[dake50]

I don't think always bidding over a strong club is a good idea, unless your opponents aren't very good. Experienced players who play precision always know when to play or defend, and you won't get away with making a bid going for too large a number because the opponents make the wrong decision. -- Quantumcat

*** That's been my experience also.
Opponents seem to quit playing sane bridge way often when we open 1C.
Won't even require excellent judgment to take 500/800 or more
against our borderline/failing game.

[glen]

dake50, on 2012-September-08, 09:19, said:

That's been my experience ... take 500/800 or more ...

The full name of the convention is "1S present for the opponents at the table"

[SteveMoe]

Have played an approach that works well:
Over 1♣:
Double = Meckwell - single minor or both Majors (55+)
1♦ = 45 minors
1♥/♠ exclusion 3-suit takeout
1N = 55+ minors
2♣ = ♣ and Major
2♦ = ♦ and Major
2♥/♠ = natural

[Zelandakh]

Meckwell is an interesting description of that double - last time I saw their CC they were playing Mathe; but I guess you mean their 1NT defence. There may be even more 1♣ defences out there than 1NT defences! Here's another:

X = both majors, at least 5-5
1♦ = multi: one major
1M = major plus longer minor
1NT = multi: one minor or both majors, 4-4 or 5-4
2♣ = both minors, 4-4 or 5-4
2♦ = multi: 5M(332)
2♥ = hearts and 4+ minor
2♠ = spades and 4+ minor
2NT = both minors, at least 5-5

Of course simple works too. Aside from Mathe (X = majors, 1NT = minors) another popular one out there is Modified Crash:

X = good overcall in hearts
1♦ = good overcall in spades
1♥ = spades and clubs, or hearts and diamonds
1♠ = spades and hearts, or clubs and diamonds
1NT = spades and diamonds, or clubs and hearts

Another major family is Suction:

X = diamonds or majors
1♦ = hearts or blacks
1♥ = spades or minors
1♠ = spades and diamonds, or clubs and hearts
1NT = clubs or reds

Finally, popular on here are multi bids that show the suit bid, such as 2♥ = either major and 2♣ = clubs or diamonds. These are difficult to defend but also sometimes blow up badly. You can also combine ideas from the different families, for example by playing Modified Crash at the one level and Suction at the two level. And many many more ideas too.

For what it is worth, I do not think 1♠ as "anything else" is a great idea. Quite aside from the disclosure issues it is just not particularly effective most of the time. You wins against strong artificial openings tend to come when you can get to 2M or higher quickly. This kind of 1♠ overcall is simply too nebulous to be raised effectively and therefore robs you of a more useful meaning for the call. It is not something I would recommend.

[mikestar13]

Something else interesting is found in John Montgomery's Revision Club notes. Respecting John's copyright, I will only quote the basics for direct bids with no followups.

After (1♣)

X = 4 spades exactly and 5+ in a minor.
1♦ = both majors, not as good as 5-5.
1NT = two suited including spades, 5-5 or better.
2NT = two suited hearts and minor, 5-5 or better.
3NT = two suited in minors, usually better than 5-5.

All other bids natural.

The complete PDFs for the system are at BridgeWithDan.com

[SteveMoe]

Zelandakh, on 2012-September-14, 03:15, said:

Meckwell is an interesting description of that double - last time I saw their CC they were playing Mathe; but I guess you mean their 1NT defence. There may be even more 1♣ defences out there than 1NT defences!

Yes - reference ot the 1NT Defense - a memory aid for us - note the 2-level bids are Meckwell too.

Here's another approach I like but takes a bit more memory. Played with Norm Coombs, one of Cincinnati's GLMs:

Coombs Crash Defense against a Strong 1♣, 1♣– 1♦ and artificial 1♦opening.
Basically Crash at the one level with bad hands < 1 ½ defensive tricks, ≤ 2 tricks vulnerable. 1NT for 1- suited hands when available. Brozel at the 2 level plus double with good hands ≥1 ½ defensive tricks ( >2 tricks vulnerable). Brozel bids relatively sound though maybe 5-4. Crash bids not so sound promise 3+ in second suit, maybe 6-3, even 4-3, slightly more reasonable vulnerable or equal vulnerability. Agreed to avoid penalty double when vulnerable.

