Landy is a defense to the opponents' 1NT opening in which a 2♣ overcall shows both majors, usually at least five-four. All other bids keep their natural meaning, and double is for penalty.
It is one of the oldest and simplest defenses to 1NT, named after Alvin Landy, a leading American administrator and player. Landy is very popular in Acol countries such as Britain and Australia, where the opponents often open a weak (12-14) notrump, and it is common in North American club play too.
How the Landy Convention Works
| Call over 1NT | Meaning |
|---|---|
| X | Penalty: about 15+ HCP against a weak notrump, 16+ against a strong one |
| 2♣ | Both majors, at least five-four (Landy) |
| 2♦ | Natural: five or six diamonds |
| 2♥ / 2♠ | Natural: five or six cards in that major |
| 2NT | By agreement: both minors, or a strong natural hand |
| 3-level | Natural, preemptive |
The idea is simple. The most valuable hands to compete with over 1NT are major two-suiters, because a fit in a major lets your side bid as high as the opponents. Landy gives those hands their own bid and leaves everything else natural. Robots may play a different defense to 1NT: you can see what 2♣ over 1NT means in every system.
Rule of ThumbLandy 2♣ = both majors. Partner's job is to pick the major, or to show a good hand with 2NT.
What You Need for a Landy 2♣
Shape. At least five-four in the majors. Five-five is ideal. Some pairs allow four-four at favorable vulnerability in the balancing seat, but in the direct seat, keep at least five-four. With a 6-4 hand, many players prefer to bid the six-card major naturally.
Strength. It depends on the opponents' notrump and on the vulnerability:
- Against a weak notrump (12-14): about 10+ HCP, or 8-9 with five-five and good suits. You are not far from their strength.
- Against a strong notrump (15-17): shape matters more than points. A good five-five with 8 HCP is a fine Landy bid; a 5-4 with scattered honors is a risk.
- Balancing seat (1NT P P): you can be lighter, because partner has passed with some values.
Suit quality. Honors in your two suits matter. ♠KJ1074 ♥AQ85 plays well opposite a doubleton; ♠97543 ♥J642 with outside honors does not.
Advancer's Responses
| Advancer's bid | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 2♦ | No preference, or equal length: "bid your longer major" |
| 2♥ / 2♠ | To play: the major you prefer |
| 3♥ / 3♠ | Invitational, with a fit (about 10-12) |
| 4♥ / 4♠ | To play |
| 2NT | Strong inquiry, game interest: asks for shape and strength |
| 3♣ / 3♦ | Natural, a long minor, not forcing |
| Pass | Long clubs and a weak hand |
Choosing the major. With longer hearts bid 2♥; with longer spades bid 2♠. With equal length (3-3 or 2-2) bid 2♦, so the Landy bidder chooses their longer major. Never leave partner in a 4-2 fit when a 5-3 is available.
The 2NT inquiry. The Landy bidder's answers show a minimum or a maximum, and five-four or five-five. Several answer schemes are in use, so agree on one structure with your partner.
Common Mistakes
- Landy with 4-4 in the direct seat. Partner will play in a seven-card fit too often, and the opponents' penalty double gets easy.
- Bidding 2♥ with 3-3. Bid 2♦ and let partner choose the longer major.
- Passing 2♣ with no clubs. Landy is artificial: pass only with long clubs.
- Forgetting that 2♦ is artificial. It is not a diamond suit: it asks.
- Bidding Landy with a good balanced hand. With 16+ balanced against a weak notrump, double for penalty.
Landy Example Hands
East opens a weak 1NT (12-14). You hold ♠KJ1074 ♥AQ85 ♦93 ♣62: 10 HCP, five spades and four hearts. Bid 2♣.
East opens a weak 1NT. Your Landy 2♣ shows both majors. Partner has three-three and bids 2♦ to ask.
2♣ = both majors. 2♦ asks for the longer major. South bids 2♠.
Partner has three cards in each major and 7 HCP, so partner bids 2♦ to let you choose. You show the five-card spade suit and play 2♠.
Double dummy, 2♠ makes: +110. East's 1NT makes eight tricks, so passing would have cost 120. Even with only 17 HCP between you, Landy turns a minus score into a plus.
More hands over a weak 1NT:
- ♠AQ974 ♥KJ1083 ♦5 ♣72: 2♣. A clear five-five.
- ♠8 ♥AQ10962 ♦K74 ♣Q63: 2♥, natural, a one-suited major.
- ♠K64 ♥KQ7 ♦AJ93 ♣KJ5: double, 17 HCP, for penalty.
West opens a weak 1NT, partner bids Landy 2♣. Your call?
West opens 1NT (12-14), partner bids Landy 2♣, East passes. What do you bid?
Your hand:
Multi-Landy and Other Variations
Multi-Landy is a popular extension in Britain, used mostly against a weak notrump:
| Call | Multi-Landy meaning |
|---|---|
| X | Penalty |
| 2♣ | Both majors |
| 2♦ | One major, six cards (like a multi 2♦) |
| 2♥ | Hearts and a minor |
| 2♠ | Spades and a minor |
| 2NT | Both minors, or a strong hand by agreement |
Multi-Landy shows more two-suiters than plain Landy, at the cost of a natural 2♦.
Other variations. Some pairs play Landy in the direct seat only. Some play 2♣ as at least five-five when vulnerable. Against a strong notrump, many North American players prefer Cappelletti, DONT or Meckwell, which cover more shapes.
The Landy Bid Tree
(1NT) 2♣: both majors
- 2♦: equal length, asks. Landy bidder bids the longer major (2♥ with five-five).
- 2♥ / 2♠: to play.
- 3♥ / 3♠: invitational with a fit.
- 4♥ / 4♠: to play.
- 2NT: strong inquiry, game interest.
- 3♣ / 3♦: natural, not forcing.
- Pass: long clubs, weak.
Other bids over 1NT: X penalty; 2♦, 2♥, 2♠ natural; 3-level natural and preemptive.
Practice: Landy
The hardest Landy choice is when to bid and when to pass at each vulnerability. The BridgeDummy bidding puzzles let you make that decision as South and check it over many deals that fit the auction, with each option solved double dummy.
You can bid full deals with EPBot robots in the Bidding Room, where Acol, the home of the weak notrump, is one of the systems on offer.
Related pages: doubles in bridge, notrump in bridge and hand patterns.