Chapter 12

03-20-2006 12:06:29

Chapter 12 Notrump Defenses

Available notrump defenses are Light and Very Light. I have not experimented with "Very Light." If third seat passes, Always Balance has fourth seat balance with the right distribution.

If overcaller bids, then Overcaller - Advancer have a free run. The exception is a business double, where responder plays system on. In some defensive styles, if an eight-card fit is found, then limit bidding follows. Some set Min NT X quite low, like "equal your notrump", or "top of your range". I don't know how to react to partner's double, so in my experiments, I set the number high.

Woolsey
2 Both majors. Length difference no more than one. Advancer bids longer major. With four or more, advancer limit bids. With equal length and less than four, advancer bids 2 . With 4-4 majors and a 5-card minor, bid 2 to show the majors.
2 Six-card major. Advancer often bids shorter. Pass or correct.
2 , 2 5-major and 4 + minor (6-5 + 's allowed). With less than two, advancer bids 2NT with two four-card minors, or corrects to six-card suit.
Double 4-major - 5-minor. Advancer bids 2 to find major, else 2 for minor, else a six-card major.
6-card minor.
2NT 5-5 minors. Advancer bids longer minor. With equal length, bid strongest minor. Used in all notrump defenses.
Pass If responder passes, note fourth seat Always Balance option.

**Woolsey**
2	Both majors. Length difference no more than one. Advancer bids longer major. With four or more, advancer limit bids. With equal length and less than four, advancer bids 2 . With 4-4 majors and a 5-card minor, bid 2 to show the majors.
2	Six-card major. Advancer often bids shorter. Pass or correct.
2 , 2	5-major and 4 + minor (6-5 + 's allowed). With less than two, advancer bids 2NT with two four-card minors, or corrects to six-card suit.
Double	4-major - 5-minor. Advancer bids 2 to find major, else 2 for minor, else a six-card major.
6-card minor.
2NT	5-5 minors. Advancer bids longer minor. With equal length, bid strongest minor. Used in all notrump defenses.
Pass	If responder passes, note fourth seat Always Balance option.

Hamilton
Double First test applied. Shows Min NT X or more.
2 Any six-card suit. Advancer bids 2 or own six-card suit.
2 Majors. Advancer bids longer, or suit with most points. Limit bidding.
2 , 2 5-major - 4-minor, 4-major - 5-minor, 5-5, etc. Advancer with two might initiate correction, and with zero or one almost always does.
2NT 5-5 minors.
Pass

**Hamilton**
Double	First test applied. Shows Min NT X or more.
2	Any six-card suit. Advancer bids 2 or own six-card suit.
2	Majors. Advancer bids longer, or suit with most points. Limit bidding.
2 , 2	5-major - 4-minor, 4-major - 5-minor, 5-5, etc. Advancer with two might initiate correction, and with zero or one almost always does.
2NT	5-5 minors.
Pass

Brozel
Double Any six-card suit. Advancer usually bids 2 . Advancer can bid six-card suit at two-level before or after overcaller shows his suit.
2 Hearts and clubs. Two suiters are 5-4 either way. In all two-suiters, advancer usually chooses, but can bid his own six-card suit.
2 Hearts and diamonds.
2 Hearts and spades.
2 Spades and a minor.
2NT Minors.
Pass

**Brozel**
Double	Any six-card suit. Advancer usually bids 2 . Advancer can bid six-card suit at two-level before or after overcaller shows his suit.
2	Hearts and clubs. Two suiters are 5-4 either way. In all two-suiters, advancer usually chooses, but can bid his own six-card suit.
2	Hearts and diamonds.
2	Hearts and spades.
2	Spades and a minor.
2NT	Minors.
Pass

Astro
Double Last test applied.
2 Hearts and minor. 5-4 either way. Advancer bids 2 with 3 +, else 2 with some length, else six-card suit. Overcaller passes 2 with four or more. Overcaller bids 2 over 2 with five, and advancer continues with less than two.
2 Spades and second suit. 5-4 either way.
2NT Minors
2 , 3 , 3 , 3 Six or more cards. Natural
Pass

**Astro**
Double	Last test applied.
2	Hearts and minor. 5-4 either way. Advancer bids 2 with 3 +, else 2 with some length, else six-card suit. Overcaller passes 2 with four or more. Overcaller bids 2 over 2 with five, and advancer continues with less than two.
2	Spades and second suit. 5-4 either way.
2NT	Minors
2 , 3 , 3 , 3	Six or more cards. Natural
Pass

4-4 DONT, 4-5 DONT, and 5-3 DONT
2 Six or more spades. Cohen says: "2 = (weaker than double followed by 2 .) "
Double Any other long suit. Advancer and opener try to avoid playing a 6-1 or 6-0 fit.
2 , 2 That suit and a higher suit. Advancer bids ranking suit to play the higher suit, or shows his one-suiter. With 4-4-4-1, bid the middle suit. With 5-4-4-0, bid to include the five-card suit.
2 Spades and hearts. Advancer chooses major or long minor.
Pass
5-3-3-2 DONT 4-5 DONT except pass-out seat treats the five-card suit as the one suit.

**4-4 DONT, 4-5 DONT, and 5-3 DONT**
2	Six or more spades. Cohen says: "2 = (weaker than double followed by 2 .) "
Double	Any other long suit. Advancer and opener try to avoid playing a 6-1 or 6-0 fit.
2 , 2	That suit and a higher suit. Advancer bids ranking suit to play the higher suit, or shows his one-suiter. With 4-4-4-1, bid the middle suit. With 5-4-4-0, bid to include the five-card suit.
2	Spades and hearts. Advancer chooses major or long minor.
Pass
5-3-3-2 DONT	4-5 DONT except pass-out seat treats the five-card suit as the one suit.

Natural
2 , 2 , 2 , 2 Natural. Five-card suits allowed. No continuations.
Double With Min NT X points, double is chosen.
Pass

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2 , 2 , 2 , 2	Natural. Five-card suits allowed. No continuations.
Double	With Min NT X points, double is chosen.
Pass