1♣ - X shows good hand with ♣s and ♠s. responder takes preferance at the level he wishes to compete to.
1♣ - 1♦ limited hand 2 suits of the same color. May be 6-3 even 4-3 NV, 4-4+ vul. Responder takes preference at the level he wishes to compete to allowing to correct to other pair.
1♣ - 1♥ limited hand 2 suits of the same rank. 1 ½ or less defensive tricks NV. Responder takes preference at the level he wishes to compete to allowing to correct to other pair.
1♣ - 1♠ limited hand 2 suits of the same shape. > 2 defensive tricks vul. Responder takes preference at the level he wishes to compete to allowing to correct to other pair.
1♣ - 1N shows one suited hand any hand strength.
1♣ - 2♣ shows ♣s and ♥s. Brozel bids are sounder.
1♣ - 2♦ shows ♦s and ♥s. 1 ½ defensive tricks not vulnerable.
1♣ - 2♥ shows ♥s and ♠s. more than 2 defensive tricks vulnerable.
1♣ - 2♠ shows ♠s and ♦s. 5-4 or better in suits.
1♣ - 2NT shows ♣s and ♦s. some slight discretion both white.

1♣ - P – 1♦ - X shows good hand with ♣s and ♠s. responder takes preference at the level he wishes to compete to.
1♣ – P – 1♦ -1♥ limited hand 2 suits of the same color. May be 6-3 even 4-3 NV, 4-4+ vul. Responder takes preference at the level he wishes to compete to allowing to correct to other pair.
1♣ – P – 1♦ - 1♠ limited hand 2 suits of the same rank. 1 ½ or less defensive tricks NV. Responder takes preference at the level he wishes to compete to allowing to correct to other pair.
1♣ – P – 1♦ - 1NT limited hand 2 suits of the same shape. > 2 defensive tricks vul. Responder takes preference at the level he wishes to compete to allowing to correct to other pair.
1♣ – P – 1♦ - 2♣ shows ♣s and ♥s. Brozel bids are sounder.
1♣ – P – 1♦ - 2♦ shows ♦s and ♥s. 1 ½ defensive tricks not vulnerable.
1♣ – P – 1♦ - 2♥ shows ♥s and ♠s. more than 2 defensive tricks vulnerable.
1♣ – P – 1♦ - 2♠ shows ♠s and ♦s. 5-4 or better in suits.
1♣ – P – 1♦ - 2NT shows ♣s and ♦s. some slight discretion both white.

1♦ - X shows good hand with ♣s and ♠s. responder takes preference at the level he wishes to compete to.
1♦ – 1♥ limited hand 2 suits of the same color. May be 6-3 even 4-3 NV, 4-4+ vul. Responder takes preference at the level he wishes to compete to allowing to correct to other pair.
1♦ – 1♠ limited hand 2 suits of the same rank. 1 ½ or less defensive tricks NV. Responder takes preference at the level he wishes to compete to allowing to correct to other pair.
1♦ – 1NT limited hand 2 suits of the same shape. More than 2 defensive tricks vul. Responder takes preference at the level he wishes to compete to allowing to correct to other pair.
1♦ – 2♣ shows ♣s and ♥s. Brozel bids are sounder.
1♦ – 2♦ shows ♦s and ♥s. 1 ½ defensive tricks not vulnerable.
1♦ – 2♥ shows ♥s and ♠s. more than 2 defensive tricks vulnerable.
1♦ – 2♠ shows ]spades]s and ♦s. 5-4 or better in suits.
1♦ – 2NT shows ♣s and ♦s. some slight discretion both white.

[kayin801]

Free, on 2012-August-29, 09:21, said:

Many years ago I played the following:
Pass = 4+ spades
1S = 0-3 spades
Rest = whatever you want, can have any numner of spades

This way you can overcall 1S a lot. Biggest problem is when you're V and don't have 4+ spades ofcourse

Maybe you could frequently psyche the pass while vul or just alert it as "pass shows 4+♠ or a hand that doesn't want to bid" ;P

[Quantumcat]

kayin801, on 2012-September-16, 18:32, said:

Maybe you could frequently psyche the pass while vul or just alert it as "pass shows 4+♠ or a hand that doesn't want to bid" ;P

The only problem is when your partner has a lot of spades - they'd love to bid 4♠, but are they going to find a good dummy with four or five spades, or a bad hand without many spades? These hands are very different to each other!