Strong 1NT opening
Strength: 15-17 HCP
Tips:
- 5332 with a 5-card major can be opened 1NT, but it's not obligatory, you
should do that only with a suitable hand (i.e. with few controls and a stopper in
the doubleton), otherwise you'd better open with 1M or
1♣
- 16-17 HCP with 2-2-4-5 or 2-2-5-4 shapes should be opened with 1NT, especially
if you have stoppers in the majors, thus it's more likely that
1♣-1♦-2m is a 6-carder suit
- 15 HCP with 2-4-2-5 shape should be opened with 1NT, because
you won't have a good rebid after 1♦-1♠
(because the reverse promises ♦ too)
- 2♣:
Stayman, promises a major in all cases. We bid it with the following hand types:
- has an exactly 4-cards major, GI+
- 5M, exactly GI, no good 4+ side suit (ezzel 2M)
- can pass on any response, that is, sign-off with short ♣.
(4-4-5-0, (43)-5-1 és (43)-6-0 shapes are the best, to avoid
finding a 4-2 ♦ fit)
- 2♦: transfer:
(a) 5+ ♥ (but not suitable for 4♦)
(b) 4-card ♥ in a balanced gameforcing hand
(c) CONFI: slam try with 4M4m32, 44m32, 5m422, 5m332 shapes
- 2♥:
transfer to ♠:
4+ cards suit (5+ or 4 in a balanced gameforcing hand), but cannot bid 4♥
- 2♠:
transfer to ♣:
one-suiter hand, any strength
- 2N: natural game try (Opener's 3m is weak, 5+ suit, 3M is strong, but xx in the suit)
- 3♣:
transfer to ♦: one-suiter hand, sign-off, or GF+
- 3♦: 6+ ♦, exactly game try
(tipically FFxxxx in the suit and little or nothing outside)
- 3M:
5431 convention: shortness in the bid major and 54(+) minors
(can be 5521 or 5530 too and 6430 with a weak 6-carder)
- 4♣: ace ask (4 aces, then 5♣ king ask)
- 4♦♥:
transfer to ♥ / ♠:
6+ cards suit, sign-off or only interested in the aces
- 4♠: 6-5 minors, slam try (best to have 1-1 in the majors)
- 5m: to be passed
Overview of the approach with different hand types
- with balanced gameforcing hands
- with a slam try 2♦ then 2♠
(CONFI)
- with both 4-card majors 2♣
- with one 4-card major transfer, then 3N; this way we give away information
about dummy, not declarer's hand
- with 5M-332l (and 5M-4m-22) transzer, then 3M, this shows GF and opener will choose game
- with 5M and game try
- with 5M-332 2♣, then raise or 2M
- with 5M-5m (and good 5-4s): transfer, then transfer to the minor suit
- with 5M-332 and bad 5-4s: 2♣ then 2M
- 5♥-4m can choose to transfer to hearts and then for the minor
(risking to play a 7-card fit on level 3), or can bid Staymant, risking
that you can bid only 2N on 2♠ not showing your 5th heart
- a passed hand can bid transfer with any 5♥-332
and 5♥-4m because there is no CONFI from a passed hand, thus
1N-2♦-2♥-2♠
can be "transfer to 2NT", that is game try with 5-card ♥, without
an 5-card side suit (if you prefer you can bid 5♥-4m
this way, then the second transfer for a minor is surely 5-5
- with 5-5 majors
- if you cannot afford the 3 level, start with 2♣, then
2♥ (puppet) if partner bids 2♦
- if you can afford the 3 level in order to find the better fit: 2♥,
then 3♦
- with game try: 2♣, then 2♠ (can be passed),
then 3 or 4♥ if partner does not pass or raise
- with GF+ hands: 2♥ then 3♦, then bid on
- 5-4 majors should bid Staymant (if invit+), 5-5s should always bid transfer
- All 4441s and 5440s are started with Stayman. If a fit is found then bid SPL,
otherwise 2♥ or 3N (see later).
- 3m: 5+ suit, GF (has 4-card major), see details and continuation!
- 2N: invit (with a 4-card major)
- 5m: slam try (7-4, or similar wild shape)
1N |
- |
2♣ |
|
responder has a 4+ major |
2♦ |
- |
? |
|
opener has no 4-card major |
- 2♥: puppet to 2♠,
multiple hand types, opener must bid 2♠, then responder:
- pass: weak hand with 5-card ♠ and 4-5 ♥
- 2N: 5-card ♥, game try, can be passed
- 3m: GF+, 4+ m, short in the other minor. S1 asks lenth (4, 5, 6)
- 3M: GF+, 3-suiter hand, this one is 4-carder, short in the othe major (4441 or 5m-440)
- 2♠: game try with 5-card ♠.
May have 5-card ♥, but no 5-card minor.
- 3m: NAT GF, 5+ suit, short in a major. S1 asks the rest, 3N shows good stoppers in both majors.
On 3♣-3♦ Responder
bids her 4-card major, promising shortness in the other major:
- 3♥: 4-card ♥ (short ♠).
