{"id":237,"date":"2014-12-02T15:07:00","date_gmt":"2014-12-02T20:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/?page_id=237"},"modified":"2014-12-02T15:07:00","modified_gmt":"2014-12-02T20:07:00","slug":"2nt-the-utility-infielder-of-bidding","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/?page_id=237","title":{"rendered":"2NT:  The Utility Infielder of Bidding"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>2NT is one of the most varied bids in terms of how it is used. \u00a0One reason for this is because it is rarely desirable to be in 2NT as a final contract. \u00a0For safety, you want to have about 23+ HCP to be there. \u00a0If 9 tricks are there, you&#8217;ve missed a game. \u00a0If only 7 tricks are there you&#8217;re a level too high and are probably getting a bad board. \u00a0Because of this, 2NT is often used as a convenient artificial bid. \u00a0In this lesson we&#8217;ll look at the varying meanings of 2NT, both in uncontested auctions and in competitive auctions.<\/p>\n<h1>I. \u00a0Uncontested Auctions<\/h1>\n<h2>A. Opening Bid of 2NT<\/h2>\n<p>As an opening bid, 2NT shows a range of _______ to __________ HCP and a _____________ hand.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Responses include ______________ and ________________ .<\/li>\n<li>With a 5 card major and an otherwise balanced hand, usually open _________ . \u00a0 For this reason, many pairs play Puppet Stayman over 2NT openers, checking to see if opener has a 5 card major.<\/li>\n<li>Is it forcing? \u00a0____________ .<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>B. 2NT Response to Opening Bid<\/h2>\n<h3>1. \u00a0After\u00a0Minor Suit Opener (1C, 1D)<\/h3>\n<p>2NT response to 1C or 1D:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>______ \u00a0to ___________ HCP (i.e. invitational to _________ )<\/li>\n<li>Denies a _________ ____________ ______________ .<\/li>\n<li>Is it forcing? \u00a0___________<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>2. \u00a0After Major Suit Opener (1H, 1S)<\/h3>\n<p>2NT response to 1H or 1S is _________________, commonly referred to as _____________ _______.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>___________ or more trumps.<\/li>\n<li>_____________ ________ strength.<\/li>\n<li>Is it forcing? _________ . To what level? \u00a0____________.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>3. \u00a0After 1NT Opener<\/h3>\n<p>Standard meaning is _______ to __________ HCP, usually without a ______ ______ _______.<\/p>\n<p>If you play 4 Suit Transfers (if you don&#8217;t, I&#8217;ll teach them another time), then 2NT is a transfer to _________.<\/p>\n<h3>4. \u00a0After 2C Opener<\/h3>\n<p>Caveat: \u00a0You should <em>really<\/em> <strong><em>really<\/em><\/strong> try to avoid responding 2NT to your partner&#8217;s 2C opener.<\/p>\n<p>Standard meaning, if you do it, is ______ + HCP and a ___________ __________ .<\/p>\n<h3>5. \u00a0After Weak 2D\/2H\/2S Opener<\/h3>\n<p>2NT is ____________, asking opener to show a _____________. \u00a0(A ___________ is a side ______ or a _______. \u00a0It&#8217;s not a singleton. \u00a0It&#8217;s not a side 4 card suit. \u00a0It&#8217;s not a Queen.)<\/p>\n<h2>C. Opener&#8217;s 2NT Rebid<\/h2>\n<h3>1. After Opening 1 of a Suit<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>A jump rebid of 2NT shows _________ to ___________ HCP. \u00a0 If partner&#8217;s response is 1 of a major then 2NT denies ____________ card support for the major.<\/li>\n<li>Raising a 1NT response to 2NT shows _______ to ___________ HCP if balanced. \u00a0If unbalanced could be a bit wider in range.\n<ul>\n<li>Example: \u00a0Holding Kxx AQxx AKxxx x you can try 2NT over partner&#8217;s 1NT response to your 1D opener. \u00a0Partner almost always has something in Clubs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>A non-jump rebid of 2NT has different meanings depending on whether you&#8217;re playing 2\/1 or not.\n<ul>\n<li>If you <em>aren&#8217;t<\/em> playing 2\/1 then whether opener&#8217;s rebid of 2NT\u00a0is forcing or not depends on what your default rebid is with a balanced minimum.\n<ul>\n<li>Example: \u00a0You hold Kxx Axxxx QJx Kx. \u00a0You open 1H and partner responds 2C. \u00a0What do you rebid with this hand?<\/li>\n<li>If you can rebid 2NT with a balanced minimum then it shows _______ to _________ and is _____ &#8211; ___________.<\/li>\n<li>If 2NT promises extras then it should be ______ + HCP. \u00a0In this case rebidding opener&#8217;s suit may be the default rebid with a balanced minimum.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>If you <em>are<\/em> playing 2\/1 then a 2NT rebid has a dual range of 12-14 or 18-19.\n<ul>\n<li>With 12-14, if your partner raises you to 3NT you __________ .<\/li>\n<li>With 18-19, if your partner raises you to 3NT you bid _________ (______________).