The Precision Club Piggery        Guest User

We start with the easiest situation: If partner makes an Asking Bid (in absolutely any situation and in any sequence whether it started with 1♣ or not) and opponents do anything other than pass then, unless the interference is pre-emptive in nature (by which we mean jumping at least 1 level of bidding to a level that is either above game level in a suit we have agreed as trumps or above 3NT if we've not agreed a suit), the action to be taken is as follows:

1. Double/Redouble shows the 1-step response to the Asking Bid
2. Pass shows the 2-step response to the Asking Bid
3. 1 step (ie: the next bid up) shows the 3-step response
4. 2 steps (ie: 2 bids up) shows the 4-step response
5. etc etc

In this way we aim to reclaim some of the space lost through the interference. You will see from this that in the case of Doubles, we actually gain some space we wouldn't otherwise have had and make a profit!!! This is a variation of the DOPI/ROPI method of coping with interference over Blackwood or Gerber.

Example:

Suppose we hold ♠Ax, ♥KJxxxx, ♦x, ♣Kxxx.

The Bidding goes 1♣ from Partner, we bid our 1♥ positive, and partner now bids 1NT, a low-level Beta Ask. Our RHO pipes in with a 2♦ Overcall. Normally we would make a 3-step response of 2♥ over 1NT to show our 4 Controls. Over the overcall of 2♦, a Double would be the 1-step response of 0-2 Controls, a Pass would be the 2-step response showing 3 Controls, and a bid of 2♥ would show the 3-step response showing 4 Controls. Thus on this occasion the overcall has not actually cost us any space. We've not had to compromise our Asking Bid sequence and can carry on just as we would have done without the interference.

If the interference is of a pre-emptive nature (ie: it is jumping at least 1 level of bidding to a level that is either above game level in a suit we have agreed as trumps or above 3NT if we've not agreed a suit), then the actions outlined above still apply, but now we also have to contract some of the Scales for the different Asking Bids, as follows:

If the Asking Bid was	Alpha	Double	shows no Support
		Pass	shows Support with 0-3 Controls
		1 Step	shows Support with 4 Controls
		2 Steps	shows Support with 5 Controls, etc etc
	Beta	is unaffected, ie:
		Double	shows Minimum (0, 0-2, 0-4 etc depending on Scale in use)
		Pass	shows Minimum plus 1 (1, 3, 5 etc)
		1 Step	shows Minimum plus 2 (2, 4, 6 etc)
		2 Steps	shows Minimum plus 3 (3, 5, 7 etc) etc etc
	Gamma	Double	shows 0 or 1 Top Honours
		Pass	shows 2 Top Honours
		1 Step	shows 3 Top Honours
	Delta	Double	shows Less than Qxx/xxxx
		Pass	shows Qxx/xxxx or better
	Epsilon	Double	shows No Control or 3rd Round Control
		Pass	shows 2nd Round Control
		1 Step	shows 1st Round Control
	Zeta	is exactly as per Beta above (ie: unaffected)
	Eta	Double	shows no Top Honour or 1 Top Honour (with or without the Jack)
		Pass	shows 2 or 3 Top Honours
	Theta	is exactly as per Delta above
	Iota	is exactly as per Delta above
	Sigma	Double	shows no Top Honour in the suit
		Pass	shows 1 Top Honour
		1 Step	shows 2 or 3 Top Honours

Example:

Suppose we hold ♠Axx, ♥KQxxx, ♦x, ♣Kxxx.

The Bidding goes 1♣-1♥-2♥(Gamma) but now RHO pipes in with a 4♠ Overcall. This time the overcall has jumped at least 1 round of bidding and is above the level of game in our agreed suit (Gamma agrees Hearts in this instance, don't forget), so we have to contract our Gamma response still further as well as using Double and Pass to show the 1/2-step responses. So here we Pass over 4♠ to show 2 or 3 Top Honours (Double would show 0 or 1 Top Honours). Clearly this interference has considerably reduced our ability to investigate much further, but we're still in control and partner can continue his investigation if they want or just sign off in 5♥.

Now we move to a slightly more complex space-saving mechanism, asking backwards. If opponents interfere over the response to an Asking Bid then, unless the interference is pre-emptive in nature (by which we mean jumping at least 1 level of bidding to a level that is either above game level in a suit we have agreed as trumps or above 3NT if we've not agreed a suit), the action to be taken is as follows:

• Any bid in a suit is an Asking Bid just as if the intervention has not occurred.
• Double is an Ask in in the denomination immediately below that of the interference.
• Pass is an Ask in in the denomination 2 suits below that of the interference.

