HELLO
Against weak 1NT
- X
- PEN (see below how much you need)
- 2♣
- forces 2♦ from partner
- 2♦
- transfer to hearts
- 2♥
- both majors, preferably 9+ cards (responder may pass or adjust to 2♠)
- 2♠
- spades (natural bid)
- 2NT
- TRF to clubs, wide-range
- 3♣
- both minors (responder may pass or adjust to 3♦)
- 3♦
- nat PRE
Switch 2♦/2♥ and 2NT/3♣ on reopen
After 2♣ forcing partner to bid 2♦
- Pass
- 5+♦
- 2M
- 5M 4+m (sbsq. 2NT ask for the minor, 3♣ p/c, 3♦ INV+ w/support for partners M)
- 2NT
- 6♦ 4M (sbsq. 3♣ forces overcaller to TRF to his 4M
- 3♣
- 6♣ 4M (sbsq. 3♦ forces to bid his 4M)
- 3♦
- 5♥ 5♠, 17+
The above also applies against:
- 2NT opening (very sound and excellent ODR)
- after Kokish relay sequences (very sound and excellent ODR)
- after Multi sequences (very sound and excellent ODR)
- 1♣-(1NT) X for PEN here, no way to show clubs or 5m4M
- (1♣)-p-(1NT) give up PEN X here, partner will surely reopen: X = T/o
- against RAPTOR that has not promised an anchor suit yet
Against strong NT (14-16+)
- X
- forces 2♣ from partner, then:
- Pass
- 5+♣
- 2♦
- 5+♦ 4M
- 2M
- 5+♣ 4M
- 2NT
- 6♦ 4♣
- 3♣
- 6♣ 4♦
The rest of the overcalls remains the same as against weak NT
PEN double of weak NT reqs
| Fav | Unfav | None Vul. | Both Vul | |
| 2nd hand | 13+(12 w/44M) | 14+ | 14+(13 w/44M) | ODR-based |
| 4th hand | 12+(11 w/44M) | 13+ | 12+ | ODR-based |
Not sure about your ODR?
NV Interference over their 1NT opening: two longest suits minus total losers is > 1 = bid
Reopen their 1NT opening only with a singleton.
After we double their 1NT for penalty and they pass
The partner of the doubler reacts as if we have opened 1NT
After we double their 1NT for penalty and they bid
(1NT)-X-(2x)
- pass
- nothing
- X
- DSI2
- suit 2nd lvl
- nat, nF
- 2NT
- puppet
- 3♣-3♠
- TRF INV+
(1NT)-X-(XX SOS)
now we are forced to play 2a or let them play 2a doubled)
- pass
- waiting
- suit
- natural, better to play our contract, partner
HELLO continuations
(strong 1NT)-X-(p)
- 2♣
- no game prospects
- 2♦
- nat, nF
- 2M
- nat, nF
- 2NT
- heavy
- 3♣
- nat GF
- 3♦
- nat GF
- pass
- PEN
(1NT)-2♣-(p)
- 2♦
- no game prospects
- 2M
- nat, nF
- 2NT
- heavy
- 3♣
- nat GF
- 3♦
- nat GF
- pass
- to play
(1NT)-2♦-(p)
- 2♥
- no GF w/own suit and no subINV+ w/support
- 2♠
- nat, nF
- 2NT
- INV+ (sbsq. 3♦/4♦ re-TRF)
- 3♣
- nat GF
- 3♦
- nat GF
- 3♥
- subINV (NV 11-12, vul. 9-10)
- 3♠
- nat GF
- pass
- rare, good suit, bad support
(1NT)-2♥-(p)
- pass or 2♠
- preference
- 2NT
- INV+
- 3m
- nat GF
- 3M
- subINV (NV 11-12, vul. 9-10)
(1NT)-2♥-(p)-2NT-(p)
- 3♣
- doesn’t accept INV (sbsq. 3♦ ask for longer M, 3M to play)
- 3♦
- accepting INV, 5♥ 5♠
- 3♥
- accepting INV, 4♠ 5♥
- 3♠
- accepting INV, 5♠ 4♥
- 3NT
- accepting INV, 4♠ 4♥
- 4m
- accepting INV, 5+♥ 5+♠, void m
(1NT)-2♠-(p)
- 2NT
- INV+
- 3♣
- nat, GF
- 3♦
- nat, GF
- 3♥
- nat, GF
- 3♠
- subINV (NV 11-12, vul. 9-10)
On reopen
Same except for:
(1NT)-p-(p)-2♥-(p)
- 2♠
- nat, nF
- 3m
- nat, nF
Heavy 2NT
A massive acceptance for the minor or possible major-minor two-suiter, INV+
When they interfere
(strong 1NT)-X-(XX Pen)
- 2♣
- 2+♣
- 2♦/2M
- 0-1♣ 6+♦/M
- Pass
- 0-1♣ no own 6+suit, overcaller scrambles naturally on reopen (2♣ with 6+♣)
(1NT)-2♣-(X) (X = points or Stayman)
- XX
- exclusion
- 2♦
- 3+♦
- Pass
- 0-2♦
- 2M
- 6+suit nat, nF
(1NT)-2♣-(2♦)
2♦ = system ON
- X
- exclusion
(1NT)-2♦-(X)
X = anything
- pass
- 5+♦ 0-1♥
- XX
- INV+
- 2♥
- 2+♥
- 2♠
- nat, nF
Exclusion Doubles
When they overcall our puppet to 2m, X is “exclusion”, guarantees a fit for any of partner’s hand types and suggest further competition. Logically, this means Advancer holds at least three cards in each of the minor, hearts and spades in (1NT)-2♣-(2x) (e.g. w/Qxx xxx Axxx Qx or Jxxx Qxxx Kxx x or Axxx Axxx xxxx x). On each of the above, aAdvancer should make an ‘exclusion double’ showinga desire to compete to the 3rd level opposite a diamond overcall or a major/minor two-suiter. This tool encourages the 2♣ bidder to continue bidding with the knowledge that partner has values and fitting cards.