Chapter 10

After a 1NT Opening

1NT Sequences

Open	Rspnd	Open Rebid	Rspnd Rebid	Comment
1NT				12-15 HCP.  4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2 with five clubs.
1NT	2			Scrambling Stayman.  Hearts first.  With 4-4 in majors, 2 is automatic.  I use 2 whenever I have a singleton.  John Strauch uses 2 when 4-3 in the majors, except 4-3-3-3.  Rebids:  2NT and 3NT guarantee a four-card major.  Raise invites.  Any other non-game bid is scrambling.
		2	2	Pass with three.  Bid 2 with two.
			2	Pass with three.  Bid 2NT with 2=3=4=4.  Bid 3 with 2=3=3=5.
			3	Pass.
			3	Invitational.
		2	2	Pass with three, else bid 2NT.
			3	Pass.
			3	Pass.
			3	Invitational.
		2	3	Pass.
			3	Pass.
		2	2NT	Bid 3 or 4 with four spades
		2	3NT	Bid 4 with four spades
1NT	2 2			Jacoby.  Jumps allowed on maximums.
	2	2	2	4-5 in majors, invitational or better.  All other Jacoby suit continuations force game.
	2			Asks for strength of 1NT.  May be any strength transfer to clubs.
		2NT		Shows minimum notrump opening.
			3 3	To play
			3 3	Clubs and suit.  Slammish.
		3		Shows maximum notrump opening
			3 3 3	Natural and slammish
1NT	2NT			Transfer to diamonds Asks for minor length.  With only two diamonds bid 3 .
		3 3	3 3 3NT	Diamonds and suit.  Slammish.
1NT	3 3 3 3			Bid four-card suits up-the-line.  Slammish.

We want to minimize the chance that we have a five-card suit when we open 1NT.  If you open 1NT with five cards in any suit, the Scrambling Stayman may not work.

Once upon a time we played that a vulnerable 1NT required 13-15 points in first to third seat.  The extra point when vulnerable was a matter of safety.  Defensive styles vary from "eager to double" to "reluctant to double."  The extra point vulnerable assumed that there are some eager to double opponents, and that the escape mechanism would not work.  We seem to escape when they do, so all 12-15 point hands that fit the distributional requirements are opened 1NT.  If the eager to double are reborn, and the escape mechanism fails, then we may revert.

Another variation that we no longer use is limiting the 1NT opening with 5-3-3-2 to specifically five clubs, three spades, three hearts, and two diamonds.  The other 5-3-3-2 patterns with five clubs were then opened 1 .

2NT over 1NT shows at least five diamonds and asks for three or more diamonds (responder may be 5-5 in the minors).  With only two diamonds, opener bids 3 .  Suit continuations other than 3 are natural and forcing.  With Scrambling Stayman, this is the only way with a long minor, a four-card major and a slammish hand.

1NT - 3-of-a-suit starts four-card suits up-the-line.  It is the bid that must be used with slammish 4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2, 4-4-4-1, 5-4-4-0 patterns, and any hand with a long minor and a four-card major.

Over 2 :

• Assume that partner can handle all 2-level responses, and that 2 was not panic.
• Bid a four-card major at the two-level.
• If the opponent bids the major you would have bid, first choice is to double.  With lack of tricks in the major, pass or show four spades over 2 .
• Without a four-card major, you may double 2 or redouble 2 .
• If the overcall is 2 or higher, the choices are double and pass, i.e. you pass.
• Minimum continuations by the 2 bidder are competitive. 

Over Jacoby: 
All non-competitive new suit auctions may be the start of a slam force or a slam invite. 

• In a competitive auction a new suit is descriptive and nonforcing.
• If the transfer bid is doubled, pass indicates no advantage to the 1NT hand being concealed.  Psychology is that pass increases chance that the transfer contract will be doubled.  Accepting the transfer does not show or deny length in the transfer suit and does not show any number of points.  I always accept the transfer but my partner's do not. 

Over 2 : 
2 is the response on the following hands: 

• to invite 3NT without a four-card major (you can stop at 2NT, 3 and 3 ),
• To show clubs with any strength. 

We worried about a double of 2 .  It never seems to happen.

With a spade stopper, opener makes his system bid.  If opener passes then responder, with a spade stopper, redoubles.  Without a stopper, responder makes his planned bid.

