Astro convention

Not to be confused with Aspro convention or Asptro convention.
Main articles: Contract bridge, Bidding system, Bridge convention, and Glossary of contract bridge terms

Astro is a contract bridge bidding convention used to intervene over an opponent's one notrump (1NT) opening bid. The name is derived from the initials of the surnames of its inventors - Paul Allinger, Roger Stern and Lawrence Rosler.[1]

Astro employs a 2-level overcall in a minor suit when intervenor[2] holds an unbalanced hand with at least nine cards in two suits, at least one of which is a major; hand strength should be unsuitable for, or not strong enough for a penalty double,[3] typically no more than 15 points.[4] The minor suit overcalls are artificial and carry the following meanings:

  • 2♣ shows at least 5-4 or 4-5 length in hearts and a minor suit, and
  • 2♦ shows at least 5-4 or 4-5 length in spades and another suit.

When playing Astro but not holding the prescribed two-suited hand, the following calls are available over the 1NT opening by the opponents:

  • an overcall of 2♥ or 2♠ is natural showing a single-suited hand
  • Double is for penalties
  1. ^ Manley, Brent; Horton, Mark; Greenberg-Yarbro, Tracey; Rigal, Barry, eds. (2011). The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (7th ed.). Horn Lake, MS: American Contract Bridge League. p. 267. ISBN 978-0-939460-99-1.
  2. ^ In the description of competitive bidding, players are referred to as either the Opener, the Intervenor (the opponent who makes his side's first bid), the Responder (partner of the Opener) or the Advancer (partner of the Intervenor).
  3. ^ Lederer, Rhoda (1982). Bridge Conventions Made Clear (3rd ed.). Hounslow, England: Bibliagora. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-906031-37-7.
  4. ^ Lawrence, Mike (2002). Double! New Meanings for an Old Bid. Brentwood, TN: MikeWorks. p. 115. ISBN 0-9762999-0-9.