This is a conventional method with the purpose of defending against a strong 1 No Trump opening bid generally with a range of 15-17 high card points. The Brozel convention was developed by Lucille Brown and Mr. Bernard Zeller of New Jersey, United States. Thus, the name of the conventional defense method is a combination or the first syllables of both surnames, namely Bro-Zel. Although not confirmed the date of birth for Mr. Bernared Zeller is April 13, 1919, and the date of death is June 1986. Source.

Note: Mr. Tom Reynolds contributed the information about the two developers of this conventional defense method on September 19, 2015, for which we are truly grateful.

Note: Any additional information, especially photographic material, about the personality of Lucille Brown would be greatly acknowledged and appreciated.

Note: Any additional information, especially photographic material, about the personality of Mr. Bernard Zeller would be greatly acknowledged and appreciated.

Features of the Concept

This defense method can be employed either in the direct or in the balancing position. The conventional defense method can be employed to show a two-suited holding and also a three-suited holding.

Note: Various bridge theorists, justly or unjustly, maintain that the Brozel conventional defense method is a system of bids to describe a two-suited holding, which is quite similar with / to the Pinpoint Astro defense method. Several explain that the difference is that the Brozel defense method lies only in the employment of the double, which is for penalty. Others remark that the Brozel defense method, however, places emphasis more on the Heart suit.

The employment of the double, according to the original as devised by Lucille Brown and Mr. Bernard Zeller, promises a one-suited holding with at least a 6-card unspecified suit. If the partner holds values and wishes to compete, then the partner will use the relay bid of 2 Clubs allowing the doubler to further describe the holding. As soon as the doubler has clarified the holding, then the advancer will generally pass. If the doubler passes the 2 Clubs relay bid, then the Club suit is his suit.

The overcaller is generally referred to as the intervenor and the partner of the intervenor is generally referred to as the advancer.

The following schematic outlines the overcalls and the responses of the advancer:

Overcaller	Meaning
2	Shows Clubs and Hearts - rounded two-suiter.
	Advancer	Meaning
	Pass	If there is a Club fit and advancer has weak values, then the advancer passes.
		If there is no fit and advancer has weak values, then the advancer corrects on the same level to the Heart suit.
Overcaller	Meaning
2	Shows Diamonds and Hearts - both red suits.
	Advancer	Meaning
	Pass	If there is a Diamond fit and advancer has weak values, then the advancer passes.
	2	If there is no fit and advancer has weak values, then the advancer corrects on the same level to the Heart suit.
Overcaller	Meaning
2	Shows Hearts and Spades - both Major suits.
	Advancer	Meaning
	Pass	If there is a Heart fit and advancer has weak values, then the advancer passes.
	2	If there is no fit and advancer has weak values, then the advancer corrects on the same level to the Spade suit.
Overcaller	Meaning
2	Shows Spades and a Minor suit.
	Advancer	Meaning
	Pass	If there is a fit and advancer has weak values, then pass is the correct response.
Overcaller	Meaning
2 NT	Shows both Minor suits.
	Advancer	Meaning
	3	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
	3	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
Overcaller	Meaning
Double	Shows a 6-card plus suit.
	Advancer	Meaning
	Pass	The advancer may pass the double if holding sufficient values. The double is converted to a penalty double. Otherwise the advancer makes the lowest possible bid.
Overcaller	Meaning
3	Shows a three-suited holding with either a void or singleton in Clubs and at least 4-card support in each of the unbid suits.
	Advancer	Meaning
	3	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
	3	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
	3	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
Overcaller	Meaning
3	Shows a three-suited holding with either a void or singleton in Diamonds and at least 4-card support in each of the unbid suits.
	Advancer	Meaning
	3	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
	3	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
	4	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
Overcaller	Meaning
3	Shows a three-suited holding with either a void or singleton in Hearts and at least 4-card support in each of the unbid suits.
	Advancer	Meaning
	3	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
	4	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
	4	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
Overcaller	Meaning
3	Shows a three-suited holding with either a void or singleton in Spades and at least 4-card support in each of the unbid suits.
	Advancer	Meaning
	4	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
	4	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.
	4	The advancer bids his best suit in the unnamed suits and establishes the final contract.

