Meckwell Convention - Defense to 1NT
Experts Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell invented the following defense structure against 1NT. It differs from other popular defenses in several ways, notably by:
- Accounting for both weak and strong 1NT openings.
- Using 2
and 2
as entirely natural.
Evidently Meckwell prefer the competitive value of showing major single-suiters immediately rather than employing these bids as two-suiters.
Against a Weak 1NT
- Double - Penalty-oriented, 14+ points.
- 2
- A two-suiter in the black suits (clubs and spades) OR the majors (hearts and spades). - 2
- Diamonds and a major. Advancer can pass or correct. - 2 - Diamonds
Both majors - Natural.
- 2 - Natural.
- 2NT - A strong hand with both majors, or a one-suiter with clubs.
- 3 - Clubs and hearts. Advancer can pass or correct.
Note: A passed hand uses the defensive scheme vs. a strong 1NT instead, since a penalty double isn't needed anymore. See below.
Against a Strong 1NT
- Double is One of the following (relay to 2):
- Clubs
- Diamonds
- Both majors
- A good 2 overcall or other good hand
- 2 - Clubs and a major. Advancer can pass or correct.
- 2 - Diamonds and a major. Advancer can pass or correct.
- 2 -Natural.
- 2 - Natural.
- 2NT - Both minors OR a strong hand with both majors. Presumably advancer normally picks a minor, and overcaller can correct to 3 with the majors.
Examples
The following examples illustrate Meckwell playing their own invention. These first three deals come from the 2012 Grand National Teams.
| 9653 |
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| 10987 |
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| K983 |
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| 7 |
||
| Q8 |
K7 |
|
| Q6542 |
AKJ3 |
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| J74 |
Q1065 |
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| 1052 |
K86 |
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| AJ1042 |
||
|
||
| A2 |
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| AQJ943 |
| Rodwell | Woolridge | Meckstroth (N) | Hurd |
| Pass | 1NT* | ||
| Dbl** | 2 |
Pass | 3 |
| 4*** |
Pass | 4 |
All Pass |
overcall, which could get passed
***Presumably Michaels
Meckstroth ended up making an overtrick.
| J2 |
||
| K62 |
||
| AK1062 |
||
| AQ6 |
||
| 10954 |
K87 |
|
| QJ7 |
A10984 |
|
| 74 |
QJ83 |
|
| J754 |
2 |
|
| AQ63 |
||
| 53 |
||
| 95 |
||
| K10983 |
| Glubok | Meckstroth (W) | Lev | Rodwell |
| Pass | 1NT* | 2** |
|
| Dbl | Rdbl*** | Pass | 2 |
| 3 |
Dbl | 3NT | All Pass |
***SOS, denying diamond tolerance
3NT went down one for -100.
| A4 |
||
| 1063 |
||
| QJ86 |
||
| 9732 |
||
| 1098762 |
QJ3 |
|
| AKQ4 |
92 |
|
| A |
K109752 |
|
| 54 |
86 |
|
| K5 |
||
| J875 |
||
| 43 |
||
| AKQJ10 |
| Compton (S) | Rodwell | Bramley | Meckstroth |
| 1NT* | 2** |
Pass | 2*** |
| 3 |
4 |
5 |
Dbl |
| All Pass |
***Correcting to spades
Chris Compton attempted an offbeat 1NT before clarifying his hand later. This left Bart Bramley with a difficult decision at favorable vulnerability. 5 doubled went down 3 for -500.
This last deal comes from the 2018 United States Bridge Championships.
| A10987 |
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| Q108 |
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| 4 |
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| A854 |
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| 532 |
Q |
|
| AKJ2 |
97654 |
|
| K75 |
A9832 |
|
| KQ9 |
J10 |
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| KJ64 |
||
| 3 |
||
| QJ106 |
||
| 7632 |
| Rodwell | Zia (W) | Meckstroth | Pepsi |
| 1NT* | 2** |
2*** |
|
| 2**** |
3 |
3 |
4 |
| Pass | Pass | Dbl | All Pass |
****Some type of fit-showing "cue-bid"
Against 4, Meckwell took one trick in each suit for +100.