Defense to Strong Artificial Bids

It has become popular in the bridge community that partnerships employ Strong, Artificial Opening Bids, generally a 1 Club opening. The opponents or defenders need a means of entering the auction, either as bidders for the final contract or to prepare for a sacrifice, and/or to obstruct the auction of the opening partnership. Within the bridge community, there are several methods of defending against a Strong, Artificial Opening Bid, which are based on the concept that the defending side can justifiably enter the auction to its benefit when holding either a one-suited or two-suited hand.

One method, devised by Mr. Alan Fraser Truscott, by which the defending side is able to show a one-suited or two-suited hand, is that a Jump Overcall is natural and a simple overcall shows length in the bid suit and the suit that ranks just above it.

When the overcall is an immediate overcall, then the following method is recommended by Mr. Alan Fraser Truscott.

When the overcall is not an immediate overcall, then the following method is recommended by Mr. Alan Fraser Truscott.

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.

Opponent	Defender	Meaning
1	1	shows Diamonds and Hearts
	1	shows Hearts and Spades
	1	shows Spades and Clubs
	2	shows Clubs and Diamonds
	Double	shows Clubs and Hearts
	1 NT	shows Spades and Diamonds

Opponent	Defender	Opponent	Defender
1	Pass	1	Double	shows Diamonds and Spades
			1 No Trump	shows Clubs and Hearts