Rescue Systems Over 1NT Doubled

"Disturb Opener's No Trump" or "DONT" is, primarily, a way of overcalling the opponent's 1NT opening. A double shows any one-suiter, suggesting that Partner bid 2 so that Doubler can PassPass (with Clubs) or bid hir suit. With a 2 or 3-suiter one can, instead of doubling 1NT, bid the cheaper of the two suits.

DONT makes a very simple and effective rescue method when our 1NT is doubled. Now we can:

Action	Explanation
Pass	Willing to play in 1NT.
Bid a suit	Weak, with 2 or 3 4+ card suits, bid the cheaper/cheapest.
Redouble	1-suited runout. Forces 2 from Opener. Responder passes (Clubs) or bids hir suit.

So we might see:

Advancer	Opener	Doubler	Responder	Explanation
---	1NT	Dble	Pass	To play.

Advancer	Opener	Doubler	Responder	Explanation
---	1NT	Dble	Rdbl	"Bid 2, please, Pard."
Pass	2	Pass	Pass	Weak 1-suiter with Clubs.

Advancer	Opener	Doubler	Responder	Explanation
---	1NT	Dble	Rdbl	"Bid 2, please, Pard."
Pass	2	Pass	2	Weak runout to Spades.

Advancer	Opener	Doubler	Responder	Explanation
---	1NT	Dble	2	Weak, with Diamonds and a major.
Pass	2	Pass	2	Make that Diamonds and Spades.

Evaluation of DONT:

This method has the advantage of simplicity. It can be explained to new partners effortlessly. It shows two suits quickly if not explicitly; Opener sometimes won't know what the higher suit is.

Opener

xx

Q10xx

KQx

AKJx

After 1NT-Dble-2-Dble can we risk 2, hoping that Partner's higher suit is Hearts? Unclear.

Guoba/Truscott

Perhaps the most famous rescue system over a double of our 1NT is Guoba, known in parts of the United States as "Truscott". This method defines Responder's suits more exactly than DONT. Over 1NT doubled, we will see:

• Bid = Weak, bid suit and a higher touching suit
• Redouble = 1-suited runout. Opener bids 2C, then passes.
• Pass = Weak, non-touching suits or strong.
  Forces a Redouble from Opener, whereupon:



• Pass shows the strong hand.
• 2 shows Clubs and Hearts, weak.
• 2 shows Diamonds and Spades, weak.
  
  

In a nutshell, Responder redoubles as a 1-suited runout, bids the cheaper of touching suits or passes with any other type (i.e. strong, or weak with non-touching suits).

"Touching" means adjacent suits: the minors, the reds, the majors or the blacks (since 3 is the next suit above 2). 1NT-Dble-2 shows the reds, then. 1NT-Dble-2, the majors. But with the black suits, do we really need to bid 1NT-Dble-2, forcing to 3 if that is our best fit? No. Most pairs play that 1NT-Dble-2 shows the minors or the blacks.

Opener	KQx	Qxxx	KJxx	Ax
Responder	J10xxx	Jx	10x	xxxx

Advancer	Opener	Doubler	Responder	Explanation
---	1NT	Dble	2	Clubs and a black suit.
Pass	2	Pass	2	Clubs and Spades.

Evaluation of Guoba/Truscott:

Guoba has the advantage of always defining Responder's suits except in the case of 1NT-Dble-2, when Responder shows Clubs and either Diamonds or Spades. Even so, 1NT-Dble-2 is slightly better than the DONT example in that Opener knows, at least, that Responder doesn't have Hearts. In complexity, Guoba/Truscott ranks between DONT and BidPig.

Opener

xx

Q10xx

KQx

AKJx

After 1NT-Dble-2-Dble we can risk 2, knowing that Partner's higher suit is Hearts.

BidPig

BidPig is based on two methods of overcalling their 1NT opening: DONT and Geneva. It is an acronym for "Bid Is DONT, Pass Is Geneva. With a truly weak hand, Responder acts immediately according to DONT: Redouble as a 1-suited takeout or bid the cheaper/cheapest of 2 or 3 suits. See above.

But what if Responder is not bereft? Responder can Pass, forcing 1NT Opener to Redouble if it is passed around to hir. Because this Pass by Responder shows some values, Opener can penalty double any suit that hir RHO bids.

Advancer	Opener	Doubler	Responder	Explanation
---	1NT	Dble	Pass	Shows some values.
2	Dble	---	---	Penalty, with Diamonds.

Assuming the double is passed around to 1NT Opener, s/he will Redouble. Responder can now Pass the redouble--especially with minor suit length. Otherwise, we might see:

Action	Explanation
2	4+ Hearts, allowing Opener to bid 2 to ask for a second suit. If so, Responder bids the suit, using a Lebensohl-style 2NT relay if weakish with a minor. If 2 Responder has 4+ Spades as well, Responder has a game-inviting or game-forcing hand (else bid 2 here).
2	4+ Spades, allowing Opener to bid 2 to ask for a second suit to be shown either directly (if strong) or after a 2NT relay. If 2 Responder has 4+ Hearts as well, Responder has a game-inviting or game-forcing hand (else bid 2 here) with longer Spades than Hearts.
2	Majors, limited. Does not invite a raise.
2	Spades, limited. Does not invite a raise.

Here are some examples of BidPig opposite Partner's 15-17 point 1NT:

Opener	KQx	Q10	KJxx	Axxx
Responder	J10	Jxxxx	A10xx	xx

Advancer	Opener	Doubler	Responder	Explanation
---	1NT	Dble	Pass	4+ HCPs.
Pass	Redouble	Pass	2	4+ Hearts.
Pass	2	Pass	2NT	Lebensohl.
Pass	3	Pass	3	Diamonds, minimum.

Opener	KQxx	A10	Axx	Axxx
Responder	J10xxx	Jxx	10x	xxx

Advancer	Opener	Doubler	Responder	Explanation
---	1NT	Dble	2	0-3 HCPs.
3	Pass	---	---	Opener knows not to compete here.

Opener	KQxx	A10	Axx	Axxx
Responder	J10xxx	Kxx	10x	xxx

Advancer	Opener	Doubler	Responder	Explanation
---	1NT	Dble	Pass	4+ HCPs.
Pass	Redouble	Pass	2	4-5 HCPs.
3	3	---	---	Here Opener can compete.

Opener	KQxx	A10	Axx	Axxx
Responder	J10xxx	Kxx	10	Kxxx

Advancer	Opener	Doubler	Responder	Explanation
---	1NT	Dble	Pass	4+ HCPs.
Pass	Redouble	Pass	2	4+ Spades.
Pass	3	Pass	4	Accepting the invitation.

Evaluation of BidPig:

At the cost of considerable complexity, BidPig is certainly the most elaborate and effective rescue method examined here. It allows the pair to not only find its fits, but permits Opener to double any runout by RHO if Responder passes, or compete against any late balancing moves.

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