Now 3♠ asks length of ♣ (5, 6)
- 3♠: 4-card ♠ (short ♥),
5-card ♣
- 3N: 4-card ♠ (short ♥),
6+ ♣, can be passed
- 4♣: 4-card ♠
(short ♥), 6+ ♣, strong slam try
on 3♦-3♥:
- 3♠: 4-card ♠
- 3N: 4-card ♥, can be passed
- 4♣: 4-card ♥, strong slam try
- 3M: Smolen: this major is 4-cards, the other one is 5+ (if 6-4, then exactly slam try).
On 3♠ or 3N bids her shortness with slam try hand.
- 3N: 4-4 majors are very probable, otherwise could have bid a transfer
- 4♣: ace ask
- 4♦: transfer (!) to 4♥:
6♥-4♠ and game strength
(or will ask for aces)
- 4♥: the same, but with
6♠-4♥
- 4♠: 6♠-4♥ too,
but forgot the transfer (or wants to declare)
1N |
- |
2♣ |
|
|
2♥ |
- |
? |
|
4+ ♥ (may have 4-card ♠) |
- 2♠: game try with 5-card ♠
- 3m: NAT GF, 5+ suit (and of course has a 4-card major).
- 3♠:
♥ slam try with good 5+ ♠ or
singleton ♠ (on S1:
4m = good ♠ + shortness,
4♥ = short ♠)
- 3N: 4-card ♠, short ♥
(mix in some balanced hands if you think it would be more useful for the opponents than for us)
- 4♣♦:
SPL: slam try with ♥ fit
- 4♠: RKC♥
- 4N: slam try with 4-1-4-4 shape (would have bid CONFI with a balanced hand
1N |
- |
2♣ |
|
|
2♠ |
- |
? |
|
4+ ♠ (no 4-card ♥) |
- 2N: 4+ ♥ (may have 5), invit. Opener may bid her
3-card ♥, if accepts and prefers playing them in 5-3
- 3m: NAT GF, 5+ suit (and of course has a 4-card major).
- 3♥:
♠ slam try with good ♥ side suit
(on S1: 3N = a void, 4m = singleton, 4♥ = 4-5-2-2,
4♠ = 5-4-2-2)
- 3N: 4-card ♥, short ♠
(mix in some balanced hands if you think it would be more useful for the opponents than for us)
- 4♣♦♥:
SPL: slam try with ♠ fit
- 4N: slam try with 1-4-4-4 shape (would have bid CONFI with a balanced hand
1N |
- |
2♣ |
|
|
2M |
- |
3m |
|
Responder: 5+ m, has a 4-card major, GF+ |
? |
| |
|
|
|
|
Responder's possible hand types in this 3m bid:
- (a) 4 in the other major, shortness in the other minor, GF+ (may be looking for the best game only)
- (b) 4 in the other major, shortness in opener's major, slam try
(it's not worth bidding this without a slam try, because it's unlikely that they
lead opener's known major if you don't tell them your shortness)
- (c) 4-card fit in opener's major, good minor side-suit (HHxxx or better), slam try.
Might be 5422 too, which was not a slam try originall, only after finding the 4-4 fit)
Opener's bids:
- S1: interested in reponder's hand. Responder:
- 3x: shortness in the other major, GF+. When we have more options then
3M shows 3-card fit, the other one shows 6-carder minor
- 3N: short in opener's major, slam try
- 4x: 4-card fit in opener's major, good (FFxxx+) minor, slam try
(bidding ths sortness when has one, 4m: 6-carder suit)
- 3♥ (on 3♣):
5-card ♥
- 3♠ (after 2♥ response): 4-4 majors.
Now responder bids 3N or 4♥ with ♥,
the rest show ♠ fit:
- 3N: ♥ fit, good minor, has a shortness, slam try. S1 asks the shortness
- 4m: ♠ fit, short ♥, slam try
- 4om: ♠ fit, short in this one, slam try
- 4♥: ♥ fit, good minor, no shortness, slam try
- 4♠: to play (4-card ♠, short om, not a slam try)
- 4N: RKC ♠
- 3♠ (after 2♠ response):
5-card ♠
- 3N: not interested in other contracts (a lot of secondary honours in the other two suits)
Further bidding after major transfers
Opener normally bids the responder's suit, all other bids show 4-card support
(on 2♦ at most 2♠ can
be bid because of the CONFI), on 2♥ a doubleton
, 2N, or 3♠ (minimal hand) can be bid.
After Opener completed the transfer, responder's second bids are also transfers,
her jump shifts are splinters with 6-card trumps and slam try.
3N shows exactly 4-carder suit, while 3M (raise) shows 5M-332 or similar GF hand offering
a choice between 3N and 4M.
The second transfer is at least game try and 5-4 or better shape, (5-5 with both majors.
Raising your own suit to 4 shows mild slam try with 6+ cards without a shortness,
because if you had intended to play your suit on a game level then you had transferred
it on on level 4 immediately.
