- 1 -

 

INTERMEDIATE-2 BRIDGE

LESSON 1

NO TRUMP BIDDING

 

General Considerations:

 

a.      Strength ‑ High cards points only (never distribution) are counted. The presence of a

                        5­-card suit is worth one point, and the presence of tens can also be taken into

                        account.   The system is based upon 26 HCP's = Game, 34 HCP's =  Small

                        Slam, and 37 HCP's = Grand Slam.

     b.   Distribution ‑ Only balanced hands; i.e., no voids, no singletons, and not more than one

                                doubleton, qualify. (Examples: 4‑3‑3‑3, 4‑4‑3‑2, 5‑3‑3‑2)

                 (1) The 5‑card suit is rarely a Major suit.

(2)   Distributional exception: (5‑4‑2‑2) Where the two doubletons are Major suits   

      headed by an Ace or a King (Example: KX  AX  KJXX  AQXXX).

c.      Location Of Strength ‑ The concentration of honors, presence of any tenaces (AQ, KJ, etc.),     

                                          or the holding of a worthless doubleton are rarely considered.

 

OPENING NO TRUMP BIDS

 

a.   0‑12 HCP’s  ‑    Pass

b. 13‑14 HCP's   ‑   Bid one of a preferred Minor and rebid 1NT

c. 15‑17 HCP’s  ‑    Bid 1NT

d. 18‑20 HCP’s  ‑   Open one of a Minor and jump to 2NT with 18 or 19 HCP’s & 3NT with 20 HCP’s

e. 21‑22 HCP's  ‑    Open 2NT

f. 23‑24 HCP’s  ‑    Open “2C”(Strong, Artificial, and Forcing) and rebid 2NT

q. 25‑27 HCP's  ‑    Open "2C" (Strong, Artificial, and Forcing) and jump to 3NT

h. Gambling "3NT" ‑ Holding a 7‑Card self‑sufficient Minor suit (Example: AKQXXXX )

                                        If partner has stoppers in both Majors and two (2) quick tricks or better, 

                                        he/she passes.   Alternatively, he/she) bids "4C" (The pre‑arranged

                                        escape) and opener either passes or bids "4D" to escape the doomed

                                        3NT gamble.

 

 

RESPONSES TO OPENING 1 NT WITH DESIRE TO REMAIN IN NO TRUMP

 

a    0‑8  HCP's ‑   Pass

b.  9‑10 HCP's ‑   Bid 2NT ‑ Invites Partner to Pass with a minimum (15 HCP's) or to bid

                            3NT with a maximum (16 or 17 HCP's)

c. 11‑15 HCP's ‑   Bid 3NT

d. 16‑17 HCP's ‑   Bid "4NT" (Quantitative) Invites partner to Pass with a minimum (15

                             HCP's), or to bid 6NT with a maximum (16‑17 HCP's)   Note: "4NT" is not 

                             Blackwood in this sequence.   Must use Gerber ("4C") to ask for Aces.

e. 18‑19 HCP's  ‑  Bid 6NT

f.  20‑21 HCP’s ‑  Bid "5NT" (Quantitative) Requesting partner to bid 6NT with a minimum

 of (15 HCP's) and to bid 7NT with a maximum of (16‑17 HCP's)

g.      22‑23 HCP's ‑  Bid 7NT 

- 2 -

 

RESPONSES TO OPENING 1 NT WITH DESIRE TO DEVIATE FROM NO TRUMP

 

a. “2C”  ‑  Stayman Convention asking for a 4‑Card Major. (“3C”over a 2NT opening)

b. “2D”, “2H”, “2S”, or “3C” ‑ Jacoby Transfer (Alertable) bids.(“3D”, etc. over a 2NT opening)

c. “3D”  -  An invitational bid (Seeking 3NT) with a 6‑Card Minor suit headed by two of the 

                   top three honors and fewer points than would normally elicit game.

d. 3H or 3S ‑ A game force bid holding a 5‑Card Heart or Spade suit, respectively.

e. “4C”  ‑  The Gerber Convention, an artificial system,  asking for Aces.

f. 4H or 4S ‑ A close‑out bid with a 6‑Card suit. (Opener can have no fewer than two)

g. 5C or 5D ‑ A close‑out bid with a freak hand holding a long broken Minor suit, probably

                    seven or eight cards in length, with little additional outside honor strength.

 

A ONE NO TRUMP OVERCALL

 

(1)   In the direct position. (2nd position relative to the opponent's opening bid of one of a suit) ‑  

      Shows an equivalent hand to a 1NT opening bid with the added feature of at least one, and

      preferably two, stoppers in the opponent's opening previously bid suit.

(2)  In the balancing position (4th position relative to opponent's opening bid of one of a suit) -Shows about 10‑13 HCP's  with at least one stopper in the opponent's opening suit.

 

A TWO NO TRUMP OVERCALL

 

(1)   Over a 1H, 1S, or 1NT opening bid ‑ Shows a Minor two‑suited hand with at least a 5‑5      

      distribution ("UNUSUAL NT").   The minimum strength may vary according to

      the vulnerability.   At favorable vulnerability, a 7‑8 HCP hand would be considered adequate.

      At unfavorable vulnerability, both the hand and the suits should be distinctly stronger.

(2)  Over a pre‑emptive opening 2‑Bid ‑ Shows an opening 1NT (15‑17 HCP) hand with at least one, and preferably two, stoppers in opener's pre‑emptive bid suit.

 

A ONE NO TRUMP RESPONSE TO AN OPENING OF ONE OF A  SUIT

 

6‑10 HCP's ‑  No support for partner's suit and no 4‑Card Major suit having been by‑passed.  This bid is of great pre‑emptive value by prohibiting the fourth player from bidding at the one‑level.

 

A TWO NO TRUMP RESPONSE TO AN OPENING BID OF ONE OF A SUIT

 

(1)   Over a Minor suit opening bid ‑ Shows 11‑12 HCP's ‑ An invitational bid which can be passed.    It denies holding a 4‑card or better suit in either Major.

(2)  Over a Major suit opening bid ‑ Shows 13‑15 HCP's ‑ Denies support for partner's suit.

 

A THREE NO TRUMP RESPONSE TO AN OPENING BID OF ONE OF A SUIT

 

(1)  Over a Minor suit opening bid ‑ Shows 13 ‑15 HCP’s  which denies a 4‑Card or better suit in either Major.

(2)   Over a Major suit opening hid ‑ Shows 16‑18 HCP's and denies support for partner's suit.