Ghestem

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This article concerns Contract Bridge and uses terminology associated with the game. See Contract bridge glossary for an explanation of unfamiliar words or phrases.

In the game of bridge, Ghestem is a conventional overcall structure (utilising 2NT, 3♣ 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

3♣ : shows the highest two unbid suits

Cuebid : shows the top and bottom suits

Over 1♣, the structure is a little different:

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

3♣ : shows the pointed suits

2♦ : shows the majors

2♣ : Natural, lead-directional (like a genuine 2♣ overcall)

1 Requirements
2 Responses
3 Advantages and drawbacks
4 See also

[edit] 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.

[edit] Responses

Invites are made via jump support bids at the three level (if available), cuebids denote slaminterest, a bid in the fourt suit is to play, as are direct game bids. For instance:

(1♦) - 2♦ - (pass) - ??

2♥ : to play (misfit)

2♠ : weak support bid

3♣ : weak support bid

3♠ : invite with spades as trumpsuit

4♠ : to play

3♦ : 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 trumpsuit:

(1♦) - 2♦ - (pass) - 3♦

(pass) - 3♥ - (pass) - 3♣ : slam interest with club support

[edit] Advantages and drawbacks

As opposed to the combined use of Michaels cuebid and Unusual notrump to denote two suiters, in Ghestem the 3♣ jump overcall is no longer available as a natural bid. This is a drawback of the method, also because this conventional 3♣ bid is prone to partnership misunderstandings. The advantage of Ghestem is that it is more precise in the the sense that it specifies the two suits of the overcaller with one single bid. Also, the natural (1♣)-2♣ intervention (indicating a good 6+ card suit) can be very useful.