Responder second bids are:
1N |
- |
2M-1 |
|
(a) 5+ major, (b) 4-card major in a balanced gameforcing hand
(c) in 2♦: CONFI (balanced slam try) |
2M |
- |
? |
|
|
- pass: looks a better spot than 1NT
- 2♠:
CONFI, that is balanced slam try: Opener shows her controls,
(1/5, 2/6 stb.), then a minimal NT is sign-off (3 controls missing), other bids
are Baron style suit-seeking, 4-card (Hxxx or better) suits are bid up the line.
5-card suits can be repeated. Raise: Hxxx.
- 2N: 4+ ♣: GF+ or inviting 5-5 (or concentrated 5-4)
- 3♣:
4+ ♦: GF+ or inviting 5-5 (or concentrated 5-4)
- 3♦: (M = ♠):
5+ ♥ suit, weak hand,
which wants to play int the better fitting suit (and afford the 3 level), or GF+.
Opener selects a major, but can bid game only with special fitting
hands (e.g. KDJ, KDJx, xxx, Ax). Responder then passes with
sign-off, bids game, or bids his shortness having a slam try hand.
- 3M-1: 6+ M, game try (6-7), or GF+ without shortness and bad suit
(bids 3N with this one)
- 3M: 5-card suit, gameforcing, no shortness
- 3N: the major is only 4-carder
- 3♠,4♣♦♥:
singleton (or void), slam try with 6+ major (12-13)
- 4M: slam try with good 6+ suit, without shortness (11-12)
- 4N: slam try with 5M-332 and 15-16 HCP, can be passed (but CONFI)
is probably better). If opener accepts then bids her keycards.
Responder should bid 6M when we have enough aces in order to offer playing it.
Opener will corrent to 6N without support, knowing that responder's suit is exactly 5-carder.
You may notice that with a 5-card major and game try you won't have a good bid without
a second suit, thus you should not transfer with these hands at all.
(beware, this may be missed when bidding the first transfer - playing
second transfers you should think a bid ahead, and bid Stayman with those hands (and your major later).
Opener's reaction to second transfers: suppose, that responder has a game try 5-5:
- 3m: weak hand, doubleton in the major, better fit in the minor (with weak hand and 2-2, rather 3M)
- 3M: weak hand, 3-cards support (or HH, and only 3-card fit in the minor). Responder's new suit: shortness, slam try
- 3 new suit: 4+ support in the minorb (bud denies 3 in the major) and good hand
(place of strength when there are more choices)
- 3N: accepts game try, but no fit
- 4m: super hand, double fit (4+ in the minor, 3+ in the major)
- 4 new: super hand, support in the major
- 4M: fit, accepts game try, but not a top hand (with 4-cards fit worth bidding with minimal hands too)
After minor-suit transfers:
Responder's second bids:
- with sign-off: pass / 3m
- new suit on leve 3: one-suiter GF, shortness (0-1 cards) in the suit
- 3N in case of long ♦: one-suiter GF with
short ♣, can be passed
(with a stronger hand 4♣ must be bid instead)
- 3N with ♣, when Opener accepted the game try: originally had a game try
- 3N with ♠, when Opener have not accepted:
mild slam try without a shortness (6m322, 5m332)
- 4m: ORKC, no shortness (6322, 7222)
- jump to 4: exclusion RKC
- 4N, when Opener accepted or with long ♦:
slam try 5m-332 (but with 5332 CONFI is a possibility too)
5431 convention
1N-3M shows 2-suiter (54+) with both minors and shortness in the bid suit. May
have 5521 or 5530 too. (if you don't have a separate bid for 55 minors, we don't)
Opener' bids:
- 3N: good stopper in responder's shortness, would like to play it
- 4m: 4-card fit, good hand (now S1: RKC)
- oM: natural: 5-card or good 4-card suit, an offer to play
- "raise": both minors are 4+, very good hand without lost values
- 4N: 4N: asks for the longer minor, weaker than raising the shortness
On intervention
- On level 2 natural overcalls we play Rubensohl
- Opener mostly passes on 1N-(2♦♥♠)-P-(P),
but he may bid with his 5-cards suit or can promise 4 in the other major amd
doubleton in the opponent's suit by doubling, which is takeout.
- On 3rd level overcalls we play negative double, immediate bids are gameforcing.
- We play 4-level transfers up to a 3♦ overcall.
If our 1N is doubled:
DONT style escape as after mini NT
On doubles that does not promise strength (e.g. DONT): system on, RDBL is
at least gam try, seeks a penalty and forcing to 2♠
(takeout doubles over 2♠)
When our Stayman is doubled:
1N |
(p) |
2♣ |
(X) |
|
|
? |
| |
|
|
|
(Opener passes with srength or length, trsnfers to the usual reponse without that) |
- P: willing to play it or has a stopper (asks for a redouble)
Responder usually redoubles, all other bid shows shortness in ♣.
On the redouble Opener passes with length, bids the usual Stayman-response with stopper
- XX: no 4-card major, no ♣ stopper (no Smolen later!)
- 2♦: 4-card ♥, no ♣
stopper (thus we can right-side the ♥ contract)
- 2♥: 4-card ♠, no ♣
stopper (thus we can right-side the ♠ contract)