Natural (1Y)

(1Y)-(Quasi-)NAT
X!T/O, 7.5− NLTC
1Z8.5–6.0 NLTC, usually 5+#
1NT15–18 HCP, usually BAL 6.5–6.0 NLTC and likely stop
2X7.5–6.0 NLTC, 5+#
2ZPRE, 9.5–8.0 NLTC, usually 6+#
2NT!UNT, PRE or STR, 5+ 5+ in the lowest two unbid suits
3XZPRE, 8.5–8.0 NLTC, usually 7+#
3Y!Gambling, SOL 7+ suit without stopper
3NT!Gambling, SOL 7+ suit with stopper

Cuebids

I advocate using cuebids for 5+ 4+ two suiters, except (1♠)-2♠ that forces playing at the 3-level. The strength shall be either too weak for an opening or too strong for a direct overcall.

  • (1♣)-2♣!: Landy, 5+ 4+ majors or 44(41)
  • (1♦)-2♦!: Flannery, 4+♠, 5+♥
  • (1♥)-2♥!: Muiderberg, 5+♠, 4+m
  • (1♠)-2♠!: Michaels, 5+♥, 5+m

Landy is just Ekren 2♣ but a forcing overcall. I suggest using its continuations. Muiderberg also coincides an opening convention. Michaels is a special case of Muiderberg. The only thing we need to discuss here is Flannery, deprived of the 2♦ relay compared to Landy.

Flannery (1♦)-2♦ is close to Flannery 2♦ and the original Ekren 2♦. I suggest continuations from BTU Ekren + Lebensohl.

(1♦)-2♦-PRE or STR, 5+♥, 4+♠
2NT!LEB
3♣!INV+, 3+♠
3♦!INV+, 3+♥

P-P-(1Y)

By passed hand, overcalls that require opening strength (7.5− NLTC) become one trick weaker. 1NT becomes minor suit oriented takeout.

P-P-(1Y)-(Quasi-)NAT
XT/O, 8.5− NLTC
1NT!T/O, 8.5− NLTC, 4+ 4+ in the lowest two unbid suits
2X8.5− NLTC, 5+#

(1Y)-P

Balancing overcalls tend to be intermediate. Jump overcalls are sound because there is no one to preempt. On the other hand, constructive overcalls are light because partner may have passed a weak notrump.

Unpassed 2NT is no longer unusual because we’ve got more steps on the notrump ladder.

  • 13–15 HCP: 1NT
  • 16–18 HCP: X, then notrump
  • 19–21 HCP: 2NT
(1Y)-P--
XT/O, 8+ HCP
1Z8–15 HCP, 4+#
1NT13–15 HCP with stopper
2X8–15 HCP, 5+#
2Z, 3X11–15 HCP, 6+#
2NT19–21 HCP with stopper