Playing the weak NT

[Hanoi5]

I suppose that if you're playing the weak NT you can keep your checkback structure, whether it'd be normal checkback (2♣), New Minor Forcing or two-way checkback, right?

 

Or is there some standard in those situations?

[awm]

There are some regional differences but I don't see a strong reason you should use a different checkback structure depending on notrump range.

 

One observation though is that there's a style where you bypass spades after 1m-1♥ in order to rebid 1NT on balanced hands. This style has its strengths and weaknesses overall, but it's much more effective when the 1NT rebid would be strong, because right-siding becomes more important, because you are less likely to miss a spade fit (partner more frequently has the cards to bid over the 1NT), and because you will have fewer problem auctions later (i.e. whether to try for game after 1m-1♥-1♠-1NT when you have a balanced 16-17).

[mikestar13]

There are some regional differences but I don't see a strong reason you should use a different checkback structure depending on notrump range.

 

One observation though is that there's a style where you bypass spades after 1m-1♥ in order to rebid 1NT on balanced hands. This style has its strengths and weaknesses overall, but it's much more effective when the 1NT rebid would be strong, because right-siding becomes more important, because you are less likely to miss a spade fit (partner more frequently has the cards to bid over the 1NT), and because you will have fewer problem auctions later (i.e. whether to try for game after 1m-1♥-1♠-1NT when you have a balanced 16-17).

 

Agree 100%--a fine analysis.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

You can play your old checkback structure, but a checkback structure designed for

a weak NT rebid will loose some of its efficency, if one uses it after a strong NT

rebid.

After a weak NT rebid the share of responding hands, that want to play in a suit

on the 2 level is greater, than the of responding hands after a strong NT rebid. (*)

 

If the loss is significant for you, is up to you.

 

We have been playing the weak NT now for more than a year, and fairly fast we

modified openers rebids, in fact we agreed to replace an old meaning yesterday.

 

Playing the weak NT allowes you free up certain sequences, e.g. the 2NT rebid can now

be used to handle the "Bridge World Dead Hand" by making the NT rebid more wideranging.

Due to (*) you have more room to handle the add. complexity of a more wide ranging NT

rebid, putting by passed majors in the NT rebid (as described by awn) is a similar

approach, this speeds up openers hand description process.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[gordontd]

There's less point to two-way Checkback if you don't bypass diamonds to bid a major, and if you agree only to bypass on hands too weak to make a move over a 1NT rebid (which is a reasonable thing to do) then you will have far fewer of those hands when your 1NT rebid is strong.