A Discussion with Adam Kaplan and Carol and Lee Hargrave

Carol: Last month we talked about competing against the weak NT using Modified Cappelletti and we explained how the convention works. To review:

• ► Double = penalty
• ► 2♣ = a single minor-suited hand or any combination of 5/5 hands other than both majors
• ► 2♦ = both majors
• ► 2♥ = single-suited heart hand
• ► 2♠ = single-suited spade hand

We didn’t explain Mel’s Rule or when to use Modified Cappelletti. Mel Colchamiro has written an excellent book entitled How to Play Like an Expert. In this book he explains the Rule of Eight for use against the strong NT along with many other helpful rules. It’s a very good book for those who want to improve.

Lee: I thought you emailed Mel and he said to only use the Rule of Eight against strong NT’s and not to use it against the weak NT’s?

Carol: That’s right. He said not to use it against weak NT’s, but I couldn’t get any solid guidelines from him regarding when to interfere against the weak NT. He likes Landy or natural bids against weak NT’s. However, many of our good local tournament players, such as Charlotte Kartsonis, use the Rule of Eight against both types of NT. Do you have any thoughts or guidelines on this, Adam?

Adam: The philosophy against a strong NT is to interfere. However, against a weak NT, game is a decent possibility. In the direct seat, Mel’s Rule of Eight helps me to decide when to overcall or when to compete. I think I should give partner about 7-8 useful HCP and I should compete with any reasonable hand with distribution. It’s sort of like competing after a preempt; you mentally give your partner about 7 useful points.

Carol: The key word is “useful” and there’s no way to know if partner’s hand will fit yours. I like your idea as a place to start. OK, Adam, why don’t you explain Mel’s Rule of Eight?

Adam: Mel’s Rule of Eight says that you add the length of your two longest suits and then subtract the losers in your hand from this total.

Lee: Some people don’t know how to count the number of losers in their hand.

Adam: It’s simple. Just look at the first three cards in each suit. Then eliminate the Aces, Kings and Queens. What remains is the number of losers in your hand.

Lee: OK. What next?

Adam: Then, you subtract the total losers from the total of your two longest suits. If that total is 2 or more, you add your HCP. If the final total is 8 or more, it is safe to bid.

Lee: It’s not really complicated. There are only three things to consider:

1. Number of cards in your two longest suits

2. Number of losers in your hand

3. Number of HCP’s in your hand.

Here are some examples:

♠K53

♥AQ873
♦64
♣93
You have 8 cards in your 2 longest suits but 7 losers. 8 - 7 = 1. Thus, you pass. Remember you cannot add in your HCP’s if your hand does not meet the Rule of 2 first. This is a better hand to defend with; it’s balanced.


♠KJ652
♥KJ653
♦Q2
♣5
You have 10 cards in your 2 longest suits and 7 losers. 10 - 7 = 3 + 8 HCP = 11 total. It is safe to bid! Using Modified Cappelletti you would bid 2♦ for the majors.

Adam: The Rule of Eight works great against the strong NT because you are not looking for game so partner doesn’t get too excited with a good hand. However, it can cause real problems against the weak NT if you hold something like this hand at the left below and take a bid of 2♦ in the direct seat, showing both majors:

♠Kxxxx
♥Kxxxx
♦x
♣xx

Now, suppose that your partner has the hand below, gets excited and bids 4♠, only to lose four tricks for a bottom board.
♠AQJx
♥xxx
♦AKJ
♣QJx


Lee: I agree. It’s dilemma if you compete against the weak NT with a mediocre hand that meets the rule of Eight. Partner can get carried away. Let’s see if we can come up with a guideline for competing in the direct seat against the weak NT.

Carol: I think the partner above overvalued his hand. He should realize that his club and diamond honors are nice, but they don’t fit partner’s hand very well. Also, the soft club values are very suspect. If his club honors were in hearts, game would roll. Everyone agrees that it is hard to know when to step in against the weak NT and when to pass.

