[spuit111]

EW play 15-17 NT and 5 card majors.


 W   N   E    S
(1C) P (1H) 1N
(P)  2S  (P)  ?


1N was natural and sandwich-like, but North alerted this. He presumably thought 1N showed the other two suits.

North intends 2S as natural (in response to 1N being D and S).

Over a 1N opener or 1N overcall a 2S bid from partner would be a transfer to C.

What action should South take now?

Should they to complete or break the 'transfer to C' in the usual manner even though it's clear partner has misunderstood?

[TylerE]

I'm confused. 1NT can be natural or sandwich...not both.

[spuit111]

1N was 18-19 balanced with stoppers in 2 suits bid.

Isn't that "sandwich"?

Apologies if description was incorrect.

[jdonn]

spuit111, on Sep 30 2010, 10:36 AM, said:

Should they to complete or break the 'transfer to C' in the usual manner even though it's clear partner has misunderstood?

Yes, he must continue to bid and alert as though he didn't hear partner's alert.

[TylerE]

spuit111, on Sep 30 2010, 10:51 AM, said:

1N was 18-19 balanced with stoppers in 2 suits bid.

Isn't that "sandwich"?

Apologies if description was incorrect.

At least around here Sanwhich NT is a weak-ish takeout for the unbid suits, say 8-14 and at least 5-4 if not 5-5, while an X is a stronger takeout.

[campboy]

Would 2♠ be a transfer to clubs even on the auction (1♣) 1NT (pass) 2♠?

[peachy]

spuit111, on Sep 30 2010, 10:36 AM, said:

1N was natural and sandwich-like

Sandwich NT is general terms is understood as "the unbid suits and weakish" while Natural NT is "NT hand". The term itself just means 'sandwiched between two bidding opponents' but it is AFAIK understood to mean the unusual NT, not the natural one but it can't be both.

As to the bidding choice, what have you agreed it to mean when partner transfers to one of the opponent's suit, clubs in this case?

[Phil]

Once upon a time the OP's description of a "sandwich NT" was correct. It was simply a 1N overcall in the 'sandwich' position and still strong. A 'sandwich overcall' has survived, but since the truly awful "NT for takeout' has come onto the scene it has grabbed the 'sandwich NT' moniker.

[karlson]

In the midst of the confusion about sandwiches, jdonn did answer your question.

Moreover though, if there are a few different bids you could reasonably make now and one would make it more obvious to partner that there has been a misunderstanding (or otherwise work better given that partner misunderstood), you are not allowed to choose that one.

[FrancesHinden]

They may have agreed to play transfers after a 4th seat 1NT overcall, in which the various answers already given are fine.

But just because you have agreed to play 2S as a transfer to clubs after a 1NT opening, or after a second seat 1NT overcall, does not mean you play it in this auction. (Example: I don't.) And certainly you shouldn't be forced to assume you do.

[jdonn]

FrancesHinden, on Sep 30 2010, 04:55 PM, said:

And certainly you shouldn't be forced to assume you do.

Unless you can be certain you don't play them (as it sounds like is the case with you), then when you have this UI you absolutely should be forced to assume you do!

[mrdct]

Hard to say what south should do when we haven't seen his hand.

Do north-south have any agreements about transfering to one of the opponents suits?

Did north have a natural ♣ overcall available over the 1♣ opening?

Does south have a super-accept of ♣?