Astro convention

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

Subsequent bidding

For purposes of subsequent bidding, the major suit indicated by the Astro Intervenor is termed the “anchor major”; the cheapest unbid suit is called the "neutral" suit.^[5] Depending upon action taken by the responder to the 1NT opener, Advancer may:

• Pass when weak and holding six cards in the minor bid by the Intervenor, or
• Raise the anchor major: (a) to the 2 level with at least 3-card support, preferably with an honour, and no game intentions, or (b) raise to the 3 level with at least 4-card support and inviting game, cognizant of vulnerability and the point range of the 1NT opening, or (c) raise to the 4 level with at least 4-card support for game-try, or
• Bid an artificial and forcing 2NT to show some support in the anchor suit, game interest but no potential to bid further, or
• Bid a new suit take-out or new suit jump, to show a 6-card or longer suit, or
• Make a negative bid of 2 in the neutral suit to indicate having no other options, usually less than 3 cards headed by an honour in the anchor suit and at least a doubleton in the neutral suit.

Intervenor rebids include:

• Pass after a neutral response with five cards in the neutral suit, or
• a bid of the anchor major to show 5 cards, or
• a bid of the second suit at the 3-level to show 6 cards and good playing strength.

Variations

In the following variations of Astro,^{[5] [6]} the overcalls indicate more specific information about suit combinations:

Modified Astro

• 2♣ shows a long heart suit with or without a long minor
• 2♦ shows spades and a minor suit
• 2♥ shows hearts and spades

Pinpoint Astro

• 2♣ shows hearts and clubs
• 2♦ shows hearts and diamonds
• 2♥ shows hearts and spades
• 2♠ shows spades and a minor suit
• 2NT shows both minors^[7]

Roth-Stone Astro

• 2♣ shows clubs and spades
• 2♦ shows diamonds and spades
• 3♣ shows clubs and hearts
• 3♦ shows diamonds and hearts
• Double shows hearts and spades against a strong 1NT opening; against a weak 1NT, it is penalty oriented showing at least 15 high card points.

Defense against Astro

Responder to the 1NT opener may:

• Double with holdings in the anchor suit and in the minor overcalled, or
• Cuebid the anchor suit when the hand is unsuited to defense, or
• Pass, waiting, or
• Bid a natural 2NT, invitational to game.

Alternative conventions

Several other bidding conventions use a variety of schemes to compete against a 1NT opening; these include: Aspro, Asptro, Brozel, Cappelletti, DONT, Landy and Ripstra.

References