OliverC's Precision Parlour        Guest User

Interference over an Asking Bid

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.

Pre-emptive Interference over an Asking Bid

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:

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♥.

Interference over the Response to an Asking Bid

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.

Pre-emptive Interference over the Response to an Asking Bid

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.

Interference over a Positive Response to 1♣

This is a special case because the Asking Bid sequence hasn't yet started and we have to permit the 1♣ Opener to proceed as cheaply as possible, giving priority to the most common kinds of Asking Bid Sequences, which are ones starting with either a Low-level Beta, an Alpha or Gamma. We deal with this one last of all, because it is the most complex situation and uses a similar technique to one we've already seen in the section on Interference over the Response to an Asking Bid above. In many instances the meaning of the bids is exactly what you would expect following the rules set out above for Interference over the response to an Ask, but there are some instances where it does not, usually when a cheap "normal" Ask is available instead.

For intervention higher than 2NT, the Asks given here are secondary options. In the first place consider the "Suit below and suit 2 below" method and depart from that only if it doesn't make sense to follow it. The times when the "Suit below and suit 2 below" method most often does NOT work is when they've cue-bid responder's suit. Most other times it works better than what is shown below.

The full scheme is complex, but a brief study of it will make the underlying logic clear. The items that will be unexpected (given the rules set out above) are highlighted in blue:

As you can see most of the time the bid is exactly what you would expect, given Double asking in the suit below and Pass asking in the suit 2 below. It is just occasionally that the ask is other than this method would normally dictate.

Notes

1. In the section on Interference over a Positive Response to 1♣, the actions shown under "Higher" need some clarification. You must consider what the two cheapest Asks above the last bid would be when considering whether to apply what is shown there or whether to use the simple "Suit below and Suit 2 below" rule. In many ways the Rules for Interference higher than 2NT should be turned around to read:
   
   "Generally we use the 'Suit below and Suit 2 below' rule, but if that would make no sense then apply what is shown on this page"
   
   For example 1♣-2♦-(3♣)-???.
   
   The notes above suggest Double being Gamma in Diamonds and Pass being Beta, but this makes no sense here, since 3♦ is an easy Gamma in Diamonds. The most expensive bid here is Alpha in Spades so it really makes sense to apply the "Suit Below and Suit 2 below" rule, since that gives us Double being Alpha in Spades and Pass being Beta. On the other hand:
   
   1♣-2♦-(3♦)-???
   
   Now the "Suit below and Suit 2 below" rule doesn't work in our favour. 3♥ and 3♠ Alpha are cheap enough, but we have no Beta and a very expensive Gamma in Diamonds, so it makes sense to apply what is in the Notes under "Higher" (ie: Double is Gamma in Diamonds and Pass is Beta).
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. If Opponents double a positive response to 1♣, then action is not as above, but rather:
   • 1♣-1♥-(X)-???
     • -Redouble is Alpha in Diamonds
     • -Pass is Gamma in Hearts
     • -1NT is Beta
   • 1♣-1♠-(X)-???
     • -Redouble is Alpha in Hearts
     • -Pass is Alpha in Spades
     • -1NT is Beta
   • 1♣-1NT-(X)-???
     • -Redouble is Gamma in Spades
     • -Pass is Alpha in Hearts
     • -2♣ is Beta
   • 1♣-2♣-(X)-???
     • -Redouble is Gamma in Clubs
     • -Pass is Alpha in Spades
     • -2♦ is Beta
   • 1♣-2♦-(X)-???
     • -Redouble is Alpha in Clubs
     • -Pass is Gamma in Diamonds
     • -2♥ is Beta