[navit]

My partner opened 1NT. Opponent overcalled 2D. I have 8HCP and a 4 card Major. How do I ask my partner if he has a 4 card major. Without the overcall stayman

[Quantumcat]

I made a little convention that I really like but others didn't think much of, for dealing with natural interference like that.

After 2D overcall:

Double is both majors
Bidding 3C is invitational takeout of diamonds
Double then 3C is GF takeout of diamonds
3D is stayman (good invitational plus only though)
Bidding a major is a transfer to the other major (can't just bid your major cause you need to get another go in case you're stronger than a transfer-then-pass hand)

After 2C overcall:

Double is both majors
Bidding 2D is invitational takeout of clubs
Double then 3D is GF takeout of clubs
2D is stayman (doesn't have to be strong, you can pass a 2 level bid now)
Bidding a major is a transfer to the other major

After a major overcall:

double is the other major (four)
Bidding the other major is five or more and invitational (you'd be quiet with a transfer-then-pass type hand)
Doubling then raising or bidding the other major is GF as though you'd transferred to that major
3C is invitational takeout of that major
Double then 3C is GF takeout of that major

For any of them, jumping in a major is to play there, jumping in a minor is forcing ...


Do you think this could work? Maybe with some tweaks and changes?

The answer to your question anyway is that there are many different conventions and agreements you can use to deal with interference, I don't think any one treatment is standard per se.

[kenberg]

navit, on Sep 29 2007, 10:01 AM, said:

My partner opened 1NT. Opponent overcalled 2D. I have 8HCP and a 4 card Major. How do I ask my partner if he has a 4 card major. Without the overcall stayman

Without discussion, I suppose the short answer is that you cannot.
However.

I assume the 2D overcall was natural, showing diamonds. I would expect 3D by you would ask for a four card major from partner (and of course show good values since he may not have one.

Lebensohl is a convention with a number of uses. 1N-(2D)-2N forces partner to rebid 3C. If you adopt this then a direct 3D over 2D is Stayman w/o a diamond stop and 2N followed by 3D over 3C is Stayman with a stop. Caveat: Some reverse this.

You could, and many do, play that over 2D a double is negative.



The only one of these that I think might be safe (and that is still only "might") w/o previous discussion is the first: An immediate 3D asks for a major, presumably with enough strength to play 3N if opener does not have a major (or has the wrong one). You just hope someone stops diamonds.

Another caveat: If you decide to take up Lebensohl (since you are asking I assume you are not familiar with it) there is some discussion needed. There are a number of sequences, and you need to discuss which if any still apply if 2D is, say, DONT (diamonds plus a major). or if 2D doesn't show diamonds at all.

If you have a regular partner you might want to find a good source for how to handle interference over NT. Steve Robinson's Washington Standard has an extensive list along the lines of "When they overcall such and such, meaning this and that, then here is what our bids will mean". I am not saying his choices are or are not the best, and I am sure you will get other opinions, but it would be a way of settling on something and this is certainly better than guessing what you and your partner might think is going on.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

play neg. X after they overcall your
strong NT.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[zhs1971]

try T/O double & Lenbensohl (Rubensohl is ok too)