[shugart24]

Partner and I play ghestem bid over 1 level openings by opponent. What is the suggested meaning , when opponent preempt at the 2 level, of 2NT,3C, and 3 level cue bid ? Thank you

[helene_t]

Ghestem only applies to direct-seat intervention over their 1-of a suit openings, and possible also to
- balancing against 1-of-a-suit by a passed hand
- in direct seat over their 1NT response to 1-of-a-suit
- over their natural response to potentially short (doubleton or shorter) minor suit openings
Discuss those three with partner.

Against 2-level openings it doesn't apply. 3♣ is always natural (except against their natural 2♣ opening such as Precision, of course). 2NT is two-suited by a passed hand but otherwise natural.

[shugart24]

helene_t, on 2025-March-12, 06:33, said:

Ghestem only applies to direct-seat intervention over their 1-of a suit openings, and possible also to
- balancing against 1-of-a-suit by a passed hand
- in direct seat over their 1NT response to 1-of-a-suit
- over their natural response to potentially short (doubleton or shorter) minor suit openings
Discuss those three with partner.

Against 2-level openings it doesn't apply. 3♣ is always natural (except against their natural 2♣ opening such as Precision, of course). 2NT is two-suited by a passed hand but otherwise natural.

2nt being the two lower ?

[helene_t]

shugart24, on 2025-March-12, 06:55, said:

2nt being the two lower ?

p-(2♠)-p-(p)
2N
could be any two. Otherwise it is the two lower. Over their 2♥, with 5-5 in spades and a minor you just bid 2♠.

[shugart24]

helene_t, on 2025-March-12, 07:04, said:

p-(2♠)-p-(p)
2N
could be any two. Otherwise it is the two lower. Over their 2♥, with 5-5 in spades and a minor you just bid 2♠.

so by a passed hand , 2C by opponents and then 2NT (by the passed hand) is showing hearts and either spades or diamonds ?

[helene_t]

shugart24, on 2025-March-12, 08:06, said:

so by a passed hand , 2C by opponents and then 2NT (by the passed hand) is showing hearts and either spades or diamonds ?

p-(2♣)-p-(p)
2nt
is a funny bid, hard to think of a hand that would bit like that. Maybe seven diamonds and a 5-card major?

[shugart24]

helene_t, on 2025-March-12, 08:10, said:

p-(2♣)-p-(p)
2nt
is a funny bid, hard to think of a hand that would bit like that. Maybe seven diamonds and a 5-card major?

Yeah, Assume the bid is a 2D preempt eg p-2D-p- p -2NT You would play that as clubs and hearts OR hearts and spades ? What would 3D mean to you ?

[helene_t]

shugart24, on 2025-March-12, 08:19, said:

Yeah, Assume the bid is a 2D preempt eg p-2D-p- p -2NT You would play that as clubs and hearts OR hearts and spades ? What would 3D mean to you ?

3♦ would be both majors.
2NT (by a passed hand) is, again, a perculiar bid. Maybe seven clubs and five of a major.

[helene_t]

To show strong two-suited hands by an unpassed hand you can play leaping michaels. The cuebid, then, isn't a two-suiter but some very strong minor one-suiter, asking for a stopper in their suit.

But
2♦-3♦
is maybe better played as both majors rather than as a very strong hand with clubs.

[johnu]

As helene_t notes, Ghestem is only applicable over 1 level suit opening bids. Over anything higher, play whatever you want.

The best part about Ghestem is when both partners remember that they are playing Ghestem and don't have a convention disruption event.

[TylerE]

johnu, on 2025-March-12, 17:52, said:

The best part about Ghestem is when both partners remember that they are playing Ghestem and don't have a convention disruption event.

Arguably it works even better when both partners forget they are playing Ghestem. I kid, but only partially. It's one of those things like stolen bid doubles I'd be tempted to pay my opponents to play.