Glenfield Technical Library

Defence to One No Trump

Last Updated on 7^th February 2009

Most players play that a double of a weak no trump is penalty oriented and promises at least 16 points.

ª AJT © JT863 ¨ 6 § AK82

Many players use an identical meaning for a double in the protective position. However, Peter Neville and Tim Glover double on 13 or more points in the protective position. The advantage of this method is it solves the problems that can be caused when both partners have a balanced 10-15 points after opponents have opened one no trump. Thus on this hand from the match between Glenfield A and County C on 5^th March 2003 I was obliged to reopen with a double after left hand opponent had opened one no trump.

This allows us to play that an overcall in 2^nd position shows a good 5 card suit and 12-15 points.

ª K3 © Q6 ¨ T87 § AKQJ75

This hand from the LCBA Green Pointed Swiss Pairs on 8^th March 2003 is typical. Right hand opponent opened one no trump and Tim overcalled two clubs. The hand is close to a penalty double but Tim didn’t really expect West to pass and he wanted to fix a lead in case we ended up defending. In the event Tim was left to play in two clubs, making eight tricks, while the opponents had nine tricks available in hearts.

As above,Tim & Peter play two clubs as natural. Many players use it to show a hand with two majors. This is the Landy convention.
Board 24 Dealer W Love All	North ª Q72 © 853 ¨ AQJ86 § 53		Landy would solve this problem for West from Glenfield Bridge Club on 23^rd November 2005. After three passes, South opened one no trump. If playing Landy, West can bid two clubs, North might now bid three diamonds but it is comfortable for East to bid the par contract of three hearts. Users of Aspro, where the two-club overcall also shows both majors, would have similar success. Devotees of Astro would have a harder time; they would have to call two diamonds showing spades and an unspecified second suit. If North then bids three diamonds, East has a more difficult bid; although double, showing both un-bid suits, tolerance for spades and reasonable values seems a sensible choice. So, how would Tim and Peter fare on this board? They should be ok, for they play that a double of one no trump on a passed hand shows both majors. Life would have been more difficult for them had South dealt and opened one no trump. This would probably have been passed to East who, at love all, would almost certainly bid two clubs (natural). This is likely to result in a two-spade effort from West, which, despite playing for eight tricks while nine are available in hearts, will score reasonably well. In practice, North may well bid three diamonds over two spades, this will come back to West who may then try three hearts. Click here for the results. Click here for the travellers. Click here for personal score cards.
West ª KT654 © AK92 ¨ 43 § T8		East ª 98 © QJT6 ¨ K75 § QJ96
	South ª AJ3 © 74 ¨ T92 § AK742

The responses to Landy are not standardised, but the following had the endorsement of the inventor of the convention, Alvin Landy of New York.
2 Diamonds	A weak hand with diamond length.
2 Hearts	To play.
2 Spades	To play.
2 No Trumps	Natural, encouraging, but not forcing.
3 Clubs	The only forcing response. Not showing clubs. Probably with equal length in the majors. Asks the Landy bidder to define their hand further.
3 Diamonds	Natural, encouraging, but not forcing.
3 Hearts	Game invitation with at least three hearts.
3 Spades	Game invitation with at least three spades.

Responding to an Astro Two Clubs.
Pass	A weak hand with long clubs.
2 Diamonds	A conventional negative response. At least two diamonds and less than three hearts. Unsuitable for any more constructive response.
2 Hearts	Three hearts and no game ambitions.
2 Spades	Natural with long spades.
2 No Trumps	An artificial one round force with some support for hearts.
3 Clubs	Natural with long clubs.
3 Diamonds	Natural with long diamonds
3 Hearts	A game invitation with three-card heart support.
4 Hearts	Natural.

Responding to an Astro Two Diamonds.
Pass	A weak hand with long diamonds.
2 Hearts	A conventional negative response. At least two hearts and less than three spades. Unsuitable for any more constructive response.
2 Spades	Three spades and no game ambitions.
2 No Trumps	An artificial one round force with some support for spades.
3 Clubs	Natural with long clubs
3 Diamonds	Natural with long diamonds.
3 Hearts	Natural with long hearts.
3 Spades	A game invitation with three-card spade support.
4 Spades	Natural.

Another defence to one no trump based on conventional overcalls of two clubs and two diamonds is Sharples.
Board 15 Dealer S NS Vul	North ª AT76 © T75 ¨ Q74 § A54		This is the defence preferred by Geoff Mead and Dennis Bradley. Two of a minor shows both major suits and the minor suit bid is the better of the two. The convention was used on this board from Glenfield Bridge Club on 7^th December 2005 and it allowed Geoff to pass and play in the 4-3 diamond-fit rather than continue to a 4-2 major fit or play at the three level. Peter Neville needed four diamonds to double on the North hand; two no trumps would have been Lebensohl, and he decided not to try two spades. Perhaps, Tim Glover should reopen the South hand with an automatic double in these sequences (at pairs at least). In the event two diamonds went two down to give Dennis and Geoff a slightly better than average score. The board had been played nine times and on five occasions one no trump had been undisturbed, one pair making seven tricks, three eight while Pam Leeson & Olive McClain achieved the top North/South score by achieving nine tricks. One North raised South’s one no trump to two, not sensible if West passes but reasonable if West overcalls and two no trumps is then natural. This provided a top for Margaret Glover & Peter Tyers when they defeated it by two tricks. Interestingly, there was also a 2NT-2 from the East seat while one West got to play in a more modest one no trump and achieved the second best East/West score when they finished just one down. The travellers, personal score cards and results are still online.
West ª KQ32 © K932 ¨ A95 § J8		East ª 98 © QJ ¨ T862 § QT632
	South ª J54 © A864 ¨ KJ3 § K97

