1NT - Other Sequences

 

Here we cover some of the more obscure 1NT sequences.


6th September, 2006         Board 32      Dealer West       E-W Vul

 

 

Playing normal methods (whatever that means!), South would no doubt bid 3NT … she has the values for game and will be praying that the Heart suit does not prove to be fatal.  If yours is a partnership where the auctions 1NT 3♥ and 1NT 3♠ come up infrequently, then perhaps you would like to consider this alternative treatment:

            1NT 3♥ and 1NT 3♠ show game-going values, shortness in the bid major, 3 cards in the other major

            and 5-4 in the minors.

 

The objectives of the convention are:

-         warn Partner of the potential danger in the short major;

-         suggest a (potential) 4-3 fit in the other major (with ruffs in the danger suit coming in the short hand!);

-         suggest a minor suit game if No Trump and the other major prove untenable.

 

We love this treatment, it copes well with hands which have no good treatment otherwise.  So, as South, with the featured hand, we bid our favorite convention if it’s available, otherwise we grit our teeth and bid 3NT.

 

 

14th March, 2007             Board 2      Dealer East       N-S Vul

 

 

Here’s an awkward hand-type opposite a 1NT opening bid.  We probably want to be in game, but which one?  The possibilities are:

-         3NT, but obviously we have concerns about the Spade suit.

-         If Partner does not have a suitable Spade holding, then perhaps 5 of a minor is the best contract

-         If Partner has a 4-card Heart suit, there’s a good chance that the 4-3 Heart fit is the place to be, after all, the ruffs in the Spades will be coming in the short suit, which will make it easier to retain trump control.

 

There’s a gadget that some players use to handle this specific hand-type, whereby 3♠ here shows precisely:

-         3 Hearts

-         1 Spade

-         4-5 in the minors (either way around)

-         Game-going values

And, of course, 3♥ would show the same hand-type with the majors reversed.

 

Our actual hand fits the description quite well, though we are certainly minimum, and we wish that our Hearts were a tad better than Jxx.  Anyway, there we have it, a useful new gadget when we are 3-1 or 1-3 in the majors opposite a 1NT opening.

 

 

13th June, 2007                Board 21      Dealer North       N-S Vul

 

 

Partner has overcalled 1NT, showing 15-17 or 15-18, take your pick.  We have 8 HCP’s and we are generally led to believe that a decent 8 up to a decent 9 is invitational strength.  So, is this 8-count an invitational hand?  No, of course not, this 8-count is good enough to go to game directly.  Let’s look at the plusses of this scrumptious 8-count:

-         We have two Aces (and we all know that Aces are undervalued in the 4-3-2-1 scheme of things).

-         We have three Tens, no less, which add up to zero HCP’s for a whole bunch of playing strength.  In fact, on the actual layout, all three of those Tens contribute to the play of the hand and yet they are not even a blip on the HCP radar.

-         We have a 6-card suit!

 

Some 8-counts are not worthy of even an invitation, but this one is worthy of a direct jump to game.

 

 

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