[Chamaco]

Assume you play Precision with:
- weak NT opening , so the weakest balanced option of strong club is 16-18
- 1C-(1-level overcall)-Dbl shows 5-7 hcp ANY shape (I know this may not be your preferred option, but just assume you have to play this agreement)

You are dealer at matchpoints, say all vuln

♠AKxx♥AQxx♦Axx♣Kx

1♣-(1♦)-Dbl-pass
?

1D overcall was natural;
Dbl shows 5-7 hcp ANY shape.

What is the right bid ?
I suppose 1NT should show the minimum 16-18 bal + stopper.

So I chose to cuebid 2D.
I found it extremely difficult to figure out the kinf of hand of the double.
He could have a bal hand + stop, a bal hand without stop, a shapely hand; moreover, he may be maximum or minimum.
Especially if opeenr has to cuebid, most responses to the qbid will still leave responder's hand undefined, and that will nbe a problem especially when opener has a close decision between game or not.

I suppose this is a problem conditoioned by the use of 1-level dbl showing only hcp and nothing about shape, but right now I HAVE to stick with this approach.

Any comments ? (besides "just change approach" or "just change system" or "just use semipositive/seminegative responses" or "just change game" = comments on what would you do if you had to play the same agreement)

Question 1

Should I maybe bid 2NT ?
Would it be different if I held 19 uinstead of 20 ?

Question 2
If the cuebid is correct, the questions are:
a) what is responder's priority ?
- show a stop in overcall suit ?
- show a 5 card suit? show a 4 card major ?
- what should responder bid with
♠JTxx♥xx♦KJxx♣xxx (bal, diamonds stopped )
- what should responder bid with
♠JTxx♥KJxx♦xx♣xxx (bal diamonds unstopped )

Question 3

Assuming the same bidding sequence, what should be the bid with a 16-18 balanced *without stopper*, and how to differentiate the hcp ranges (16-18/19-20 ot 21/22-23 or 24, etc).
If it is a cuebid anyway, assume in all of these hands you will receive a responder rebid in clubs, should u cuebid again with hand 3.2 and 3.3 ?

1♣-(1♦)-Dbl-pass
?

Hand 3.1
♠AQxx♥AQxx♦xx♣Ax

Hand 3.2
♠AKQx♥AQJx♦xx♣Ax

Hand 3.2
♠AKQx♥AKQJ♦xx♣AK

[mikestar]

I used this method for years.

Opener's rebids after the card showing double:

New suit is forcing 1 round at the 1 or 2 level. Minimum NT is 16-19 NF. Jump NT is 20+ GF. Both of these promise a stopper. Jump in a new suit is GF with a good 6+ suit. Cuebid with balanced GF's with no stopper, or probing for a fit with a suit that couldn't be bid at the one or two level. For example 1C-(2H)-X-(P)-3H could be a forcing hand with a minor that doesn't want to bypass 3N.

Responder's rebids are NF unless a jump or cuebid, either of which would be fit showing.

Balanced 16-19s are encouraged to leave in the double with length in the enemy suit. I've found that leaving in on 3 to an honor or 4 small works fairly well after 3 level intervention.

[Chamaco]

mikestar, on Jun 29 2004, 09:27 PM, said:

I used this method for years.

Opener's rebids after the card showing double:

New suit is forcing 1 round at the 1 or 2 level. Minimum NT is 16-19 NF. Jump NT is 20+ GF. Both of these promise a stopper. Jump in a new suit is GF with a good 6+ suit. Cuebid with balanced GF's with no stopper, or probing for a fit with a suit that couldn't be bid at the one or two level. For example 1C-(2H)-X-(P)-3H could be a forcing hand with a minor that doesn't want to bypass 3N.

Responder's rebids are NF unless a jump or cuebid, either of which would be fit showing.

Balanced 16-19s are encouraged to leave in the double with length in the enemy suit. I've found that leaving in on 3 to an honor or 4 small works fairly well after 3 level intervention.

Mike, Thanks a lot !

One final point: what is 1C opener supposed to rebid if the bidding is at 1 level, he has 16-18 bal with at most three small in opps suit ? (e.g. too dangerous to leave in the dbl).

[mikestar]

Chamaco, on Jun 30 2004, 08:11 AM, said:

One final point: what is 1C opener supposed to rebid if the bidding is at 1 level, he has 16-18 bal with at most three small in opps suit ? (e.g. too dangerous to leave in the dbl).

Opener can rebid a minimum new suit with four cards when necessary--responder allows for this possibility. Your a bit stuck with 4-3-3-3 and the four card suit is the enemy suit, but then a leave in is more plausible or you might cheat and call xxxx a stopper.