Generally, No Trumps is ignored in these "backward asks". The exception is if the interference has bypassed a bid in No Trumps that would have been an Asking Bid (which means either a low-level Beta of 1NT or an Alpha bid of 2NT), in which case counting backwards does include No Trumps. This is quite rare.

If Opps intervened before Responder's previous response and as a result they passed to show a 2-step response, then even if Opps do not intervene over the response, Double/Redouble become available to ask backwards in the suit below. So if an Asking Bid sequence went 1♣-1NT(Spades)-2♣(Beta)-(X)-Pass(3 Controls)-(Pass)-??? now Opener could potentially Redouble to make a Gamma Ask in Spades (ie: the suit below Clubs, since a repeat Beta not required. If a repeat Beta was potentially required, then the redouble would be a second Beta rather than Gamma).

Example (1)

Suppose we hold ♠Axx, ♥x, ♦KQJxxx, ♣Kxx.

The Bidding goes 1♣-2♦-2♥(Beta)-3♣(4 Controls) and now LHO pipes in with a 3♠ Overcall over our response to Beta. Now, if Opener Doubles, this would be an Asking Bid in Hearts (the suit immediately below that of the interference) and hence Theta. If, however, Opener passes over the 3♠ overcall, this is an Asking bid in the suit 2 below that of the interference (ie: in Diamonds) and hence it would be Gamma in Diamonds.

Note:

The rules for what Asking Bid is being made are completely unaffected by this procedure. The Ask has exactly the same meaning as it would have had if the interference had not occurred and Opener had made that bid over our previous response.

Example (2)

Suppose we hold ♠xxx, ♥Kxx, ♦xx, ♣KQJxx.

The Bidding goes 1♣-2♣-2♦(Beta)-2♥(0-2 Controls) and now LHO pipes in with a 3♦ Overcall over our response to Beta. Now, if Opener Doubles, this would be an Asking Bid in Clubs (the suit immediately below that of the interference) and hence Gamma in Clubs. If, however, Opener passes over the 3♦ overcall, this is an Asking bid in the suit 2 below that of the interference. Because in this situation 2NT (the bid 2 below the interference) would not be an Asking Bid (it would be handing over the Captaincy), then No Trumps is ignored and we go to Spades instead, so the Pass over 3♦ would be Theta in Spades.

Extreme Example (3)

Suppose we hold ♠KQxx, ♥xxx, ♦KJ10xx, ♣x.

Partner opens 1♣ and RHO doubles to show some Clubs. You can now pass to show 0-4 and Redouble to show 5-7, so a bid of 1♦ from you is now a positive response in Diamonds, which you duly make. LHO now doubles to show something (Diamonds, maybe). At this point a Double from Partner is a bid in the suit below (and so Alpha in Clubs) and a Pass from partner is an Ask in the suit 2 below, No Trumps. A minimum bid in No Trumps over a 1-level Positive Response is a low-level Beta and so No Trumps is included in this situation, so Partner's Pass over the Double is Beta. You cannot Pass this, but Redouble is available as the 1-step response to show 0-2 Controls and Partner now bids 1♠ which is Theta in Spades (new suit after a low-level Beta). etc etc. In this instance the opps interference has saved you not one but two whole rounds of bidding. Without the interference the bidding would have gone 1♣-2♦-2♥(Beta)-2♠(0-2 Controls)-3♠(Theta)... Doubles during an Asking Bid sequence are like manna from heaven if you are using mechanisms like this to reclaim bidding space. Once Opps realise that their interference is actually assisting you, they soon shut-up and let you get on with it.

In the case of pre-emptive interference over the response to the previous Asking Bid, however, we abandon the Pass asking in the suit 2 below. Double is still asking in the suit immediately below the interference (same rules as above) but now the Pass is a Lebensohl-style bid, forcing partner to Double, after which Opener will either pass for penalties or make a sign-off bid of some kind. Responder is only allowed to disturb that sign-off if Opener has not yet established their exact level of controls and Responder has considerably greater strength and Controls than Opener might expect.

This is a slightly special situation in that we're in an Asking Bid situation, but we've not actually started the Asking Bid Sequence yet. This area of the system has now been changed to simplify it dramatically from how it was originally arranged. This has been possible because of the advent of the Relay Beta. The knock-on effect this has on the system is to make Low-level beta's much less attractive, especially when Responder is a passed hand and the expensive Weak Beta might push up the level at which Theta/Iota can be used but also opposite a non-passed hand when we are guaranteed a cheap Relay Beta once we've agreed trumps.