A jump overcall of 1NT in 2^nd position can therefore be weak and pre-emptive.
Board 22 Dealer E EW Vul	North ª T4 © KQ95 ¨ 7654 § T98		East opened one no trump on this deal from the Glenfield Club Pairs on 18^th June 2003. South bid three spades to give West a difficult decision. In the event they chose to bid five clubs. This was a popular choice but it gained a less than average score as several pairs bid three no trumps, which has the same top tricks as five clubs. One pair stopped in part score and one pair defended four spades doubled and took it one down. In fact that is best defence against four spades so, clearly, North/South missed their opportunity to save against five clubs. Or perhaps at two tables they did bid five spades for two West’s found themselves declarer in six clubs. I don’t think they should make this. It is possible to reach a three-card ending where West, East and South have three diamonds left. Then, if the lead is in dummy, the two of diamonds is led, South is forced to win the queen and is end played; giving declarer the last two tricks with the jack and the ace of diamonds. However, to achieve this position it is necessary to ruff a spade before running the clubs and declarer ends up in the wrong hand at trick 11. So what happened to the pairs in six clubs? Well, one made it and one didn’t. If there is a genuine line to six clubs, please email me and let me know.
West ª 5 © AT ¨ J98 § AQJ6432		East ª AK9 © 8432 ¨ A32 § K75
	South ª QJ87632 © J76 ¨ KQT § -

In the protective position Tim Glover and Peter Neville play that a double shows 13 or more points and an overcall can therefore be made on fairly feeble values. They were fortunate not to come unstuck on this deal from Glenfield Bridge Club on 13^th August 2003
Board 18 Dealer E NS Vul	North ª QJ853 © QJ32 ¨ 84 § J4		At most tables West opened one no trump after two passes. This was undisturbed at most tables although some East’s felt obliged to bid. Two pairs reached two no trumps; possibly after East showed precisely ten points by bidding two spades. West reasonably said “so what” and signed off in two no trumps. One pair reached three no trumps. Presumably they didn’t play this two spade convention (good!) so East felt obliged to bid two no trumps (bad!). They redeemed themselves in the play and brought home their game despite eight tricks appearing to be the limit on best defence. In fact they were one of four pairs who made nine tricks. A fifth pair made ten tricks. Just three North/South pairs defended accurately to hold declarer to eight tricks. They were Irene Robinson & Rene Berrington, Kath & Terry Stevenson and Terry Downs & Laurence Popple. And well done to the pairs who correctly stopped in one no trump. They were Ray Sherwood & Tom O’Rourke, Wendy & Bas Thomas, Peter Tyers & Margaret Glover, Barbara Corlett & John Day and John Glover & Judith Taylor. So why were Tim Glover and Peter Neville lucky? Well, East/West were playing a strong no trump and West opened one diamond. East bid one heart and West rebid one no trump. East, bizarrely, chose to bid two diamonds rather than pass and North, wisely, resisted the temptation to protect with two spades. Had East/West been playing the weak no trump, Tim Glover would almost certainly have bid two clubs on the South hand and Peter Neville would almost certainly have converted to two spades. East would probably have doubled and the contract is at least one down; possibly two if the defence are able to force in diamonds. I suppose it is not inevitable that East will double in this sequence. Pass or two no trumps are also viable alternatives. It looks as if I should give the benefit of the doubt to those pairs who reached two no trumps and assume it was after intervention from South. The two spades response to one no trump should really be reserved for those hands with eleven points anyway. So, belated congratulations to Christine Adams & Max Green and a special mention to Barry Grudgings and Tom Moody who not only stopped in two no trumps, but also took ten tricks. There is no praise here for the pair that bid and made three no trumps. They will have to settle for all the match points.
West ª A94 © 94 ¨ KT73 § AK92		East ª K762 © AT76 ¨ QJ9 § 73
	South ª T © K85 ¨ A652 § QT865

Tim’s Statistics at MPs	Partner	Opponents Open 1NT	MPs	Top	%
2006 Buckby Cup	Peter Neville	4	26	16	40.63
Gimson - North Semi Final	Peter Neville	3	2	24	2.78
Gimson Final	Peter Neville	3	16	20	26.67
Total for 2006		10	44		22.45
Glenfield Heat of the Gimson	Peter Neville	2	12	12	50.00
Gimson Final	Peter Neville	2	16	18/20	42.11
Total for 2007		4	28		45.16
Gimson Semi Final	Peter Neville	1	0	24	0
Total for 2008		1	0		0
Total		15	72		25.53

