M J Bridge
♦
♠
♥
♣
Bidding
M J Bridge
♦
♠
♥
♣
Bidding
Partner made a Landy overcall
In the version considered earlier:-
2♣ is played as conventional promising 5-
other suit bids are natural;
double is strong;
and 2NT promises both minors.
For suit bids other than 2♣ I shall refer you to the page on natural suit overcalls, and similarly the 2NT overcall and double each have their own pages.
The present page can therefore confine itself to partner’s 2♣ bid.
Partner bid 2♣ (Landy)
Partner has promised both majors.
This page assumes that your agreement is in line with the most common version in which the bid promises 5-
With four cards in one major
bid that suit at an appropriate level.
jumps into a major are constructive with at least four card support:-
a jump to the three-
Intermediate and above
♠
♥
♦
♣
K 8 7 4
9 7 5
8 6 4
Q 5 3
Bid 2♠.
You have at least an eight-
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
K 8 7 4
K 3
A 8 6 4 2
Q 5
Bid 3♠.
Partner may well have thirteen or fourteen points.
This bid is invitational promising an eight-
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
K 8 7 4
9
T 8
A K Q T 4 2
Bid 4♠.
Only twelve points, but there must be a good chance of ten tricks.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
K 6 4
Q 7 4
J T 4 2
Q 8 3
Bid 2♦.
Partner will bid his five-
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
K 4
A 4
T 8 7 3 2
J T 6 3
Bid 2♦.
You will leave partner to play in a 5-
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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Context -
With equal length in the majors
usually 4-
bid 2♦, requesting partner to bid his five-
With not very much you will pass partner’s response and it is likely that the best contract will have been located.
Three cards in one major
With three cards in one major and void or singleton in the other, and a weak hand, you should be prepared to bid your major ensuring at least a 4-
Lacking a three-
3-
Here you have a choice of styles.
Possibly most common, with a weak hand, is just to bid your three-
My preference is to take the 2♦ route thereby ensuring at least a 5-
♠
♥
♦
♣
4
A 8 4
K T 7 3 2
J T 6 3
Bid 2♥.
You will leave partner to play in a 4-
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
K 4
A 8 4
T 7 3 2
J T 6 3
Many pairs will bid 2♥ on this holding.
My preference is to bid 2♦ and then pass partner’s response in either major.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
K 4
9 4
A K
K Q J 8 6 4 3
Bid 3NT.
Surely you can make your nine tricks before they scrape together five!
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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This page last modified 14th May 2019
Alternatively 2NT is frequently played as artificial and forcing for one round on a hand of twelve or more points with conventional continuations.
You will sometimes miss out on a part-
♠
♥
♦
♣
J 4
8 4
T 3 2
A J T 7 6 3
You might just bid 2♦ at pairs for what might be the best part-
Otherwise, Pass.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
J 4
4
T 8 3 2
A J T 7 6 3
Do you really want to risk a 5-
Pass.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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Whether or not you wish to extend this option to a hand with a three-
2NT
This is most easily played as natural and invitational, clearly denying four-
Facing an overcall of about ten to fifteen this would suggest a strength of about twelve to fourteen.
♠
♥
♦
♣
J 4
Q 4
K Q 3 2
A T 7 6 3
Bid 2NT -
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
K J 4
Q 4
A K Q 3 2
T 6 3
2♦ might locate a five-
Bid 2NT -
The conventional responses should lead you to the best game.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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3NT
Natural, usually with no better than 2-
♠
♥
♦
♣
J 4
Q 4
A K Q 3 2
K T 6 3
Bid 3NT -
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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Three of a minor
Most easily played as natural and invitational, usually with at least a six-
♠
♥
♦
♣
Q 4
Q 4
A K Q 8 3 2
T 6 3
Bid 3♦ -
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
- |
? |
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Variations
A creative use of the 2♦ bid brings in a number of alternative routes.
For example, you have a choice of an immediate response of 3♠ or an immediate response of 2♦ followed by a bid or 3♠.
One option is to play the immediate jump to the three-
An alternative, and possibly more common, option is to play both routes as invitational but to base the direct route more on shape and the slow route more on high-
There is no reason why whichever distinction you choose should not apply to all four suits.
Similarly, if you have adopted an artificial and forcing meaning for an immediate response of 2NT you could still show the natural and invitational meaning by bidding 2♦ first and then rebidding 2NT.
RHO bid a suit
It is worth pointing out that more often than not this hand will belong to your opponents. By all means bid up when you locate a good fit your way, but don’t feel that you have to compete further otherwise.
You have a choice over intervention.
Simplest is to keep raises of partner’s suit and some other bids as invitational as when RHO is polite enough not to join in.
There is, though, something to be said for giving up on the constructive sequences and using such bids competitively to the level of the fit, taking the vulnerabilities into account -
♠
♥
♦
♣
K 8 7 6 4
9 3
T 8 4 2
Q 5
Bid 3♠ -
This bid does not promise anything by way of strength.
Note that it also directs partner’s lead in defence.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
2♦ |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
8 6 4
Q 5
K 8 7 4
9 7 5 3
By all means bid 2♠ if you must.
My choice is pass -
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1NT |
2♣ |
2♦ |
? |
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Opener |
Overcaller |
Responder |
Advancer |
Opener's rebid |
Overcaller's rebid and beyond |
Responder's rebid and beyond |
The continuing auction |
Opener |
Overcaller |
Responder |
Advancer |
Opener's rebid |
Overcaller's rebid and beyond |
Responder's rebid and beyond |
The continuing auction |