Responses to 1NT

[Finch]

I'm not really a believer in complex systems, but I've been persuaded into writing some new responses to 1NT by a regular partner. We've bid a few hands with them and they seem to work, but I'd be interested to know what things we've missed.

 

Our style of 1NT openers is 5-card majors are rare, 6-card minors are common, 5422s only opened 1NT if there is no good rebid after opening the 5-card suit (we reverse fairly light by US standards), never include a singleton. His requirements for the response scheme were

 

- be able to play in 2M (rather than 2NT or 3M) with a 5-card major suit invite opposite a minimum

- not to change the current meanings of 2S, 2NT, (xfers to clubs/diamonds) 3C, 3D, (single-suited slam tries) 3H, 3S (shortage in other major), 3NT, 4M or higher

- offer a choice of 4M or 3NT once an 8-card major suit fit has been found

- improve slam bidding

 

The costs of the scheme below that I am aware of are

- on average opener reveals slightly more about his hand than playing normal stayman

- no garbage stayman

- if opener has 'minimum' HCP with 4-3 in the majors we might miss game in the 5-3 fit

- We'll sometimes play a major suit partial the wrong way up.

 

One consequence (I'm not sure yet if this is a cost or benefit)

- we may play a 5-2 2M contract rather than 2NT

 

We rejected Keri and its derivatives because we didn't like the lack of clarity on responder's major suit lengths when inviting.

 

2D/2H responses to 1NT are 'normal' major suit transfers but are either a sign-off (or only want to be in game opposite a transfer break) or a game force (or invitational with a 6-card suit). Continuations include further transfers (e.g. 1NT - 2H - 2S - 2NT/3C/3D = clubs/diamonds/hearts, 1NT-2H-2S-3H = slam try in in spades no singleton or choice of games) which should improve choice-of-game and slam bidding.

 

2C response to 1NT excludes invites with a 6-card suit and most game forces with a 5+-card minor, but otherwise includes: all invites, all game forces looking for a 4-4 fit or a minor suit fit with opener's length.

 

1NT - 2C -

2D = minimum no major or maximum both majors

2H = 4 spades, minimum

2S = 4 hearts, minimum

2NT = minimum both majors

3C = maximum 1 major

(deliberately I have not included any higher bids, if responder is interested in opener's minor suit distribution he can ask)

 

Many of the continuations have written themselves; they include a large range of retransfers at various levels (for example

1NT - 2C - 2NT - 3D shows four hearts, opener can bid 3H, 3S to accept a game try in a heart fit; then 3NT choice of games others slam tries; while 1NT - 2C - 2NT - 4D is simply to play in 4H may have 4 or 5 hearts; or 1NT - 2C - 3C - 3D = looking for 5-3 major suit fit; 3H = FG with 4 spades; 3S = FG with 4 hearts)

 

also included, for example,

 

1NT - 2C - 2D -

3C = shows 4-4 in the minors or 5 diamonds & 4 clubs, slam interest

3D = asks for a long minor suit

3H = 5-5 majors invitational

3S = 5-5 majors game forcing

 

and as a slight bonus over normal methods for keeping low

1NT - 2C - 2H - 2S is NF with 4 spades (3H is invitational with 5 spades)

1NT - 2C - 2D - 2M - opener can raise to 3M on an inbetween hand

[glen]

1NT - 2C -

2D = minimum no major or maximum both majors

2H = 4 spades, minimum

2S = 4 hearts, minimum

2NT = minimum both majors

3C = maximum 1 major

Where is maximum & no major - are these in the 3♦ or higher rebids?

[Finch]

Sorry missed out

 

3D = maximum no major (over which 3H = 5 spades, 3S = 5 hearts, 4C = both minors slam interest, 4D = asking for 5/6-card minor)

[1eyedjack]

- be able to play in 2M (rather than 2NT or 3M) with a 5-card major suit invite opposite a minimum

That was one of the major reasons why I redesigned our own responses, as here:

 

http://forums.bridgebase.com/index.php?sho...indpost&p=37834

 

Sorry, no time to do a comparison right now - have to get back to work.

[calabres]

HI all, with my regular partners i use:

 

1NT=15/17

2♣ = Stayman (may have no Majors)

2♦/♥ = tranfers In jump: 4 c 2NT: max w/2 honors

Tranfer for 1 Major and bid the other is invitational

2♣ » 2♦ » 2♥/2♠ = 5+4 (4+4) to play

Smolen GF

2♠ = Minors (Weak or Strong) Bid best fit, if ptn bid 1 Major is sing and

Strong

2 NT = 1 Minor Weak or Strong Mandatory to 3♣ if ptn bids:

3♥ = Slam try in ♣

3♠ = Slam try in ♦

3 X = 6 c with 2 honors, nothing else

4♦ = Majors Bid game in best fit

4♣ = GERBER 3041 answers

4 NT = Quantitatif

 

 

Regards

[MickyB]

One consequence (I'm not sure yet if this is a cost or benefit)

- we may play a 5-2 2M contract rather than 2NT

 

Definite advantage IMO.

