BRIDGE IMPROVERS Lesson 1 Review of NT Bidding

IMPROVERS COURSE Lots of Reviewing of Bidding Lots of Reviewing of Bidding New Bidding Conventions New Bidding Conventions More on Declarer Play More on Declarer Play More on Defence More on Defence 1 Hour Lesson 1 Hour Lesson Then hands to bid, play & review Then hands to bid, play & review

What do you need to open 1NT? HCP HCP No 5 card major No 5 card major Only 1 doubleton Only 1 doubleton No singleton/void No singleton/void 4333 or 4432 or 5332 are balanced 4333 or 4432 or 5332 are balanced And Partner MUST announce And Partner MUST announce in 4 th seat in 4 th seat

1NT Opener – example 1 AA QQ 22 K J T 5 TT 55 44 QQ 33 22 12 HCP No 5 card major No doubleton No Singleton/void Very balanced 4333 shape

1NT Opener – example 2 12 HCP 12 HCP No 5 card major No 5 card major One doubleton One doubleton No Singleton/void No Singleton/void 5332 shape 5332 shape QQ 22 J T 5 TT 55 44 QQ 33 22 AA KK

What do you open? 2NT 2NT HCP HCP No 5 card major No 5 card major No singleton or void No singleton or void Only 1 doubleton Only 1 doubleton KK JJ 55 A Q 4 QQ JJ 99 66 AA KK JJ

What do you open? 2NT 2NT HCP HCP No 5 card major No 5 card major No singleton or void No singleton or void 2 doubletons but good cards 2 doubletons but good cards KK JJ 55 A Q QQ JJ 99 66 AA KK 33 44

Responses to 1NT opening Using transfers Using transfers We will go through various hands We will go through various hands You tell me the response! You tell me the response! It’s a review of bidding!! It’s a review of bidding!!

What is your response to 1NT Very balanced Very balanced <11 HCP (8) <11 HCP (8) 1NT is the best chance 1NT is the best chance So PASS So PASS QQ JJ 33 Q T 4 QQ 66 55 JJ TT 88 77

What is your response to 1NT Very balanced Very balanced <11 HCP (4) <11 HCP (4) 1NT is the only chance 1NT is the only chance So PASS So PASS Any suit re-bid may be worse Any suit re-bid may be worse JJ 33 T 4 QQ 66 55 JJ TT 88 77 66 5

Weak hand (4 HCP) Weak hand (4 HCP) 5 card suit 5 card suit The suit must be the better contract The suit must be the better contract So BID So BID 2 ( transfer) 1NT looks a disaster 1NT looks a disaster JJ 33 T 4 QQ 66 55 JJ TT 66 5 What is your response to 1NT 55 44

Transfer Must have at least 5 cards in the suit Must have at least 5 cards in the suit Must be < 10 HCP Must be < 10 HCP The weaker the hand is the more important is the take out The weaker the hand is the more important is the take out With 0 HCP 1NT has no chance but 2 of a suit may be a couple of tricks better With 0 HCP 1NT has no chance but 2 of a suit may be a couple of tricks better

9 HCP 9 HCP 5 card suit 5 card suit Game is unlikely Game is unlikely or PASS for 1NT? 2 or PASS for 1NT? Transfer will probably give you the best result but passing is not wrong Transfer will probably give you the best result but passing is not wrong JJ 33 T 4 QQ 66 55 JJ TT 66 5 What is your response to 1NT KK QQ

88 22 AA K 8 2 JJ 77 44 33 KK 55 22 Balanced hand 11 – 12 HCP (11) No 4+ card major Respond 2NT or  - (2  - I will explain this alternative bid)

What is your response to 1NT 88 22 AA K 8 2 JJ 77 44 KK 55 22 Balanced hand 11 – 12 HCP (11) 4 card major Respond 2  Partner MUST announce “Stayman” Partner will bid a 4 card major Or negative of 2  77

What is your response to 1NT 88 AA 8 2 JJ 77 44 KK 55 22 11 HCP (11) No 4 card major Bad suit  Respond 2  77 KK 33

What is your response to 1NT 88 AA 8 2 JJ 77 44 KK 55 22 13+ HCP (14) No 4 card major Enough for game Respond 3 NT 77 KK K

What is your response to 1NT 88 AA 8 2 JJ 77 KK 55 2 HCP (11) 5 card major Bid 2  Partner MUST announce Stayman If partner bids 2  Bid 2 showing 5. Partner can Pass with 12 HCP or bid on to game with 14. 77 K 9 7

