This Week in Bridge
(543) Penalty Double Systems vs. NT Openings
© AiB Robert S. Todd
Level: 8, 10 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
When the opponents open the bidding with a Strong 1NT, showing 15-17 points, we may enter the auction to try to bid a contract that we can make, but we may also enter the auction destructively and try to make the opponents’ life more difficult. Since the opening bidder has so many HCP, it is much more likely that we will be entering the auction to be destructive. That means that shapely hands are more common for us to have. Many partnerships attempt systems that are entirely built around shapely hands (DONT, Meckwell, Woolsey, etc.) after the opponents open a Strong 1NT. All these systems use a double as a conventional bid, not as penalty.
But if the opponents are playing a “Weak 1NT” opening bid (for example, 12-14 points) then, somewhat counterintuitively, we need to bid only when we have a decently valued hand. In this case, we tend to bid with hands that would normally have overcalled at the 2-level, hands with about opening values or better. Here we are primarily bidding constructively because when the opponents open a “Weak 1NT” it is still possible for our side to have a game. If we bid destructively (with only shape and without much strength) and partner has values, they may push the auction too high. It is common to use a special bidding system against the opponents’ Weak 1NT opening bid that is different from the one we use against a Strong 1NT opening. These bidding systems usually contain a penalty double that allows us to show a very good hand as well, and thus penalize the opponents when partner also has some values.
Some partnerships like to use a system that contains a penalty double even when playing against a Strong 1NT. This gives us fewer bids to allow us to describe our distributional hands, but it allows us a way to penalize the opponents or even explore game when we have the right cards. Let’s take a look at some of these “systems vs. NT” that contain a penalty double.
Defining “Weak” 1NT
Before we go into a system for competing over a Weak 1NT opening bid, we need to know which NT ranges are considered weak and which are considered strong. A common and effective solution to this is to play a 1NT bid as strong if it contains 16 points in the range and to play it as weak if it is not that strong.
Examples of 1NT Ranges and Classifications
15-17 points Strong
14-17 points Strong
14-16 points Strong
13-16 points Strong
13-15 points Weak
12-14 points Weak
11-14 points Weak
Modified Cappelletti vs. Weak 1NT (or Strong 1NT)
Now that we know what a Weak 1NT bid is, let’s discuss a system for bidding over it. Remember that vs. Strong 1NT opening bids if we play a system like DONT, Meckwell, or Woolsey, then with a strong balanced hand we simply pass and defend – expecting this to be our best result. But if we play a system with a penalty double (or even natural bidding) then we use double of their 1NT opening to show the strong balanced hand.
Example 1 – Vs. Weak 1NT
1NT X
Against a Weak 1NT, 12-14 points, then double usually shows a balanced hand with at least 14 points.
Example 1 – Vs. Strong 1NT, 15-17
1NT X
Against a Strong 1NT, 15-17 points, then double usually shows a balanced hand with a good 15+ points.
These doubles are not unilaterally for penalty. They ask for input from partner. Advancer can leave this double in for penalty if they have about 6+ points and no long suit. (When Advancer has 6+ points then they know we have at least half the points, giving us a good chance of beating the 1NT contract).
Note: In this situation, when partner has made a penalty double, some partnerships play “systems on” (SO), bidding as if their partner had opened the bidding 1NT. But this is not the best approach and not recommended. Advancer needs to be able to run to a natural 2♣ or 2♦ contract with a poor hand.
It should also be noted that double can be used for other types of powerful hands, like “double and bid” hands with lots of HCP and a long strong suit.
The other primary bids in the Modified Cappelletti system are:
2♥ and 2♠, both natural, usually showing a 6+card suit.
2♦* is used to show a hand with both Major suits.
This leaves 2♣* as a special bid to use a relay to 2♦. This bid is used to show a hand with a long ♦ suit, a two-suited hand with a Major + minor, or occasionally a good hand with long ♣.
Let’s see how this 2♣* bid works.
1NT 2♣* P 2♦*
P __?
Pass Showing a long ♦ suit.
2♥ ♥ and a minor (at least 5+card ♥ and 4+card minor).
2♠ ♠ and a minor (at least 5+card ♠ and 4+card minor).
3♣ ♣, but a stronger hand than jumping to 3♣ directly.
Complete Modified Cappelletti System
1NT __?
X Penalty oriented, usually a balanced hand at least as strong as their hand
2♣* Relay to 2♦ to show ♦, M+m, or strong with ♣
2♦* Both Majors (usually at least 5/4 shape)
2♥ Natural
2♠ Natural
2NT Weak with both minors (usually at least 5/5 shape)
3X Natural and preemptive
Against a Weak 1NT, all the bids from 2♣ to 2♠ show at least opening bid values in shape and strength and are more constructive than bids we make over a Strong 1NT opening bid.
Note: The difference between Cappelletti and Modified Cappelletti is that in Modified Cappelletti the 2M bids are natural, whereas in the original version of Cappelletti, they showed a M+m 2-suiter. The general consensus amongst expert players is that it is important to be able to show hands with 1-Major immediately. Meckwell is a similar change from DONT, showing the single Major hands immediately.
Modified Woolsey vs. Weak 1NT
Some partnerships that play Woolsey vs. Strong 1NT opening bids like to use most of the same system vs. Weak 1NT openings with a modification to strength (bidding more constructively and less destructively). Also, they change double to be more penalty-oriented, showing a balanced hand at the top of the opponent’s range (usually 14+ points) instead of a 4+card Major and a longer minor. This allows the partnership to change little about their system when facing a Weak 1NT opponent.
Conclusion
When the opponents play a Weak 1NT range, we need a different approach to bidding (more constructive and less destructive) and a different set of bidding tools to show the hands with which we want to compete in the bidding. Some partnerships choose to use one of the systems that contain a penalty double even against Strong NT opening bids. No matter what, we still want to enter the auction with 1-suited and 2-suited hands that have good values, but we also want to compete (or possibly penalize the opponents) with good balanced hands. If you face a Weak 1NT opening, be prepared to adjust your bidding system and philosophy to help you better compete in the auction and overcome playing against a system with which you are not that familiar!