 

We rejected Keri and its derivatives because we didn't like the lack of clarity on responder's major suit lengths when inviting.

 

Yes, I dislike this too. There are also other issues with Keri, most noticeably the lack of space after 1NT:3♠ (showing a ♣ splinter).

 

My favourite structure fails to keep 1N:3m as a single-suited slam-try, but meets the other criteria. It concentrates on showing shortage and being able to invite and stop in a safe suit partial. I realise that you will probably grow tired of people writing up their pet methods, but here is mine if it is of interest -

 

2♣ Stayman (Promissory assuming a 3 point range opposite, I don't feel the need to invite). Now

 

Over any response, 2♠/2N/3♣ = nat INV (2♠ shows 5+♠)

 

Over 2♦, 2♥ = both majors weak, 3♦ = 5/5 majors INV+, 3M = Smolen, 4m = Delayed Texas.

 

Over 2M, 3♦ = nat INV with 4 cards in oM, 3oM shows a 4-4 fit (you could now play 3N as a suggestion to play), 4m = splinter (9+cards in the majors).

 

2♦/2♥ xfers, could be 4M6m GF. Now 2N = 5+M4+♣, 3♣ = 5+M4+♦, 3♦ = 4M6♣, 3♥ = 4M6♦, 3♠ = single-suited

 

2♠/2N = xfers. Now 3♦ = Nat, 3M = usually 3 cards in suit bid, 0-1 in other major

 

3X = splinters. 3m = splinter in other minor, 3M = splinter in other major with precisely 4 cards in the suit bid

 

4m = natural, flat slam-try Bid suits up the line Baron-style

 

I'll try to come back to this thread to analyse your suggested method.

[awm]

An interesting side-effect of this method (and some of the methods I've been using lately in one of my partnerships) is the ability to hide invitational auctions from the opponents.

 

Compare the following two sequences:

 

(1) NT open -- ask about major -- answer -- invite -- accept

 

(2) NT open -- ask about major -- tell major and max hand -- game bid

 

In the first auction it is obvious that the game bid is on minimum values, since there was an invite and an accept. In the second auction, it's not clear whether responder has an invitational hand and bid game because opener showed a maximum, or whether responder had a game force all along and was just looking for the right strain.

 

This potentially makes it a lot harder for the opponents to make speculative doubles. I think this is sufficient compensation for opener revealing strength (max or min) on "always gamegoing" auctions.

[dake50]

I quit Stayman for all 2-level xfers.

Develop after 2C= D-xfer much like puppet Stayman.

Allow 4cM as 1st xfer when rebid is particular shape (shows short).

Auctions are well defined because often two paths eg. to 3D both show S-D.

[mikeh]

There is a lot of room for improvement in bidding over our strong notrump, and I like the ideas Frances put forward...altho I have not spent enough time to expres more than a preliminary view.

 

My own preference is for a more complex method, and I appreciate that this is not Frances' cup of tea... nor is it for most.

 

 

2♣ is stayman, not promising any real info re shape...could be very strong with a long suit, as an example.

 

Responses:

 

2♦ denies 4♥, 5♠ or a 6 card minor

2♥ shows 4+♥s, denies 4♠

2♠ 4=4 majors

2N 5♠s

3♣/♦ 6 card suits

 

Over opener's response to stayman, we break into relays or, if we cannot relay due to a lack of interest (the relay announces slam interest) we either place the contract or make invitational descriptive bids...

 

The relay is extremely powerful, allowing (usually) exact shape, number and location of Aces, Kings and Queens and, on very strong responding hands, Jacks. It is, however, memory intensive.

 

2♦ is a trnasfer, but may be either a 4 card suit with a longer minor (gf) or some 4441, always with 4♥s.

 

Opener can super-accept only with 4+♥s. Over a simple acceptance, 2♠ forces 2N, and shows a 4 card ♥ suit, and responder's next bid shows either the long minor or the singleton

 

Once responder shows a 4441, opener can ask min-max (game or slam interest) and, if the latter, then responder shows number of controls and opener, if still interested, can ask about relevant Kings and Queens

 

2♥ is a normal ♠ transfer

 

2♠ is both minors, weak or strong: if strong, unsuited to taking control vai 2♣, thus limited to about 14 hcp

 

2N is a puppet to 3♣, to play or 5-5 or better in the majors, invitational or better or a 5431 with both minors and gf or a 4=1=4=4 gf (all other 4441s go through 2♣ (huge) or 2♦.

 

3♣/♦ are natural, invitational

 

3♥ slam try in ♣s: opener bids 3N with no interest, 3♠ with doubt, and with clear interest, responds beyond 3N as if to keycard

 

3♠ is slam try in ♦s: opener has no room to express indecision: he either bids 3N, no interest, or shows keycards.

