Blooman over 1NT

BLOOMAN OVER 1NT (Published in the March 2006 Bridge Bulletin)

 Use in both Direct and balancing positions

The natural way of bidding over opponents strong 1NT

A convention by Bob Hoffman (hoffy17@comcast.net) and Irv Bloom

Blooman allows you to make the natural overcalls of (2♣,2♦,2♥,2♠) over
opponents 1nt bid, and still have the ability to compete with 2 suited hands.

Blooman is based on the proven premise that a single suited hand of 6 cards
or longer will occur almost 4 times as often as a 2-suited hand 5/5 or longer.

1NT - 2♣, 2♦, 2♥, 2♠ = Strong 5 card suit or 6 card or longer suit

1NT - 3♣, 3♦, 3♥, 3♠ = Preemptive Bids (6-card or longer suit)

1NT - 2NT = Shows Clubs and diamonds

1NT - X   -   P   -   2♣ (relay bid)
 P    - 2♦ (hearts and spades); 2♥ (hearts and a minor); 2♠ (spades and a minor)

If responder has only one or two of doubler’s major, he may bid 2nt,
asking opener to bid his minor suit.

Strong Bids (8+ tricks)

1NT - X   -   P   -   2♣ (relay bid)
 P    - 3♥, 3♠ (strong 6-card or longer suit)

1NT - X   -   P   -   2♣ (relay bid)
 P    - 2NT (strong 2 suited hand with clubs and diamonds)

BLOOMAN over INTERFERENCE

The following are additional advantages when using Blooman.
When opponents transfer to hearts and we hold 2 or more hearts, we
know that partner has 5 spades and an unknown minor.

1NT - X - 2♦(transfer) - 2♠ = 3+ card support for spades
                                  2nt = support for both minors & less than 3 spades

When opponents transfer to spades and we hold 2 or more spades, we
know that partner has 5 hearts and an unknown minor,

1NT - X - 2♥(transfer) - 3♥ = 3+ card support for hearts
2nt = support for both minors & less than 3 hearts

We always try to observe the Law of Total Tricks.

BLOOMAN over (1♣ or 1♦)  -  P  -  1NT in Direct or Balancing Position

     

                         (1♣ or 1♦)  -  P  -  1NT  -  Blooman

Direct position:

1♣  -  P   -  1NT  -  2♣; 2♦; 2♥; 2♠( natural bids)

1♣  -  P   -  1NT  -  X (2 suited hand)

 P   -  2♣ -   P     -  2♦ ( hearts &  spades); 2♥ ( hearts &  diamonds); 2♠ (spades and diamonds)

Balancing position:

1♣  -  P  -  1NT  -  P

 P    -  2♣; 2♦; 2♥; 2;♠(natural bids)

1♣  -  P  -  1NT  -  P

 P   -  X (2 suited hand) -  P  -  2♣

 P   -  2♦ (hearts & spades); 2♥ (hearts & Diamonds); 2♠ (spades & Diamonds)

Direct Position:

1♦  -  P  -  1NT  -  2♣; 2♦; 2♥; 2;♠ (natural bids)

1♦  -  P   -  1NT  -  X (2 suited hand)

 P   -  2♣  -  P      -  2♦ (hearts & spades); 2♥ (hearts & clubs); 2♠ (spades & clubs)

Balancing position:

1♦   -  P  -  1NT  -  P

 P   - 2♣; 2♦; 2♥; 2;♠  (natural bids)

1♦  -  P  -  1NT  -  P

 P   -  X (2 suited hand) -  P  -  2♣

 P   -  2♦ (hearts & spades); 2♥ (hearts & Clubs); 2♠ (spades & Clubs)

 BLOOMAN OVER STRONG ONE CLUB OPENING(Precision)

Direct Position:
1♣ - 1NT; 2NT                                     =  minors
1♣ - 1♦;1♥;1♠; 2♣;2♦;2♥;2♠ ; 3♣;3♦  =  natural

 1♣ - X - (pass or 1♦(0-7pts)) - 2♣
P   -  2♦(majors); 2♥(hearts and a minor); 2♠ (spades and a minor)


 Balancing position:
 1♣  -  P  - 1♦(0-7pts) 1NT; 2NT                                    =  minors
 1♣  -  P  - 1♦(0-7pts) - 1♥;1♠; 2♣;2♦;2♥;2♠ ; 3♣;3♦  =  natural


 1♣  -  P  - 1♦(0-7pts) - X
P - 2♣ - P - 2♦ (majors); 2♥ (hearts & minor); 2♠ (spades & minor)

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