Standard American Lesson 5
Opening 1NT
♥ 1NT…the bid with a difference!
This is a very special opening bid for 2 reasons:
1. Your hand is limited to a maximum of 17 instead of 21.
2. Your hand must be balanced.
A balanced hand contains
- No 5-card major
- Not more than one doubleton
- No singleton or void
A balanced hand may contain a 5-card minor but, if it does, it will have no other 4-card suit. Since the opening bid of 1NT is so specific, both in point count and shape, the opener rarely bids again. The responder is expected to take charge and choose the best contract.
Open 1NT with all of these hands
| ♠ K763 |
♠ 87 |
♠ KQ6 |
| ♥ A1087 |
♥ KQ5 |
♥ Q87 |
| ♦ KQ7 |
♦ KQ98 |
♦ A8654 |
| ♣ A7 |
♣ AK84 |
♣ A8 |
Don’t open 1NT with any of these hands because…
| ♠ K763 |
♠ 6 |
♠ KQ6 |
| ♥ QJ87 |
♥ KQ54 |
♥ QJ732 |
| ♦ K87 |
♦ A98 |
♦ A86 |
| ♣ A7 |
♣ AQ843 |
♣ K8 |
Too weak Singleton 5-card major
♣ Responding to 1NT
There are two types of hands; balanced or unbalanced.
| 1. Pass with fewer than 8 HCP |
| 2. Invite to game with 8-9 HCP |
| 3. Bid 3NT with 10 HCP |
| ♠ 986 |
♠ 87 |
♠ 1093 |
| ♥ 1087 |
♥ Q65 |
♥ AQ10 |
| ♦ AQ732 |
♦ Q983 |
♦ 98654 |
| ♣ A7 |
♣ A984 |
♣ 64 |
- Responses to 1NT with unbalanced hands.
- Bid at the 2-level with not enough for game.
- Jump to the 3-level with a 5-card major.
This is forcing to game. Partner chooses the better game – either 3NT or 4♥/ 4♠
- Bid 4♥/ 4♠ with a 6-card major and enough for game.
| ♠ Q7 |
♠ A76 |
♠ 93 |
♠ K5 |
| ♥ J108754 |
♥ J108754 |
♥ 102 |
♥ KJ1082 |
| ♦ 872 |
♦ 109 |
♦ J76543 |
♦ A65 |
| ♣ A7 |
♣ AQ |
♣ 1092 |
♣ 1092 |
2♥ 4♥ 2♦ 3♥
Remember that the choice of the best contract lies with the responder. Bidding a suit at the 2-level after partner opens 1NT, is called a “weakness takeout”.
The opener must pass any bid at the 2 level.
4♥ is the right game in the second example as you have at least 8 hearts between you (partner must have 2 at least) and enough high card points for game.
In the last example you show 5 hearts and game values. This bid is forcing. Partner will bid 3NT or 4♥, depending on the number of hearts in the hand.
Responding to 1NT
- Balanced Hands
Less than game --- pass
Possibly game --- 2NT
Enough for game --- 3NT
- Unbalanced hands
Less than game --- bid 2 of longest suit
Game & 5-card major --- jump to 3♥ or 3♠
Game & 6-card major --- bid 4♥ or 4♠
BL5 © House of Cards 2008: info@bridgedoctor.com
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