DEFENSE CONVENTIONS
TO NO TRUMP OPENINGS

The 1 No Trump bidder has described his hand, and everyone at the table knows his length and strength. If his partner has less than 6 or 7 high card points, there is no reason for him to bid. Therefore, he passes. But the opponents see in this action weakness, and therefore desire to enter the auction, either in the direct seat or in the pass-out position.

Before continuing, it must be noted that by adopting any of these conventions, treatments or methods, the partnership has decided to surrender the use of the Double to signify a Penalty Double, which some partnerships consider a natural bid. This decision must be made known to the opponents through means of the Convention Card.

The opponents realize that the 1 No Trump bidder and his partner could have as many as 23 high card points, and this fact casts a little shadow of doubt on the situation. As a general rule, if Mr. Doubt raises his head, it is better to pass. It is most unlikely that the opponents will have game, although hypothetically possible, but very doubtful.

However, Bridge Players, since the beginning of Bridge Bidding, have been devising ways and means of defending against No Trump bids with at least some kind of educated guess, calculated risk and strength through distribution. Following are some of those conventions, treatments and methods. They have proven to be quite successful when used properly and in Partnership Agreement. Please take a look at the value and worth of each, and then decide which one you and your partner wish to play.

Astro - This convention uses the bid of a Minor-suit overcall after a strong 1 No Trump opening 15-18 high card points to show a two-suited hand. You will also find variations of this convention, such as Modified Astro and Pinpoint Astro.

Modified Astro - This variation, or modification, of the Astro convention is used to expedite the description of a Major suit two-suiter after a strong 1 No Trump opening (15-18 high card points) to show a two-suited hand.

Pinpoint Astro - Using this modification of the Astro convention, the bidder has a better possibility of conveying a better description of his two suited hand to his partner.

Aspro - A method of defending against a 1 No Trump opening showing Major Two-Suiters and Pronounced Two-Suiters. Also included is the Asptro method.

Becker - Becker is a conventional method employed after an opponents 1 No Trump opening.

Bergen Over No Trump - Mr. Marty Bergen decided that is was not very profitable to employ a penalty double, and therefore went looking for other ideas.

Brozel - The Brozel Convention was developed by Mr. Bernard Zeller, and can be applied either in the direct or balancing position.

Cansino - An overcall of 2 Clubs to indicate strength in Clubs and two other suits.

Cappelletti - Invented by Mr. Michael Cappelletti as a defense against a 1 No Trump opening.

Crash Over One No Trump - This extension of the Crash convention was created for constructive bidding after the opponents open with 1 No Trump.

Hamilton Convention - This convention resembles Cappelletti and Bergen in some ways, but has different meanings to the individual bids.

Landy Convention - Using Landy after the right hand opponent opens the auction with a No Trump bid is a request for a takeout to a Major suit.

Ripstra Convention - This is an overcall after a 1 No Trump opening, and can be used either in Second or Fourth Seat after two passes. The actual strength of the hand varies slightly and is very much dependent on the vulnerability.

Suction Convention - The guidelines of this convention are not involved or complicated, but the partner must first make an assumption, and then bid as cheaply as possible to discover the true meaning behind the overcall.

If you wish to include these features, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.