I was somewhat upset when I realized that Multi-Landy is a Mid-Chart convention per the ACBL. And when I checked, they won’t let me and Agent 99 play it at the Manhattan (not in the afternoons, anyway – we might be able to get away with it in the evenings, because the usual evening crowd is more sophisticated). Apparently, the 2D overcall to show an unspecified major suit is more than the average little old lady should be able to defend herself against. I think that’s bullshit, but I think the blame lies with the ACBL, not the Manhattan. If the Multi 2D had been legal in the US for the last 40 years, neither it nor Multi-Landy would be raising any eyebrows anywhere in the US.
I want to use decent tools. If I have to follow ACBL strictures, fine, but we’re going with Lionel.
Double shows 11+hcp, a two- (or possibly three-) suited hand that includes 4 or 5 spades. The defined minimum is 4-4 in two suits, one of which is spades, but against a strong no-trump I think we should stick to at least 5-4 (although spades might be the 4-carder) or extra high cards. Against a weak no-trump, you can be as adventurous as you like. If responder passes, advancer with 11+hcp can (and probably should) pass also, converting the double for penalties. (This implies that overcaller shouldn’t shade his point-count, only the distribution.) If that doesn’t look attractive but he likes spades, advancer can bid spades at what seems like the best level, or can bid a new suit at the 3-level as a splinter raise of spades (game-try). If he doesn’t like spades, with a weakish hand he should bid his cheapest 4-card suit and we’ll try to find somewhere to play at a low level. With a really good hand, he can bid 2NT, suggesting “game somewhere”, and overcaller should show his second suit.
Overcalling 2C shows clubs and hearts, overcalling 2D shows diamonds and hearts, as mentioned above promising only 4+4+ cards but usually better. Neither overcall is forcing. A 2NT overcall is the Unusual No Trump, showing both minors 5+5+ cards. And that takes care of all the two-suited hands. All of those bids, including the double, need to be alerted, but they are all legal per the ACBL General Convention Chart.
And all the other overcalls are natural. 2H and 2S could be 5 cards against a weak no-trump, but will usually show a 6+card suit. Three-level overcalls would be natural and 6+cards.
The method doesn’t change with the strength of the opening 1NT. But the weaker 1NT is, the more aggressive the overcalls can be. I have the feeling that this could be much more destructive than Multi-Landy, but that’s the way the ACBL wants to play.
2 comments:
Here in Australia, little old ladies who have been playing for under an year, happily use and play against multi,minimulti,multi's big brother and multi's big sister !
I know, I know. I was playing the Multi in the 1970s, back in England. The idea that it should be illegal is distinctively American. Apparently the rationale is that the bid is "purely destructive". That is so completely untrue that my mind boggles that some idiot was ever able to sell it. And having seen what a cock-up the prohibition has been, you'd think they would have changed their mind sometime in the last thirty years.
Maybe we're waiting for a generation of bridge players to die off.
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