What if the Opponents Interfere?


But suppose someone is rude and interferes after my partner opens one club?
How do I bid my hand then?

If the opponent's double, ignore them.  Go ahead and make the step response you were going to make.  That's the information your partner wants.  If you have a hand with no aces and at most one king, but are fortunate enough to have points in queens and jacks, you can redouble.

If they bid a suit, you can agree to fall back on negative doubles.

Pass     0-7 HCP
Double or Redouble     8+ HCP - but no five card suit
1NT     8+ HCP - and I have a stopper
Bid     8+ HCP - I have a five card suit
Cuebid     13+ HCP - Any distribution

Any action except a pass should tell partner that you have at least 8 HCP and the hand belongs to you.  Let's not stop short of game, partner!

There might be an occasional hand where you have more than eight points and your only suit is the one they have bid.  It might be that you would rather punish them then bid notrump. What to do?

The simple answer is pass and agree that anytime you pass you either have 0-7 HCP or you want partner to double.  If partner cooperates you can pull the double or leave it in.  Your choice.