The Landy Convention

Alvin Landy gave his name to a single bid, 2♣ over the opponents' 1NT to show both majors. He built it for the hand that suffers most against a notrump opening. A natural overcall shows only one major, and if you pick the wrong one you may miss a 4-4 or 5-3 fit in the other. The Landy convention in bridge takes care of that hand and leaves every other overcall natural, so there is very little to learn.

Over the opponents' 1NT, 2♣ is artificial and shows at least four cards in each major, usually 5-4 or better. A double keeps whatever meaning the partnership prefers, which for most pairs is penalty. Overcalls of 2♦, 2♥ and 2♠ are natural one-suiters.

Shape comes first. The standard requirement is 5-4 in the majors. Many players also bid 2♣ on 4-4 when not vulnerable and the hand is otherwise good, but vulnerable 4-4 hands are better passed. Strength depends on vulnerability and on the opponents' notrump range. Against a strong 1NT, about 8 to 15 points is typical. Anything stronger may do better to double, if your double is for penalty.

• Good suits matter. ♠KQJ74 ♥AT95 is a clear Landy bid with 10 points. ♠97542 ♥J863 with a few points in the minors is not.
• Avoid Landy with a strong minor and four-card majors. On a 4-4-5-0 hand, partner will pick a major and you will be in a 4-3 fit.
• 5-5 hands are ideal. Advancer can bid freely with three-card support in either major.

Advancer's first job is to choose the major. Holding a clear preference, advancer bids 2♥ or 2♠ to play. Equal length calls for 2♦, which asks the overcaller to name the longer major. The partnership then lands in the 5-3 fit and not the 4-3. A fit and an invitational hand jump to 3♥ or 3♠, and a hand with game interest but no clear direction bids 2NT, asking the overcaller to describe shape and strength.

Advancer may also pass 2♣ with a weak hand and a long club suit, short in both majors. It is the only way to play in clubs. It is rarely right, but it beats bidding a major with a singleton.

Common mistakes

• Bidding 2♣ with clubs. Landy 2♣ says nothing about clubs. A natural club overcall of 1NT has to be bid at the three level, or not at all.
• Advancer jumping with a weak hand. A jump to 3♥ or 3♠ is invitational. A fit and nothing else is worth a simple 2♥ or 2♠.
• Guessing the major with equal length. Use 2♦ and let the overcaller choose. Guessing wrong puts you in a 4-3 fit when a 5-3 fit was available.
• Forgetting the opponents can double 2♣. If responder doubles, advancer passes only with long clubs, to play 2♣ doubled. Otherwise bid a major or redouble to ask the overcaller to choose, by agreement.

If North had held three hearts and two spades instead, North would simply have bid 2♥. The 2♦ inquiry is reserved for hands with no preference of their own.

Landy is simple, but it uses only one bid. Multi-Landy, developed by Kit Woolsey, keeps 2♣ for both majors and puts the rest of the two-level bids to work. Among experts it is now played more widely than plain Landy.

Other partnerships pair Landy with natural overcalls everywhere else, or replace it with a fuller system such as Cappelletti or DONT. Over suit openings, the equivalent major two-suiter is shown with the Michaels cue bid. Landy itself is simple enough to add to any system without a long discussion. The one thing to agree is whether it also applies in the balancing seat. Most pairs say it does.

What is the Landy convention in bridge?

It is a 2♣ overcall of an opponent's 1NT that shows both majors, usually at least 5-4. All other overcalls stay natural.

How do you respond to Landy?

Bid the major you prefer at the two level. With equal length, bid 2♦ to ask partner for the longer major.

Can you bid Landy with 4-4 in the majors?

Some pairs allow it when not vulnerable with a good hand. The standard requirement is 5-4, which gives advancer a safer choice.

What is Multi-Landy?

Multi-Landy is Kit Woolsey's extension of Landy that gives a meaning to every two-level overcall of 1NT, where plain Landy uses only 2♣. 2♣ still shows both majors, 2♦ shows one long major, 2♥ and 2♠ show that major with a minor, and a double shows a four-card major with a longer minor.

Is Landy played over a weak notrump?

Yes. It works over any 1NT opening, though against a weak notrump you may prefer to keep the penalty double for balanced strong hands.