Lesson 4(c) - Responding to NT opening bids

 

Suit responses to a 1NT opening (15-17)

With an unbalanced hand, responder may elect to play in a suit instead of notrumps. Whenever responder has a 6 card or longer suit there must be a suit fit because opener's hand is balanced and must contain at least a doubleton in any suit.

• Responding to 1NT with a 6-card major Responder should always elect to play with the long major as trumps by bidding:

0‑9 TP         2 of the Major (also with 5 cards)
10‑15 TP     4 M
16‑21 TP     6 M*    {or 3M followed by
22+ TP        7 M*     4NT Blackwood }

Opener must pass whenever responder, who is master of the auction, chooses one of these terminal bids.

• Responding with a 6-card minor

When the partnership has the 25-32 HCP needed to make game, the nine-trick 3NT game is usually easier to make than eleven in five of a minor even though responder's is not balanced.

Responder bids:
0‑7 TP            2 of the minor
8‑9 TP            2NT
10‑15 TP        3NT
16‑21 TP        6m*    {or 3m followed by
21+ TP           7m*     4NT Blackwood }

*Making slam (or grand slam) requires not only 12 (or 13) tricks - you would also like to know beforehand that the opponents cannot defeat you immediately by cashing two aces (or one against a grand slam).

There is a useful convention called Simple Blackwood designed to prevent this catastrophe.  A sudden leap to 4NT (except immediately after an opening bid in notrumps) asks partner how many aces she holds.

The coded replies to 4NT Blackwood are:
5♣ = 0 or 4,      5♦ = 1,      5♥= 2,      5♠ = 3.

The asker can then decide whether it is sensible to bid on to slam or else bail out in five of the trump suit if two aces are missing.

Suit responses to a 2NT opening(20-21)

As opener is now stronger, responder needs fewer points to be able to bid on to game, small slam or grand slam.  You can easily work out the numbers required for yourself!