BETTER BIDDING by BERNARD MAGEE Hands Unsuitable for Landy

Hand D Landy ♠ K 7 6 5 ♥ Q 4 3 2 ♦ AJ ♣ K J 2 Defence Call Landy with 4-4 in the majors only very rarely and never when the strength is evenly distributed between the suits, as in Hand D (on which you should pass); to 1NT make sure your major suits are strong.

here are many different defences The hand should have opening values Hand E Hand F to 1NT openings, but by far the unless it is 5-5 in the majors, in which ♠ K 6 5 4 3 ♠ K Q J 9 Tmost important aspect of any case the convention can be used on ♥ Q 8 5 4 3 ♥ Q 8 5 4 3 defence is that it should be helpful and weaker hands because of the power of ♦ K 2 ♦ Q 2 straightforward; moreover, both players the distribution. It is important that the ♣ 3 ♣ Q 3 should know it! majority of your high cards are in the The weak no- is a very common major suits. opening bid, so you will find yourself For example: Once again, make sure your suits are defending against it on many occasions. strong – Hand E is not suitable and In any defence to 1NT, it is imperative should pass. In Hand F, you have one to have 2♥ and 2♠ as natural bids. A Hand A strong major, but the other one is poor completely natural defence is perfectly ♠ K Q J 4 and with values in both minors it is not reasonable, but below I am going to ♥ A Q J 4 a sensible hand for using Landy. suggest the Landy defence to 1NT ♦ 10 5 4 2 named after an American, . ♣ 3 Responses to 2♣ It uses one artificial , 2♣; all of the other are natural. Basically you respond in your longer It is dangerous to use two-suited over- major or, if you have equal length, you Over a 1NT opening bid calls with two four-card suits, so it is can bid 2♦, over which your partner important that they are strong suits. rebids his longer major. This allows you Double = Penalties (15+) to get to your best major-suit fit. 2♣ = Landy (see below) If you do have good support for one 2♦/2♥/2♠ = Natural overcalls Hand B Hand C of the majors (at least four cards) then 3♣ = Natural overcall in ♠ K Q 5 4 3 ♠ K Q 10 9 4 you should respond as if your partner clubs. ♥ A Q 5 4 ♥ Q J 10 4 3 has opened the bidding in that major, ♦ 3 ♦ 3 i.e. using the Losing Trick and Point Landy over 1NT ♣ 7 3 2 ♣ 3 2 Count in the usual way. With a very strong hand, use the strongest response A2♣ overcall of 1NT shows both majors, which is 2NT, asking partner to show promising at least four spades and at least All of these hands are suitable for his hand (see below). four hearts Landy. If your opponent opened 1NT Writing all this down as a scheme (it you could use a 2♣ overcall. The more looks more complex than it is): shapely the distribution, the fewer high- Pass = 7+ clubs, very few points KINGS AND ACES card points you need. You will notice 2♦ = relay; asking partner to bid 95 £29. GOLD-PLATED that the number of the losers in each of his longer major CODE AD02 the above hands is the same – six losers (see below) CUFF-LINKS – that is not to say you could not make 2♥/2♠ = 3+ cards in the major (0-9) the call with seven losers, but it just 2NT = 13+ points shows that you do not need so many and no 4-card major high-card points to make the bid, if you 3♥/3♠ = 4+ cards in the major have the distribution. I cannot overstress (8 losers) the importance of having most of your 4♥/4♠ = 4+ cards in the major from the Mail Order Service high cards in the long suits – it really (7 losers) does make a big difference. Continued on page 15 ‹

Page 13 BETTER BIDDING continued from page 13 Landy in Action

There are only two slightly difficult this is not going to come up much and ♠ Q 5 4 ♠ A K 10 6 2 responses: 2♦ and 2NT. therefore it is important to keep things ♥ 5 4 N ♥ Q J 9 8 7 W E simple. So reserve the 3♣ response for ♦ K 4 3 2 S ♦ 9 The 2♦ Response to 2♣ the weakest hands (that is the 5-5 hands ♣ J 7 3 2 ♣ 8 5 with 7-10 points); any other response is This is used when you have equal length then forcing to game. in the two suits, or when you hold 10-12 West North East South points. Over your 2♦ relay, the 2♣ over- 1NT 2♣ Pass caller shows his longer major (hearts ♠ 10 4 ♠ K Q 7 6 5 2♠ End with equal length), then: a weak hand ♥ K 4 N ♥ Q J 10 3 2 W E passes, whilst a 10-12 point hand can ♦ A Q J 6 S ♦ 5 East overcalls with 2♣ to show both rebid 2NT, raise the major, or show a ♣ A 9 6 5 2 ♣ 4 3 majors and West replies 2♠ which East very long minor. passes.

