Woolsey Defense to 1NT Openings
This is our version of this defense, originally published
by Kit Woolsey in Bridge Today.
- Initial Actions
-
Double = usually a 5-card minor and a 4-card major
-
2
= majors, 2
asks for preference
-
2
= one of the majors
-
2
=
and a minor
-
2
=
and a minor
-
2N = both minors
-
3X = natural
- Common abuses:
-
3145 hands in balancing seat regularly double,
even with no four-card major.
-
Very big hands (good 19+) start with double and
rebid 2NT (or double) to try to expose a psych.
-
Good 4441 hands with a stiff minor can start with 2
.
-
Single-suited minor hands often start with double,
hoping to be able to play at the 2-level. These
hands will pass a 2
ask.
- Responses to Double:
-
2
= pass or correct
After 2
, 2
is pass or correct
-
2
= what's your major? (NB: NOT forcing)
-
2
,2
= natural, to play
-
2NT = artificial, please describe
-
3
= min clubs
-
3
= min diamonds
-
3
= max clubs
-
3
= max diamonds
-
3
,3
= to play
-
3
,3
= natural, invitational, good suits
-
3NT = to play
-
4x = Namyats
-
If they interfere:
-
2NT = pick your minor
-
all else natural (no way to find major)
-
double suggests defending
- Responses to 2
:
-
2
= you pick
-
2M = significant preference; xxx KQ bids 2
-
2NT = artificial game try
-
3
= min, better hearts, etc.
-
3
= natural preemptive
-
3
= natural preemptive
-
3M = natural blocking, not invitational, 5-card suit
-
3N = to play
-
4x = Namyats
-
If they interfere:
-
Everything is natural, including double
- Responses to 2
:
-
2
= normal
-
2
= heart fit, forcing to 3
-
2NT = artificial game try
-
3
= min, hearts, etc.
-
...after 2NT, 4M by responder is to play
-
3
,3
= to play
-
3
= pass or correct, blocking
-
3
= pass or correct
-
3N = to play
-
4x = Namyats
-
If they interfere:
-
2NT = bid your major
-
double = penalties
-
All else natural
- Responses to 2M:
-
2
= to play
-
2NT = artificial game try, see below
-
3
= pass or correct
-
3
= to play
-
3M = natural, blocking
-
3OM = natural, preemptive
-
3N = to play
-
4x = Namyats
-
If they interfere (including double):
-
2NT = bid your minor
-
3
= natural
-
All else natural
If they double an artificial bid, unsolicited bids
are interest in playing the suit bid. Pass
is to play the artificial suit; redouble is no
opinion.
Mnemonic for interference:
If no long suit is sure, 2NT asks. All else natural.
Over 2M, 2NT is an artificial game try and 3
asks for correction to diamonds if appropriate.
- Responses to 2NT:
-
3
= min, clubs
-
3
= min, diamonds
-
3
= max, clubs
-
3
= max, diamonds
-
3N = max, unwilling to play a partscore
and hold appropriate minor such that
3M is not forcing.
We play the 2NT ask after:
-
Woolsey 2M
-
Hamilton 2M
-
Woolsey double if comp
-
Michaels cue-bids of a major
Jeff Goldsmith,
jeff@tintin.jpl.nasa.gov,
April 18, 1996