Two-suited Overcalls

by David Stevenson

After a player has opened with one of a suit there are various ways of showing a two-suited hand. Best known are Ghestem where each of the three pairs of suits can be shown by a different bid, and Michaels, which, coupled with the Unusual no-trump, is more restrictive.

One well-known problem with Ghestem is that while there are a lot of different possibilities many many players assume there is only one, their own method, and complain loudly when partner or opponents disagree.

The following list is not necessarily exhaustive but comprises all the methods that the writer has heard of, played, played against, read about or had submitted to him.

Name: Over 1 Over 1 Over 1 Over 1

Schroeder 2 = + /
2NT = + 2 = + /
2NT = + 2 = + /
2NT = + 2 = + /
2NT = +

Michaels 2 = +
2NT = + 2 = +
2NT = + 2 = + /
2NT = + 2 = + /
2NT = +

Bailey OR
Modified Michaels 2 = + /
2NT = + 2 = + /
2NT = + 2 = + /
2NT = + 2 = + /
2NT = +

Modified Michaels 2 = +
2NT = + / 2 = +
2NT = + / 2 = + /
2NT = + 2 = + /
2NT = +

Modified Michaels 2 = +
2NT = + 2 = +
2NT = + 2 = +
2NT = + 2 = +
2NT = +

Modified Michaels 2 = +
2NT = + 2 = +
2NT = + 2 = + /
2NT = + 2 = +
2NT = +

Quantum OR
Modified Wenble 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = + /
2NT = + 2 = + /
2NT = +

CRO 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = +

Ghestem 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = +

Ghestem 2 = +
2 = +
2NT = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = +

Ghestem 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = +

Ghestem
per Blue Club 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = +

Wenble OR
Ghestem 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = +
3 = +

Copenhagen 2NT = +
3 = +
3 = + 2NT = +
3 = +
3 = + 2NT = +
3 = +
3 = + 2NT = +
3 = +
3 = +

Roman Jumps 2 = +
2 = +
2 = +
2NT = + /, strong 2 = +
2 = +
2 = +
2NT = + /, strong 2 = +
2 = +
2NT = + /, strong
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = + /, strong
3 = +
3 = +

Roman Jumps 2 = +
2 = +
2 = +
2NT = any 2, game force 2 = +
2 = +
2NT = any 2, game force
3 = + 2 = +
2NT = any 2, game force
3 = +
3 = + 2NT = any 2, game force
3 = +
3 = +
3 = +

Notes:

CRO means that the first bid shows two suits of the same COLOUR, the second bid shows two suits of the same RANK and the third bid shows two OTHER suits. An alternative name would be CRASH, meaning the third bid shows two suits of the same SHAPE.
Many players play UNT for the lowest two unbid suits without playing any other two-suit conventions. Ghestem and Michaels incorporate UNT.
Quantum was named for "Cue-bid, Unusual NT and Michaels" by Mr Wenble!
Some people play a jump cue as the same suits as a cue with greater distribution and/or strength

Editor's note:

If you want to comment on this article, why not write direct to David Stevenson?
I shall be pleased to hear from you!

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Name:	Over 1	Over 1	Over 1	Over 1
Schroeder	2 = + / 2NT = +	2 = + / 2NT = +	2 = + / 2NT = +	2 = + / 2NT = +
Michaels	2 = + 2NT = +	2 = + 2NT = +	2 = + / 2NT = +	2 = + / 2NT = +
Bailey OR Modified Michaels	2 = + / 2NT = +	2 = + / 2NT = +	2 = + / 2NT = +	2 = + / 2NT = +
Modified Michaels	2 = + 2NT = + /	2 = + 2NT = + /	2 = + / 2NT = +	2 = + / 2NT = +
Modified Michaels	2 = + 2NT = +	2 = + 2NT = +	2 = + 2NT = +	2 = + 2NT = +
Modified Michaels	2 = + 2NT = +	2 = + 2NT = +	2 = + / 2NT = +	2 = + 2NT = +
Quantum OR Modified Wenble	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + / 2NT = +	2 = + / 2NT = +

CRO	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +
Ghestem	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +
Ghestem	2 = + 2 = + 2NT = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +
Ghestem	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +
Ghestem per Blue Club	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +
Wenble OR Ghestem	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + 3 = +
Copenhagen	2NT = + 3 = + 3 = +	2NT = + 3 = + 3 = +	2NT = + 3 = + 3 = +	2NT = + 3 = + 3 = +
Roman Jumps	2 = + 2 = + 2 = + 2NT = + /, strong	2 = + 2 = + 2 = + 2NT = + /, strong	2 = + 2 = + 2NT = + /, strong 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = + /, strong 3 = + 3 = +
Roman Jumps	2 = + 2 = + 2 = + 2NT = any 2, game force	2 = + 2 = + 2NT = any 2, game force 3 = +	2 = + 2NT = any 2, game force 3 = + 3 = +	2NT = any 2, game force 3 = + 3 = + 3 = +


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