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UNUSUAL 2 NT

With shapely hands it is important to be able to compete, providing you have little or no defence in the opponent’s suits

Therefore if the opponents open 1 of a major, and you hold 5/5 in the minors, you need to get into the action immediately with a bid of 2NT.

Your points will be in the 2 suits and NOT in either of the majors.

An ideal hand would be:-

♠ 3

♥ 64

♦ AQJ96

♣ KQ982

Having made the bid of 2NT, you will now pass whatever the opponents say. Your partner knows your hand. You do not know his. Any further action is up to him.

OTHER BIDS TO SHOW TWO SUITS

RHO opens 1♣

You overcall 2♣ . This shows both majors (The Michaels convention)

You overcall 2NT. This shows ♦ and either ♥ or ♠

RHO opens 1 ♦

You overcall 2 ♦. This shows both Majors (The Michaels convention)

You overcall 2NT. This shows ♣ and either ♥ or ♠

Now let us discuss the defence to the opponents bidding 2NT over our partner's major suit opening

UNUSUAL OVER UNUSUAL

Your partner opens one of a major, the next hand bids 2NT,what now?

There is a problem here with many different holdings in the majors. How can you convey to your partner the strength and shape of your hand?

The answer is to use the impossible minor suit bids as a means of adding to the available bids

1♠ …2NT………?

3♥ /♠ is just competitive. Partner is free to pass.

To invite or better :-

3♣ = Hearts

3♦ = Spades

Partner will bid 3♥ with min hand and no more than 5 Spades

3♠ with min hand (6 spades) and no more than 1 Heart

1♥ …2NT…..?

To bid 3♠ here creates another problem in that it has gone beyond 3 of partner’s suit. Therefore the meanings of some bids are reversed.

3♣ = invite or better Hearts

3♦ = competitive S (with no heart support). Partner is now able to bid 3♥

3♥ = competitive H

3♠ = forcing