Is the sequence legal? -

Problem 1: Permitted methods

The obvious question is "are these sequences permitted by the Orange Book ?" (the publication which contains details of permitted systems and conventions in England ). It is important to note that what the Orange Book has to say about permitted bidding methods applies to partnership agreements. There can be no question of a finding that E/W are playing an illegal method unless they have an agreement to play it. They may have discussed it and specifically agreed to play it (i.e. scenario C applies). Alternatively, even if it has not been specifically agreed, if E makes the bid hoping that W will read it as he intends it (i.e. scenario D applies), and W does read it correctly, it is open to the Tournament Director to rule that there is an implicit agreement.

There cannot be an illegal agreement in cases 1 and 2. The reason is that when it comes to responding to 1NT, all methods are permitted at Levels 2, 3 and 4.

By contrast, the rules regarding defending against 1NT (cases 3 and 4) are rather different, and to complicate matters they changed on 1 st April 2005. The essential distinction is between situations in which all methods of defending are permitted, and situations in which conventional defences require an "anchor suit". An anchor suit is a known suit in which the overcaller will always have length. For example, in traditional Astro, where 2 shows Hearts and a minor, Hearts is an anchor suit, because the overcaller always promises Hearts , but Clubs and Diamonds are not anchor suits because the overcaller may or may not have them - he may have Hearts and Clubs, or he may have Hearts and Diamonds.

Before 1 st April 2005 the position was as follows:-

Level 2	Requires an anchor suit
Level 3	Requires an anchor suit (except in the pass-out seat)
Level 4	Any defence permitted

Since 1st April 2005 the position is now:-

Level 2	Requires an anchor suit
Level 3	Any defence permitted
Level 4	Any defence permitted

So, if the pair have the agreement to play a two-way method in case 3, it is now permitted unless they are playing at Level 2.

What about case 4? Under Pinpoint Astro, a 2overcall shows Hearts and Spades, so under the two-way method the options are "Hearts and Spades " or "just Hearts.". But notice - both options always contain Hearts , so there is an anchor suit after all. In reality the agreement is "it shows Hearts- - it may be single-suited, but if there is a second suit it will be Spades.". This agreement is actually permitted at Level 2.

To summarise the position about permitted methods for overcalls, the two-way method (either the two-suiter or a single-suiter) is o.k. if you are playing at Level 3 or above, and it is also o.k. at Level 2, provided that when you have a two-suiter, one of the suits is always the same as the suit you have if you have a single-suiter.