[whereagles]

Once upon a time Nico Gardner invented a 1NT overcall showing one of:

(a) a natural 15-17 NT
(b) a weak 2 in any suit

This came to pass as the Gardener 1NT overcall, also known as the comic 1NT. It was played for some time by very strong partnerships (Meckwell for example used it NV vs V). I've played the method for a while as well in my early years but got to dislike it because direct weak 2 overcalls seemed more efective preempts to me.
Well, yesterday I came up with the idea to revive this convention by tweaking it to the best of both worlds:

(1x) 1NT

showing one of:

(a) a natural 15-17 NT
(b) a weak 2 in a lower-ranking suit (1♣-1NT can show a weak 2 in clubs if you prefer; that would be the semicomic PLUS variant)

This has a couple of plus-values:

1. You get to overcall with some hands which would be required to pass otherwise. This was an original advantage of the comic NT.
2. You get to keep 1x-2y (y > x) as preempts. This is new.
3. Overcalls of 1x-2y (y < x) now show a full opening [12-17], which is useful because you're starting the auction at the 2-level. Also a known advantage of the comic NT.
4. You have a new way to go for a number!!!

The follow-ups are those of the Gardner 1NT overcall. I can show them if you're interested.
Opinions?

[PhilKing]

I like it a lot. I played it as natural or weak with the lowest unbid suit.

The beauty was, you can play the same response structure as you usually play with just a few tweaks.

Sadly, the method is not allowed in WBF events - the wording for some two-way bids was changed recently, so methods such as a 2♦ multi overcall over 1♣ are also now illegal.

[whereagles]

Really? This is illegal worldwide? Oh well..


A byproduct of the anti-2♠ brigade, I suppose. [2♠ = lolish 3-level pree in any suit.]

[paulg]

whereagles, on 2015-January-04, 13:04, said:

Really? This is illegal worldwide? Oh well..

Technically, according to the WBF and EBL System Policy, it is a Brown Sticker convention which would restrict its use in many jurisdictions. However, in the old WBF Convention Booklet it was noted that, despite technically being a Brown Sticker convention it was permitted in all WBF events. The WBF has not responded to my request about its current status.

[whereagles]

Ah, this is just brown sticker? I thought it was HUM or outright forbidden. That might make it worth it to write down the notes

[rbforster]

I'd be interested to hear the follow ups.

[whereagles]

Follow-ups are very simple:

1. RHO passes

(1x) 1NT (pass) ??

Usually advancer passes with 0-7 or bids 2♣ (pass/correct/bid 2NT strong) with 8+. Other bids are nat NF. You can also invent a 2NT relay (e.g. overcaller bids suit min 1-suiter, suit>x art max 1-suiter, 3NT 15-17).


2. RHO bids

(1x) 1NT (suit/dbl) ??

Now pass is 0-7 and dbl/rdbl = 8+. Overcaller acts accordingly.