What do you do if you don't know what partner's bid is? Use the process of elimination to narrow down the possibilities. What does partner's 2NT bid mean here?
Great question! I would say this is one of those things that if you've discussed as a partnership, you can do. If not, I wouldn't risk it. Both 2c and 2s here could be natural bids since 1c shows only 3 clubs and 1s shows only 4 spades. I prefer 2NT here because it's very clear what it is (it really can't be anything else), whereas both 2c and 2s could easily be mistaken for something else. Particularly, in the case of 2s where we aren't really saving any room, there isn't any advantage to doing this over 2NT. 2NT does have an advantage over 2s in that it's harder for East to show spade support over 2NT than it is 2s. Short answer: You could agree that 2s is Michaels in this sequence, but 2NT is clearer and more effective leaving 2s to actually be natural.
How could North's 2s be interpreted as natural after West's 1s overcall showing a 5-card spade suit? It must be Michaels, and leaves room for South to show spade stopper(s) with a 2nt bid.
Obviously the correct bid in this situation by north would be 2 clubs and NOT 2NT. Still shows two five suiters without requiring a bid at the three level.
Our bidding systems are based on partnership agreement. There are a lot of agreements that are helpful in this situation, the sandwich notrump being one of them. If you have agreed with your partner that bidding 2c is a Michael's cue bid and shows the unbid suits (instead of the majors), then that's a perfect bid for this situation. If you haven't discussed it, you might confused partner. It's not unreasonable for South to assume 2c actually shows clubs (since opener is only promising 3). Or if they think it is Michael's to be confused if it shows both majors (which it normally would) or if it shows the unbid suits since spades have been bid. Having solid agreements in place is very helpful, but, especially in new partnerships, things will come up that haven't been discussed and using the process of elimination can be really helpful in figuring out what partner's intention was.
My advice is NOT to play two suited overcalls as either weak or strong - because you can never get the bids in anyway without getting too high too quickly - so just play them wide-ranging. e.g. 1S - 2D - 4S - P - P - ? What are you doing with an intermediate hand now - chancing to come into the bidding with 5C? So bid 2NT over 1S with intermediate hands as well is my sound advice.
I’ve played two-suited overcalls three different ways; wide-ranging, weak or strong, and constructive. In my partnership where it was “constructive” that was usually 13+ HCP although the point count wasn’t clearly defined. The only method I didn’t care for personally was wide-ranging. It left me in a really awkward position when partner made a two-suited overcall and there was further competition by the opponents. No matter what your personal preference I think that thinking through how you want to play this part of your system and all the different nuances that go into that choice is a valuable activity. Choosing the conventions that you enjoy and find effective for you is an important part of getting better at bridge.
In general, the unusual 2NT is not alertable. However, if you are playing online, there is no harm in alerting (and describing) bids that are a bit outside the norm, because partner cannot see your alerts or descriptions. So online, I always error on the side of giving the opponents a description of shape and strength if I think they might not know the bid. In person, it's a little trickier because partner can hear you and you have to be concerned about unauthorized information. In a normal unusual 2NT situation, in person, I would not alert. However, with this one, if my opponents were less experienced, I probably would alert.
In person isn't it partner's responsibility to alert, not yours, as you would be providing information that might wake up partner if she/he is not on their game
there are 29+ HCP between the other 3 hands, so north can have 11- HCP
Why didn't North bid 2S Michaels with same two suits?
Great question! I would say this is one of those things that if you've discussed as a partnership, you can do. If not, I wouldn't risk it. Both 2c and 2s here could be natural bids since 1c shows only 3 clubs and 1s shows only 4 spades. I prefer 2NT here because it's very clear what it is (it really can't be anything else), whereas both 2c and 2s could easily be mistaken for something else. Particularly, in the case of 2s where we aren't really saving any room, there isn't any advantage to doing this over 2NT. 2NT does have an advantage over 2s in that it's harder for East to show spade support over 2NT than it is 2s.
Short answer: You could agree that 2s is Michaels in this sequence, but 2NT is clearer and more effective leaving 2s to actually be natural.
How could North's 2s be interpreted as natural after West's 1s overcall showing a 5-card spade suit? It must be Michaels, and leaves room for South to show spade stopper(s) with a 2nt bid.
West's bid isn't an overcall showing 5 spades. West is responder. The 1s bid shows 4 or more spades.
Obviously the correct bid in this situation by north would be 2 clubs and NOT 2NT. Still shows two five suiters without requiring a bid at the three level.
Our bidding systems are based on partnership agreement. There are a lot of agreements that are helpful in this situation, the sandwich notrump being one of them. If you have agreed with your partner that bidding 2c is a Michael's cue bid and shows the unbid suits (instead of the majors), then that's a perfect bid for this situation. If you haven't discussed it, you might confused partner. It's not unreasonable for South to assume 2c actually shows clubs (since opener is only promising 3). Or if they think it is Michael's to be confused if it shows both majors (which it normally would) or if it shows the unbid suits since spades have been bid.
Having solid agreements in place is very helpful, but, especially in new partnerships, things will come up that haven't been discussed and using the process of elimination can be really helpful in figuring out what partner's intention was.
My advice is NOT to play two suited overcalls as either weak or strong - because you can never get the bids in anyway without getting too high too quickly - so just play them wide-ranging. e.g. 1S - 2D - 4S - P - P - ?
What are you doing with an intermediate hand now - chancing to come into the bidding with 5C? So bid 2NT over 1S with intermediate hands as well is my sound advice.
I’ve played two-suited overcalls three different ways; wide-ranging, weak or strong, and constructive. In my partnership where it was “constructive” that was usually 13+ HCP although the point count wasn’t clearly defined. The only method I didn’t care for personally was wide-ranging. It left me in a really awkward position when partner made a two-suited overcall and there was further competition by the opponents.
No matter what your personal preference I think that thinking through how you want to play this part of your system and all the different nuances that go into that choice is a valuable activity. Choosing the conventions that you enjoy and find effective for you is an important part of getting better at bridge.
Is the 2NT bid alertable?
In general, the unusual 2NT is not alertable. However, if you are playing online, there is no harm in alerting (and describing) bids that are a bit outside the norm, because partner cannot see your alerts or descriptions. So online, I always error on the side of giving the opponents a description of shape and strength if I think they might not know the bid. In person, it's a little trickier because partner can hear you and you have to be concerned about unauthorized information. In a normal unusual 2NT situation, in person, I would not alert. However, with this one, if my opponents were less experienced, I probably would alert.
In person isn't it partner's responsibility to alert, not yours, as you would be providing information that might wake up partner if she/he is not on their game