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Defences and countermeasures to opponents artificial approaches

Against two-suiters

Against Unusual NT (Reverse Unusual vs Unusual)

X
potential PEN (later X = PEN)
3 new suit
nat INV
3 partner’s suit
Mixed
Cue Lower
NV+ with support
Cue Higher
GF w/unbid suit
p and X later
T/o
p and step 1
seeking 3NT with no stoppers
p and step 2
seeking 3NT with no stopper in the suit I bid this over and a stopper in their other 5-suit
p and step 3
seeking 3NT with a stopper in the suit I bid this over and no stopper in their other 5-suit

Against Ghestem (Reverse Unusual vs Unusual)

Where 3♣ show highest unbids

1♣-(3♣)
3♦
nat INV (sbsq. M stoppers)
3♥
clubs GF
3♠
diamonds GF
1♦-(3♣)
3♦
mixed (can be 3♦)
3♥
GF w/support
3♠
clubs GF
1♥-(3♣)
3♦
INV+ w/support
3♥
mixed (can be 3M)
3♠
clubs GF
1♠-(3♣)
3♦
INV+ w/support
3♥
clubs GF
3♠
mixed (can be 3M)

Against Michaels (2 suits known) (based on Reverse Unusual vs Unusual)

1M-(2M)
direct raise
mixed (can be 3M)
lower cue
INV+ w/support
higher cue
GF w/unbid
2NT
NF minor
Unbid suit
3rd lvl nat INV
1♦-(2♦)
direct raise
mixed (can be 3♦)
lower cue
INV+ w/support
higher cue
GF w/unbid
2NT
(they have M+M) - nF ♣, INV thru 3♣
2♥
(they have ♣+♠) - nF ♥, INV thru 3♥
1♣-(2♣)
unbid suit
2nd lvl nF, 3rd lvl INV
lower cue
INV+ w/clubs
higher cue
GF w/unbid
2NT
nF ♣ (or any minor when they have M+M)
3♣
mixed
Against Michaels (1 suit known) (TRF)
Cue
INV+ w/support
2NT
TRF ♣
3♣
TRF ♦
3♦ (after M)
mixed with support for partners suit
3 partners suit
PRE in M, mixed in ♦
3 unbid M
nat GF
4m
FJ
X
potential PEN

Against two-suited Sandwich NT

1x-(p)-1y-(1NT)

See “Four cue-bids” - the principle is the same.
If you wanted to rebid his suit, now pass or X.

Against artificial openings

Against natural constructive 2m opening

3m
5+5+ Majors 15+
2NT
5+5+ oM + any m 15+
jump overcall
PRE
3NT
to play

Against 2♣ (3-9 and 4+4+ Majors)

X
14-16 or 20+
2♦
nat 12+ (sbsq. 2M nat INV+, 2NT 9-12.5 F1 (sbsq. 3♣ ask, answers: 3♦ 9-10 else GF GBS),
3♣
nat INV, 3D 5-8, 3M SPL)
2♥
nat 12+ (sbsq. 2♠ 9-10, 3♥ 5-8, 2NT INV+ w/support, 3m nat INV)
2♠
5+4+ minors
2NT
17-19 system ON
3♣
nat 15+ (sbsq. 3R TRF INV+, 3♠ GF w/long and strong ♦, 3NT to play)
3♦
nat 17+, sbsq. 3♥ nat OR guard - then 3♥ = hearts OK, sbsq. 3NT = it was a guard, rest = it was nat ♥), 3NT = hearts not OK
3M
nat 6+M 17+
3NT
to play
4m
6m 4M GF
4♥
6♣ 4♦ GF
4♠
6♦ 4♣ GF
4NT
minors
pass and X
PEN
pass and M
nat

Against Multi 2♦ opening

2♥/♠
15+ (5)6+♣/♦
X
11+ 5+M
2NT
16-19, STAY and TRF on
3m
11-14 (5)6+m
3NT
to play
3M
17+ 6+M
p then X
T/o

(2♦)-p-(2M weak or P/C)

X
points (opening hand +)
2NT
16-19, system off (minors by passed hand)

Against Flannery

(2♦)

X
15+ bal
2♥
12+ T/o w/3+♠
2♠
12+ nat
2NT
12+ 5+4+ minors
3m
15+ nat
3♥
bid 3NT with a heart stopper
3♠
17+ 6+♠
3NT
to play
4m
nat, within a trick of game
4M
to play
4NT
6+5+ minors wide-range or strong GF w/55
5m
to play
(2♦)-p-(2♥)
X
12+ T/o (might be just minors) or 17+ any
2♠
12+ nat
2NT
17-19 bal or minors by passed hand
3m
nat
3♥
bid 3NT with a heart stopper
3♠
17+ 6+♠
3NT
to play
4m
natural, within a trick of game
4M
to play
4NT
6+5+ minors wide-range or strong GF w/55
5m
to play

Defence against Unusual 2NT opening

X
12+ card showing 3+M 3+M (sbsq. X from partner = it is our hand), with PEN X: pass then X
3♣
15+ T/o with equal Majors or better ♥
3♦
15+ T/o with better ♠
3♥
nat 15+ decent suit
3♠
nat 15+ decent suit

Against 3NT Gambling

(3NT)
X
HCP
4♣
one-suiter
4♦
4+4+ Majors
4M
5+M w/4+m
4NT
1430 for 4 aces
(3NT)-p-(4♣)
X
HCP
4♦
choose a M
4M
nat
4NT
5M+5+m - huge hand

Defence against WJ

Everything is natural

(1♣)-x-(p!)
2♣
cue-bid
(1♣)-x-(1♦!)
2♦
cue-bid

Defence against Precision 1♣ and 1♣-1♦

X
Majors
1a
nat, lead-dir after partner has passed, otherwise a usual overcall
1NT
minors
2a+
nat wide-range

Defence against Precision 2♦ 4441♦ 11-15 or similar

X
diamonds, but hand not too good for 2NT or 3♦
2NT
16-19 bal STAY/TRF ON
2M
nat
3♣
nat
3♦
nat, good hand
(1♦ Precision)
X
4+4+ Majors constructive
2♦
nat
3♦
nat PRE

Against TRF

If TRF is 5+ suit, it is their suit.

X
lead-dir
accept TRF
T/o 2nd lvl, two-suited 3rd+ lvl

If TRF is 4+suit, it is not their suit yet

X
nat T/o
accept TRF
nat

Against 2NT-3R TRF and higher:

X
lead-dir, may be lighter
accept TRF
any 65+ in oM and any m
3NT
6+5+ minors

Against Jacoby 2NT

X
5+m 6+oM
3m
6+m 5+oM
3NT
6+5+ minors

Against Kaplan inversion

1♥-(p)-1♠ (0-4♠)

X
5+♠ 10+
1NT
16-19 bal STAY/TRF OFF
2♥
strong T/o (17+) probably 4144 or 4153/4135
2NT
minors
Other
nat (sound)
1♥-(p)-1NT (5+♠)
X
15+ bal
2♣
11-14, minors
2♦
nat
2♥
15+, clubs
2NT
15+, minors
3♣
11-14, clubs
3♦
nat pre
3M
bid 3NT with this stopper