[pbleighton]

What do you recommend for coping with high level interference after a 1C 16+ opening:
1) LHO, 2S or higher
2) RHO when LHO has passed (depends on pard's response)
3) RHO when LHO hasn't passed (depends on pard's response)

My gut feeling is that I want to double for penalties a lot, but I'm not sure. Suggestions?

[the hog]

Up to and including 2S - Rubensohl.

After intervention at the 3+ level, bids natural and forcing and Xs for t/o. You pick up the penalty X by opener re opening.

[pbleighton]

"After intervention at the 3+ level, bids natural and forcing and Xs for t/o. You pick up the penalty X by opener re opening."

An example, to make sure I understand you:

Partner opens 1C, overcalled 4H by his LHO. Here are some responses with different hands:
1) Almost any hand with less than 8 hcp - Pass.
2) xx-Jxx-Axxx-Axxx - Pass (if partner doesn't have spades or is very strong, you probably go down).
3) xx-AJxx-Axxx-Axx - Double - strong, can support any suit.
4) Ax-Kxxx-KJxxx-xx - Pass.
5) AQxxx-xx-Kxx-xxx - 4H (hope for 3 S from pd).
6) xx-x-AKxxxx-xxx - 5D.

On 1, 2, and 4, after the pass, partner probably doubles.

Is this more or less what you are suggesting?

[the hog]

In effect yes.

Lets say 1C (4H)

We pass with a penalty X eg xxx AJxx Kx xxxx and expect pd to reopen when short in H

We pass with flat hands with or without values
With responder values hopefully pd can reopen with a X - he may noe be able to if holding length in pre emptor's suit

If we have a flat hand we pass the X anyway and hope to beat it - doesn't always work and you concede some 790s

With gf values and a decent suit, we bid it. Hand 5 above is marginal AQxxx is not maybe just good enough for a 4S bid. With anything less, I'd probably X
hand 6, AKxxxx is not worth a 5D bid opposite a min 1C opener.

Gets more interesting after 1C (4S)
x = t/o
4NT = 2 suited t/o

Pre empts are designed to make life difficult and not everything will work all the time; you have to play what works best in the majority of cases.

[pbleighton]

"With anything less, I'd probably X
hand 6, AKxxxx is not worth a 5D bid opposite a min 1C opener."

With X being for takeout, is it a strict takeout, or one that can be passed for penalties?

[the hog]

All "takeout Xs" can be passed for penalties if partner does not have a suit in which to take out or if pd has a trump stack. eg

1C (4H) X* (P)

* t/o
Would you not pass as opener on
Axx
KJxx
KQx
Axx
Sure you may miss a slam if responder has a monster, but be aware that responder will NOT have a monster 2 suiter - else would bid 4NT or even 5H if pushing to slam.

The other thing to consider is intervention at the 5 level. Marston - Burgess, a world class Aust. pair of some years ago prepared for the Bermuda Bowl by bidding 00s of hands with high level pre empts. Their conclusion was that after a 5 level pre empt, pass by resp should be forcing and X indicate no willingness to compete. Obviously these treatments require a good deal of discussion.