Responding to 11-14 1NT

[gnasher]

1N-2♣-[2♥]- ?    (When) Is opener allowed to bid something?

I used to play 1NT-2♣ as various invitational+ hands or a signoff in diamonds, but we stopped playing the signoff part, because of the difficulty of dealing with competition. Even worse than a 2♥ overcall is a 3♣ overcall - if opener can't go past 3♦ even with a maximum, you just cant exchange all the information you need to about shape and strength.

[ONEferBRID]

Some views on 1NT openers by Jeff Meckstroth ( from the Q & A on July 9, 2010 at the Bethesda Regional) .

Notes from Elliot Itkin ( PriorKnowledge online ):

 

"1N is his favorite bid. He opens it whenever he can. He opens 1N with a weak doubleton. He opens 1N with a 5-card major. He opens 1N with a 5-4-2-2, but not if the 5-card suit is a major. He will open 1N with a 6-card minor. He will even open 1N with a singleton king. He is not a fan of Puppet Stayman. He thinks it is more important to describe your strong NT hand and miss a 5-3 major fit. Sometimes in a competitive auction, opener gets a chance to show their 5-card major."

 

 

"Jeff’s favorite 1N range is 14-16. He has tried weak no trump openers, but his preference is to have a minimum of at least 14 points. The reason he dislikes weak no trump openers is that it makes it more difficult to find suit fits at lower levels. He noted that weak no trump openers do have a preemptive value, but in balance he felt the price you pay is not worth it. "

 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

" For those who may not know, Jeff is considered the best bridge player in the world. He has won over 50 National Championships and 8 World Championships. He has been playing since he was 14, 40 years ago. Every time I hear him speak, I learn something. " -- Elliot.

[dougbennion]

The reason he dislikes weak no trump openers is that it makes it more difficult to find suit fits at lower levels.

 

That's totally true, and especially for your opps. I think it was Kokish who said approximately "weak notrumps create problems for the other three players, thankfully two of which are your opponents".

 

And it's not like strong notrumpers don't miss some (albeit different) lower-level suit fits as well.

[wodahs]

Here is a slight improvement, to better hide opener's hand. After 1N 2♣, then 2♦ is 11-12 no 5M, 2♥/♠ is 11-12 with 5M. If responder wants to sign off, they have room to find 4=4 M fit at 2M, or 2NT. If responder wants to GF over 2♦, he asks again with 3♣ Puppet.

 

With any 13-14 maximum, opener rebids 2NT over 2♣. Responder can then ask again for shape with 3♣.

 

Using this method, opener usually doesn't have to reveal his shape unless asked.

[Zelandakh]

In the interview I saw M-R gave up the mini-NT because while it gave them positive imps the swings were more randomised than usual and it compared unfavourably with their normal imp score. Most of us do not expect a positive average against world class opponents so the comparison between them and others is not necessarily relevant. Of course when you are the best card player in your club then you want as many 'normal' contracts as possible. When you are a weak card player but a strong bidder then you want as many difficult auction situations as possible to create unusual contracts. Design our system around your strengths, not around someone else's strengths.