Attention and Note: Since the Brozel defense method is so flexible, two-suited holdings can also be shown even after the partner of the 1 No Trump bidder has made a weak response. Whatever the responder of the 1 No Trump bidder bids, the Brozel bid indicates the suit bid and the next higher unbid suit.

West		North		East		South		Meaning
1 NT		Pass		2				East employs a transfer bid or the bid is to play, which does not imply any held values.
						2		South shows Hearts and Spades.
						2		South shows Spades and Clubs.
						3		South shows Clubs and Hearts.

This particular agreement should be employed by an experienced and long-term partnership owing to its flexibility. For example, if East, in this particular example, bids something else, then the meanings of the bids by South will change accordingly, as described below. Whether or not the Brozel conventional defense method should be employed on the three level is per partnership agreement. The state of vulnerability is an important and deciding factor since the partnership will have to discover a fit almost immediately.

West		North		East		South		Meaning
1 NT		Pass		2				East employs a transfer bid or the bid is to play, which does not imply any held values.
						2		South shows Spades and Clubs.
						3		South shows Clubs and Diamonds.
						3		South shows Diamonds and Spades.

Note: The overcall of 2 No Trump is generally not accepted or employed in this position, since this particular bid becomes ambiguous. Would the intervenor actually should a two-suited holding in both Minor suits as this overcall would show in the immediate position, or would the intervenor actually show two touching suits, two rounded suits, two pointed suits. No significance for a cuebid has been included in this bidding sequence.

Three-Suited Holdings

By a three-suited holding, after a 1 No Trump opening as a direct call or in the balancing seat, the Brozel bidder would jump to the three level showing not only good distribution, but also, in general, a void in the overcalled suit, in addition to sufficient strength to bid on the three level. For example, the Brozel bidder has the following holding:

West		North		East		South
1 NT		3
		AJ109 KQ87 AJ963

The Brozel bidder would bid 3 Hearts over the 1 No Trump opening or in the balancing position. His partner is expected to set the final contract.

Brozel After Weak Response by Partner

If the responder of the 1 No Trump opener has made a weak response, the Brozel bidder can bid 2 No Trump showing a three-suited holding with adequate strength. A cuebid of the bid of the responder indicates a three-suited holding, but suggests a stronger hand.

Using the Brozel conventional defense method, the Brozel bidder can also double, showing a one-suited hand. His partner, the advancer, may pass with very few values and thereby converting the double to a penalty double. If the advancer, however, wishes to enter the bidding, the advancer will relay in the next ranking suit (over the response of the opponent) asking the advancer to bid his suit. For example:

West		Intervenor		East		Advancer		Meaning
1 NT		Pass		2		Pass
Pass		Double		Pass		Pass		Advancer converts the double to a penalty double.

West		Intervenor		East		Advancer		Meaning
1 NT		Pass		2		Pass
Pass		Double		Pass		2		The advancer asks the intervenor to name his suit. If the suit of the intervenor is Spades, then the intervenor passes. Otherwise the intervenor corrects.

Variation

As a variation on this concept Mr. Lionel Wright, mainly of Auckland, New Zealand, proposed and developed bids, which could be employed against strong No Trump openings in the range between 14 and 18 points and weaker No Trump openings with fewer points. In essence, the bids are identical to the original version of Lucille Brown and Mr. Bernard Zeller except for four bids, which are shown below as well as the responses of the advancer after a double by the intervenor:

Intervenor:	Meaning
Double:	Promises at least a 4-card Spade suit plus a longer unspecified suit.
2 :	Promises at least a 5-card suit plus in Hearts.
2 :	Promises at least a 5-card suit plus in Spades.
2NT:	Shows a fit for Spades and is invitational.

Advancer:	Responses after a Double by Intervenor
2 :	Indicates strongly a misfit for Spades. The intervenor either passes the Diamonds relay of advancer or corrects.
2 :	A natural bid; to play.
2 :	A natural bid; to play.
2NT:	Shows a fit for Spades and is invitational.

 

 

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.