WOOLSEY DEFENSE
TO 1 NO TRUMP
The magazine Bridge Today, founded by Matthew and Pamela Granovetter, is a bi-monthly publication, and its regular columnists include a variety of expert players, teachers, and writers from around the world. One of the contributors to the magazine is Mr. Christopher R. Woolsey, also known as Kit. The following is part of his articles describing the Woolsey Defense to 1 No Trump openings.
Initial Actions
Double
shows
usually a 5-card Minor and a 4-card Major 2
shows
both Major suits 2 response asks for preference
2
shows
one of the Major suits 2
shows
Hearts and a Minor suit 2
shows
Spades and a Minor suit 2 NT
shows
both Minor suits 3 any suit
shows
a natural bid
Common Abuses as described by Kit Woolsey:
3-1-4-5 distributional hands in the Balancing Seat regularly double, even with no 4-card Major suit.
Strong hands, with 19 high card points plus, start with a double and then rebid 2 No Trump (or double) to try to expose a Psych Bid.
Good 4-4-4-1 distributional hands with a stiff Minor suit can start with 2 Clubs.
Single-suited Minor hands often start with double, hoping to be able to play at the Two Level. These hands will pass a 2 Diamond asking bid.
Responses To Double:
2
Pass or Double After 2 2
Asks for the Major suit. Non-forcing. 2
A natural bid to play 2
A natural bid to play 2 NT
An artificial bid asking for further description
3
shows
a minimum Club holding 3
shows
a minimum Diamond holding 3
shows
a maximum Club holding 3
shows
a maximum Diamond holding
3
is to play 3
is to play 3
a natural bid, invitational with good suits 3
a natural bid, invitational with good suits 3 NT
is to play 4
Namyats 4
Namyats In the case that the opponents interfere with overcalls:
A bid of 2 No Trump is an Asking Bid to pick the best Minor suit.
All other bids are natural signifying that there are no means available to find a Major suit.
A double suggests strongly that it would be better to defend.
Responses to 2 Clubs:
2
signifies that partner should pick a suit 2
is a significant preference xxx, KQ bids 2 2
is a significant preference xxx, KQ bids 2 2 NT
is an artificial game-try
3
shows
a minimum but better Hearts 3
shows
a minimum but better Spades 3
shows
a minimum but better Clubs
3
a natural preemptive bid 3
a natural preemptive bid 3
a natural bid, obstructive not invitational, showing a 5-card suit 3
a natural bid, obstructive not invitational, showing a 5-card suit 3 NT
is to play 4
Namyats 4
Namyats If the opponents decide to interfere, then everything is natural, including a double.
Responses to 2 Diamonds:
2 a natural bid 2 shows a Heart fit Forcing to 3 Hearts 2 NT an artificial game-try
3
shows
a minimum but better Hearts 3
shows
a minimum but better Spades 3
shows
a minimum but better Clubs But after a 2 No Trump response, a bid of four of any Major suit is to play.
3
is to play 3
is to play 3
is obstructive Pass or Correct 3
is obstructive Pass or Correct 3 NT
is to play 4
Namyats 4
Namyats If the opponents decide to interfere with overcalling, then:
2 NT asks partner to bid his best Major suit. Double is a penalty double. All other bids are considered natural bids.
Responses to 2 of either Major:
2
is to play if the bid is 2 Hearts 2 NT
is an artificial game-try 3
either Pass or Correct 3
is to play 3
of same Major a natural, blocking bid 3
of the other Major a natural, preemptive bid 3 NT
is to play 4
Namyats 4
Namyats If the opponents decide to interfere with an overcall or a double, then:
2 NT asks partner to bid his best Minor suit. 3 All other bids are natural.
If the opponents decide to double an artificial bid, then unsolicited bids, performed by passing, show an interest in playing the bid suit. A pass, after interference, is to play the artificial suit. A redouble can have any interpretation according to the partnership agreement.
A short cut to remembering the guidelines after an interfering overcall by the opponents is that if no long suit has been established, then a bid of 2 No Trump is an Asking Bid. All other bids are natural. Over 2 of any Major, a bid of 2 No Trump is an artificial game-try, and 3 Clubs is asking for a correction to Diamonds.
Responses to 2 No Trump:
3
shows
a minimum in Clubs 3
shows
a minimum in Diamonds 3
shows
a maximum in Clubs 3
shows
a maximum in Diamonds 3 NT
shows
maximum values A response of 3 No Trump indicates an unwillingness to play in a partscore, and having a Minor suit holding which a response of 3 of any Major suit would not be forcing for one round.
If you wish to include this feature, 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.