We need to look at how to handle auctions that start with No Trump. I am often asked if I open 1 NT holding a 5 card major. It's not an easy question. With 18 hcp I open a 5 card major and treat the hand as if it is 19 hcp. With 15 hcp I tend to open the major suit and REBID a side 4 card suit or 1NT or PASS if pard responds 1NT. NOTE THIS: IF I OPEN 1H AND REBID 1NT OVER 1S AND PARD BIDS 2 OF A MINOR IT IS A SIGNOFF AND MUST BE PASSED. He has a hand with 6-10 hcp, only 4 spades, no heart support and probably 6 clubs. With 16-17 hcp I freely open 1NT with a five card major and a balanced hand. My rule is to open 1NT with 15-18 hcp hands and no more than 1 defect. A defect is: 1. a five card major,
2. a weak doubleton,
3. a side 4 card suit.
4. a minimum 15 hcp hand,
5. a maximum 18 point hand, or
6. an aceless hand.
Responding to a 1NT opening we usually try to find an 8 card major suit fit. We do this by using Stayman 2C and Jacoby Transfers. 2C response asks for a 4 card major suit, responder rebids 2D without a 4 card major or bids the 4 card major, up the line if you have both. A 2 level rebid by responder shows an invitational hand. A major suit rebid shows a 5 card suit. A 2NT rebid shows 8-9 hcp A jump to 3 of a major after 2D shows 10+ hcp and a 5 card suit. 3 of a minor rebid is forcing to 3NT or 4 of a minor. It shows 10+ hcp and an unbalanced hand.
Jacoby Transfers show a 5 card suit or more. 2D transfers to 2H, 2H transfers to 2S. A transfer followed by 2NT is invitational with 8-9 hcp. Opener bids 3NT or 4 of the major with 17-18 hcp and passes or bids 3 of the major with 15-16. A transfer followed by 3 of a minor shows 5-5 and 10+ hcp. Transfer to 2H and rebid 2S with 5-5 invitational. Transfer to 2S and rebid 3H as forcing with 10+ hcp.
Next post will discuss more NT sequences. Please feel free to comment.
Thanks for reading. Happy Bridging, SPADEWOOD
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2 comments:
Good stuff. Keep it up. WM.
Curious! Why are the 15 and 18 count both negative factors? Maybe when it gets to the extreme of the range it is harder for responder to make good decisions about continuations. For my money the most negative factor is a 4333 distribution. Danny Klienman in his book the No Trump Zone says 4333's are just as bad at no trump as in a suit contract. How about some offsetting factors like a decent 5 card minor (yum,yum)or a galaxy of middle cards that never get counted but end up taking tricks. Maybe I am mixing apples and oranges, since you didn't say you were talking about hand valuation, only the criteria for opening 1NT.This is frightening. I am finally gaining some insights --this could be dangerous
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