Chapter 21

2 Notrump = Do Something Right

When either of us makes a minimum bid in notrump (any number of notrump) in a competitive auction, it may be artificial and therefore an alert.  The explanation is "I am expected to look at my hand, think about the auction, and do the right thing."  The right thing tends to be to bid a minor.  The fact that partner could have made a responsive double does not mean that notrump is natural.  I mess up and your partner messes up.  We can make arguments to justify making the wrong bid.  Think about the 2NT bid and do the right thing.

If you look at our convention card under "Vs Opp's Preempts" you find:

2 , 2 — X - P - 2NT — > longer minor

and, if there had been enough space I would have written:

2 , 2 — (Pass — Pass) - X - P - 2NT — > longer minor

Both mean the doubler should choose between clubs and diamonds, and with equal length should bid clubs.

2 , 2	Dbl	Pass	2NT
Pass	Choose between 3 , 3
2 , 2	Pass	Pass	Dbl
Pass	2NT	Pass	Choose between 3 , 3

We use these ideas over 1 and 1 .  Also at the bottom of the front of the card you find:

Major - (Pass — Pass) - Dbl — Pass - 1NT — > longer minor

meaning

1 , 1	Dbl	Pass	1NT
Pass	Bid 2 , 2

and

1 , 1	Pass	Pass	Dbl
Pass	1NT	Pass	Bid 2 , 2

More often than not, responder will block 1NT by bidding over the double.  Usually the only time advancer is able to bid 1NT over one-of-a-major is when either the doubler or the opener has extras.

These treatments derive from lebensohl.  Where the lebensohl 2NT bid forces clubs, we ask for a choice between the minors.  If advancer wants to play clubs, he bids the minimum number of clubs, and the strength of 2 or 3 is quite broad.  I examined a large number of deals and convinced myself that this is an improvement.

Everything else works like lebensohl, and I suggest reading Section 22.3 of Steve Robinson's Washington Standard.

Advancer's notrump bid is the bid chosen to find doubler's best minor, or stop at diamonds or hearts with a weak hand.  Doubler bids his longest minor, and with equal length bids clubs.  Continuations by advancer below the doubled major are weak.  If opener interferes (other than with a double), the doubler rebids at his discretion.

Advancer's notrump bid is treated as a non-bid, i.e. consider the notrump bid to be a pass in determining the meaning of later doubles or notrump bids.  Double for takeout and notrump for minors apply until we name a suit.  Perhaps "below game" might be added to the previous sentence, except I can think of cases where we want to bid 3NT or 4NT to find the best minor.

Advancer's notrump also asks for the longest minor when responder (third seat) bids spades over a heart opening, and again notrump is a non-bid.  Thus, in the auction:

2

Dbl

2

?

Double (or 3 or 4 ) shows spades, as responder might be psyching.  Therefore, 2NT is needed to find the best minor.  (When advancer bids 2NT over 2 , he does not care if responder psyched.) 

If responder bids notrump over the double, then advancer's double is responsive.

1

Dbl

1NT

Dbl

2

Dbl

2NT

Dbl

Double asks partner to bid his longer minor, and in case of tie to bid clubs.

More important than the convention is the corollary that advancer's 2 or 2 are constructive and show 7-10 points.  Advancer's 2 , still has the wide range of 0-10 points, just like before this treatment.  The difference is that now 2 bid states a definite preference for clubs.  Similarly advancer's 3 and 3 over a weak-two double are constructive (8-12 points), and 2NT is the bid chosen with less.

In formulating these ideas over a one-level bid it was assumed that opponents were playing five-card majors, and therefore we are willing to give up the ability to play 1NT.  If they are playing four-card majors a re-analysis is appropriate.  Currently we use the convention over both four- and five-card majors.

To play notrump, advancer must jump to 2NT or 3NT.  Advancer can also play 2NT (or 3NT) after 1NT if overcaller gets to bid.

What do 3NT and 4NT mean in the following?

1	Dbl	3	3NT
1	Dbl	4	4NT

3NT and 4NT certainly mean "Think about it and do something right."  I think they ask for the doubler's best minor.

Advantages:

• 1

  Dbl

  Pass

  2 , 2

  Advancer has 7-10 points.  These are the auctions that we will get right.  Doubler can continue with 16 points.

• 1

  Dbl

  Pass

  2

  Advancer has a clear preference for clubs.

• 1

  Dbl

  Pass

  1NT

  Advancer has about the same number of diamonds and clubs, and now can choose the right minor in a competitive auction.

Disadvantages:

• You cannot play 1NT.  Given that a one-major opening shows a five-card suit, the parley that:
  • advancer wants to play 1NT,
  • To play 1NT is right, and
  • Overcaller and the opponent's will let you play 1NT,
  is rare.

• Suggests a double of our contract after the 1NT scramble. 

Home

Contents

Chapter 20

Chapter 22

BACK