Ghestem

In the game of bridge, Ghestem is a conventional overcall structure (utilising 2NT, 3Clubs and the lowest cuebid) over an opposing opening at the one level to denote two-suited hands in two of the remaining three suits.

This convention was devised by the French bridge and checkers player Pierre Ghestem.

When playing Ghestem, after an opposing one-level opening, the three overcalls mentioned denote the three possible two-suited hands in the suits excluding the opened suit:

:2NT : shows the lowest two unbid suits

:3Clubs : shows the highest two unbid suits

:Cuebid : shows the top and bottom suits

Requirements

The requirement for a Ghestem overcall is a two-suited hand with at least 5 cards in each suit and opening values. Point counts vary, but it is commonly agreed that a Ghestem bid is constructive and should be made on hands that hold the prospect of winning the bidding. When made on very weak hands, chances are the opponents win that bidding whilst being warned about the unbalanced holding of the Ghestem bidder. Given that the Ghestem overcalls are forcing, many partnerships apply no upper limit to its high card strength.

Responses

Invitations are made via jump support bids at the three level (if available), cue bids denote slam interest, a bid in the fourth suit is to play, as are direct game bids. For instance:

:(1Diams) - 2Diams - (pass) - ??

:::::2Hearts : to play (misfit)

:::::2Spades : weak support bid

:::::3Clubs : weak support bid

:::::3Spades : invite with spades as trumpsuit

:::::4Spades : to play

:::::3Diams : slam interest

Following responder's cuebid, the Ghestem bidder makes a relay bid in the next strain, and the bidding continues with the responder indicating the trump suit:

:(1Diams) - 2Diams - (pass) - 3Diams:(pass) - 3Hearts - (pass) - 4Clubs : slam interest with club support

Advantages and drawbacks

As opposed to the combined use of Michaels cuebid and Unusual notrump to denote two suiters, in Ghestem the 3Clubs jump overcall is no longer available as a natural bid. This is a drawback of the method. Another drawback is that it is prone to partnership misunderstandings. Another disadvantage of Ghestem compared to alternative methods is that following a minor suit opening the major suits cannot be introduced at the two level.

The advantage of Ghestem is that in a single bid it uniquely specifies the two suits of the overcaller.

Variations

Given that over a 1Diams opening the majors have to be introduced at three level, many partnerships who play Michaels have agreed that over an opposing 1Diams opening a modified structure applies that retains the availability of a natural 3Clubs overcall:

:(1Diams) - ??

::2NT : shows the lowest two unbid suits (ie reds)

::2Diams : shows the top and bottom suits

::3Clubs : natural

::3Diams : shows the major suits

To overcome the problem of having to introduce the majors at three level over an opposing 1Clubs, and in order to retain the natural (1Clubs)-2Clubs overcall (indicating a good 5+ card suit), some partnerships also apply a modified structure over 1Clubs:

:(1Clubs) - ??

::2NT : shows the lowest two unbid suits (ie reds)

::3Clubs : shows the pointed suits

::2Diams : shows the majors

::2Clubs : "Natural", lead-directional (like a 2Clubs overcall over a 1Diams/Hearts/Spades opening)

A modified structure that allows the partnership on both minor suit openings to introduce the majors at the two-level is attributed to Garozzo [M. Schollaardt in Bridge Magazine IMP, No.7 (2007), p. 8 - 11 (in Dutch).] :

:(1Clubs/1Diams) - ??

::2NT : shows the lowest two unbid suits

::2Clubs : natural

::2Diams : shows the major suits

::3Clubs : shows the top and bottom unbid suits (over 1Diams non-forcing)

Notice that in this variation of Ghestem following a 1Clubs opening, one retains the option to make a natural 2Clubs overcall. As (1Diams) - 3Clubs is non-forcing, partnerships playing Ghestem à la Garozzo use (1Diams) - 3Diams to introduce very strong black two-suiters.

ee also

*Michaels cuebid
*Copenhagen Convention

References