Interrobang

Thank you very much! It is quite likely that I had turned on Jacoby 2NT without realizing it. I'll check it out. What is the advantage of using the Jacoby 2NT convention? Here's my uneducated guess: It forces to game without using too much bidding space, and it probably also strengthens the meaning of a jump shift to 3 of a minor, making it a slam invitation (say, 18 points+). The cost is widening the meaning of a 1NT response, forcing the auction at least to the 2 level after an opening of 1 in a major, but there are relatively few instances where 1NT would be makable and 2NT or 2 of the opener's suit would not be. My wife just encouraged me to get back into the game, and I think I'll take her up on it, at least a bit. RobR

Greetings! I've enjoyed playing bridge for most of my life, but I haven't played in years and I haven't played duplicate in decades. (And even then, I was never really any good!) I play a simple SAYC style. I have the BridgeBaron program. I enjoy it, but it has one really annoying bidding quirk. It treats a response of 2 NT over an opening bid of 1 in a suit as strong support for partner's suit. It may actually consider it to be a game force. I want to use 2 NT to be invitational with very little support -- 11-12 points, a balanced hand, and a worthless doubleton in partner's suit. Does the computer know something I don't? And if it does, how am I supposed to show the hand I just described? Thanks very much! RobR