Comfy Canapé
Encyclopedia
In the card game bridge
, CoCa or Comfy Canapé is a conventional
defense against opposing 1NT openings. When playing CoCa, over a 1NT opening of the opponents, both a double as well as a 2 overcall
are conventional and establish spades and hearts, respectively as anchor suits. Higher overcalls (2//) can be either natural (single suiter
s), or conventional (as explained below).
The convention was published in Bridge Magazine IMP.
2 = A) 4-card hearts plus a longer suit, or B) 6-card hearts
2 = 4-4 majors
2 = 5-card plus minor suit
2 = 5-card plus minor suit
The canapé structure of the dbl/2 CoCa bids (with a rebid in another suit denoting a longer suit) is what lends the convention its name.
(1NT) - dbl - (pass) - ??
Similar responses apply to a 2 overcall:
(1NT) - 2 - (pass) - ??
Furthermore, for nine out of the twelve frequently occurring 5-4 two suiter
s, the structure of the CoCa-overcalls allows the partnership to sign-off in the longer suit at the two level. Moreover, for five of these 5-4 hands, also the 4-card is known to partner before the bidding goes beyond that suit at the two-level. As a result, the treatment minimises the chance of ending up in a Moysian (4-3) fit whilst a better (5-3) fit is available.
Like using Brozel
, Lionel and DONT
, using CoCa carries the consequence of losing the penalty double over opponent's 1NT. Although this is sometimes seen as a loss, the inventor of the Lionel convention, Lionel Wright, argues that this loss turns into an advantage as it opens the possibility to defend 1NT doubled with split points between both defending partners. As a balanced holding of the majority of points is far more likely to occur than holding the majority of points in an imbalanced way, a conventional non-penalty double over 1NT holds the potential of paying-off on many hands. Also, non-penalty doubles are more difficult to deal with than traditional business doubles.
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
, CoCa or Comfy Canapé is a conventional
Bridge convention
A bridge convention is a system of calls made during the auction phase of a contract bridge game which conveys a coded meaning about the players' card holdings...
defense against opposing 1NT openings. When playing CoCa, over a 1NT opening of the opponents, both a double as well as a 2 overcall
Overcall
In contract bridge, an overcall is a bid made after an opening bid has been made by an opponent; the term refers only to the first such bid. A direct overcall is a bid made directly over the opening bid by right-hand opponent; an overcall in the 'last seat' is referred to as a balancing...
are conventional and establish spades and hearts, respectively as anchor suits. Higher overcalls (2//) can be either natural (single suiter
Single suiter
In contract bridge, a single suiter is a hand containing at least six cards in one suit and with all other suits being at least two cards shorter than this longest suit. Many hand patterns can be classified as single suiters. Typical examples are 6-3-2-2, 6-3-3-1 and 7-3-2-1...
s), or conventional (as explained below).
The convention was published in Bridge Magazine IMP.
CoCa overcalls
dbl = A) 4-card spades plus a longer suit, or B) 6-card spades2 = A) 4-card hearts plus a longer suit, or B) 6-card hearts
2 = 4-4 majors
2 = 5-card plus minor suit
2 = 5-card plus minor suit
The canapé structure of the dbl/2 CoCa bids (with a rebid in another suit denoting a longer suit) is what lends the convention its name.
Responses
Following the CoCa double, the partner of the doubler responds as follows:(1NT) - dbl - (pass) - ??
- pass = hand suitable for defense (usually denies spades)
- 2 = pass-or-correct bidPass-or-correct bidIn the card game bridge a pass-or-correct bid , is a non-forcing bid that asks partner to pass or bid differently based on her/his holding...
, denies 4-card spades (doubler to pass or bid longer suit)
- 2 = pass-or-correct bid, denies 4-card spades, hand suitable for conversion to 3 (doubler to pass or bid longer suit)
- 2 = pass-or-correct bid, denies 4-card spades, hand suitable for conversion to 3/ (doubler to pass or bid longer suit)
- 2 = spade fit
Similar responses apply to a 2 overcall:
(1NT) - 2 - (pass) - ??
- Pass = to play
- 2 = pass-or-correct bid, denies 4-card hearts (doubler to pass or bid longer suit)
- 2 = heart fit
- 2 = to play
Advantages/disadvantages
CoCa renders all unbalanced hands with a major suit biddable. Claimed advantage of CoCa over other conventional defenses to 1NT openings, is that the first CoCa bid establishes at least one major anchorsuit. Obviously, this advantage can turn into a disadvantage in cases knowledge of this anchor suit helps the opponents with a key decision during play.Furthermore, for nine out of the twelve frequently occurring 5-4 two suiter
Two suiter
In contract bridge, a two suiter is a hand containing cards mostly from two of the four suits. Traditionally a hand is considered a two suiter if it contains at least ten cards in two suits, with the two suits not differing in length by more than one card. Depending on suit quality and partnership...
s, the structure of the CoCa-overcalls allows the partnership to sign-off in the longer suit at the two level. Moreover, for five of these 5-4 hands, also the 4-card is known to partner before the bidding goes beyond that suit at the two-level. As a result, the treatment minimises the chance of ending up in a Moysian (4-3) fit whilst a better (5-3) fit is available.
Like using Brozel
Brozel
Brozel is a method for intervening against an opposing 1NT opening bid. It features the following calls:*Double – shows any single suit; advancer bids 2, after which intervenor corrects to his actual suit...
, Lionel and DONT
DONT
DONT is a conventional overcall against an opposing 1NT opening bid. DONT, an acronym for Disturb Opponents' Notrump, was designed by Marty A. Bergen, and is therefore also referred to as 'Bergen over Notrump'. Although the method is often criticized for being too nebulous, it remains fairly popular...
, using CoCa carries the consequence of losing the penalty double over opponent's 1NT. Although this is sometimes seen as a loss, the inventor of the Lionel convention, Lionel Wright, argues that this loss turns into an advantage as it opens the possibility to defend 1NT doubled with split points between both defending partners. As a balanced holding of the majority of points is far more likely to occur than holding the majority of points in an imbalanced way, a conventional non-penalty double over 1NT holds the potential of paying-off on many hands. Also, non-penalty doubles are more difficult to deal with than traditional business doubles.