View source for Woolsey convention

:''This article describes the [[contract bridge]] [[convention (bridge)|bidding convention]].''

Devised by [[Kit Woolsey]],<ref>{{OEB|6|576}}.</ref> the convention is a defense against an opponent's one notrump opening; especially used at [[Bridge (matchpoint)|matchpoint]]s.  Initial bids are as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
!Initial Call||Meaning
|-
|align="center"|Double||align="left"|Promises a four-card major and a longer minor. <br>Advancer<ref>In bridge literature, the term Intervenor is used to describe a player who first makes a {{gcb|call}} after the opposition has opened the bidding; he may also be referred to as the Overcaller if overcalling in a suit or notrump; his partner is referred to as the Advancer.</ref> can bid 2{{Clubs}} to ask for the minor (pass or correct), 2{{Diams}} to ask for the major, or 2{{Hearts}} or 2{{Spades}} to play.
|-
|align="center"|2{{Clubs}}||align="left"|Promises both majors. <br>Advancer can bid 2{{Diams}} to ask which is better, so the overcaller's 2{{clubs}} bid can freely be made with 5-4 shape.
|-
|align="center"|2{{Diams}}||align="left"|Promises one of the major suits.
|-
|align="center"|2{{Hearts}}/2{{Spades}}||align="left"|At least 5–5 in the named major and a minor. <br>2NT by Advancer asks for the minor.
|-
|align="center"|2NT||align="left"|Promises both minors.
|-
|align="center"|3 of any suit||align="left"|Natural.
|}

The convention has similarities to [[Landy convention|Multi-Landy]].

==Abuses==
Common abuses as described by Kit Woolsey include:

* 3-1=4-5 distributional hands in the balancing seat regularly  double, even with no 4-card major suit.
* Strong hands, with 19 high card points plus, start with a double and then rebid 2 Notrump (or double) to try to expose a psychic bid.
* Good 4-4=4-1 distributional hands with a stiff minor suit can start with 2{{clubs}}.
* Single-suited minor hands often start with double, hoping to be able to play at the two-level. These hands will pass a 2{{diams}} asking bid.

==See also==
* [[List of defenses to 1NT]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.bridgebum.com/multi_landy.php Multi-Landy (Woolsey) Defense to 1 Notrump Openings on Bridgebum.com]
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[[Category:Bridge conventions]]


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