[sceptic]

Can any one recommend a defense to strong club openers

[luke warm]

here's mine... the bids mean the same, regardless of the level used (for example, after (1c) 3d would show hearts and spades or spades only)

1c :

• x=clubs and diamonds or diamonds only
  
• 1d=hearts and spades or spades only
  
• 1h=spades and clubs or clubs only
  
• 1s=pointed suits
  
• 1nt=rounded suits
  
• 2c=diamonds and hearts or hearts only

[pbleighton]

A very common, simple treatment is double = both majors, 1NT (or higher in NT) = the minors, all others natural.

The main thing is that, regardless of method, jump in aggressively when vulnerable, and with reckless abandon when not vulnerable.

Peter

[david_c]

There are plenty of defences to choose from, but in my opinion what is more important is to make sure you know how you are going to bid constructively after your overcalls. For example, let's say you play natural overcalls in the majors. What do you do if partner overcalls 1♠ and you have an opening hand with support for spades? The artificial opening means you no longer have an obvious cue-bid available. However you do want a way to show a decent hand because you might still have a game available. So some people define 1NT or 2♣ as a "cue". But then you need to discuss whether it still applies if they double your overcall, whether it applies at higher levels, etc.

[Free]

Here's mine:
http://freebridge.blogspot.com/2006/05/def...-strong-1c.html

Works great if you use it well