Astro Convention
This convention is an intervention over 1 NT opennings. It's similar with Landy but long suits are not necessarily the major ones. Developed by Paul Allinger, Roger Stern and Larry Rossler, the name ASTRO has been drived from the first characters of their last names.
Opener Intervenor Distribution 1 NT
- 2 Clubs
- 2 Diamonds
- 5 cards Hearts and a 4 cards minor, 9+ HCP
- 5 cards Spades and a 4 cards suit, 9+ HCP
Lets look at the responses of the intervenor's partner from the table below
Opener Intervenor Partner Distribution 1 NT 2 Clubs
- Pass
- 2 Diamonds
- 2 Hearts
- 2 Spades
- 2 NT
- 3 Clubs
- 3 Diamonds
- 3 Hearts
- 3 Spades
- Long Clubs, weak hand
- Denies Hearts support
- Promises Hearts support but weak hand
- Shows at least 6 cards Spades, No Hearts support
- 11 HCP, denies Hearts support, asks the other suit
- At least 6 cards Clubs, game invitation
- At least 6 cards Diamonds, game invitation
- 3-4 cards Hearts support, game invitation
- At least 6 cards Spades, game invitation
2 Diamonds
- Pass
- 2 Hearts
- 2 Spades
- 2 NT
- 3 Clubs
- 3 Karo
- 3 Kör
- 3 Pik
- Long Diamonds, weak hand
- Denies Spades support
- Promises Spades support but weak hand
- 11 HCP, denies Spades support, asks the other suit
- At least 6 cards Clubs, game invitation
- At least 6 cards Diamonds, game invitation
- At least 6 cards Hearts, game invitation
- 3-4 cards Spades support, game invitation
This convention has some different versions.
Modified Astro : It is very similar to Astro with a slight difference of which 2 Hearts intervention over 1 NT opennings shows Spades and Hearts. So 2 Diamonds overcall shows Spades and a minor suit. Responses are the same as in Astro.
Pinpoint Astro : 2 Clubs shows Clubs and Hearts, 2 Diamonds shows Diamonds and Hearts, 2 Hearts shows Hearts and Spades, 2 Spades shows Spades and a minor suit, 2 NT shows minor suits.
Astro Cue-Bids : It is alteration to Michael’s Cue-Bid. Minor Cue-bids show the two unbid low-ranking suits. For instance 2 Clubs over 1 Club openning shows Hearts and Diamonds whereas 2 Diamonds over 1 Diamond openning shows Hearts and Clubs. Major Cue-Bids are the same with Michael’s Cue-Bid.
Astro Convention has so many variations that you could create your own Astro. One of them is as follows.
Opener
Intervenor
Distribution
1 NT
- Double
- 2 Clubs
- 2 Diamonds
- 3 Hearts
- 3 Spades
- Shows Spades and Hearts
- Shows Clubs and Spades
- Shows Diamonds and Spades
- Shows Clubs and Hearts
- Shows Diamonds and Hearts
It is clear that the above application is wrong because 3 Spades overcall shows the Red suits, so the level should be raised to 4 even if the partner has a very weak hand. This version of Astro could be revized as in the table below.
Opener
Intervenor
Distribution
1 NT
- Double
- 2 Clubs
- 2 Diamonds
- 3 Hearts
- 3 Spades
- Shows Spades and Hearts
- Shows Clubs and Spades
- Shows Diamonds and Hearts
- Shows Hearts and Clubs
- Shows Spades and Diamonds
As you will recognize that the major suit overcalls in this variation are one level higher. The reason is to utilize the second level as natural overcalls which will show a long suit.