Thursday, June 10, 2004 2:30 AM

Hand Evaluation - 2NT Overcall ( Weak Two )

PITBULLS:

The sequence of the opponents opening a weak two with your side overcalling 2NT is a common auction. It is good to have a clear understanding of bids over that auction. Need different understandings depending on whether their weak two is in diamonds , spades or hearts. The two key bids are transferring into their suit to show shortness & 3♠ as a relay to 3NT to start minor sequences. These understandings apply to a 2NT balance after a weak two also.

A METHOD FOR RESPONDING TO PARTNER'S 2NT OVERCALL OR BALANCE OF A WEAK TWO OPENING BID.

Opener       Partner                       Responder        You
2♦         2NT (15-18)                Pass                    ?

3♣= Stayman
3♦= Transfer to 3♥  (Partner jumps to 4♥ with a max)
3♥= Transfer to 3♠ (Partner  jumps to 4♠ with a max)
3♠ = Clubs, slammish
3NT, 4NT =  Natural
4♣= Gerber
4♦= Transfer to 4♥   (followed by 4NT=Keycard Blackwood)
4♥= Transfer to 4♠  (followed by 4NT=Keycard Blackwood)

Opener        Partner        Responder        You
2♥   2NT              Pass                   ?

3♣= Stayman

3♦= Transfer to hearts ( their suit ) , shows stiff heart and slam interest in unspecified suit. Bid 3NT with severe duplication in hearts or accept transfer otherwise

3♥=transfer to spades
3♠= Minors or minor ( relay to 3NT)
3NT, 4NT =Natural
4♣= Gerber
4♥= Transfer to 4♠   (If followed by 4NT=Keycard Blackwood)

Opener       Partner        Responder        You
2♠              2NT             Pass                   ?

3♣= Stayman

3♦=  Transfer to  3♥

3♥ = Transfer to spades ( their suit ) , shows stiff spade and slam interest in unspecified suit. Bid 3NT with severe duplication in spades or accept transfer otherwise
3♠ = Minors or minor ( relay to 3NT)
3NT, 4NT= Natural
4♣ = Gerber
4♦=  Transfer to 4♥ (If followed by 4NT=Keycard Blackwood)

Tom Gandolfo had a hand tonight that fits the system perfectly. ♠Kx ♥x ♦Q10xxxx ♣AQxx The auction went a weak 2♥ & I overcalled 2NT. Tom could bid 3♠ which relays to 3NT & shows minor sequences after that. However, there is slam in this hand only if there is no extreme duplication of value in hearts. Transferring into their suit is a tool to find that out. Tom bids 3♦ , I accept the transfer to 3♥ telling him I do not have severe duplication of value in hearts. Tom bids 4♦ , I bid 4♥ Q bidding to say I like diamonds. Tom bids 4NT so I bid 5♣ showing 1 or 4 Aces . Tom bids 5NT specific king ask ( I should not hold the heart king on this auction) & I bid 6♣. Tom bids 7♦ , I come down with ♠Axx ♥Axx ♦AKx ♣Kxxx so we have 13 tricks !!!

Osama opened a weak 2♥ everybody vul , I overcalled 2NT. My partner held ♠Jxxx ♥xx ♦Jxx ♣KQ10x & bids Stayman . I bid 3♦ so giving the 2NT overcall the respect it deserves , partner bid 3NT. This contract made +630 on a squeeze. IMPS vul when you know the “layout” of the auction is a time to be pushy . In Matchpoints , some people might pass 2NT with partner’s hand.

Tom Gandolfo held this hand in Victoria ♠Axx ♥Axx ♦AKxxx ♣Qx with a weak 2♠ opened on his right. Given the control rich nature of his hand some people might double. Tom decided that even though his hand did not consist of soft values , his lack of the 4^th heart & the balanced hand he opted for a 2NT overcall. I held ♠x ♥KQxx ♦xx ♣KJ1098x so with my stiff spade I can “check back” to enquire about the nature of his spade stoppers/duplication of value. I transfer into their suit so Tom accepts the transfer . This shows only one stopper with a lack of duplication of values in the spade suit. I now bid 4♣ , so with all his controls we reach a very nice 6♣ slam.