Using more words:

• 2NT, 3 = min, max with spade stopper.
• Pass denies spade stopper.  Then:
  • Redouble repeats the ask, and gets the auction back on track.  The redoubler has spades under control.
  • 2NT = scramble (with an invite hand).  Responder does not have a spade stopper.
  • 3 = to play.  Less than an invite, or you no longer want to invite.
  • 3 = invitational.  Obviously no spade stopper.
  • Higher bids were responder's plan over a 2NT or 3 rebid.
  • Redouble = "I got 4 good spades.  What is this guy doing?" 

A x x		K Q x x
x x		K Q x x
x x x x		x x x
A K J x		x x
1NT		2
2		2
2		Pass

East has a notrump count of 10, the maximum for a Scrambling Stayman auction.  Add a jack and I would bid:

1NT		2
2		2NT
?

Responder shows four hearts or four spades when he rebids 2NT.

1NT		2
2		2NT
?

Opener's options are pass, 3NT, 3 or 4 .

		K J x x
		x x x
		x
		K Q x x x
1NT	Pass	?

Bid 2 .  Then:  Bid 2 over 2 .  Pass or bid 2 over 2 .  Raise 2 to 3 .  If partner has only two spades, he corrects to either 2NT or 3 .  (3 shows longer clubs.)  You would bid the same way with a yarborough.  With one more point, the rebid over 2 or 2 is 2NT.

		A x x
		x x
		x x
		K J x x x x
1NT	Pass	?

Choices are: 

• Pass 1NT. 
• 2 over 1NT.  If partner bids 2 , pass.  Otherwise bid 3 . 
• 2 over 1NT to transfer to clubs.  I transfer to clubs. 

		x x x
		x
		Q J x x x
		A x x x
1NT		?

I suggest 2 , intending to pass 2 and 2 and to bid 3 over 2 .  With less than an invite I escape from 1NT with a singleton if I can.  The only time you cannot escape 1NT is with a singleton spade and four in each of the other suits.

		x
		K Q x x x
		x x x
		K Q x x
1NT		2
2		?

The book bid is 2NT.  However, with a reasonable heart suit and a singleton, I would continue with 3 .  A 3 bid is wrong as that creates a game force.  Should an opponent bid 2 over 2 or over 2 , then 3 is allowed and is nonforcing.

		Q 10 x x
		x
		A J x x
		Q x x x
1NT	Pass	?

Bid 2 , then 2 over 2 , or bid 3 over 2 .  Finally if the auction goes

1NT		2
2		2
2NT		?

Bid 3 , because with 2=4=3=4 distribution, partner should bid 3 over 2 .

		Q x x x x
		K x x x
		x
		x x x
1NT	Pass	?

Choices: 

• 2 which may miss a 4-4 heart fit. 
• 2 and then 2 over 2 (best) which may play a 4-3 heart fit rather than a 5-3 spade fit. 
• 2 and then 2 over 2 .  I don't like this as it forces you to the three-level when partner has two spades. 

		K x x x
		Q x x x x
		x
		x x x
1NT	Pass	?

2 always finds one the best fits.

		A K x x
		K x
		Q x x x
		J x x
1NT		2
2		3NT

This guarantees a four-card major and partner corrects to 4 with 4-4 in the majors.

		x
		A x
		K 10 x x x x
		K x x x
1NT	Pass	?

Bid 2 to invite game.  You can pass 2NT or bid 3 to play.  Bid 3NT over 3 .

		K Q x x
		K Q x x x
		x x
		x x
1NT		2
2		2
?

Partner clarifies his count and distribution by bidding 2NT, 3NT, 3 , 4 , 3 , or 4 .  Reverse the majors and the best strain or right level may not be found.

In the ideal world, if the double of 1NT was artificial (for example, it showed a one-suited hand and doubler's partner is expected to bid), we would play system on.  In the real world, sometimes one partner hears the alert, and the other does not; or the explanation of the alert is unclear and the partners interpret the explanation differently.  For these reasons, double initiates an escape system PERIOD. 

The escape system is:  Brozel versus double.  Pass forces redouble. 

• Redouble shows a one-suited hand and forces 2 .  A five-card major with a four-card minor is a one-suited hand.
• 2 shows clubs and hearts.  (Four or more clubs and exactly four hearts.) 
• 2 shows diamonds and hearts.  (Four or more diamonds and exactly four hearts.) 
• 2 shows hearts and spades.
• 2 shows four spades, a longer minor, and some values.  2NT asks for the minor.
• 2NT shows the minors and some values, or a game-forcing hand.
• Pass forces redouble, then: 
  • Pass shows a willingness to play 1NT redoubled. 
  • 2 shows clubs and diamonds, or clubs and spades. 
  • 2 shows diamonds and spades. 
  • 2 , 2 , and 2NT are two-suiters as above. 
• The awkward hand is the worthless 4-3-3-3.  Choices include:
  • Sit for 1NT redoubled and go for a cup of coffee. 
  • Treat as a one-suited hand. 
  • Treat as a two-suited hand. 

