PLAY BRIDGE Cappelletti over 1NT — part 1 Strong …

1 play < Strong >BRIDGEStrong > . < Strong >CappellettiStrong > over 1NT. Examples DEFENSE VS NOTRUMP. part 1 Say your RHO opens 1NT. In first seat you hold (15 17) and you hold the following Strong vs: _____ _____. Q 8 A J 8 A K 10 5 K 9 8 6. hands: one suit 2 _____ _____. You open 1NT and your left-hand op- A Q 9 5 2 K J 10 4 3 8 6 3. ponent intervenes with 2 showing Bid 2 , showing both majors. & . 2 _____ _____. the majors. Don't you just hate that? Yes, you only have 10 high-card & minor _____. 2 _____. < Strong >BRIDGEStrong > players have learned that points, but the shapeliness of this it pays to compete over opening hand makes it more valuable. & minor _____. 2 _____. Strong 1NT bids when they hold K J 9 4 3 6 K 7 Q J 10 4 2 Strong or running Dbl: _____ suit _____. shapely hands. Generally, it's best Bid 2 , showing spades and a to compete with hands containing a minor suit. 2NT = minors Other_____.

2 Long suit or with two-suited hands A 7 4 K J 10 7 3 2 8 6 5 3 _____. usually with 5 5 or even 5 4 Bid 2 showing a one suiter. distribution and appropriate This hand has only 8 HCP and may Notice that this defense values. not be worth much on defense, but ( < Strong >CappellettiStrong > ) against the opponents'. The object of the interference is it should be quite good on offense. 1NT openings is listed under the not to get to game, but rather trying Remember, your aim is to interfere heading vs. Strong , meaning that to obstruct the opponents and to do with the opponents' bidding. you play it only when the opponents so safely. You hate it when they bid 7 4 K Q J 10 7 4 2 A Q 3 A use a 15 17 (or 16 18) 1NT range. over your 1NT turn the tables Double. Do not bid 2 to show a If you play a different system and do it to them! one-suited hand. You are too Strong .

3 Against weak 1NT openings (such as For this to be effective, however, If you end up defending 1NT 11 14 or 13 15 HCPs), write it in you need a system to define your doubled, you can lead a heart and the adjacent column, and write the bids. One of the most popular of expect to take at least six hearts and word Weak on the vs line.. these methods is called < Strong >CappellettiStrong > , two aces. If the opponents scramble Next month: How to respond a treatment that is also commonly to safety, you can next bid your when partner interferes over the known as Hamilton. hearts and partner will know you opponents' 1NT opening. have a good hand and a good suit. How it works J 10 7 6 5 3 K 9 2 8 4 6 2 Get 'em while Double shows a good hand, either Pass. True, you have a six-card they're hot a very Strong balanced hand or spade suit, but this hand is too weak (better) a hand with a running suit to compete.

4 Do not bid 2 to show Phyllis Prager, of Sarasota FL, that can be used to defeat 1NT. a one-suited hand. was at a large Florida regional, 2 shows any one suit. playing in the Senior Pairs. Wilson Full disclosure Day was directing and made some 2 shows both majors. jovial and charming announcements 2 shows hearts and a minor When you fill out your as the session was getting under suit. convention card, don't simply write way. One of those announcements 2 shows spades and a minor < Strong >CappellettiStrong > or (worse) Capp was that the playing area was a suit. on the convention card. Fill in cell free zone. Will Martzloff of 2NT shows both minors. what suits each bid shows on the Rochester NY showed his quick Three-level bids are natural and appropriate line. wit, calling out, I'll take two.. preemptive (weak). For example: 44 < Strong >BRIDGEStrong > Bulleti