West North East South ♠ 10 9 4 ♠ A K 8 6 2 1NT 2♣ Pass ♠ 3 ♠ A K 10 6 2 ♥ 10 4 3 N ♥ Q J 9 8 2NT Pass 3♣ Pass ♥ A K 5 4 N ♥ Q J 9 8 7 W E W E ♦ A4 2 S ♦ 8 3♥ End ♦ Q 8 5 3 S ♦ 9 ♣ J 7 6 3 ♣ Q 8 5 ♣ 7 6 3 2 ♣ 8 5 East has an excellent overcall of North’s 1NT: he is weak, but with two good five- West North East South card suits he has a highly suitable hand. West North East South 1NT 2♣ Pass West, holding 14 points, gets quite 1NT 2♣ Pass 2♦ Pass 2♠ End excited and responds 2NT, but East 3♥ Pass 4♥ End rebids 3♣, which basically says: “Slow East overcalls North’s 1NT with 2♣; down partner, I have a weak hand with East overcalls with 2♣ to show both you have a pretty horrible hand as West two five-card majors.” West understands majors and West replies 3♥ to show but if your partner does hold a five-card the message and so rebids 3♥, picking primary support and eight losers (the major, a part-score should be OK. Bid his best major and stopping short of queen of diamonds is unlikely to be 2♦, letting partner show his longer game. worth much). Now East, with six losers, major. When East rebids 2♠ you simply can raise to game. pass. It looks optimistic, but on a 4-3 spade ♠ 10 4 ♠ K Q J 6 break the contract should make quite ♥ K 4 N ♥ Q J 10 3 2 comfortably. W E ♠ Q 4 ♠ A K 8 6 2 ♦ A Q J 6 S ♦ 5 ♥ K 4 3 N ♥ Q J 9 8 ♣ A 9 6 5 2 ♣ K 7 4 W E ♦ A J 4 2 S ♦ 8 ♠ 9 4 ♠ K 8 6 2 ♣ J 10 6 3 ♣ Q 8 5 ♥ 3 N ♥ K Q J 9 8 W E West North East South ♦ A 7 6 4 3 2 S ♦ 8 5 1NT 2♣ Pass ♣ Q 6 4 2 ♣ A8 West North East South 2NT Pass 3♥ Pass 1NT 2♣ Pass 3NT End 2♦ Pass 2♠ Pass West North East South 2NT End A similar auction to the previous one; 1NT 2♣ Pass West shows his strength by responding 2♦ Pass 2♥ End East overcalls North’s 1NT with 2♣; as 2NT to East’s 2♣ Landy overcall. East West, you might have a fit in hearts but responds 3♥ to show five hearts and a This type of hand will come up, so it is if not, then no-trumps could be your good hand. Now West can confidently worth trying to get used to it; it is rather best contract. Start by responding 2♦, bid to game: 3NT. Yes, it is true that like when partner makes a normal over- over which East shows his longer 1NT doubled would have been a better call and you always hold a singleton; major, 2♠; now you can rebid 2NT score, but after East has called 2♣ we when he shows two suits, you are short suggesting 10-12 points and no major- cannot rewind the auction! in them both! suit fit. East should pass this. You are probably thinking that this Here your diamonds are not good convention is a little complicated, but enough to bid unilaterally, so you have The 2NT Response to 2♣ that is only because I have focussed on to settle for one of partner’s suits. Best the tricky aspects. The 2NT bid above is to respond 2♦ asking him to show his An immediate 2NT over the 2♣ over- will come up very rarely – in fact nine five-card suit – after all, a 5-1 fit is better call is a strong response showing 13+ times out of ten, when using Landy, you than a 4-2 fit. and basically heading towards game; will finish in either 2♥ or 2♠. Continued on page 16 ‹

Page 15 BETTER BIDDING continued from page 15 3♠ and your face would be red! (Also bear in mind that this treatment is not allowed at Levels 1 and 2 in EBU events; penalties. If you have more points than you can play it at Level 3 and above, but ♠ 9 8 7 4 ♠ A K 6 2 the 1NT bidder then double, with just one cannot call it ‘Landy’!) ♥ 6 3 N ♥ Q J 9 8 7 proviso: if you have only 15 points you W E ♦ A 9 3 2 S ♦ 8 5 should have a good lead, or a few tens ♣ 6 4 2 ♣ A8 and nines. A flat 15 points with no inner Hand H strength is not enough. ♠ Q J 10 9 8 7 You require a ‘good 15’ points or ♥ AQ 2 West North East South more for a penalty double. ♦ 4 1NT 2♣ Pass ♣ 7 6 5 2♠ End Natural Overcalls As West, you have a miserable hand, The weak no-trump is a pre-emptive This is a very reasonable 2♠ overcall – but that should not affect your bidding; type of call, so you should try to overcall the solidity of the suit is the key. You respond 2♠ to your partner’s Landy and aggressively. However, you do need at have four spade tricks guaranteed and you finish in an excellent contract. least a good five-card suit (ideally a six- the ace of hearts; with five and a half card suit). When you are non-vulnerable, playing tricks in your hand, you have to 10 points and a strong six-card suit will be worth an overcall. ♠ A 9 8 7 4 ♠ K Q 5 2 suffice. ♥ K 4 N ♥ A J 8 7 2 Note that since 2♣ is conventional, W E Conclusions ♦ 10 9 8 7 6 S ♦ K 3 your natural overcall in clubs is now 3♣. ♣ 2 ♣ 8 3 To bid this you would need at least a good As I mentioned above you can play all six-card suit as in Hand G below: sorts of defences to 1NT but you should choose one with which both members West North East South of the partnership are comfortable. 1NT 2♣ Pass Hand G If you are going to try Landy, give it 4♠ End ♠ 3 some time and when it goes wrong a few ♥ A6 2 times, try to work out why – bear in mind East overcalls 2♣ to show both majors ♦ Q J 4 that all new conventions take a little time and West replies 4♠. Fantastic spade fit ♣ A J 10 9 7 5 to get used to. and excellent distribution – game is The reason I have chosen Landy is likely to be on. because it is relatively straightforward. This is a reasonable non-vulnerable 3♣ However, if you still find it a bit tricky, Penalty doubles of 1NT overcall of 1NT. Do not think you could then stick to a natural defence – it is one overcall 2♣, then bid 3♣, because by that of the best defences, because you should Doubles of 1NT opening bids are for time your partner would have jumped to never have any misunderstandings!

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