Surendra Mehta August Bridge in a nutshell

UNUSUAL 2NT OVERCALL Surendra Mehta August 2007

Surendra Mehta August Unusual 2NT Overcall  After an opponent opening bid of one of a suit, a direct jump to 2NT is unusual.  Hitherto this has meant a very strong hand (20 – 22 points) with a stopper in opponents suit.  Some Bridge players make a jump 2NT overcall to mean something else.

Surendra Mehta August Unusual 2 NT Overcall  It shows 5:5 distribution in the two lowest unbid suits, and a fairly weak hand (normally 7-15 points)  Over 1 or 1 , 2NT shows at least 5:5 in clubs and diamonds  Over 1 , 2NT shows at least 5:5 in clubs and hearts  Over 1 , 2NT shows at least 5:5 in diamonds and hearts  Simpler version: Over 1 of a minor, 2NT shows 5 cards in both the major suits and over 1 of a major, 2NT shows 5 cards in both minor suits

Surendra Mehta August Additional Unusual Auctions The Unusual 2NT can also be used after both opponents have bid, as in these situations:  1H Pass 1S 2NT  1H Pass 2H 2NT  1S Pass 1NT 2NT  If opponents bid 2 different suits, then 2NT indicates 5 cards in both the remaining suits  The Unusual 2NT convention is useful because it gives up the strong point natural 2NT overcall, which practically never occurs, in exchange for pre-empting the opponents and paving the way for a possible good sacrifice.

Surendra Mehta August Unusual No Trump Overcall  Unusual 2NT is like a pre-emptive bid but you can show 2 suits in one bid!!  If vulnerable, your suit quality should be fairly solid with 2 honours in each suit Alert! The 2 NT overcall should be alerted, as it is not a natural bid. Responses to 2NT are NOT alertable.

Surendra Mehta August Partner’s Response to Unusual 2NT – Example 1 WestEast  K 9  K J Q 9 5  9 2  Q 6 4  A K  Q 5 90% of the time you will bid your better suit at the lowest level WestNorthEastSouth 11 2NTPass3 2NT shows and , so East bids his better suit - 3 If North has made a bid, East will still bid 3, if that bid is available.

Surendra Mehta August Partner’s Response to Unusual 2NT – Example 2 WestEast  K 9  K 9 5  K  Q 6 4  A K  Q 5 WestNorthEastSouth 1 2NTPass3  2NT shows both minors, so East bids his better suit - 3  If North has made a bid, East will still bid 3 , if that bid is available.

Surendra Mehta August Partner’s Response to Unusual 2NT – Example 3 WestEast  9   K  Q J 6 4  A K  Q 4 2 WestNorthEastSouth 11 2NTPass4  With a good fit for one of partner’s suits (at least 4 cards), you can jump a level – this is a pre-emptive and not invitational. Perhaps your bid will stop the opponents finding their major suit game.

Surendra Mehta August Disadvantages of Unusual 2NT Overacall  You or your partner might forget this is unusual  Your partner may make a mistake in deciding which are your two long suits – Play simpler version. Must agree with your partner which version you are playing.  Occasionally playing unusual NT will lead you a contract where you will go down heavily  You can no longer use 2NT overcall to show points.  Generally, in duplicate game, the advantages outweigh disadvantages. Normal 2NT overcall showing points is very rare. If you have such a hand, double first, and then bid NT – showing 19+ points.

Surendra Mehta August Defence against Unusual 2NT Overacall  The old-fashioned approach to dealing with these overcalls was to use cuebids of the opponent's suits to show stoppers or controls.  For example, after 1H by partner, and 2NT by RHO (clubs and diamonds), your 3D cue-bid would show a diamond stopper and ask partner to bid 3NT with a club stopper.

Surendra Mehta August How would you bid on this hand? Dealer South; N/S vulnerable North  A K   6 East  J  J 6 2  K 5 West  J Q 4  A Q  Q J South  A K Q  K 5  A

Surendra Mehta August NESW 1  2NT 3  Pass4  Pass PassPassPass North  A K   6 East  J  J 6 2  K 5 West  J Q 4  A Q  Q J South  A K Q  K 5  A