 

4♣/♦ are south african texas: transfers to the corresponding major

 

This allows 4♥/♠ to be natural, when responder anticipates an advantage from being declarer (and not simply because we each think we are the better declarer :P )

 

I recognize that this post is both incomplete in terms of detail and represents a fundamentally different approach than that posted by Frances, but I hope that some find it of interest. A simplified version of this was published in the BW, I think, by its designer, Gord McOrmond... but it was back in the 90's I think and the method was later refined (and made more complex :) ) when Gord and I formed our partnership... I take neither credit nor blame for that, other than being willing to be a guinea pig.

[Robert]

Hi everyone

 

Picture Bidding by Al Roth made quite an impression on me with many of the bidding ideas. This is kind of strange since I normally play a Big Club type system.

 

1NT-2C(but might not include a 4 card major or might include a 5+ major) ;)

 

1NT-2C-2D=no major-2OM is now a 1 round force showing 5+ major

 

1NT-2C-2H(shows 4-5 hearts, denies 4 spades)

 

1NT-2C-2S(shows 4-5 spades, denies 4 hearts)

 

1NT-2C-2NT=4-4 majors min.

 

1NT-2C-3C=4-4 majors max.

 

1NT-2R=transfer to 5+ major

 

1NT-2S=clubs(opener bids 2nt 'if' he would not accept an inv. to 3NT based on a long club suit) bidding 3C suggests a fitting club honor and quick tricks.

 

1NT-2NT-diamonds(same style as 3C bidding)

 

1NT-3C=weak minors Pass/correct

 

1NT-3D=5-5 majors. Opener bids the value of his hand in a major contract.

If he would not bid 4M, he signs off in 3M. Responder will only raise with six trumps, bidding 3NT with game values and a 5-5 hand. Opener may decide over 3NT what game to play.

 

1NT-3H=CONFIT control/fit showing bidding starts with opener shows his number of controls.

 

1NT-3S=MSS Minor suit stayman. Opener shows a 4+ card minor or bids 3NT

Follow ups describe shortness/shape.

 

1NT-3NT normal

 

1NT-4C=D transfer. Two suiters start with 1NT-2NT(D transfer) and one suiters bid 1NT-4C and show shortness(or 6322/7222) slam try

 

1NT-4R=transfer to majors

 

1NT-4S=C transfer. Two suiters start with 1NT-2S. If you are going to show shortness start with 1NT-2S and rebid at the 4 level.

 

1NT-4NT=mild club slam try with 6322 or 7222 shape, passable. Balanced slam trys start with 1NT-3H*(CONFIT)

 

1NT-5m to play

 

1NT-5M asks for trump honors by steps. Pass=zero

 

1NT-5NT and higher to play

 

If you transfer to 2H and rebid 2S*, that is a GF auction.

 

If you transfer to 2M and rebid 3m, that shows 5-5 inv.

 

If you transfer to 2S and rebid 2NT, that is a GF auction.

 

With 5M and 4m(GF) start with Stayman.

 

Regards,

Robert

[jtfanclub]

1NT - 2C -

2D = minimum no major or maximum both majors

2H = 4 spades, minimum

2S = 4 hearts, minimum

2NT = minimum both majors

3C = maximum 1 major

(deliberately I have not included any higher bids, if responder is interested in opener's minor suit distribution he can ask)

 

Just to amuse myself...

 

1NT-2C

2D= Any maximum. 2H/2S continuation denies the major in question.

2H=Minimum without 4 spades- may or may not have hearts. 2S continuation asks.

2S=Minimum with 4 spades, but not 4 hearts.

2NT= Minimum with both majors.

 

I don't see any reason for 2D to show more than 'any maximum'. You have lots and lots of space to find out more.

 

One of the things I like about 2H being a spade denial instead of 4 hearts is, it allows you to use Stayman with a weak hand with both majors, and stop on a dime with no fit (and without letting them know whether you have a big fit).

[rbforster]

1NT-2C

2D= Any maximum.  2H/2S continuation denies the major in question.

2H=Minimum without 4 spades- may or may not have hearts.  2S continuation asks.

2S=Minimum with 4 spades, but not 4 hearts.

2NT= Minimum with both majors.

 

One of the things I like about 2H being a spade denial instead of 4 hearts is, it allows you to use Stayman with a weak hand with both majors, and stop on a dime with no fit (and without letting them know whether you have a  big fit).

I can see that opposite a minimum "stayman" response of 2♥ or 2♠ your weak hand with both majors can pass safely. What if partner inconveniently bids 2♦ with a max? Can you still stop at 2M?

[jtfanclub]

I can see that opposite a minimum "stayman" response of 2♥ or 2♠ your weak hand with both majors can pass safely. What if partner inconveniently bids 2♦ with a max? Can you still stop at 2M?

As desgined after...

 

1NT-2♣-2♦-2♥-2♠, which shows 3 spades, you can pass, otherwise

1NT-2♣-2♦-2♥-any-3♥ shows weak with both majors.

 

But I'm afraid that's the best I can do.