Dear Ed and Peter,

What does my partner's 2NT mean in this auction?

Reply Ed Hoogenkamp (South)

Dear Alan,

It depends on your agreements. I guess the natural meaning is: club stopper, no real spade fit, about 13-15 HCP, invitational to game.
However, in the US (and many other places :-)) experienced/advanced pairs (including all top pairs) play it differently. With some pairs it shows a limit raise or stronger in spades.
Other pairs play it as a game-forcing raise in spades.
Choose one, I would say....
You can use this in combination with the 3♣ bid that shows a four-card spade fit.
 
As a consequence a 3♠ bid is pre-emptive. It shows a weak hand (approximately 6-9 points) and is meant to make life difficult for the opponents.

Peter knows a lot about this. He always tries to show his fit by not raising my suit... 

Saludos desde Bracelona.
 

Reply Peter van der Linden (North)

Dear Alan,

This is matter of modern vs. traditional bidding.
Traditionally 2NT is a natural bid, showing a balanced hand therefore. It is invitational to game and shows a good guard in the oppoents' suit (in your case clubs). Since your overcall can be made on very little points, 2NT shows a much stronger hand than a 2NT invitational bid over your opening would. So Ed is right in suggesting a 13-15 range.

Modern bidders use 2NT to show a good hand and a spade fit (at least four-card support). This is equivalent to the modern 2NT bid over partner's opening of one in a major, with the difference that 2NT after partner's overcall is stronger since he can overcall on much less than opening strength.

I'm not sure what Ed means with 'You can use this in combination with the 3♣ bid that shows a four-card spade fit.' After all, you don't need that 3♣ bid in that meaning, if you have agreed upon the modern, game-forcing fit-showing meaning of 2NT.
Possibly he means that you can use 3♣ as an invitational spade raise if you have agreed upon 2NT to be game forcing. Both show four card support. With an invitational or strong hand and three-card support you start with 2♣ in the modern style. (You see, Alan, if Pete really tries, he understands me, Ed)

In the traditional style you raise to 3♠ with invitational strength and three or more spades. With game-forcing values you either bid game (very traditional...; almost anyone plays this as pre-emptive nowadays) or start with a 2♣ cuebid.

It is obvious that in more and more situations 2NT is becoming an artificial bid, though still many play it as natural, in your auction.

Ed is wrong by the way, when he says that I'm always trying to show my fit by not raising his suit. Far from it: if ever possible I try to avoid showing a fit in his suit, since it would mean he would become declarer.

En hils fra Orkanger