[Hilver]

L.S.

You play a weak notrump, 12-14. RHO doubles for penalty.

So:
1NT - (double) - ?

What defence do You use then? In next seat (responder) is a redouble SOS or business?
What is the meaning of a pass by responder?
What escape bids do You use?

Thx

Jan

[gwnn]

all natural is fine. I haven't seen anything better at least. pass forces redouble is particularly bad.

[manudude03]

I prefer a simple XX shows a 5 card suit, and a direct suit shows a 4 card suit and a higher suit. Pass is to play.

[helene_t]

If you play all natural you can still scramble with some very weak hands with which you are happy to play in a 2-1 fit as long as you aren't doubled. Bid 2♣ with diamonds and a major, and 2♦ with both majors. Now if they double you bid the next suit. Most prefer to redouble instead of bidding the next suit but I think that is inferior as it gives opps more time.

[Kungsgeten]

We play that redouble is business and 2X shows a suit and is to play. Pass is almost forcing, asking opener to bid a 5 card suit, redouble or pass if it seems profitable. After opener's redouble responder will bid her lowest 4 card suit.

A popular defence in Sweden is "Nilslands slinkningar". http://www.bridgeguy...DefenseNTX.html

[Free]

Every 2 months there's someone asking about this. Search the forum first for crying out loud!

[Zelandakh]

As Free writes, this topic has come up many times before. My personal preference is for Spelvic with a small modification of my own. Initial bids show spades and both Pass and Redouble are puppets:

1NT - (X)
==
P forces XX. Then P = to play; 2♣ = clubs and a red suit; 2♦ = red suits; 2♥ = majors with longer hearts; others = GF 2-suiters that do not want to play 1NTXX
XX forces 2♣ and is always 1-suited. Then P and 2♦♥♠ are to play; others = GF 1-suiters that do not want to play 1NTXX
2♣ = clubs and spades
2♦ = diamonds and spades
2♥ = majors with hearts not longer than spades
2♠ = natural and can accept a raise (else XX)
2NT = minors, at least 5-5
3X = preemptive

The small modification is what happens with 4333 hands. Here you treat the hand as having a club more than it does and, if they double 2♣, redouble. That is

4♠333 - bid 2♣ (clubs and spades)
4♥333 - pass and bid 2♣ over the XX (clubs and a red suit)
4♦333 - same as 4♥333
4♣333 - XX and pass 2♣ (club 1-suiter)

Obviously you also need to include these possibilities in the explanations of the initial calls when asked.

[nige1]

David Stevenson's web-site has a selection of Wriggles, when 1N is doubled. Here is another one:

JANET (Just Another Notrump Escape Technique)

After 1N (_X) ?? Responder bids...

• _P = Nat. (Opener normally passes but can redouble with a 5 card suit).
• XX = Art. Any two suits. (Opener bids 2♣ unless he has 5 of another suit).
• 2B = Nat. 5+ suit. (usually) OR 5+ of the transfer suit (revealed only if ops double and you redouble. This potential "transfer" is alertable and is only effective with quite weak hands).

After 1N (_X) XX (_P); 2♣ (_X) ?? Responder bids...

• _P = Nat. ♣ and another.
• XX = Art. Red suits..
• 2♦ = Nat. Pointy suits.
• 2♥ = Nat. Major suits.
  

After 1N (_X) XX (_P); 2♣ (_X) _P (_P); ?? Opener bids...

• _P = Nat. 3+ ♣. Otherwise, opener must have two suits, which he shows as above, i.e.
• XX = Red.
• 2♦ = Pointy.
• 2♥ = Major.

Sometimes passing out 1NX is the least evil it may even struggle home
Otherwise, this rescue-method rapidly retreats into an 8-card fit if possible and into a major if possible (harder for opponents to double).
A drawback of this method is that you need opponents to double 2♣ before you can show the red suits unambiguously.

[trevahound]

I play a 10-13 nt in most seats, and any method that makes it difficult for us to stay in 1ntx is crazy, in my opinion. Frequently it's our best spot, and even when it's a bad spot, other spots might be worse (won many many imps staying in 1ntx while the other table ran, playing 2somethingX for another 300), or RHO might be about to bid. Anything that takes pressure off RHO when we suspect it's their hand is misguided, in my opinion.

I strongly believe if you aren't interested in playing in 1ntx with some regularity, you oughtn't play a wk NT. I realize the OP was asking about a medium NT, though. Not sure the math would be much different.

Brian Zaugg

[P_Marlowe]

 Kungsgeten, on 2013-June-21, 03:02, said:

We play that redouble is business and 2X shows a suit and is to play. Pass is almost forcing, asking opener to bid a 5 card suit, redouble or pass if it seems profitable. After opener's redouble responder will bid her lowest 4 card suit.

A popular defence in Sweden is "Nilslands slinkningar". http://www.bridgeguy...DefenseNTX.html

we play this, and it works reasonably well, the only downside being, all bids say something, and you cant play
1NTx ..., but the methods finds your 44 fit, if you have one.

With kind regards
Marlowe