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>2. After Opening Strong 2C<\/h3>\n<p>Assume you open 2C and your partner responds 2D or 2H. \u00a0Your 2NT rebid shows _______ to a &#8220;bad&#8221; _______ HCP. \u00a0Is it forcing? ___________<\/p>\n<h2>D. \u00a0Responder&#8217;s 2NT Rebid<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>At this stage of the auction responder&#8217;s 2NT is ________\u00a0and ___________, promising a stopper in the unbid suit(s).<\/li>\n<li>Example: Kxxx Axx Qxxx Qx. \u00a0Your partner opens 1C, you respond 1S, and partner rebids 2C. \u00a0You give value to your fitting honor in partner&#8217;s likely 6 card suit, so you invite a game.<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Don&#8217;t bid 2NT with a bad hand just because you don&#8217;t like your partner&#8217;s rebid\u00a0suit!<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1>II. Competitive Auctions<\/h1>\n<p>In a competitive auction it is often the case that the points are fairly evenly split, somewhere in the range of 18-22 for each side. \u00a0It is rare that you would want to play 2NT in this situation.<\/p>\n<h2>A. If They Open The Bidding<\/h2>\n<h3>1. 2NT Jump Overcall<\/h3>\n<p>This is the ____________ 2NT.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If they open 1 of a minor you show ______________ and _______ ___________ _____________.<\/li>\n<li>If they open 1 of a major you show _________ _______________.<\/li>\n<li>The point range depends on vulnerability and suit texture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>2. 2NT Overcall of their Weak 2 Opener<\/h3>\n<p>This is <em>not<\/em> an unusual NT! \u00a0It shows the shape and strength of a __________ opener, perhaps a bit stronger.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you have a weak hand with both minors _________.<\/li>\n<li>If you have a strong hand with both minors, overcall in ________ and hope to get ______ into the auction later.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>3. 2NT Advance of\u00a0Partner&#8217;s Non-jump Overcall<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>If your partner overcalls at the 1 level then your 2NT shows about ______ to ________ HCP along with a ___________ in the enemy suit.\n<ul>\n<li>Is it forcing? _____________<\/li>\n<li>Is it invitational? __________<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>If your partner overcalls at the 2 level then your 2NT shows _______ + HCP. \u00a0It implies a ______ for the overcaller&#8217;s suit.\n<ul>\n<li>Is it forcing? ___________<\/li>\n<li>Is it invitational? __________<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Don&#8217;t bid 2NT with a bad hand just because you don&#8217;t like your partner&#8217;s overcall suit!<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>4. 2NT Balancing Bid<\/h3>\n<p>When the opponents open and raise a major (1H-2H, 1S-2S) then an overcall of 2NT is ___________ for the __________ .<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In the direct seat (1H) &#8211; P &#8211; (2H) &#8211; 2NT should be shapely.<\/li>\n<li>In the balancing seat (1H) &#8211; P &#8211; (2H) &#8211; P &#8211; (P) &#8211; 2NT can be based on _____ &#8211; _______ distribution.\n<ul>\n<li>Example: Kx xxx A10xx QJxx.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>B. If We Open The Bidding<\/h2>\n<h3>1. \u00a0If They Overcall<\/h3>\n<p>Examples: 1D &#8211; (1S). \u00a01D &#8211; (2H).<\/p>\n<p>In general, bids of 2NT in this situation show __________ values and a ___________ in the enemy suit.<\/p>\n<h3>2. \u00a0If They Double<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>If they double our minor suit opening then 2NT is natural, implying stoppers in the majors. \u00a0A lot of times with this type of hand you&#8217;ll _________________ instead.<\/li>\n<li>If they double our major suit opening then a better use for 2NT is a conventional raise of the major suit.\n<ul>\n<li>You could choose to play it as Jacoby 2NT after an X, that&#8217;s easy to remember.<\/li>\n<li>A better but more advanced use of 2NT is known as Jordan 2NT or Truscott 2NT. \u00a0It shows a limit raise or better in opener&#8217;s major.\n<ul>\n<li>If you play this, then a redouble really implies _____ __________ .<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2NT is one of the most varied bids in terms of how it is used. \u00a0One reason for this is because it is rarely desirable to be in 2NT as a final contract. \u00a0For safety, you want to have about&#8230;<br \/><a class=\"read-more-button\" href=\"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/?page_id=237\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":20,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/237"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=237"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/237\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":240,"href":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/237\/revisions\/240"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}