Tag: strong

Landik

On 21 August 2020

Most people these days play a short club with a strong no trump and five card majors, therefore opening 1 club is quite often a weak no trump holding.

The Landik conventional 2♣ bid describes a 5-4 or 5-5 holding in the majors up to about 9 points after the bidding has gone… 1♣ from partner and a strong 1NT overcall from the opposition. Now you bid 2♣ hoping to find a fit in the majors.

Lavings

By John Stell

On 27 June 2020

In Conventions

The Lavings convention is a simple way of asking for 5 card majors after partner has opened a strong or weak NT.

After an opening 1NT Bid and 2♣ Response

So it’s important to known you can only bid 2♣ with invitational hands.

Bid	Meaning
2♦	Minimum no 5 card Major
2♥	Minimum 5 card hearts
2♠	Minimum 5 card spades
2NT	Maximum no 5 card suit
3♣	Maximum 5 card club suit
3♦	Maximum 5 card diamond suit
3♥	Maximum 5 card heart suit
3♠	Maximum 5 card spade suit

Continuations after 2♦

So after 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ uninterrupted

Bid	Meaning
2♥	5 card suit non-forcing
2♠	5 card suit non-forcing
2NT	To Play
3♣	Promissory 4 card Stayman
3♦	3 Card Stayman
3♥	Shows 5 spades and 4 Hearts
3♠	Shows 5 hearts and 4 Spades

Continuations after 2NT

So after 1NT – 2♣ – 2NT uninterrupted. 3♣ would be promissory Stayman and a bid of 3♦ would ask for a 3 card major.

Some Examples

Let’s look at some examples of strong and Weak NT openers.

a)	b)	c)	d)
♠ AQ1083 ♥ K8 ♦ KJ7 ♣ A97	♠ AJ53 ♥ J54 ♦ QJ72 ♣ K7	♠ KJ4 ♥ K108 ♦ AQ762 ♣ A7	♠ KJ862 ♥ 42 ♦ KQ7 ♣ AJ10
♠ 954 ♥ A74 ♦ Q8543 ♣ K3	♠ Q73 ♥ KQ973 ♦ A65 ♣ 43	♠ Q72 ♥ AQ962 ♦ 93 ♣ 953	♠ Q73 ♥ KQ973 ♦ A65 ♣ 43
e)	f)	g)	h)
♠ AQ862 ♥ 42 ♦ KQ7 ♣ KJ10	♠ KJ82 ♥ 42 ♦ KQ7 ♣ AJ107	♠ KJ8 ♥ 42 ♦ KQJ7 ♣ A1092	♠ KJ62 ♥ 42 ♦ KQ7 ♣ AJ107
♠ J73 ♥ K10973 ♦ 43 ♣ A65	♠ Q763 ♥ KQ93 ♦ A65 ♣ 43	♠ Q763 ♥ KQJ3 ♦ 1073 ♣ K5	♠ Q1073 ♥ KQ73 ♦ A65 ♣ 43
i)
♠ K82 ♥ AQJ6 ♦ A982 ♣ K8
♠ AJ943 ♥ 1094 ♦ QJ3 ♣ A7

The Bidding

a) 1NT (15-17) – 2♣ – 3♠ – 4♠

So the 3♠ shows a maximum and you simply raise it to 4♠

b) 1NT (12-14) – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2♥

Partner has invitational 5 card heart suit but after just bidding 2♥ you can pass this even with 3 card support.

c) 1NT (15 – 17) – 2♣ – 3♦ – 3♥ – 4♥

The original NT bidder is maximum with a 5 card diamond suit. You now bid your 5 card heart suit (game forcing) which gets supported to 4♥.

d) 1NT (12 – 14) – 2♣ – 3♠ – 4♠

The original NT bidder is maximum with a 5 card spade suit. You now bid 4♠.

e) 1NT (15-17) – 2♣ – 2♠

So the 2♠ shows a minimum with 5 spades which you can just pass.

f) 1NT (12-14) – 2♣ – 2NT – 3♣ – 3♠ – 4♠

2NT shows a maximum without any 5 card suit. 3♣ is promissory Stayman (it guarantees a 4 card major) and partner bids 3♠ which then gets raised to 4♠.