The upshot of this is that if there is interference immediately over a Positive Response to 1♣, we now give complete precedence to Alpha and Gamma when Responder has shown a suit positive, and only make any kind of provision for a low-level beta when Responder has shown a balanced positive. The general rules for this are as follows:

If there is interference immediately over a positive response to 1 ♣, then over

1. Suit Positive

   • Double is an Ask in the suit below (or if Suit below would be Gamma, in the suit 2 below)
   • Pass is Gamma in Responder's suit
     • Unless A bid of the next suit up would be Gamma anyway, in which case a bid in the next suit up is Gamma, and Pass is an Ask in the suit two below.

2. Balanced Positive

   • Double is an Ask in the suit below
   • Pass is Beta (followed by Iota or HoC)

• Where the interference is at the 2-level (below 2NT) and the bid is a Panama or Suction-style bid that doesn't or may not show the suit actually bid, then 2NT by Opener is always Alpha in the suit they actually bid (eg: 1♣-1♠-(2♥[= ♠/Minors])-2NT is Alpha in Hearts
• Where, however, a 2-level overcall is ostensibly natural, then 2NT is Handing over the Captaincy rather than Alpha in the suit bid, and a psyche will have to be exposed by some other means.

Examples:

Here are some examples to clarify the above:

1. 1♣-2♣-(2♥)-???
   • Double = Alpha in Diamonds (suit below)
   • Pass = Gamma in Clubs
   • 2NT = Handing over the Captaincy
2. 1♣-2♣-(2♦[=♦/Majors])-???
   • Double = Alpha in Spades (suit 2 below, because suit below is Responder's suit)
   • Pass = Gamma in Clubs
   • 2NT = Alpha in Diamonds (Because 2♦ may not be Diamonds)
3. 1♣-1NT-(2♥)-???
   • Double = Alpha in Diamonds (suit below)
   • Pass = Alpha in Clubs in Clubs (because next suit up is Responder's suit)
   • 2♠ is Gamma in Spades
   • 2NT = Handing over the Captaincy
4. 1♣-1NT-(2NT)-???
   • Double = Alpha in Hearts (suit 2 below, because suit below is Responder's suit)
   • Pass = Gamma in Spades
5. 1♣-1♠-(2♥)-???
   • Double = Alpha in Diamonds (suit below)
   • Pass = Beta
   • 2NT = Handing over the Captaincy
6. 1♣-1♠-(2♦[=♦ or other 3 suits])-???
   • Double = Alpha in Clubs (suit below)
   • Pass = Beta
   • 2NT = Alpha in Diamonds (because 2♦ may not be Diamonds)

1. Pre-emptive Interference at the 4-level over a positive response to 1♣ (eg: 1♣-1♠(Bal)-(4♠)-??? is slightly different to the above, but follows similar logic as to the meaning of the Double.
   • Double is Gamma if Responder has shown a suit, and Beta if they have shown a balanced positive or semi-positive, but if the next suit up would be Gamma in Responder's suit anyway, then Double becomes an Ask in the suit below and the next suit up is Gamma. This does not apply when Double would be Beta, however, since it might be the only chance for Beta we will ever get so after a sequence such as 1♣-1♠(Balanced)-4♠ Double will always be Beta.
   • Pass is Lebensohl, forcing a Double, exactly as above. Again, Responder can only bid on over a sign-off if they have a significantly better hand than Opener will expect (by definition there has been no Beta Ask in this kind of sequence).
   • Bids by Opener are Asks (ie: Alpha in that suit) but without reference to Controls, merely asking if Responder has no support (1 step) or support (2 steps). If Responder shows support, then a relay over the response is Beta. Note that this only applies after pre-emptive interference immediately over a positive response to 1♣. If we've had other asks before the interference then no bid can ever be Alpha
   • Given the availability of the Pass-Double Lebensohl sequence, a fast 4NT is Beta, agreeing Responder's suit if one has been shown. If Responder has shown a balanced hand, then a fast 4NT is natural and "to play", but showing a less strong holding in opps' suit than a slow 4NT.
2. If Opps intervene at the 5-level immediately over a positive response to 1♣, then generally action by Opener is similar to that over 4-level pre-empts, except:
   • Double by Opener denies 1st or 2nd round control of Opp's suit and invites Responder to continue if they have 1st or 2nd Round Control.
   • Immediate bids are invitational rather than being Alpha.