What is your response to 1NT >12 HCP (15) >12 HCP (15) Bid 3  Bid 3  Forces partner to bid game in NT or 4  Forces partner to bid game in NT or 4  AA QQ TT 66 22 K 5 JJ TT 88 KK QQ 44

What is your response to 1NT 12 HCP 12 HCP Bid 4  Bid 4  The singleton and 6 card suit make it a strong hand The singleton and 6 card suit make it a strong hand AA QQ TT 66 22 5 JJ TT 88 KK QQ 44 77

What is your response to 1NT HCP (19) HCP (19) Balanced Balanced Your side has Your side has Slam may be on Slam may be on Bid 4NT Bid 4NT Opener uses Blackwood responses Opener uses Blackwood responses AA QQ TT 22 5 JJ TT 88 KK QQ 44 A K

What is your response to 1NT HCP (21) HCP (21) Balanced Balanced Your side has Your side has Slam is on Slam is on Bid 6NT Bid 6NT AA QQ TT 22 5 JJ TT KK QQ 44 A K QQ

What is your response to 1NT 23+ HCP (23) 23+ HCP (23) Balanced Balanced Your side has Your side has Grand Slam may be on Grand Slam may be on Bid 4NT Bid 4NT Opener bids Blackwood responses Opener bids Blackwood responses AA QQ TT 22 JJ TT KK QQ 44 A K Q QQ

What is your response to 1NT 25+ HCP (25) 25+ HCP (25) Balanced Balanced Your side has 37-39! Your side has 37-39! Grand Slam is on Grand Slam is on Bid 7NT Bid 7NT AA QQ TT 22 TT KK QQ 44 A K QQ Q KK

Responses to 2NT opening Basically as 1NT but 8 HCP fewer needed Basically as 1NT but 8 HCP fewer needed With >3 HCP you must always bid! With >3 HCP you must always bid!

What is your response to 2NT 0-3 HCP (2) 0-3 HCP (2) Negative response Negative response PASS PASS But with 3 HCP and a 5 card minor with good intermediates (9’s and T’s) treat as next hand But with 3 HCP and a 5 card minor with good intermediates (9’s and T’s) treat as next hand JJ 99 88 J 8 3 66 44 33 88 77 66 22

What is your response to 2NT 4+ HCP (5) 4+ HCP (5) Must bid Must bid Bid 3NT Bid 3NT JJ 99 J 8 3 66 44 33 88 77 66 22 KK

What is your response to 2NT 4+ HCP (4) 4+ HCP (4) Must bid Must bid You have a 4 card major You have a 4 card major Bid 3  (Stayman) Bid 3  (Stayman) Announced Announced JJ 99 8 3 66 44 33 88 77 66 22 KK 88

What is your response to 2NT 4+ HCP (4) 4+ HCP (4) Must bid Must bid You have a 5 card major You have a 5 card major Bid 3 Bid 3 Opener selects game Opener selects game JJ 99 8 3 66 44 88 77 66 22 KK 88 55

What is your response to 2NT 4+ HCP (4) 4+ HCP (4) Must bid Must bid You have a 6 card major You have a 6 card major Bid 4  Bid 4  JJ 99 8 3 66 88 77 66 22 KK 88 55 44

What is your response to 2NT HCP (12) HCP (12) Your side has Your side has Slam may be on Slam may be on Bid 4NT Blackwood Bid 4NT Blackwood Opener uses Blackwood responses Opener uses Blackwood responses JJ 99 8 3 66 88 66 22 KK AA JJ 22 KK

Responses to 2NT opening Try to respond unless very weak Try to respond unless very weak Transfers are not game forcing Transfers are not game forcing PASS is the negative bid PASS is the negative bid Any other bid is forcing to game Any other bid is forcing to game Remaining slam bids as for 1NT but less 8 HCP – See if you can work some out Remaining slam bids as for 1NT but less 8 HCP – See if you can work some out Stayman works over 2NT just as over 1NT Stayman works over 2NT just as over 1NT Announcements used over 2NT Announcements used over 2NT

Subsequent re-bids A re-bid of a new suit at the 3 level is forcing for 1 round A re-bid of a new suit at the 3 level is forcing for 1 round Any re-bid of a major after Stayman guarantees 5 cards Any re-bid of a major after Stayman guarantees 5 cards

General NT bidding is very logical NT bidding is very logical Get to know the HCP counts – they are crucial to successful NT bidding Get to know the HCP counts – they are crucial to successful NT bidding The notes summarise this lesson The notes summarise this lesson Homework to do! Homework to do! Next time Declarer play in NT contracts Next time Declarer play in NT contracts