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SpoDo

I have attempted to overcome the shortcomings which I have identified on the previous pages by creating an allocation of my own.

The starting point is to allocate the immediate cue-bid over one minor to show both majors - one objective achieved.

A sensible follow-up would be to allocate the cue-bid over one major as the other major and clubs.  I call this ‘specific Michael’s’.  This must minimise the club problem with the third bid.

Once you have allocated the cue-bid over one minor to show both major suits then it is inevitable that both 2NT and your third bid must show a combination including the other minor.

Still, let’s see what we can do.

A step in the right direction is to allocate the 2NT bid to the two lowest suits.

This leaves the following combinations to be catered for by the third bid:-

diamonds and spades over a 1♣ opening;

clubs and spades over a 1♦ opening;

diamonds and spades over a 1♥ opening;

diamonds and hearts over a 1♠ opening;

Three of these do not include clubs.  The 3♣ bid serves the situation well.

The specific problem lies in dealing with your opponents’ opening bid of 1♦.

I will offer you a choice.

Over 1♦ choose between

3♦ to show clubs and spades;

3♣ to show clubs and spades.

The first option removes the ‘clubs to show clubs’ problem, but you only dare use it when you are prepared for partner to show preference to clubs at the four-level.

The second option retains the ‘clubs to show clubs’ problem in just one combination, but all combinations can now be completed at the three-level.

My preference is for the second approach, using 3♣ as the third bid throughout.

My correspondent Ian Kemp suggests that the problem can be overcome to a great extent by restricting the 3♣ bid to show clubs and spades on weak (non-invitational) hands, but to start with a natural spade overcall on stronger holdings - the rebid in clubs will therefore show the stronger holding.  That certainly seems to make a lot of sense.

How do you remember this?

It is not difficult to remember that the cue-bid over a minor always shows both majors, and that over one major it shows the other major and clubs.

Nor is it difficult to remember that 2NT always promises the two lowest suits.

And the third bid - that is where the heading on this page comes from.

SpoDo stands for

Spades and the Other minor, or Diamonds and the Other major.

It works - just check it out with the four combinations listed above.

For an evaluation of the methods considered on these pages see the page ‘General considerations and relative merits’.

Advancer’s next bid

Context - overcaller - opponents opened one of a suit - two-suited hands - artificial methods.

This page last revised 1st Nov 2018