If 1NT is doubled in the pass-out seat

1NT	Pass	Pass	Dbl
Pass	Pass	?

A redouble shows a one-suited hand (clubs or diamonds) and forces 2 .  A suit bid show two-suited hands — the bid suit and an unspecified higher ranking suit.

K 10 x
A J 10 x
K Q x
J x x
1NT	Dbl	Pass*

Any call, including pass, is an alert.  The announcement is "If you pass, I am expected to redouble." 

1NT	Dbl	Rdbl*	Pass
2

"Partner has a one-suited hand.  If you pass, I am expected to bid 2 ."  I also alert the 2 response.

I said "I am expected" rather than, "I must," and this implies uncertainty about what I will do.  Every so often, one should deviate from the expected.

K 10 x
A J 10 x
K Q x
J x x
1NT	Dbl	Pass*	Pass
?

Redouble is the expected bid.  Conditions suitable for passing are: 

• You have hearts.  Partner's delayed run-out will show two suits, neither of which is hearts. 
• A nervous RHO. 
• A double by a passed hand. 

A x x
x x x
K x
K Q x x x
1NT	Dbl	Pass*	Pass
?

Bid 2 instead of redoubling.  My partner's never have the hand to punish the doubler.

	Pass	Pass	Pass
1NT	Dbl	Call

Even though the double is by a passed hand, the escape system is on.

The double can be made in the pass-out seat.

1NT	Pass	Pass	Dbl
Pass	Pass	?

• Redouble is a one-suiter in clubs or diamonds.
• Two-of-a-suit is the bid suit plus a higher ranking suit. 

A K x
K x x
x x
Q T x x x
1NT	Pass	Pass	Dbl
?

I erred.  Bidding 2 should be automatic.

The argument for negative doubles rather than business doubles is presented at the end of Chapter 6.

Over an overcall both real and artificial:  Negative doubles and system on over 2 .  You can call the double of 2 either a negative double or Scrambling Stayman.  Over bids other than 2 suit bids are natural and nonforcing.  It does not matter that their artificial bid claimed ownership of the bid suit or the transfer suit.  The meaning of 2NT depends on their bid:

• Over 2 , 2NT is transfer to diamonds.
• Over 2 , it is probably natural.
• Over a major, it is do the right thing.  Opener is invited to pick a minor, but he may pass.

Over an overcall either real or artificial cue-bids and jump shifts are game forces.  The cue-bid is, in effect, Forcing Stayman, and the jump shift uncovers 5-3 major fits.

		K 10 x x
		x x
		A x x x
		x x x
1NT	2 , 2 , 2	?

This is a negative double of 2 , 2 , and 2 .  You must pass 2 .

		x x x
		x x
		A x x
		A J x x x

Bid 3 over an overcall.  It is system on over an artificial 2 — to play clubs you bid 2 and then 3 over a minimum 2NT response.

		x x x
		x x
		A J x x x
		A x x
1NT	2	?

Using system on you have to bid 2NT to transfer to diamonds.  The pluses are:

• Protecting the opening bidder.
• Responder can use two bids to describe his hand. 

• The distributional hand is exposed. 
• You are forced an extra level to play diamonds. 

		Q x x
		A x
		K x x x
		J x x x
1NT	2 , 2	?

I bid 2NT over 2 and 2 .  Partner should expect 4-4 or better in the minors, as you would negative double with four cards in the unbid major.

Let us think about opener's problems over a negative double of 2 .

K Q x x
A x x x
A x x
x x
1NT	2	Dbl	Pass
?

How about:

• Cue shows both majors,
• Else bid hearts with 4-4 if you don't want to cue,
• Else bid the 4-card major,
• Else with three hearts bid hearts,
• Else with two hearts and three spades bid spades. 

After a negative double of 2 :

Q J x
x x
Q J T x
A Q x x
1NT	2	Dbl	Pass
?

In Bridge World "Challenge the Champs" this hand bid 2 .  I think the doubler has to be aware of the possibility of a three-card suit.  With 4-4 in the minors I vote for 2NT.

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