Opinions on 11-13 1NT in precision

[benlessard]

IMO direct runout are WAY better than forcing pass/delayed methods. For me pass show desire to play 1NtX (3334) or pts. Opener will XX anytime hes got a 5 card suit. As for the rest i prefer a direct bid to show 5 and XX to show at least 4/4.

 

Transfers and gadget are ways to help the opponents show strenght on both side of the table wich lead them to double you more often.

[zhams]

I use 12-14 1nt.

[Vampyr]

Half the time we get to play 1NT XX, and the other half we double them in some part score. Either way we're usually scoring a top as they go for 200-500 against air quite frequently.

 

 

I don't think that your experience is typical. Unless your opponents tend to double weak NT with "top of their range".

 

- 1NTx-1 is cheaper than 1NTxx-1. Also, when we're NV, 1NTx-1 is better than their 2M= or 2m+1. So 1NTx shouldn't always make to get a good score. 1NTxx is top (make) or bottom (down).

- If you manage to make your contract, you'll have a top anyway. 180 is more than enough, no partscore will beat this.

- If you really want to RDbl your opps for penalties, don't give them 20 chances to find a decent spot to run to. 1NT-Dbl-p-p(1);RDbl-p(2)-p-...(3);p/Dbl-...(4). Better in this case is to RDbl immediately for penalties, and use pass to scramble to a decent spot (2X = 5+X to play). Now opener can RDbl without a 5 card suit, or bid his 5 card suit immediately.

 

I've played the forcing pass in the past and I seldom played 1NTxx. Moreover, my opps usually got to a decent spot and we got more problems than before.

Now I play a style where Pass shows willingness to play 1NTx. With borderline hands where we don't know if 1NT will make, we can just pass and see where it gets us. Contract if fine, one down is fine to if we're NV. With your method you need to decide if you're going to gamble 1NTxx or run away to a spot which may be even worse.

 

For these reasons and others mentioned above, it is better to have no way to play 1NTXX than to have no way to play 1NTX. I can play both, but only redouble if game is likely to be cold, so that we don't end up defending some 2-level contract (and remember that a double is sometimes based on a long suit) that is maybe down one.

[wclass___]

Having played really ''mini'' NT and frequently changing run-out methods to what i found are better i can say that playing Pass to be NF is just not serious.

[Cyberyeti]

One thing you should consider if you're going to play a weak no trump is the arrangement that 1N-2♣-2♦-2♥ is always pulled to 2♠ if 3-2 in the majors, this allows you to do it when 4-4 (particularly useful on 4441s where 1N may not be great) and the 4-3 fit often plays at least as well as 1N if you don't find partner at home with a 4 card major.

 

We actually played a wide range no trump in precision which works particularly well in that your 1♦ opener is now essentially natural.

[dcohio]

One thing you should consider if you're going to play a weak no trump is the arrangement that 1N-2♣-2♦-2♥ is always pulled to 2♠ if 3-2 in the majors.

 

We do have that agreement. It is quite useful.