[DJNeill]

Hi all,
Playing strong (16/17+) club with weak (11-13) NT where 14-16 opens 1 of a suit (1D=2+) and rebids 1NT, does anyone have any good experience with the best way to show the strong NT in competition, in particular when playing support doubles? Playing a strong NT, the support double is usually a weak hand or unbal max so responder could just assume weak and opener would take it further with more, but playing weak NT, I'm not sure the frequency and best strategy.

E.g.

1D-(P)-1S-(2H); ?
Pass = ?
X = ?
2S = ?
2N = ?

Kokish-Kraft play that X is always a strong NT equivalent with support, and 2NT is good/bad, passing with weak unbalanced hands with 3fits and letting pd reopen with a cards double.

Thanks,
Dan

[whereagles]

Dbl as strong NT seems adequate.

But if you really want to keep support doubles, you might try 2NT as natural. That would however require responder to pass on less than 8 hcp if he has no 5-carder.

[straube]

How about...

P-short spades or strong NT with 2-3 spades but 3+ hearts, i.e. Moysian might not be good
dbl-takeout hearts with 3 spades, likely strong NT but could be any 3154 or 3145.
2S-4 spades
2N-good/bad. 5/5 minors or 6D
etc

After a pass...

.....dbl-invitational+ opposite a strong NT
.....2S-5 spades and some values
..........P-strong NT or perhaps 14xy
..........2N-0454 or 1354
..........3C-0445 or 1345
..........3S-3 spades, max strong NT
.....2N-Lebensohl?
.....3m-GI?

[straube]

https://groups.googl...old/k9B6t2SbcvQ

Found this thread. Seems most support dbl as strong NT with 3, bid of 2S with 4 or 3 unbalanced. One was advocating doubling with any strong NT with 2 or 3 spades. I think Rodwell would support that...

Eric Rodwell: I have played the weak notrump . . . but . . . having to play it vulnerable makes me uncomfortable. I know a lot of the theorists who talk about weak notrump say that you are very well placed— if your partner opens 1C, he either has a strong notrump or a shapely hand with clubs. In practice, I have found that in many auctions it is not really that safe. Say you open 1C. It goes a 1S overcall, partner makes a negative double, and the next hand jumps to 3S preemptive [1C-1S-Double-3S-?]. Are you really going to be doubling with just a flat 15 here? The weak notrumpers call a double here the strong notrump double — when you open and then double to show that you have a strong notrump — which can work well at relatively low levels. Let’s say it goes 1D, Pass, 1H, 2C, you will usually be all right to double to show a strong notrump. When the bidding gets more escalated, you might be on 15 opposite 5 with no particular fit. You would then have a problem. If you pass instead of double to show the strong notrump, partner may make an erroneous assumption of what your hand is, perhaps assuming you have an 11 count with clubs.

[Trick13]

We have a similar structure to you, although our 2♣=9-13 6+♣ no 4M, and 1NT can be off-shape. This means if we have a minor suit we will be able to bid it at the 3-level, either directly or via good/bad 2NT. That leaves P=strong NT and X=support, much as straube suggested.