Stevenson defence to short minors
David Stevenson
Some time ago I promised someone that I would put this here. It used
to be available on Bridgetalk but that site is no more. While the Laws
forums from Bridgetalk have moved ot the BBO site the bridge discussion
ones disappeared.
Over 1C or 1D a simple overcall [including in the suit bid] shows 3+
cards and a longer suit of 5+ cards. Usually the suit bid will be 3/4
cards, though a poor 5 is just possible. It is the second longest suit.
We have other ways of showing 5/5 hands.
Examples:
(1C) 1H 3+H, 5+C/D/S, usually 3/4 H
2C 3+C, 5+D/H/S, usually 3/4 C
(1D) 1S 3+S, 5+C/D/H, usually 3/4 S
Strength? Normal overcall strength. As with ordinary overcalls, bids
at the 1-level are wider range.
We are a little worried about the responses. I did not want to be too
complicated, but I think we need a little more. At the moment our only
real responses [apart from natural NT bids] are the next suit, which is
pass/correct, and the next suit but one, which is artificial, forcing,
game try strength or better.
Examples:
(1C) 1H P 1S Pass/correct
1NT 9-12, balanced
2C Art, F, game try+
2NT 13-14, balanced
2C P 2D Pass/correct
2H Art, F, game try+
2NT 13-14, balanced
If responder doubles, bids are unchanged.
====================================================
Other calls;
(1C) Dbl Takeout of clubs
1NT 15-18, balanced
Note: this is the only time I play a natural
1NT overcall in the direct seat!
2D 5/5, D + C/H/S
2H+ Natural, weak
2NT 5/5, C+H or C+S or H+S
(1D) Dbl Takeout of diamonds
1NT 15-18, balanced
2H 5/5, H + C/D/S
2S+ Natural, weak
2NT 5/5, C+D or C+S or D+S
Respond to doubles as though a natural opening was doubled.
System on over 1NT.
(1C) 2D P 2H/S/3C Pass/correct
2NT Art, F, game try+
2NT P 3C/H/S Pass/correct
3D Art, F, game try+
(1D) 2H P 2S/3C/D Pass/correct
2NT Art, F, game try+
2NT P 3C/D/S Pass/correct
3H Art, F, game try+
====================================================
While I have not yet developed the idea, I fancy we shall make the
responses to simple overcalls work better with two simple improvements.
First, add another response, namely the next suit but two, which is
artificial, forcing, game try strength or better, and shows a fit in the
suit bid.
Second, rebids after the next suit but one: the next two new suits are
natural and minimum, the suit bid shows the third new suit and minimum.
Higher bids show extra values and sre forcing.
Examples:
(1C) 1H P 1S Pass/correct
2C Art, F, game try+
2D Art, F, game try+, H fit
(1C) 1H P 2C P 2D/S Nat, min
2H Clubs, min
2NT/3C/D/S Nat, extra values
But this is all artificial and not very workable, so any suggested
improvements would be interesting.
--
David Stevenson Bridge RTFLB Cats Railways
Liverpool, England, UK bluejak on BBO Fax: +44 870 055 7697
<webj...@googlemail.com> Tel: +44 151 677 7412
EBL TD Bridgepage: http://blakjak.org/brg_menu.htm
Chris
wrote:
> EBL TD Bridgepage:http://blakjak.org/brg_menu.htm
If 1m is forcing, surely 1NT should not be natural. You can pass and
double later if opener had a weak NT.
Christopher Monsour
David Stevenson
>If 1m is forcing, surely 1NT should not be natural. You can pass and
>double later if opener had a weak NT.
Maybe, but I hardly ever play against people who play it as forcing.
Certainly over 90% of my opponents play it as non-forcing.
--
David Stevenson Bridge RTFLB Cats Railways
Liverpool, England, UK bluejak on BBO Fax: +44 870 055 7697
<webj...@googlemail.com> Tel: +44 151 677 7412
Chris
wrote:
> Chris wrote
>
> >If 1m is forcing, surely 1NT should not be natural. You can pass and
> >double later if opener had a weak NT.
>
> Maybe, but I hardly ever play against people who play it as forcing.
> Certainly over 90% of my opponents play it as non-forcing.
>
> --
> David Stevenson Bridge RTFLB Cats Railways
> Liverpool, England, UK bluejak on BBO Fax: +44 870 055 7697
> EBL TD Bridgepage:http://blakjak.org/brg_menu.htm
Here in the US there are certainly plenty of non-forcing not-
necessarily-strong artificial 1C systems: Polish Club and Unassuming
Club both come to mind.
My perception of the frequency of Polish Club may be a bit warped by
having played in Chicago for many years, whereas it was fairly common.
There are also the Montreal Relayers, some of whom agree never to pass
1C although it's not clear to me why they so agree.
Christopher Monsour
Chris
> On Oct 15, 11:38 am, David Stevenson <brid...@nospam.demon.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
> > Chris wrote
>
> > >If 1m is forcing, surely 1NT should not be natural. You can pass and
> > >double later if opener had a weak NT.
>
> > Maybe, but I hardly ever play against people who play it as forcing.
> > Certainly over 90% of my opponents play it as non-forcing.
>
> > --
> > David Stevenson Bridge RTFLB Cats Railways
> > Liverpool, England, UK bluejak on BBO Fax: +44 870 055 7697
> > <webjak...@googlemail.com> Tel: +44 151 677 7412
> > EBL TD Bridgepage:http://blakjak.org/brg_menu.htm
>
> Here in the US there are certainly plenty of non-forcing not-
> necessarily-strong artificial 1C systems: Polish Club and Unassuming
> Club both come to mind.
Oops...What I meant was "forcing, non-natural, not-necessaily strong"
rather than "non-forcing not-necessarily-strong".
Chris