[DinDIP]

What is the best method for advancer to use after partner bids 2♣ or 2♦ over the opponent's 1NT opening and responder doubles to show values?

For some time we've played the following (assume a 2♣ overcall showing hearts and another suit -- which one depending on which of ASPRO/ASTRO/ASPTRO you are using):
P = prefers clubs to hearts
XX = asks ASPROnaut to bid his longest suit (passing with long clubs)
2♦/2♠ = 5/6 cards, short hearts (usually 0-1)
2♥ = 3+ hearts

The obvious downside of this is when the ASPROnaut's longest suit is clubs and we either play 2♣XX or 3♣, presumably doubled. The upside is that we can play in 2♣ when the ASPROnaut has x-5-y-4.

An alternative is to play:
P = bid your longest suit (or pass)
XX = make cheapest bid so I can bid my suit to play
2♥ = to play
other = preference if this is your second suit

It seems to me that this is similar to the first method in that we can play in one contract (2♣ using method one or 2♦ using method two) when that is overcaller's second (shorter) suit; and we can play in our own long suit. The big plus is that we can play 2♣X instead of XXed when that is overcaller's long suit. This also puts some pressure on the opponents as doubling 2♣ with shortness and values now risks playing 2♣X; if 2♣ is XXed then responder has a chance to remove.

Another advantage of the second method, when playing ASPRO (so that 2♦ denies 4+H) is that advancer can bid 2♥ after
(1NT) 2♦ (X) ?
to show 2-5-x-y, with hands with 6H starting with a XX. (Advancer has 5+H very frequently after a 2♦ overcall.)

Is there something better, or are there other considerations to take into account?

David

[Bende]

DinDIP, on 2015-January-02, 07:14, said:

What is the best method for advancer to use after partner bids 2♣ or 2♦ over the opponent's 1NT opening and responder doubles to show values?

We play 2♣ = hearts and another and 2♦ = spades and another (Asptro, I believe). With both majors we show the shorter one first.

After (1NT)-2♣-(dbl)-
pass = relay
redbl = at least 5-5 in the "other" suits (diamonds and spades in this case)
2x = to play

After the pass relay:

(1NT)-2♣-(dbl)-pass; (pass)-
pass = 4+♣
redbl = 5♥-4♦
2♦ = 4+♥-5+♦
2♥ = 4+♥-5♠

This allows us to play on the two level. It also gives us the (in our opinion) important option to redouble to show the other suits and perhaps pick one of them instead. The cost is that we can not choose to play 2♣ doubled when the Asptronaut has a 5+suit but bid on with only a four card suit.

After 2♦ instead it is almost the same. Redouble now shows hearts and clubs and after the pass relay:

(1NT)-2♦-(dbl)-pass; (pass)-
pass = 4+♦
redbl = 4♠-5+♣
2♥ = 4+♠-5♥
2♠ = 5♠-4+♣

[FrancesHinden]

I don't like having to play in 2!Cxx opposite clubs.

We play:

Pass = to play opposite 4 clubs
xx = I've got my own suit, please bid 2!D (if partner has bid 2!C this suit pretty much has to be diamonds)
2D = to play opposite 4 diamonds
2H to play
2S to play

The trick comes in opener's actions after partner passes:
1NT 2C dbl P P ?

Pass = clubs
2D = 4 hearts and 5+ diamonds (or 5-5 reds)
2H = majors (longer spades the way we play)
redbl = 5 hearts and 4 diamonds

1NT 2D dbl P P ?
2H = majors (longer hearts)
2S = 5 spades, 4+ clubs
redbl = 4 spades, longer clubs (now you can play in hearts sometimes)


There is some benefit in playing redouble as 5-5 in the other two suits, rather than I've got my own place to play, although you can redouble and then bid 2S when 2D is doubled if you want.

[wanoff]

FrancesHinden, on 2015-January-03, 13:50, said:

I don't like having to play in 2!Cxx opposite clubs.

We play:

Pass = to play opposite 4 clubs
xx = I've got my own suit, please bid 2!D (if partner has bid 2!C this suit pretty much has to be diamonds)
2D = to play opposite 4 diamonds
2H to play
2S to play

The trick comes in opener's actions after partner passes:
1NT 2C dbl P P ?

Pass = clubs
2D = 4 hearts and 5+ diamonds (or 5-5 reds)
2H = majors (longer spades the way we play)
redbl = 5 hearts and 4 diamonds

1NT 2D dbl P P ?
2H = majors (longer hearts)
2S = 5 spades, 4+ clubs
redbl = 4 spades, longer clubs (now you can play in hearts sometimes)

Thanks, I'll probably use it.
What about this though after 2c-(x)-p-(p)-
xx=any 4/5
2♥=any 5/5
2♠=6/4

[FrancesHinden]

wanoff, on 2015-January-04, 06:10, said:

Thanks, I'll probably use it.
What about this though after 2c-(x)-p-(p)-
xx=any 4/5
2♥=any 5/5
2♠=6/4

I don't understand. When you say 'any 5/5' do you mean either 5-5 majors, or 5-5 reds? If so, you can't play in 2D
And we don't bid 2C with 6-4 majors, we overcall 2S. But as 2S is otherwise undefined, it's a perfectly good use for it.

[Zelandakh]

The traditional way to play after this kind of multi-overcall is for X/XX to replace the relay. I think that works out here too and is effectively a transposition of XX and 2♦ in Frances' scheme, ie P = nf relay; XX = F1 relay; 2♦♥♠ = to play

FrancesHinden, on 2015-January-03, 13:50, said:

The trick comes in opener's actions after partner passes:
1NT 2C dbl P P ?

Pass = clubs
2D = 4 hearts and 5+ diamonds (or 5-5 reds)
2H = majors (longer spades the way we play)
redbl = 5 hearts and 4 diamonds

I found this interesting. How often do you find you want to play in hearts on this start in practise? It seems like an option would be to bid 2♠ with this hand and split the 5+ diamond hands between those with 4 (2♥) and 5 (XX) hearts. The downside is obvious though, hence the question about frequency.