Opened 1♦/♣
Responses after a takeout double
The takeout double shows opening values, so responder should bid more preemptively. There are some adjustments to the basic structure.
Playing 2NT or 3NT is infeasible now as 1♣xx is more profitable. As a result, the meaning of 2NT is changed to a convention and 3NT is never used now. For their original meanings, redouble instead.
Jump shifts become weak if responder unpassed. Redouble to show strength for original strong jump shifts. Keep in mind that fit-showing by a passed responder are unadjusted because the previous pass denies both jump shifts.
Responses to 1♣ (Dbl)
- XX
- Invitational+ hands (11+ points) which do not qualify as a Truscott 2NT.
- 2♣
- A simple raise can now be made with only 5 points.
- 2♦, 2♥, 2♠
- Weak jump shift if unpassed, showing 8+ points and 6+ cards.
- 2♥!, 2♠!, 3♦!
- Fit-showing if passed. These bids are unchanged.
- 2NT!
- Truscott 2NT, which shows a limit raise i.e. former 3♣.
- 3♣
- Preemptive raise, 7~10 points, 5+ support.
Responses to 1♦ (Dbl)
- XX
- Invitational+ hands (11+ points) without another suitable call.
- 2♣
- Invitational+ hands (11+ points) with 5+ cards.
- 2♦
- A simple raise can now be made with only 5 points.
- 2♥, 2♠, 3♣
- Weak jump shift if unpassed, showing 8+ points and 6+ cards.
- Fit-showing if passed. These bids are unchanged.
- 2NT!
- Truscott 2NT, which shows a limit raise i.e. former 3♦.
- 3♦
- Preemptive raise, 7~10 points, 5+ support.
Responses after a simple suit overcall
Wbridge5 employs French convention for such low-level competitive auctions. The French insist on showing length of hearts quickly to compete with latent adverse spades.
Collante
The French word collante means “sticky” in English. This means that a negative double after a 1♦ or 1♥ overcall shows exactly 4 cards in the next suit viz ♥ or ♠ respectively. As a consequence, the direct bid of the suit now shows 5+ cards.
Be aware that Collante only affects one suit. The meaning of 1♠ in 1♣ (1♦) 1♠ is the same as 1♣-1♠, which shows 4+ cards in spades, because only hearts is affected by (1♦).
- 1m (1♦) X
- Negative double, 6+ points with exactly 4 hearts.
- 1m (1♦) 1♥
- Free bid, 6+ points with 5+ hearts.
- 1m (1♦) 1♠
- Free bid, 6+ points with 4+ spades.
- 1m (1♥) X
- Negative double, 6+ points with exactly 4 spades.
- 1m (1♥) 1♠
- Free bid, 6+ points with 5+ spades.
Rodrigue
This convention is uncommon in France, but is used by Wbridge5. After a 1♠ overcall, we give up the simple raise for a negative free bid of hearts. This bid differentiates with the negative double by showing 5+ cards of hearts, making the negative double show exactly 4 cards.
Wbridge5 madly insists on showing length of hearts quickly to compete with latent adverse spades.
- 1m (1♠) X
- Negative double, 6+ points with exactly 4 hearts.
- 1m (1♠) 2m!
- Negative free bid of hearts, 6~10 points with 5+ hearts.
- 1m (1♠) 2♥
- (Positive) free bid, 11+ points with 5+ hearts.
- 1m (1♠) 3m
- Mixed raise, 9+ points with 5+ support.