[awm]

I'm looking for good methods after opponents open 1M and raise to 2M. Interested in any agreements people have here, or any opinions on what I'm looking at playing.

Here's what I'm considering:

X = either normal takeout double, or 5+♣ with 4OM
2NT = 5+♦ and a second suit (either 4+♣ or 4+OM)
3M = stopper ask, usually a long running minor
4m = leaping michaels with a big two-suiter (bid suit plus OM)

After fourth seat's double and a pass from opener, advancer's 2NT is either a hand that bids 3♦ over a takeout double normally, or some lebensohl-ish hands with 4OM. Doubler continues with 3♣ (5+♣/4OM) or 3♦ (normal takeout double) or other calls to show significant extras.

After fourth seat's 2NT and a pass from opener, advancer bids 3♣ (prefer clubs to diamonds opposite the minors) or 3♦ (prefer diamonds). Overcaller corrects 3♣ to 3♦ holding the other major. The expectation is that usually when fourth seat is two-suited (♦+OM) partner will have a bunch of clubs (and we find OM) or opponents have a big double fit and will be bidding more anyway.

[kenrexford]

After 1S2S,
3minor as that minor and hearts.
3H direct equivalent to an intermedoliate jump overcall.
2NT as either minor or weak with hearts.
X as takeout for either three suits or just minors, with Advanced bidding 2NT if he would have picked hearts.

[nullve]

I haven't worked on the details, and I'm not sure how good it is, but I play

(1M)-(2M)-?:

(...)
X = takeout
2♠/3m = lead-directing, usually weak
2N = serious overcall in some suit (=> 3♣ = P/C (=> 3M/3N = ??))
3M = stopper ask
(...)
3N = gambling
4m = Leaping Michaels
(...)

[mgoetze]

nullve, on 2015-December-12, 13:18, said:

2N = serious overcall in some suit (=> 3♣ = P/C (=> 3M/3N = ??))

Seems completely unplayable, partner won't know what to do when opener bids 4♠ or even just 3♠.

[Zelandakh]

What Ken wrote - is very simple to remember and can also be played after 4♠, albeit less effective there than at the 2 level.

[jallerton]

kenrexford, on 2015-December-12, 12:39, said:

After 1S2S,
3minor as that minor and hearts.
3H direct equivalent to an intermedoliate jump overcall.
2NT as either minor or weak with hearts.
X as takeout for either three suits or just minors, with Advanced bidding 2NT if he would have picked hearts.

The 2NT bid would be rather more effective if RHO's 2♠ bid had been preceded by an insufficient bid.

[jallerton]

awm, on 2015-December-12, 10:54, said:

I'm looking for good methods after opponents open 1M and raise to 2M. Interested in any agreements people have here, or any opinions on what I'm looking at playing.

Here's what I'm considering:

X = either normal takeout double, or 5+♣ with 4OM
2NT = 5+♦ and a second suit (either 4+♣ or 4+OM)
3M = stopper ask, usually a long running minor
4m = leaping michaels with a big two-suiter (bid suit plus OM)

After fourth seat's double and a pass from opener, advancer's 2NT is either a hand that bids 3♦ over a takeout double normally, or some lebensohl-ish hands with 4OM. Doubler continues with 3♣ (5+♣/4OM) or 3♦ (normal takeout double) or other calls to show significant extras.

After fourth seat's 2NT and a pass from opener, advancer bids 3♣ (prefer clubs to diamonds opposite the minors) or 3♦ (prefer diamonds). Overcaller corrects 3♣ to 3♦ holding the other major. The expectation is that usually when fourth seat is two-suited (♦+OM) partner will have a bunch of clubs (and we find OM) or opponents have a big double fit and will be bidding more anyway.

I play 2NT as a 2-suiter. If the opponents have raised hearts, 2NT=both minors.

If the opponents have raised spades, I have three different agreements with different partners:

A. 2NT=hearts and a minor
B. 2NT = any 2 suits
C. 2NT =any 2 suits, but if hearts is one of the suits, limited in playing strength by the failure to bid 4m Leaping Michaels.

[nullve]

mgoetze, on 2015-December-12, 15:02, said:

partner won't know what to do when opener bids 4♠ or even just 3♠.

Because...?

[mgoetze]

nullve, on 2015-December-14, 18:01, said:

Because...?

Because he doesn't know what suit you have. I mean, really, that didn't occur to you?

[kenrexford]

jallerton, on 2015-December-14, 17:38, said:

The 2NT bid would be rather more effective if RHO's 2♠ bid had been preceded by an insufficient bid.

Huh?

[awm]

The issue with Ken's method is that after 2nt and openers 3♠ compete, advancer has no idea what suit partner has and can rarely (if ever) compete to the four level. He's also given no help on lead.

A similar problem can arise after double when advancer has hearts. The handy 2nt call to show hearts is removed by openers 3♠ compete and hands with shapes like 3622 are left guessing. Sure you can use double or 3nt or something as responsive, but this only helps when you have a fit...

After thinking about my own proposal more, I feel like having a 2nt advance of takeout double as "two places to play" is too powerful to lose! I suspect we will go with something like 2nt as other major and clubs and other calls normal, with double including diamonds plus other major (ELC).

[straube]

We're talking specifically about spade raises here, I assume.

I was thinking dbl as takeout or ELC and 2N as clubs and another. Then you have a call for both minors.

[nullve]

mgoetze, on 2015-December-14, 18:39, said:

Because he doesn't know what suit you have. I mean, really, that didn't occur to you?

No, it didn't occur to me that just because he doesn't know which suit I have, he won't know what to do over 3/4♠. What I think he'll do is to try to make the right LoTT decision, either by passing, bidding a new suit as P/C, 3N to play or 4N as takeout over 4♠, or by making a (passable) takeout double if he thinks he needs to leave the decision to me. And what he thinks is the right LoTT decision will largely depend on what he has in spades.

[lorserker]

2NT is a two-suiter with any two lower ranking suits
X is takeout (similar to doubling a weak two)
overcalls are natural

over a direct double, partner's 2NT is lebensohl (like over weak twos)
over a reopening double, partner's 2NT is scrambling showing at least two places to play