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Astro


This is the original version of this group of conventions as introduced by Paul Allinger, Roger Stern and Larry Rosler (hence the name) at some point before 1962.


In this method an overcall of:-


2 promises 5-4 or 4-5 shape in hearts and a minor, in a hand unsuitable for a double;

2 promises 5-4 or 4-5 shape in spades and a lower-ranking suit, in a hand unsuitable for a double.


These would be played alongside a strong double (say 16+), natural bids in the majors (although there is some variation in the precise requirements for a natural bid), and 2NT as the unusual no trump promising both minors.


In response to either 2 or 2 advancer will usually bid the anchor suit (the major suit promised by the overcall) with at least three-card support (thereby guaranteeing at least a 4-3 fit) or he will bid the in-between relay suit with two-card support or less and at least two cards in the relay suit, after which overcaller can rebid his anchor suit with five cards, pass with five cards in the relay suit, or bid his second four-card suit otherwise.


Normally your bid will be limited by your failure to double, although you might on occasion use this convention on a particularly shapely stronger hand which seems more suited to offence than defence.


At the lower end of the range a number of factors will come into play.  Ten points would be a typical lower limit, but by all means stretch this down to eight - or even seven - with extra shape (5-5 say), appropriate vulnerability, and with two suits both of which can be brought into play economically at a low level.

T 6

A K 7 4

8 5

Q T 6 3 2

The same hand as above with the minor suits interchanged.

Suit quality is not anything special, and you would have to go to the three-level if partner bids anything other than hearts.

Pass, although you might just consider 2 at favourable vulnerability.

A K 9 7 4

Q 4

K Q T 6 3

6

RHO opened 1NT.

Bid 2 promising at 5-4 or 4-5 shape in spades and another.

If partner bids 2 you will rebid 2 promising a five-card suit - partner can always relay with 3 in search of your second suit.  Alternatively double and lead a diamond in defence.

A 4

K 5

K Q T 9 6 4

Q 8 2

RHO opened 1NT.

Bid 3.

Replace a small card with J and you would double with good values and an excellent attacking lead.

Note that you cannot bid 2.  It is restricted to its agreed conventional meaning.

T 6

A K 7 4

Q T 6 3 2

8 5

RHO opened 1NT.

Bid 2 promising 5-4 or 4-5 shape in hearts and a minor.

You will pass a response of either 2 or 2.


My assessment


I have not gone into all the nuances relating to this convention because it has one specific shortcoming which is easily overcome by using one of the variant conventions Aspro or Asptro.


And that shortcoming is its inability to distinguish between 5-4 and 4-5 shape when holding both majors.


If you play most of your bridge against a weak no trump, and you have a taste for a conventional route, then my recommendation is that you should adopt Asptro in preference to either Astro or Aspro.


Landy is a straightforward and popular alternative but is not quite as versatile.


Alternatively, when facing a strong no trump, you might prefer to play D.O.N.T..



And if your taste is for something a little more advanced and all-embracing then you might wish to take on board the complications of either


transfer overcalls or multi-Landy.

Intermediate and above

Context - Acol bidding - overcaller - opponents opened 1NT - conventional methods.

Advancer’s next bid

This page last revised 9th Apr 2019