Cappelletti Convention
Cappelletti Convention
This conventional method carries the designation or the surname for Mr. Michael
Cappelletti, to whom it is generally credited. Since the concept is also referred to as
Hamilton, bearing the name of Mr. Fred Hamilton of California, the precise origin of
this concept is unable to be determined. Added to this confusion is also the designation
Pottage for the same concept, ascribed to Mr. John F. Pottage of London, England, under
which designation the concept is known. The origin of this concept is also claimed by
Mr. Gerald W. Helms of Charlotte, North Carolina. But nobody except him thinks this is
the case.
After a No Trump opening, the bids of the overcaller (also referred to as the interferer)
are as follows:
Interferer:
2 : Shows any one-suited holding.
2 : Shows Hearts and Spades, both Major suits.
2 : Shows Hearts and an unspecified Minor suit.
2 : Shows Spades and an unspecified Minor suit.
2 NT: Shows both Minor suits.
Double: If the interferer has not previously passed, then any double is for penalty.
Partner must pass.
Each overcall generally promises less than 12+ high card points.
All overcalls at the Three Level are natural.
The advancer (partner of the Interferer) has several options, not forgetting that the 1 No
Trump bidder sits to his left with a defined strength and distribution.
Responses after Interferer has overcalled with 2 Clubs showing a one-suited holding:
Pass: with at least 6-card support in Clubs.
2 : Relay bid, allowing his partner to pass or bid his suit. If the suit is Diamonds, then
the interferer passes.
2 : This bid shows a 6+-card Heart suit and also weak values.
2 : This bid shows a 6+-card Spade suit and also weak values.
2 Promises 11 plus High Card Points and support for all four suits. Partner is invited
NT: to bid game with a maximum.
Responses after Interferer has overcalled with 2 Diamonds showing both Major suits:
Pass: with at least 6-card support in Diamonds.
2 : Choice of suit, unconstructive. Shows preference.
2 : Choice of suit, unconstructive. Shows preference.
2 Promises 11 plus High Card Points and support for both majors. Partner is invited
NT: to bid game with a maximum. NOT NATURAL
3 : This bid shows a 6-card length in Clubs
3 : Invitational, promising 4 or more Trump.
3 : Invitational, promising 4 or more Trump.
Responses after Interferer has overcalled with 2 Hearts or 2 Spades showing the bid
Major suit and an unspecified Minor suit:
Pass: Shows a fit for the known Major suit and between 0-7 points.
Single Raise: Shows a fit for the known Major suit and about 10-12 points.
2 NT: This is a relay bid by the advancer asking the interferer to bid his
unspecified Minor suit. However, if the advancer raises the Major suit
of the interferer on the second round of bidding, then the advancer
shows a good fit for the known Major suit and around 10-12 points.
This is then invitational.
Responses after Interferer has overcalled with 2 No Trump showing both Minor suits:
3 : Shows a weak holding. This is a preference for Clubs and also a sign off. No game
interest.
3 : Shows a weak holding. This is a preference for Diamonds and also a sign off. No
game interest.
3 : Advancer promises a one-suited holding in Hearts (generally a 6-card plus suit)
and shortness in both Minor suits.
3 : Advancer promises a one-suited holding in Spades (generally a 6-card plus suit)
and shortness in both Minor suits.
4 : A jump in Clubs promises a distributional holding, good support, and invites game
if the interferer has maximum values.
4 : A jump in Diamonds promises a distributional holding, good support, and invites
game if the interferer has maximum values.
If the interferer has previously passed, then a double by the interferer cannot be for
penalty. In this case the double promises either a one-suited holding in Clubs or a one-
suited holding in either of the Red Suits, Diamonds or Hearts. The advancer relays with a
bid a 2 Clubs, which the interferer passes if Clubs is the suit.
If the one-suited holding of the interferer is a Red Suit, Diamonds or Hearts, then the
interferer bids 2 Diamonds after the 2 Clubs relay. If the interferer rebids 2 Hearts after
the 2 Clubs relay, then the interferer promises a Major-Minor two-suited holding, the
Major suit being the stronger, normally longer suit. The advancer either passes or corrects
to Clubs since the Minor suit is always the Club suit.
In the case that the auction proceeds as follows: 1 No Trump - 2 Clubs - Double, a
Redouble shows 7 or more high card points and support in all suits, and invites his
partner to compete on the three level.
As already mentioned, the Cappelletti Treatment can be used as either a direct overcall or
in the pass-out seat.
MEL’s Rule:
Sometimes it hard to tell if it is right to bid or not using capelletti. Mel’s rule of 8 is to
help. Like with any rule, judgment is still important. Total number of cards in our 2
longest suits minus the total number of losers in your hand is 2 or greater = bid.
Need at least 8 points in the 2 suits.
Losing tricks: Count losers only in the first 3 cards of each suit ( the 4th., 5th., etc. cards
in a suit are winners.
With 3 or more cards in a suit the Ace, K, Q are winners, anything lower are losers.
With 2 cards in a suit, Ace or King are winners, anything lower is a loser.
With 1 card in a suit, Ace is a winner.
There are never more than 3 losers in a suit
Example
No 1 No 2
K53 KJ654
AQ874 KJ653
K72 86
93 5
Hand 1 = 8 cards in 2 longest suits but 7 losers ( 8-7 = 1 ) = pass
Hand 2 = 10 cards in 2 longest suits and 7 losers (10-7 = 3) =bid
Example Hands.
Answers to examples: