1. Surendra Mehta August 2007 20071 Bridge in a nutshell

2. UNUSUAL 2NT OVERCALL Surendra Mehta August 2007

3. Surendra Mehta August 2007 20073 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.

4. Surendra Mehta August 2007 20074 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

5. Surendra Mehta August 2007 20075 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 20-21 point natural 2NT overcall, which practically never occurs, in exchange for pre-empting the opponents and paving the way for a possible good sacrifice.

6. Surendra Mehta August 2007 20076 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.

7. Surendra Mehta August 2007 20077 Partner’s Response to Unusual 2NT – Example 1 WestEast  K 9  10 7 3 4 2 K J 10 8 2 Q 9 5  9 2  Q 6 4  A K 7 6 3  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.

8. Surendra Mehta August 2007 20078 Partner’s Response to Unusual 2NT – Example 2 WestEast  K 9  10 7 3 4 2 8 2 K 9 5  K 10 9 7 2  Q 6 4  A K 7 6 3  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.

9. Surendra Mehta August 2007 20079 Partner’s Response to Unusual 2NT – Example 3 WestEast  9  10 7 3 8 2 10 4 3  K 10 9 7 2  Q J 6 4  A K 7 6 3  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.

10. Surendra Mehta August 2007 200710 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 20-22 points.  Generally, in duplicate game, the advantages outweigh disadvantages. Normal 2NT overcall showing 20-22 points is very rare. If you have such a hand, double first, and then bid NT – showing 19+ points.

11. Surendra Mehta August 2007 200711 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.

12. Surendra Mehta August 2007 200712 How would you bid on this hand? Dealer South; N/S vulnerable North  10 9 6 5 A K 10 8 7  7 4 3  6 East  8 7 2 J 9 6 5 3  J 6 2  K 5 West  J Q 4  A Q 10 9 8  Q J 10 9 7 South  A K Q 4 3 2  K 5  A 8 4 3 2

13. Surendra Mehta August 2007 200713 NESW 1  2NT 3  Pass4  Pass PassPassPass North  10 9 6 5 A K 10 8 7  7 4 3  6 East  8 7 2 J 9 6 5 3  J 6 2  K 5 West  J Q 4  A Q 10 9 8  Q J 10 9 7 South  A K Q 4 3 2  K 5  A 8 4 3 2