In the game of

contract bridge Contract bridge, or simply bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard 52-card deck. In its basic format, it is played by four players in two competing partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. Millions ...

, CRASH (an acronym for Color-RAnk-SHape) is a defense against a strong 1 or a 1NT opening that first appeared in 1976 in an article by

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. Within the CRASH framework, intervening calls after the 1NT opening denote either (a) two-suited hands of the same color (black or red), the same rank (major or minor), or the same shape (pointed or rounded) or (b) a natural one-suited hand (hearts or spades). Over a 1NT opening, the following CRASH overcall structure applies: Following the two-suited overcalls, advancer will bid taking into account that out of the two possible two-suited hands of intervenor, the likely holding is in advancer's shortest suits. The responses are therefore

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. For instance, following a CRASH double, an advancer holding will start from the assumption that intervenor holds length in the black suits in which advancer's maximum length is three cards, rather than in the red suits in which his maximum length is five cards. Advancer will therefore bid 2, his best black suit. Intervenor will pass holding the black suits, or bid 3 holding the red suits. In case of the latter, advancer will correct to 3 since that is his best red suit.

Variations

Other defenses similar to CRASH, with the bids in a different order, include KOSHER and SHAKER. In the

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(ACBL) General Convention Chart,ACBL General Convention Chart
/ref> the double and the 2 overcall are allowed, but the 2 overcall must promise at least one known suit. In these events, pairs may use a CRASH variation with 2 showing the majors, such as either "CHASM" (color, shape, majors) or "SCUM" (shape, color, majors).

References

{{WPCBIndex Bridge conventions

Variations

See also

References