If partner knows you are using Mel’s Rule in the direct seat, he must evaluate his hand and his responses carefully. The advancer should also remember that the NT bidder is sitting on his left (or over him), so some of his values may not be working. He also knows his partner doesn’t have a solid opener (13+ HCP) with a good suit when he uses Modified Cappelletti. If he did, he might have started with a penalty double. Partnership agreement is very important as to what type of hands you are going to compete with. Do the two-suited hands include 5-5, 5-4 and perhaps even 4-4? Some very aggressive players include 4-4 hands in the majors only. Usually single-suited hands will be 6 cards or more in length. Your values should mainly be in your suit or suits.

Adam: I agree, but you should be able to compete if you have a hand that won’t go for a number if partner has about 7-8 useful points. You need to look at your suits and your spot cards in these suits, especially vulnerable. Shape is very important also.

Lee: Is there a way to ask partner how good his hand is?

Carol: I think so. We could agree to start with a bid of 2NT forcing after a 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠ bid. This would show 11 dummy points or more that are all working. Then we could later determine what to do with our responding hand after partner’s follow up bid.

1. After 2♥ or 2♠ followed by 2NT, 3♣ would be weak (7-9 HCP) and 3♦ would be strong (10-12 HCP).
2. After 2♦ followed by 2NT, 3♣ would be weak and 3♦ would be strong. The advancer would probably have a 3-card fit. With a good 4-card fit, he could jump immediately to invite game and show a 4-card fit.
3. After 2♣ showing clubs or diamonds or major-minor two-suited hands, it’s best just to relay to 2♦ and wait to see what partner bids when you have a good hand.

Adam: How about bidding in the balancing seat and Mel’s Rule of 2?

Carol: Let’s save it for next month’s newsletter along with some info about DONT. I think we’ve covered enough for this month. Let’s look at some hands and consider Modified Capelletti in the direct seat after a weak NT of 12-14 HCP. Here are some hands you submitted, Adam, and your comments:

Adam: 1) This hand doesn’t even meet the Rule of Two. Bidding will lead to disaster.

2) If you give partner ESP (exactly seven points) with something like ♠Kxx, ♥Jxx, ♦QJxx, ♣xxx, bidding would be OK, but that might be asking for a lot. Pass and let partner balance. The hand meets Mel’s Rule of Eight, but you only have 8 soft HCP.

3) Very risky in the direct seat with such weak suits, with no spot cards and unfavorable vulnerability.

4) This is another close one. It fails the Rule of Two, so that the first impression is to pass. Are you adventurous? With better spot cards and favorable vulnerability, you might risk a bid and hope partner doesn’t get carried away. You can always wait for him to balance with the boss suit also.

5) Double. The vulnerability is correct. This is a defender’s dream!

6) With 6-5, come alive! Bid 2NT for the minors.

Carol: OK, let’s look at the other side of the problem. What does your partner do after your Modified Capelletti bid? Let’s look at a couple of hands after partner bids 2♦ in the direct seat to show both majors. We are playing 5-5 or 5-4 suit patterns. Lee, what would you respond with these hands and why? Vulnerability is immaterial. Your partner has used the Rule of Eight to decide whether to enter the bidding.

1) This hand definitely has working values; I would probably invite and bid 3♠; it’s a close decision. I could also bid 2NT to ask partner about his hand.

2) 4♠ without any hesitation.

3) This is tough since I don’t fit partner’s hand; I would probably pass and hope I was adding tricks to partner’s hand. My diamond suit should be good enough even opposite a singleton.

4) This is a real misfit. This time I cannot pass with my weak diamonds; I’ll bail out with 2♥ and cross my fingers we don’t go for too big a number.

Carol: I guess we all agree it’s best to jump in and compete in the direct seat with good shape and good Rule of Eight hands. We don’t want to let them rob us blind. It’s also much harder to defend than to declare at the bridge table. Remember: “Shape is everything!” We should defend with flat hands and let our opponents struggle to make 1NT. If we’re strong enough, we can make a penalty double with a big balanced hand. In addition, we must have an understanding partner who won’t go crazy after we enter the bidding in the direct seat .

Lee: Just remember: Bridge doesn’t reward the faint of heart!

Adam: Partnership agreements are vital when playing any system; here you need to decide what 2NT is after partner overcalls. What happens when the responder to the 1NT opening makes a bid? These are things you must discuss and understand with your partner, before you play Modified Cappelletti. Remember: Nothing always works!

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