
♦ QJ1095
♣ KJ8
  • Hand 1 would bid 2♣ showing at least 5-4 in the majors
  • Hand 2 would bid 2♦ showing a 5+ major without a second suit.
  • Hand 3 would bid 2♥ showing 5 hearts and a minor suit.
  • Hand 4 would bid 2♠ showing 5 spades and a minor suit.
  • Hand 5 would bid 2NT showing 5-5the minors
  • Hand 6 would simply double against a weak NT for penalties

Responses to the Double showing a minor and a major

ResponseMeaning
2♣Shows club tolerance and willingness to play in clubs. Partner can pass with long clubs, or bid 2♦ without clubs.
2♦Shows diamond tolerance and willingness to play in diamonds. Partner can pass with long diamonds, or bid 2M without diamonds.
2♥Natural, 4+ hearts, non-forcing.
2♠Natural, 6+ spades, non-forcing.
2NTArtificial, forcing. Asks the over caller to clarify their major holding.
3♣ – Shows 4 hearts, max strength.
3♦ – Shows 4 spades, max strength.
3♥ – Shows 4 hearts, min strength.
3♠ – Shows 4 spades, min strength.
3♣Natural, 6+ good clubs, non-forcing.
3♦Natural, 6+ good diamonds, non-forcing.
3♥Pre-emptive or Good suit maybe 7 card suit.
3♠Pre-emptive or Good suit maybe 7 card suit.
3NTTo play

Responses to the 2♣ Overcall

The 2♣ overcall shows at least 5-4 in the majors.

ResponseMeaning
PassNatural, 6+ good clubs
2♦An artificial bid asks partner to bid their major suit.
2♥Natural sign-off, showing a preference for hearts even if partner is 5-4.
2♠Natural sign-off, showing a preference for spades even if partner is 5-4.
2NTArtificial, forcing. Asks the over-caller to clarify their major holding.
3♣ – Shows 4+ hearts, max strength.
3♦ – Shows 4+ spades, max strength.
3♥ – Shows 4+ hearts, min strength.
3♠ – Shows 4+ spades, min strength.
3♣Natural, 6+ good clubs, non-forcing.
3♦Natural, 6+ good diamonds, non-forcing.
3♥Pre-emptive
3♠Pre-emptive
3NTTo play

Responses to the 2♦ Overcall

The 2♦ overcall shows a single-suited major.

ResponseMeaning
2♦Natural, 6+ good diamonds
2♥Natural signoff if over caller has hearts. However, this bid may also be made with game-invitational values in spades. If the over caller corrects to 2♠, then partner is allowed to raise or bid something else to show a good raise in spades.
2♠Natural signoff if over caller has spades. However, this also shows a good raise in hearts. If the over caller has hearts they bid 3♥ with a minimum and bid a feature with a maximum…or can bid 4♥ direct.
2NTArtificial, forcing. Asks the over caller to clarify their major holding.
3♣ – Shows 5 hearts, max strength.
3♦ – Shows 5 spades, max strength.
3♥ – Shows 5 hearts, min strength.
3♠ – Shows 5 spades, min strength.
3♣Natural, 6+ good clubs, non-forcing.
3♦Natural, 6+ good diamonds, non-forcing.
3♥Natural, 6+ good hearts, non-forcing.
3♠Natural, 6+ good spades, non-forcing.
3NTTo play

Responses to the 2♥ Overcall

2♥ shows a 5 card major and at least a four-card minor.

ResponseMeaning
PassThis is where we play
2♠Natural, 5+ good spades, no heart support, non-forcing.
2NTArtificial, forcing. Asks the over caller to clarify their minor holding.
3♣ – Shows 4+ clubs, min strength.
3♦ – Shows 4+ diamonds, min strength.
3♥ – Shows 4+ clubs, max strength.
3♠ – Shows 4+ diamonds, max strength.
3♣Asks partner to pass or correct to 3♦
3♦Good raise in hearts
3♥Pre-emptive raise
3♠Natural, 6+ good spades, non-forcing.
3NTTo Play
4♥To Play
4♠To Play

Responses to the 2♠ Overcall

2♠ shows 5 spades and at least a 4-card minor.

ResponseMeaning
PassThis is where we play
2NTArtificial, forcing. Asks the over caller to clarify their minor holding.
3♣ – Shows 4+ clubs, min strength.
3♦ – Shows 4+ diamonds, min strength.
3♥ – Shows 4+ clubs, max strength.
3♠ – Shows 4+ diamonds, max strength.
3♣Asks partner to pass or correct to 3♦
3♦Good raise in spades
3♥Natural, 6+ good hearts, non-forcing.
3♠Pre-emptive raise
3NTTo Play
4♥To Play
4♠To Play

Responses to the 2NT Overcall

Shows 5/5 in the minors.

BidsMeaning
PassThis is where we play
3♣A weak hand with tolerance for clubs.
3♦A weak hand with tolerance for diamonds
3♥Natural, 6+ good hearts, non-forcing.
3♠Natural, 6+ good spades, non-forcing.
3NTTo Play
4♣ / ♦Invitational
4♥ / ♠4♥ / ♠
5♣ / ♦To Play

Please note that these notes are merely ideas on how to play this convention…but you can change them how you want. That is one of the main points about complex bridge conventions…you can change them to how you want to play them…as long as you agree to them with your partner…that is the crucial point.

In Competition

Obviously, when you overcall 2♣, the opposition might double this contract which might show clubs, they might bid diamonds…so it’s important you have an agreement on what double, re-double, or 2♦ means from partner?

I would suggest over 2♣ double, Redouble asks for the longer major and 2♦ is now natural.

Over a 2♦ bid double asks partner to bid their longer major.