g) 1NT (12 – 14) – 2♣ – 2NT – 3♣ – 3♦ – 3NT

The 2NT shows a maximum without any 5 card suit. 3♣ is promissory Stayman (it guarantees a 4 card major) and partner bids 3♦ which denies a 4 card major. 3NT is then bid.

h) 1NT (12 – 14) – 2♣ – 2NT – 3♣ – 3♥ – 3NT – 4♠

The 2NT shows a maximum without any 5 card suit. 3♣ is promissory Stayman (it guarantees a 4 card major) and partner bids 3♥. 3NT is bid as you don’t like hearts and partner converts to the known 4-4 spade fit and bids 4♠.

g) 1NT (15 – 17) – 2♣ – 2NT – 3♦ – 3♥ – 3NT – 4♠

The 2NT shows a maximum without any 5 card suit. 3♦ asks for a 3 card major (should guarantee a 5 card major) and partner bids 3♥. 3NT is bid which partner can either pass or bid 4♠ if they have 3 card spade support.

So that’s how to play the Lavings bidding convention….a five card major ask after an opening 1NT.

Multi Landy

By John Stell

On 16 June 2020

In Conventions

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.

Bids	Meaning
Double	Penalty 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
2NT	At 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

Response	Meaning
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.
2NT	Artificial, 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.
3NT	To play

Responses to the 2♣ Overcall

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

Response	Meaning
Pass	Natural, 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.
2NT	Artificial, 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
3NT	To play

Responses to the 2♦ Overcall

The 2♦ overcall shows a single-suited major.

Response	Meaning
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.
2NT	Artificial, 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.
3NT	To play

Responses to the 2♥ Overcall

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

Response	Meaning
Pass	This is where we play
2♠	Natural, 5+ good spades, no heart support, non-forcing.
2NT	Artificial, 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.
3NT	To Play
4♥	To Play
4♠	To Play

Responses to the 2♠ Overcall

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

Response	Meaning
Pass	This is where we play
2NT	Artificial, 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
3NT	To Play
4♥	To Play
4♠	To Play

Responses to the 2NT Overcall

Shows 5/5 in the minors.

Bids	Meaning
Pass	This 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.
3NT	To 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.

2D opening Bid in Benji Acol

By John Stell

On 3 June 2020

In Conventions

This is the same as the Acol 2♣ opening bid i.e. a strong (23+ points) balanced hand, OR a game forcing hand. The negative bid is now 2♥. Although again you can just use this as a relay bid to see what opener has exactly. Relaying is my recommendation. Openers rebids of NT would show:

2NT – 23-24 points
3NT – 25-27 points
4NT – 28-30 points

These bids are the only bids passable.

Let’s look at an example 2♦ opener:-

North
♠ AKQJ863
♥ K8
♦ 7
♣ AK7

South
♠ 954
♥ A2
♦ 1086432
♣ Q3

So the bidding could go:-

2♦ – 2♥– 2♠ – 3♠ – 4♣ – 4♥ – 5♣ – 6♣ – 6♠.

So 6♠ is reached by cue bidding 1st 2nd and 3rd round controls in clubs. Because North is missing the ace of diamonds it’s right for south to cue bid the 3rd round control in clubs.

Another partnership agreement that people have is to show a very poor hand opposite the strong suited hand by just bidding the next suit up. Since the two diamond bid is game forcing…the auction might go something like…

2♦ – 2♥
3♦ – 3♥
3NT – Pass

So 3♥ could be a 5+ card suit but can also be a negative…as you don’t want the weak hand to play it out in 3NT as they might only have game if they are playing it out.

2♦ – 2♥
3♦ – 3♥
4♦ – Pass

The above sequence can be passed out

2♦ – 2♥
3♦ – 3♥
3♠ – Forcing as it is a change of suit.

Some alternatives…

These are just some ideas you could choose to play…again this is down to partnership agreement.

2♣ – 2♦
2NT*

Shows 23-24 points.

2♦ – 2♥
2NT*

Shows 25-26 points.

2♣ – 2♦
3NT*

Shows 27-28 points.

2♦ – 2♥
3NT*

Shows 29-30 points!!!!! I’ve never picked up 29 points so this would be a bit crazy to play this.

2♦ – 2♥
3NT*

Could show a strong hand with a long minor e.g.

♠ Kx
♥ Ax
♦ Ax
♣ AKQJxxx