Bidding Conventions >

Cappelletti (aka Hamilton)


This convention is known by two names because Mike Cappelletti and Fred Hamilton are both credited for it. For simplicity I am just going to refer to it as Cappelletti.

Cappelletti is a defensive bidding convention for use after an opponent has opened 1NT. Overcaller's available conventional calls are:

Double   Penalty (See also: Gates Double)
2 A one-suited hand (any suit, 5+ cards) with roughly 11-15 points.
2 At least 5-4 or 4-5 in hearts and spades, asks partner to correct to either major.
2 At least 5-5 in hearts and a minor.
2 At least 5-5 in spades and a minor.
2NT At least 5-5 in clubs and diamonds.


Responses to the 2 Overcall

Pass    Shows 6+ clubs.
2    An artificial bid, asking partner to pass if his suit is diamonds or to bid 2/2/3 depending on which suit he has.
2   Shows 6+ hearts, nonforcing.
2   Shows 6+ spades, nonforcing.


Responses to the 2 Overcall

Pass    Shows 6+ diamonds.
2   Natural, 6+ hearts, nonforcing.
2   Natural, 6+ spades, nonforcing.
2NT   Natural, invitational. Shows about 11-13 points, balanced.


Responses to the 2 Overcall

Pass A weak hand with tolerance for hearts.
2   Promises 6+ spades, no heart support, nonforcing.
2NT   Artificial, no heart support, asking for partner to bid his minor suit at the three level.
3   Promises 6+ good clubs, no heart support, nonforcing.
3   Promises 6+ good diamonds, no heart support, nonforcing.
3   Promises 3+ hearts, invitational.
3   Promises 6+ good spades, invitational to 4.
3NT   To play.
4   To play.
4   To play..


Responses to the 2 Overcall

Pass A weak hand with tolerance for spades.
2NT   Artificial, no spade support, asking for partner to bid his minor suit at the three level.
3   Shows 6+ good clubs, no spade support, nonforcing.
3  Shows 6+ good diamonds, no spade support, nonforcing.
3   Shows 6+ good hearts, no spade support, nonforcing.
3   Shows 6+ good spades, invitational to 4.


Responses to the 2NT Overcall

3   A weak hand with tolerance for clubs.
3   A weak hand with tolerance for diamonds. Tends to deny club support.
3   Shows 6+ good hearts, no support for either minor, nonforcing.
3   Shows 6+ good spades, no support for either minor, nonforcing.
3NT   To play.
4   Shows 3+ clubs, invitational.
4   Shows 3+ diamonds, invitational.
4   To play.
4   To play.


Origins

Mike Cappelletti and Fred Hamilton, both American expert players, are credited for this convention. See also Multi-Landy, which is very similar but reverses the meanings of the 2 and 2 overcalls.