Response With Interferece

Response With Interference

Rev: August 24, 2000

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When opener bids one of a suit and next opponent overcalls, preempts or makes a takeout double the responder is presented with a number of bid choices.

1. Opponent Overcalls Or Preempts Opener

These bids are off:

Bergen Major-Suit raises.

Inverted Minor-Suit raises.

Splinters.

Any raise of opener’s suit is competitive (0 to a poor 10 distributional points)….use "Law of Total Tricks" (LOTT).

Cue-bidding opponent’s suit is a limit raise or better.

If opener’s suit was clubs, responder needs at least five trump or a very good four.

If opener’s suit was diamonds, responder needs at least four trump.

If opener’s suit was a major, responder needs at least three trump.

Jump shift is weak (3 – 8 HCP) and a six-card suit (slightly more than without interference).

New suit is forcing for one round.

One-level bid shows at least a good 7 or 8+ HCP..…a four-card suit is OK. (Note: Some partnerships require a five-card major suit and must make a negative double with a four-card major.)

Two-level bid (non-jump) shows at least 10+ HCP and a five-card major suit or four-card minor suit…...a “Free Bid”.

Double

One-, two- or three-level double is a “Negative Double”.

Four-level or higher double is for penalty.

1NT shows 8 to a good 10 or 11 HCP with a stopper.

2NT shows 12 – 15 HCP with a stopper.

2. Opponent Doubles For Takeout

These bids are off:

Bergen Major-Suit raises.

Inverted Minor-Suit raises.

Splinter’s are on.

Any raise of opener’s suit is competitive (0 to a poor 10 distributional points)….use LOTT.

Jump shift is weak (5 – 8 HCP) and a six-card suit……equivalent to a bad weak-two opener.

New suit is non-forcing and shows less than a good 10 HCP.

One-level bids:

With at least a good 4 or 5+ HCP bid a good five-card suit.

With at least 6 HCP bid a four-card suit if headed by an A, K or Q.

Two-level bids:

With at least 6 HCP bid a good five-card suit.

Redouble shows a good 10 or 11+ HCP and implies three or less cards in opener’s suit.

1NT shows 7 – 9 HCP and a balanced hand and at least two cards in opener’s suit.

2NT (Jordan) shows limit raise or better.

If opener’s suit was clubs, responder needs at least five trump or a very good four.

If opener’s suit was diamonds or a major, responder needs at least four trump.