The English designation of Nilsland Defense or the Swedish designation of Nilslandske slinkningar is a defense method against a double after a 1 No Trump opening, devised by Mr. Mats Nilsland of Malmo, Sweden. This conventional method can be used after a 1 No Trump opening has been doubled or 1 No Trump overcall has been doubled. The only disadvantage to this convention is that the partnership may not be able to play 1 No Trump doubled.

Note: the correct writing of the city is Malmö, Sweden, which is a city in the southernmost province of Scania. The city of Malmö is the seat of the Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County. It is believed that the foundation of the city was established in the year 1275 and was originally known as Malmhaug, which translate into the English language as gravel pile or ore hill.

Mr. Mats Nilsland was born in the year 1950 and is of Malmo, Sweden. He is a World Life Master of the World Bridge Federation. He has represented the country of Sweden on the international level at global bridge tournaments.

At the 40th European Teams Championships conducted in Killarney, Ireland in the year 1991 he concluded Second Place with team mates: Sven-Ake Bjerregard, Bjorn Fallenius, Tommy Gullberg, Anders Morath, Per-Olof Sundelin, and Svante Ryman.

At the 30th World Team Championship conducted in Yokohama, Japan, between September 29 and October 11, 1991, he concluded in Third Place with team mates: Sven-Ake Bjerregard, Bjorn Fallenius, Tommy Gullberg, Anders Morath, Per-Olof Sundelin, and Svante Ryman.

At the 10th World Championsbhips conducted in Lille, France, between August 21 and September 4, 1998, he concluded Second Place with team mates Bjorn Fallenius, Peter Fredin, and Magnus Lindkvist.

At the 44th Generali European Team Championships conducted in Malta, Malta, between June 17 and June 26, 1999, he concluded in Second Place with team mates: Lars Andersson, Bjorn Fallenius, Peter Fredin, Tommy Gullberg, Magnus Lindkvist, Ulf Niilsson, and Daniel Auby.

Principles of the Concept

1. The first guideline covers any suit bid by the responder at the two level. Any first response by the responder of a suit on the two level promises the named suit and the next higher-ranking suit:

West		North		East		South		Meaning
		Opener				Responder
		1 NT		Double		2		Promises Clubs and Diamonds.
						2		Promises Diamonds and Hearts.
						2		Promises Hearts and Spades.
						2		Promises Spades and Clubs.

2. The second guideline deals with a call of redouble. A redouble promises an unspecified 5-card suit. The ground-rule is that after an immediate double by an opponent cancels all transfer bids by the responder. The No Trump bidder is then required to bid 2 if the next opponent passes.

West		North		East		South		Meaning
		Opener				Responder
		1 NT		Double		Redouble		Promises an unspecified 5-card suit. Transfers are system off.
Pass		2		Pass		Pass		Promises a 5-card Club suit.
						2		Promises a 5-card Diamond suit.
						2		Promises a 5-card Heart suit.
						2		Promises a 5-card Spade suit.

3. The third guideline is the pass by the responder. If the responder first passes, then this is an informative / forcing pass and the concept is that the No Trump bidder must redouble. The information communicated by the pass by the responder may have various meanings, which are as follows:

A.	A weak two-suited holding with Clubs and Hearts or Diamonds and Spades, or both Round suits or both Pointed suits.
B.	The responder may wish to play 1 No Trump redoubled and this is the only method to achieve this result, in that the opener redoubles.
C.	The responder may hold an unbalanced or distributional, but invitational holding with a 5-card Major suit. The length must be at least a 5-card suit, but may also be longer.
D.	The responder may hold an unbalanced or distributional, but invitational holding with a 5-card Major suit. The length must be at least a 5-card suit, but may also be longer.
E.	The responder may hold an unbalanced or distributional holding with a 6+ card suit in either Minor suit headed by two of the top five honors.

Therefore, the continuance after a Forcing Pass by the responder is as follows:

West		North		East		South		Meaning
		Opener				Responder
		1 NT		Double		Pass		Forcing pass requiring opener to redouble.
Pass		Redouble		Pass		Pass		Penalty double.
						2		Promises a two-suited holding with Clubs and Hearts.
						2		Promises a two-suited holding with Diamonds and Spades.
						2		Promises a 5-card Heart suit. Invitational.
						2		Promises a 5-card Spade suit. Invitational.
						2 NT		Shows an unbalanced distribution and requests opener to bid the lowest 4-card suit at the three level. This bid is game-forcing.
						3		Promises a 6+ card Club suit headed by two of the top five honors.
						3		Promises a 6+ card Diamond suit headed by two of the top five honors.

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.