[badderzboy]

As I play in the UK we see a lot of auctions like 1NT-P-P-P or P-1NT-P-P etc

In the first situation, current regs are 1Nt-X or 1NT-P-P-X must be penalty although I think that changes in April.

With 1NT-P-P-X would you recommend doubling with less than 16pts as a balancing double (increases likelyhood of partner needing to take out etc)

What responses would you recommend?

Part ii

You're a passed hand and RHO opens a weak NT.. ie P-1NT-P-P

You play Astro so you can show 5M-4m/M hands in balancing seat

What should DBL show now?

If you play it as say hold a balanced 10-11 count now

What should partners responses mean?

I was considering treating it as if I had opened 1NT


Pass = penalty partner has balanced 12-15 not strong enough to double

2C = Stayman
2D=Tfr to Hearts
2H=Tfr to spades
2S=Range ask showing 14-15pts considering 3NT
2NT - tfr to Clubs
3C= Tfr to Minor

Is it sensible or madness or should all bids be natural?

Steve

[david_c]

badderzboy, on Feb 24 2005, 08:44 AM, said:

Part ii

You're a passed hand and RHO opens a weak NT.. ie P-1NT-P-P

You play Astro so you can show 5M-4m/M hands in balancing seat

What should DBL show now?

I doubt that it's a good idea to play dbl as showing a maximum pass. If you're playing Astro then you can't bid a natural 2♣ or 2♦, so you could use double for that sort of hand. Alternatively, use dbl to show a 5-card minor and a 4-card major.

(Or, even better, stop playing Astro when you're a passed hand - it's not really designed for that situation.)

[Gerben47]

With a passed hand: play a Woolsey double:
Dbl = 4-card major + 5+card minor

Responses
2♣ = pass or bid 2♦
2♦ = bid your major
2M = 6-card suit

[FrancesHinden]

In one partnership I play double as "maximum pass".
Various people laugh at us and say what a stupid method, but it picks up some nice penalties.

In a different partnership I play a different defence to 1NT by a passed hand. We play double as a three-suiter including spades (3-suiter can be 4432 or 4333 on a really bad day). You include spades as there's no point getting them out of 1NT into their spade fit...

Partner passes the double if 1NT should be going off, or bids pass-or-correct suits.

[mr1303]

Incidently, it's only at level III that double must be used as penalty as a non-passed hand vs 1NT. At level IV any defence goes.

After April 1st, any defence is permitted at level III as well. AT LONG LAST!!!

[vang]

FrancesHinden, on Feb 24 2005, 05:07 PM, said:

In one partnership I play double as "maximum pass".
Various people laugh at us and say what a stupid method, but it picks up some nice penalties.

for both sides i suppose ;-)

[Gerben47]

Maximum pass is probably not so bad if you assume 1-suiters in majors are no longer needed and you build a new structure.