Cappelletti is a defensive bidding convention after an opponent has opened 1NT. Overcaller's available conventional calls are as follows.
Overcall | Meaning |
---|---|
Double | Penalty with roughly 15+ points. (See also: Gates Double) |
2 | A one-suited hand (any suit, normally 6+ cards) with roughly 11-14 points. |
2 | At least 5-4 or 4-5 in hearts and spades, asks partner to correct to either major. |
2 | At least 5-5 in hearts and a minor. |
2 | At least 5-5 in spades and a minor. |
2NT | At least 5-5 in clubs and diamonds. |
Cappelletti is a popular convention against the weak 1NT, because it retains a natural double while still offering a way to compete with a variety of major-suited hands.
Advancer (overcaller's partner) is typically expected to pass. However, she may run with a 5+ card suit and a very weak hand.
Response | Meaning |
---|---|
Pass | 6+ clubs. |
2 | Artificial relay, asking partner to pass with diamonds or to bid 2/2/3 depending on which suit he has. |
2 | 6+ hearts, nonforcing. |
2 | 6+ spades, nonforcing. |
2NT | 10+ points, balanced and forcing for one round. Partner can raise to 3NT, or run to his suit at the 3-level. |
Advancer normally signs off in
Response | Meaning |
---|---|
Pass | 6+ diamonds. |
2 | Natural preference, nonforcing. |
2 | Natural preference, nonforcing. |
2NT | Artificial and forcing, roughly 10+ points. Overcaller's rebids are natural. |
Response | Meaning |
---|---|
Pass | A weak hand with tolerance for hearts. |
2 | Promises 6+ spades, no heart support, nonforcing. |
2NT | Artificial, no heart support, asking for partner to bid his minor suit at the three level. |
3 | Promises 6+ good clubs, no heart support, nonforcing. |
3 | Promises 6+ good diamonds, no heart support, nonforcing. |
3 | Promises 3+ hearts, nonforcing. |
Response | Meaning |
---|---|
Pass | A weak hand with tolerance for spades. |
2NT | Artificial, no spade support, asking for partner to bid his minor suit at the three level. |
3 | 6+ good clubs, no spade support, nonforcing. |
3 | 6+ good diamonds, no spade support, nonforcing. |
3 | 6+ good hearts, no spade support, nonforcing. |
3 | 3+ spades, nonforcing. |
Response | Meaning |
---|---|
3 | A weak hand with tolerance for clubs. |
3 | A weak hand with tolerance for diamonds. Tends to deny club support. |
3 | 6+ good hearts, no support for either minor, nonforcing. |
3 | 6+ good spades, no support for either minor, nonforcing. |
3NT | To play. |
4 | 3+ clubs, nonforcing. |
4 | 3+ diamonds, nonforcing. |
In "25 More Bridge Conventions You Should Know", authors Barbara Seagram and David Bird suggest the following calls by advancer.1
This variation of the Cappelletti convention uses
However, it should be noted that Mike Cappelletti himself has been quoted as saying, "I can't stand it. Using
At any rate, the structure is as follows.
Overcall | Meaning |
---|---|
Double | Still penalty. |
2 | A minor one-suiter, or at least 5-4 or 4-5 in a major and a minor. Relay to
|
2 | Still a major two-suiter. |
2 | 6+ hearts. |
2 | 6+ spades. |
2NT | Still a minor two-suiter. |
Mike Cappelletti Sr. and Fred Hamilton (both American experts) and Julian Pottage in the UK are credited for this convention.
1 Seagram, Barbara and David Bird. 25 More Bridge Conventions You Should Know. Toronto, Master Point Press, 2003.
2 Daily Bulletin, Volume 50, Number 5. (March 13, 2007). ACBL.
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