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Competing at the 1-level

The design of the responses already bears competitive bidding in mind. We somehow ignore the meaning of overcalls to deal with artificial and psychic bids. We reorder major suit bids with Transfer Walsh to get a “support double” by accepting the transfer.

Over a double

We treat 1♣ as a weak notrump more than a club opening. Club support is not very effective. We have a transfer scheme for all levels below 3NT.

  • 1♦♥♠: Transfer to the next strain. The low-level cuebid of 1♠ lets opener declare notrump.
  • From 2Q to 3♥: A weak or strong transfer of 6+ cards.
  • 3♠: Transfer Gambling 3NT.

Natural 1NT is not very useful after a double. Rebrand it as transfer.

1♣ (X)-
XXNF BAL G/T, 10+
1♦!TRF, 7+, 4+♥
1♥!TRF, 7+, 4+♠
1♠!TRF, 7+, 5+♣
1NT!TRF, 7+, 5+♦
2♣PRE, 0–9, 5+♣
2XPRE, 0–9, 6+#
2NT!TRF, PRE 7+♣ or FG 6+♣
3♣!TRF, PRE 7+♦ or FG 6+♦
3♦!TRF, PRE 7+♥ or FG 6+♥
3♥!TRF, PRE 7+♠ or FG 6+♠
3♠!Gambling, SOL 7+ suit with no stopper outside
3NT!Gambling, SOL 7+ suit with one stopper outside

Over a suit

Bidding clubs here is more important than (X) because we often need to compete to 3♣.

1♣ (1Y)-
X!TRF, 7+, 4+ next suit
1♥!TRF, 7+, 4+♠
1♠!TRF to 1NT, 7+
1NTNAT, 8–10
2XNF, 7–11, 5+#
2YZ!TRF, 6+ next suit
2♠!INV+, 5+♣
2NTNAT INV
3XINV, 6+#
3YZINV+ TRF, 6+ next suit
3♠!FG, 6+♣

Of course (1♠) X is a negative double. In An Overview of the Use of Transfers in and out of Competition, Marc Smith suggests swapping the unbid suits. I second this. The 2♦ transfer ends the debate if free bids are forcing.

1♣ (1♠)-
X!TRF, 7+, 4+♥
2♦!TRF, 7+, 5+♥
2♥!INV+ TRF, 5+♦

Similarly, the negative free bid of diamonds is not that useful. I’d make it forcing over (1♥).

1♣ (1♥)-
2♦INV+, 5+♦

Responder passes

Responder is strictly limited, and 1♣ is prone to psychic bids. Therefore, there are some quirks about cuebids:

  • Responder’s cuebid (not to a X) is natural.
  • Opener’s cuebid after X is natural.
  • Opener’s 2NT is unusual because X includes 21+ “penalty”.
1♣ (1Y) P-
P12–17
X!12–20, T/O. 21+, PEN
1Z15–20, 4+#
1NT18–20, usually likely stop
2♣12–20, 5+♣
2X20–23, usually 5+#
2Y!21+, ask for stopper
2Z20–23, 5+#
2NT!UNT, 18+, 5+ 5+ two lowest non-adverse suits
3♣, 3X21–23, 6+#
3Y!Gambling, SOL 7+♣, ask for stopper
3Z21–23, 7+#
3NTGambling, SOL 7+♣ with stopper

Transfer Walsh

Transfer to major suits has the same meaning as major suit responses to 1♣. Opener usually bids as if responder had bid the suit naturally. However, opener has a new option: accept the transfer at 1M. This option steals the support double when advancer passes.

Here I only list support rebids for brevity. The complete set of responses is at 1♣-1M.

Transfer Walsh in competition is also called Cachalot in French.

1♣ (1♦) X7+, 4+♥
1♥SUPP, 12–17, 3=♥
2♦!FG, 3+♥
2♥MIN, 12–14, 4=♥
3♥INV, 15–17, 4+♥
1♣ (1♦) 1♥- |
1♣ (1♥) X-
7+, 4+♠
1♠SUPP, 12–17, 3=♠
2♦!FG, 3+♠
2♠MIN, 12–14, 4=♠
3♠INV, 15–17, 4+♠

The cuebid is a useful tool to ask for stopper by ceding notrump declaration. I decide to have a dual meaning 2♥, similar to 4SF. It asks for a stopper by default. Rebidding the suit shows a natural suit.

1♣ (1♥) X7+, 4+♠
2♥!INV+, ask for stopper. FG, 5+♥
3♥!FG, 5+♦, 5+♣

Direct and transfer to 1NT

1♣ (*) 1♠TRF to 1NT, 7+
1NTBAL MIN, 12–14
1♣ (*) 1♠NTDirect and TRF to 1NT
2♣MIN, 12–14, 6+♣
2♦!(R) INV+, ask for minor suit
2♥♠FG, 5+#
2NTBAL INV
3♣♦FG, 6+#

The 2♦ relay here is nothing more than 1♣-1NT-2♦.

1♣ (*) 1♠ - 2♦-(R) INV+
2♥!5–6♣
2♠!5–6♦
2NTMIN, 2–4♦, 2–4♣
3♣!MAX, 2245
3♦!MAX, 2254
3♥!MAX, 6=♣
3♠!MAX, 6=♦
3NTMAX, 2–4♦, 2–4♣

When opponents bid a major suit, we gain another cuebid to ask for a stopper. It can also be a natural bid like 4SF.

1♣ (1M) 1♠NTDirect and TRF to 1NT
2M!INV+, ask for stopper. FG, 5+#