M J Bridge
♦
♠
♥
♣
Bidding
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-
A sensible follow-
Once you have allocated the cue-
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-
The second option retains the ‘clubs to show clubs’ problem in just one combination, but all combinations can now be completed at the three-
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-
How do you remember this?
It is not difficult to remember that the cue-
Nor is it difficult to remember that 2NT always promises the two lowest suits.
And the third bid -
SpoDo stands for
Spades and the Other minor, or Diamonds and the Other major.
It works -
For an evaluation of the methods considered on these pages see the page ‘General considerations and relative merits’.
Not standard
Context -
This page last revised 1st Nov 2018
Opener |
Overcaller |
Responder |
Advancer |
Opener's rebid |
Overcaller's rebid and beyond |
Responder's rebid and beyond |
The continuing auction |