Meckwell Defense to 1NT

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Meckwell is a defensive agreement to compete over your opponent's 1NT opening bid.  The convention is named after the world champions Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwll.  Because competing in a major is more likely to be successful than competing in a minor, the Meckwell defense is primarily focused on showing hands with a major.  

The Meckwell convention works as follows over your opponent's 1NT opening bid:

• 2♣ shows clubs and a major
• 2♦ shows diamonds and a major
• 2♥ is natural, at least 5 hearts
• 2♠ is natural, at least 5 spades
• 2NT is an artificial bid showing both minors  
• Double is artificial, showing either both majors, a hand with a long minor, or a strong hand with spades

Let's look at advancer's options after a Meckwell double or overcall.  

After 1NT - X¹ - Pass,    ¹artificial, both majors, or a hand with a long minor
Advancer bids:

• 2♣ is the expected bid, allowing partner to pass with long clubs, bid 2♦ with long diamonds, or bid 2♥ with both majors, 2♠ with a strong hand with spades
• 2♦ is natural, showing advancer's suit
• 2♥ is natural, showing advancer's suit
• 2♠ is natural, showing advancer's suit

After 1NT - 2♣² - Pass,     ²clubs and a major
Advancer bids:

• Pass shows a preference for clubs
• 2♦ asks the overcaller to bid their major
• 2♥ is natural, showing advancer's suit
• 2♠ is natural, showing advancer's suit

After 1NT - 2♦³ - Pass,      ³diamonds and a major
Advancer bids:

• 2♥ says they are willing to stop in 2♥ if overcaller's major is hearts.  Otherwise, overcaller bids 2♠ to show diamonds and spades
• 2♠ is natural, showing advancer's suit

After 1NT - 2♥ - Pass,      
Advancer bids:

• Pass to play 2♥
• 2♠ is a natural offer to play showing advancer's long spade suit
• 2NT is artificial and forcing, showing game interest
• 3♥ is a less than invitational raise, advancing the interference

After 1NT - 2♠ - Pass,      
Advancer bids:

• Pass to play 2♠
• 2NT is artificial and forcing, showing game interest
• 3♠ is a less than invitational raise, advancing the interferenc

Inviting Game

Generally, a 2NT bid by advancer is an artificial game try asking their partner to describe their hand.  Since advancer would bid 2NT as a game try, a raise of overcaller's suit is obstructive.

If Responder Bids or Doubles

If responder (the partner of the 1NT opener) bids or doubles, advancer (the partner of the Meckwell bidder) uses a double or a redouble to ask partner to further describe their hand.  As discussed above, a 2NT bid is an artificial and forcing game try.  Other bids are natural.