Lesson 2(b) - What to bid as Responder when Partner Opens in Notrumps

 

Responding to notrump openings with balanced hands

A reply to partner's opening is called a response. At this stage you need only know that opener's partner, who is called the responder, must reply to an opening of one of a suit with 6+ points. Then the partnership can explore for a trump suit and decide on the final level.

This lesson concentrates on notrump bidding and responding with balanced hands.

Responding to an opening of 1NT

With an unbalanced hand responder will not only have to decide what level to reach, but also which suit, if any, should be trumps. How this is done will be covered next time. 

With a balanced hand facing opener's balanced hand, responder knows that the final strain should be notrumps.  Playing in a trump contract is best only when there are shortages so that tricks can be made from ruffing (trumping). 

Balanced hand responses to 1NT

0‑7 HCP           Pass - can't have 25 between you
8‑9 HCP           2NT invite - may have enough
10‑15 HCP        3NT enough for game, but not slam
16‑17 HCP        4NT invite slam
18‑19 HCP        6NT enough HCP for small slam only
20-21 HCP       5NT enough for small or grand slam & asks partner to choose
22+ HCP           7NT  enough HCP for grand slam

This is not an arbitrary list of figures to be memorized.  Understand the logic below and you will find it much easier to know how to respond.

As responder you know that opener holds 15‑17 HCP.   If the combined total is 16‑24, game is most likely not on.  Signal this by passing 1NT.  If the total is 25‑32 bid 3NT, game.  If the tally is 33‑36 HCP, 6NT, small slam, should be bid. And with 37 or more bid 7NT, grand slam.

As responder, because you know the combined tally, you are in charge of the bidding.  Responder is the master of the auction. Thus all bids of game or slam by responder are final decisions which opener must pass. 

Invitations by responder

Sometimes as responder, even though you know the combined tally, you cannot be sure if the values for game or slam are there.  Why?  Because you do not know if opener is bottom of her range or top.

For example, with 8‑9HCP as responder you know that the partnership may have the 25 needed for the game of 3NT. It is foolish to guess, or to optimistically bid 3NT or pessimistically pass, depending on your personality, if there is a better option. And there is!  Respond 2NT which invites opener to bid game unless minimum.

Similarly, holding 16‑17HCP as responder, when the 33 needed for small slam is possible, responder invites slam by bidding 4NT. 

With these two invitations, opener is expected to pass with 15, and go on with a good 16 or with 17.  A 'good' 16 is just about any hand that is not an aceless 4-3-3-3. A 5-card suit is especially attractive - add one length point.

With 20-21, responder bids 5NT to invite opener to choose between 6NT(min) &7NT(max).  This is a very rare bid and you have my full permission to forget it! 

Responding to a 2NT opening (which shows 20-21 HCP balanced)

 4‑11 HCP            3NT
12 HCP                4NT
13‑15 HP             6NT
16 HCP                5NT
17 + HCP             7NT

With an unbalanced hand responder will choose a trump suit - to be dealt with next time. 

With a balanced hand responder calculates the combined assets of the partnership in exactly the same way as over a 1NT opening before passing, bidding game or slam, or inviting to slam.

0 -3 HCP            Pass

Again, 4NT is an invitation to small slam and 5NT asks opener to choose between small slam and grand slam.   Immediate game and slam bids by responder are terminal bids by the master of the auction.