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Astro Bridge Bidding Conventions

Astro is a bidding convention used after opponents open 1NT, allowing various overcalls with specific meanings based on hand strength and distribution. Responses to these overcalls include artificial bids, signoffs, and natural bids, with certain responses being forcing or non-forcing. The convention was created by Paul Allinger, Roger Stern, and Lawrence Rosler, and has inspired related conventions like Pinpoint Astro and Brozel.

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38 views3 pages

Astro Bridge Bidding Conventions

Astro is a bidding convention used after opponents open 1NT, allowing various overcalls with specific meanings based on hand strength and distribution. Responses to these overcalls include artificial bids, signoffs, and natural bids, with certain responses being forcing or non-forcing. The convention was created by Paul Allinger, Roger Stern, and Lawrence Rosler, and has inspired related conventions like Pinpoint Astro and Brozel.

Uploaded by

tamizhan
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Astro

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Astro is a convention for use after the opponents open 1NT.

Overcall Meaning

Double For penalty. (See also: Gates Double)

2 Hearts and a minor (at least 5-4 or 4-5). 10+ points.

2 Spades and another suit (at least 5-4 or 4-5). 10+ points.

2 Natural, 5+ hearts. 10+ points.

2 Natural, 5+ spades. 10+ points.

2NT Clubs and diamonds (at least 5-4, usually 5-5 or better). 10+ points. Partner
should take his preference by replying 3 or 3 .

Responses to the 2 Overcall

2 is artificial and denies 3+ hearts. Indicates a preference for partner's minor suit.
If partner has diamonds, he can simply pass. With clubs, he can correct to 3 .
2 is a signoff.
2 is natural with 6+ spades. It tends to deny 3+ hearts. Non-forcing.
2NT is artificial, showing 12+ points and asking partner to bid his minor suit. This is
the only forcing response.
Any 3-level bid is natural and non-forcing.

North South

T2 AJ9

AQT92 K3

AT96 J743

T8 KJ92

1/3
West North East South
1NT 2 (1) Pass 2NT (2)
Pass 3 (3)

1. Hearts and a minor.


2. Artificial and forcing, asking for the minor.
3. Natural.

Responses to the 2 Overcall

2 is artificial and denies 3+ spades. Non-forcing, but partner may choose to bid
his second suit at the 3-level.
2 is a signoff.
2NT is artificial, showing 12+ points and asking partner to bid his minor suit. This is
the only forcing response.
Any 3-level bid is natural and non-forcing.

North South

AQT2 J983

AQT92 K3

64 J743

T8 Q75

West North East South


1NT 2 (1) Pass 2 (2)

1. Spades and another suit.


2. A natural signoff.

North South

AQT52 43

2 KQT83

AJ976 J53

T8 Q75

2/3
West North East South
1NT 2 (1) Pass 2 (2)
Pass 2 (3) Pass Pass (4)
Pass

1. Spades and another suit.


2. Artificial, denying 3+ spades.
3. Natural, confirming 5+ spades. Note that the overcaller could pass 2 if his
second suit was hearts.
4. Opting for the 5-2 fit rather than risk a 4-3 minor-suit fit at the 3-level. Note that if
advancer held better minors (e.g. 4-4), he could bid 2NT to ask for partner's minor
suit.

Origins
Astro was invented by American players Paul Allinger, Roger Stern, and Lawrence
Rosler. The first letters of each player's name are concatenated to form "A-ST-RO". Since
its creation, Pinpoint Astro and Brozel , two related conventions, have gained popularity.
The original Astro bids are more ambiguous, and waste more space.

2022 © Jeff Tang. All Rights Reserved.

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