Partnership Understandings?
I have a feeling that this problem, sent to me by a frequent correspondent, might pose a challenge for many partnerships. We all have methods in place for an overcall of 2NT after RHO makes a weak two bid. Our group plays “Wardiator.” A 3
bid relays to 3
for some signoff. A 3 call is invitational in “our” major. Cue for Stayman. There is some variation (which we should eliminate) in how we handle the relay followed by a cue bid. With most partnerships we are playing an immediate bid of Three of our major as showing 5-5 in the minors! As Terrence Reese once observed, this is something that should not be “dis-remembered”!
But what about balancing bids of 2NT? Is everything still in force? Assuming you know what you are doing, how would you handle the problem as posed.
At favorable vulnerability You hold 
J93, 
KJ52, —-, J98654.
Your RHO, the dealer, opens 2, you pass as does LHO. Your partner balances with 2NT, and RHO passes.
What is your call?
If you play 3 clubs as a puppet to 3 diamonds direct then system should be on when balancing unless you have discussed it. With this hand I would pass 2nt. Do you really want the stiif spade on lead thru your parnter’s hand? Four clubs could be best and it might be a awful. Maybe if you are off the diamond suit the opponent won’t work it out until after the hand.
September 29, 2006 ralph
This is an opportunity to have a post-mortem discussion on ranges and methods. I think a direct 2NT shows around 17-20. As a balancer can generally have 2-3 points less for a given bid, the balancing NT can be as little as 14, and probably maxes out at 18. So we don’t have enough for game on pure power, although of course partner’s AKxx of clubs could help overcome a shortage of high-card points.
My Jxx of spades doesn’t bode well for suit play. So I guess I’ll pass, and then we’ll be able to discuss our methods after the hand. My preferred methods? Over a balancing 1NT, I play system off, but over a balancing 2NT, whether a jump or in this auction, I think it is best to play system on. This particular hand however doesn’t fit my methods real well - I’d have to commit to a 4C signoff or to 3NT/4H via a stayman auction.
October 5, 2006 Mark Kinzer
As to the question about agreements over a 2NT balance: Any method that lets you bid 3C to play on this hand will let you down five times as often, on other deals with the same auction.
I have never found it worthwhile to play different methods over natural direct 2NT overcalls and natural balancing 2NT overcalls. For what it’s worth, I also use the same methods (the same as my weak2-2NT methods, not the same as those here, though I doubt it makes much difference) to advance natural 2NT balances of ONE of a suit (with the appropriate range-of-strength adjustments)…and that’s despite 100 typed pages of system notes.
I don’t like playing the 2NT overcall as extra strong in direct seat. I think it puts too much pressure on fourth hand if he has to cater to most strong NT hands passing. So for me it’s about 15+-19-; for Mark it’s 17-20. What range do others use?
December 5, 2006 Christopher Monsour