Statistics at IMPs	Partner	Hands	IMPs	Imps/Bd
Glenfield A 5 Barkby A 7	Peter Neville	3	-1	-0.33
Leicestershire C 2 Oxfordshire C 18	Bharat	3	1	0.33
Glenfield A 6 Phoenix B 6	Baerbel Sandhu	1	9	9
Stanley Trophy	Harry Gordon	3	-1	-0.33
Leicestershire Green Point Swiss Teams	Ken Smith	6	-22	-3.67
Glenfield A 6 Grantham A 6	Judith Taylor	2	-2	-1.00
Markham – Derbyshire 0 Leicestershire 20	Peter Neville	5 (8)	-4 (-5)	-0.80 (-0.63)
Glenfield A 2 Castle Donington 10	Peter Neville	4 (12)	2 (-3)	0.50 (-0.25)
Porter – Leicestershire 20 Staffs & Shrops 0	Peter Neville	3 (15)	-1 (-4)	-0.33 (-0.27)
Porter – Lincolnshire 0 Leicestershire 20	Peter Neville	2 (17)	-2 (-6)	-1 (-0.35)
Stanley Trophy 2006/7 - Heat 1	John Glover	2	10	5
Stanley Trophy 2006/7 - Heat 3	Judith Taylor	1 (3)	-11 (-13)	-11 (-4.33)
Glenfield A 12 Spencefield 0	Peter Neville	3 (20)	21 (15)	7 (0.75)
Total for 2006		39	9	0.23
Glenfield A 4 County A 8	Peter Neville	5 (25)	-11 (14)	-2.20 (0.58)
Glenfield A 6 Phoenix A 6	Peter Neville	1 (26)	12 (26)	12.00 (1.00)
Glenfield A 4 Melton 8	Judith Taylor	3 (6)	-3 (-16)	-1.00 (-2.67)
Glenfield A 9 Loughborough A 3	Peter Neville	5 (37)	9 (35)	1.80 (0.95)
Porter – Leicestershire 5 Oxfordshire 15	Peter Neville	2 (39)	7 (42)	3.5 (1.08)
Total for 2007		8	14	1.75
Total		47	23	0.49

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6. Technical Library
6.1 Bidding	Strategy	Acol	Psychic Bidding	Precision	Blue Club
6.1.1 Hand Evaluation	Defensive Tricks	Losing Trick Count	Playing Tricks	Point Count	Total Number of Tricks	Passing
6.1.2 Opening Bids	One Club	One Diamond	One Heart	One Spade	One No Trump	Pre-empts
	Two Clubs	Two Diamonds	Two Hearts	Two Spades	Two No Trumps
6.1.3 Responding to an Opening Bid	Simple change of suit	Opener’s Rebid	Responder’s Rebid	Preference	Opener’s Second Rebid	Jump in a new suit	Responding in no trumps
	Limit Raise	Inverted Minors
6.1.3.1 Responding to 1NT	Transfers
6.1.3.2 Responding to 2NT	Transfers	Baron
6.1.4 Conventions	Stayman	Fourth Suit Forcing	Reverse	Crowhurst
6.1.4.1 Conventional Opening Bids	Lucas Twos	Multi Two Diamonds	Weak Twos
6.1.4.2 Competitive Conventions	Jump Overcall	Lebensohl	Unassuming Cue Bid	Unusual No Trump	Continuing after opponent’s take out double	Take out Double	Cue Bid
	Fishbein	Defence to 1NT	Halmic	1NT Overcall	Redouble	Simple Overcall
6.1.4.3 Slam Conventions	Blackwood	Gerber	Roman Key Card Blackwood	Splinter	Jump to 5 of a suit	Grand Slam Force	Acol Four No Trump Opening
	Asking Bids	DOPI and ROPI
6.1.5 Doubles	Optional	Penalty	Lead Directional
6.1.6 The Protective Position
6.2 Declarer Play
6.2.1 General Technique	End Play	Squeeze	Finesse	Lose tricks early	Pin	Avoidance	Restricted Choice
6.2.2 Trump Management	Ruffing	Ruffing Losers before drawing trumps	Trump Coup	Ruffing Finesse	Loser on Loser	Coping with bad splits	Cross Ruff
	Dummy Reversal
6.3 Defence	Second Player	Signals	Third Player	Play the cards you are known to have
6.3.1 Defensive Tactics	Forcing Defence	Passive Defence	Merrimac Coup
6.3.2 Opening Leads	Fourth Highest	Third and Fifth	MUD	Top of Nothing
6.3.3 Plays in Third Hand	Finesse Against Dummy	Finesse Against Partner
6.3.4 Entry Management	Unblocking
6.4 Probability
6.5 Glossary of Terms
7 Through the Pack