{"id":286,"date":"2015-09-02T00:43:27","date_gmt":"2015-09-02T04:43:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/?page_id=286"},"modified":"2015-09-02T00:43:27","modified_gmt":"2015-09-02T04:43:27","slug":"responding-to-1nt","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/?page_id=286","title":{"rendered":"Responding to 1NT"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A 1NT opening is a wonderful thing. \u00a0Right away we know that the opener has a good hand but we also know that it&#8217;s balanced and that it&#8217;s in the narrow 15-17 HCP range. \u00a0As the responder you can already judge possible contract strains and level. \u00a0You become the captain of the auction!<\/p>\n<p>In this lesson series we are going to go through the NT response system. \u00a0At the end you&#8217;ll be able to have a constructive auction to the appropriate level.<\/p>\n<h2>Responding Hand Categories<\/h2>\n<p>The NT response structure is based on the strength of your hand and the nature of its distribution more strictly than suit auctions.<\/p>\n<h3>Strength Ranges<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Weak: _______ to ___________ HCP<\/li>\n<li>Invitational: _________ to ________ HCP<\/li>\n<li>Game Going: ________ to _________ HCP<\/li>\n<li>Slam Interest: _______ to ________ HCP<\/li>\n<li>Slam Going: \u00a0_______ + HCP<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Hand Shapes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Flat without a 4 card major.<\/li>\n<li>Flattish with a 4 card major<\/li>\n<li>5 card major\n<ul>\n<li>5-3-3-2<\/li>\n<li>With a second 4 card major<\/li>\n<li>5-5 in the majors<\/li>\n<li>With a second 4+ card minor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>6+ Major<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>6+ Minor<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>5-5 in the minors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Imagine Candidate Contracts<\/h2>\n<p>For each of the hands below list the possible contracts. \u00a0We will discuss how to bid them later.<\/p>\n<h3>Flat, No 4 Card Major<\/h3>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0f Kxx \u2764\ufe0fQxx \u2666\ufe0fxxx \u2663\ufe0fJxxx \u00a0 __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAxx \u2666\ufe0fxxx \u2663\ufe0fQxxx __________ or ______________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0f Kxx \u2764\ufe0fAQx \u2666\ufe0fxxx \u2663\ufe0fQxxx __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0f KJx \u2764\ufe0fAJ9 \u2666\ufe0fQ10xx \u2663\ufe0fKxx _________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0f AJx \u2764\ufe0fAJ9 \u2666\ufe0fKTxx \u2663\ufe0fKxx __________ or ____________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fAJx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAK9 \u2666\ufe0fKJxx \u2663\ufe0f Kxx __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fAKQ \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAK9 \u2666\ufe0fKJxx \u2663\ufe0fKxx __________<\/p>\n<h2>Flattish with a 4 Card Major<\/h2>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKTxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAxxx \u2666\ufe0fxx \u2663\ufe0fxxx __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKT9x \u2764\ufe0fAQx \u2666\ufe0fxxx \u2663\ufe0fxx __________, __________, ____________, or ______________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKT9x \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQx \u2666\ufe0fQJx \u2663\ufe0fxxx _________ or ___________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKT9x \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQx \u2666\ufe0fQJx \u2663\ufe0fAxx _________, ____________, _______________, or __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKQ9x \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQx \u2666\ufe0fQJxx \u2663\ufe0fAx _________ or ___________<\/p>\n<h3>Weak, Short in Clubs<\/h3>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKTxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAxxx \u2666\ufe0fxxxx \u2663\ufe0fx __________, ___________, or __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKTx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAxxx \u2666\ufe0fxxxxx \u2663\ufe0fx __________, ___________, or ___________<\/p>\n<h3>5-3-3-2 (5 Card Major)<\/h3>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fxx \u2764\ufe0fKJxxx \u2666\ufe0fxxx \u2663\ufe0fxxx ________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQxxx \u2666\ufe0fQxx \u2663\ufe0fxxx ________, _____________, ______________, or _________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQxxx \u2666\ufe0fJxx \u2663\ufe0fxxx _________ or ___________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQxxx \u2666\ufe0fJxx \u2663\ufe0fAxx __________, ____________, or ______________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQxxx \u2666\ufe0fKxx \u2663\ufe0fAxx _________ or ____________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fAKx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQxxx \u2666\ufe0fKx \u2663\ufe0fAxx _________, _________, or __________<\/p>\n<h3>6+ Card Major<\/h3>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fxx \u2764\ufe0fKJxxxx \u2666\ufe0fxxx \u2663\ufe0fxx _________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQJxxx \u2666\ufe0fxxx \u2663\ufe0fxx _________ or _________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQJxxx \u2666\ufe0fQxx \u2663\ufe0fxx _________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fAJx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQxxxx \u2666\ufe0fKxx \u2663\ufe0fx _________ or ___________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fAJx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQxxxx \u2666\ufe0fKQx \u2663\ufe0fx ___________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fAKx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQJxxx \u2666\ufe0fKQx \u2663\ufe0fx __________ or ____________<\/p>\n<h3>5-4 Majors<\/h3>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fQxxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fKxxxx \u2666\ufe0fxx \u2663\ufe0fxx __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fQxxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQxxx \u2666\ufe0fxx \u2663\ufe0fxx _________, _________, __________, __________, _________, or _______<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fQxxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAxxxx \u2666\ufe0fAx \u2663\ufe0fxx _________, _________, or _________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKQxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQxxx \u2666\ufe0fAx \u2663\ufe0fJx _________, ___________, _________, ___________, __________, or __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKQxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAQJxx \u2666\ufe0fAx \u2663\ufe0fKx _________, _________, ___________, __________, _______, or _______<\/p>\n<h3>5-5 Majors<\/h3>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fQxxxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fKxxxx \u2666\ufe0fxx \u2663\ufe0fx __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKxxxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAxxxx \u2666\ufe0fQx \u2663\ufe0fx ________, __________, __________, _________, _________, or _________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKQxxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAJxxx \u2666\ufe0fQx \u2663\ufe0fx _________, _________, or _________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fKQxxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAKJxx \u2666\ufe0fKx \u2663\ufe0fx _________, __________, __________, __________, ________, or ________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fAKQxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fAKJxx \u2666\ufe0fKx \u2663\ufe0fx _______, ___________, _________, or _________<\/p>\n<h3>5 Major and 4+ Minor<\/h3>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fKxxxx \u2666\ufe0fQxxx \u2663\ufe0fxx __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fKxxxx \u2666\ufe0fAQxx \u2663\ufe0fxx ___________ or ________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fKQxxx \u2666\ufe0fAQxx \u2663\ufe0fxx ___________, _________, or __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fAx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fKQxxx \u2666\ufe0fAQxx \u2663\ufe0fxx __________, _________, ________, __________, _________, or ________<\/p>\n<h3>6+ Card Minor<\/h3>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fxxx \u2764\ufe0fQx \u2666\ufe0fxx \u2663\ufe0fQJxxxx ___________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fxxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fQx \u2666\ufe0fxx \u2663\ufe0fAQxxxx __________ or _________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fxxx \u2764\ufe0fxx \u2666\ufe0fxx \u2663\ufe0fAQJxxx__________ or __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fAxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fQx \u2666\ufe0fxx \u2663\ufe0fAQxxxx __________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fAxx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fQx \u2666\ufe0fKx \u2663\ufe0fAQJxxx________ or ___________<\/p>\n<h3>5-5 Minors<\/h3>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fxx \u2666\ufe0fKxxxx \u2663\ufe0fQxxxx _________, _________, or _________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fKx \u2666\ufe0fKxxxx \u2663\ufe0fQxxxx __________ or ___________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fKx \u2666\ufe0fKQxxx \u2663\ufe0fKJxxx _________, _________,_______, ________, or _________<\/p>\n<p>\u2660\ufe0fx \u00a0\u2764\ufe0fKx \u2666\ufe0fKQxxx \u2663\ufe0fAKJxx _________, __________, or _________<\/p>\n<h2>Conventions After a 1NT Opener<\/h2>\n<h3>Stayman<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Basic form: 2C asks opener to show a 4 card\u00a0_________.<\/li>\n<li>Garbage Stayman: \u00a0Weak hand short in _______, willing to pass whatever opener answers.<\/li>\n<li>Option: \u00a0Puppet Stayman asks for a ________ ________ ___________<\/li>\n<li>Option: <strong>Smolen<\/strong> with 5-4 majors and game values. \u00a0Ater the sequence 1NT &#8211; 2C &#8211; 2D a bid of 3 of a major shows _______ in that major and _______ and the other major with _______ or more HCP.<\/li>\n<li>Discuss with your partner what this auction means: \u00a01NT &#8211; 2C &#8211; 2D &#8211; 2H (or 1NT &#8211; 2C &#8211; 2D &#8211; 2S)\n<ul>\n<li>Option 1: \u00a0Invitational with 5 in the bid major and 4 in the other major.<\/li>\n<li>Option 2: Weak with 5 in the bid major and 4 in the other major.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>\u00a0Jacoby Transfers to Majors<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Basic form: Bid 2D to transfer to H, 2H to transfer to S<\/li>\n<li>Discuss these auctions with your partner:\n<ul>\n<li>1NT &#8211; 2D &#8211; 2H &#8211; 2S. \u00a0One possibility is 5H, 4S, invitational values.<\/li>\n<li>1NT &#8211; 2H &#8211; 2S &#8211; 3H: \u00a0One possibility is 5S, 4H, invitational values<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Signoff in 3 of a Minor<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0Use 2S to relay opener to 3C. \u00a0Pass with a club bust or correct to 3D with a diamond bust. \u00a0Opener must pass the 3D bid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Alternative: Transfers to Either Minor<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>2S is a transfer to 3C.\n<ul>\n<li>Option 1 &#8220;Preaccept&#8221;: \u00a0Opener shows he likes the transfer suit by bidding 2NT.. \u00a0&#8220;Like&#8221; is usually defined as a holding of ______, _________, or __________ or better.<\/li>\n<li>Option 2 &#8220;Bid &#8217;em if you like &#8217;em&#8221;: \u00a0Opener shows he likes the transfer suit by bidding 3C.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>2NT is a transfer to 3D\n<ul>\n<li>Option 1: \u00a0Preaccept bid is 3C<\/li>\n<li>Option 2: \u00a0&#8220;Bid &#8217;em if you like &#8217;em&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Drawback: \u00a0You lose the natural sequence 1NT &#8211; 2NT to invite game in NT.<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Workaround is to go through Stayman even without a 4 card major. \u00a0For example, 1NT &#8211; 2C &#8211; 2D\/H\/S &#8211; 2NT. \u00a0Opener should alert \u00a0the 2NT bid and if asked, explain &#8220;In this sequence responder might not have a \u00a04 card major.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Advantages:\n<ul>\n<li>You can get to 3NT when opener has a fitting honor and the minor provides 6 or more tricks.<\/li>\n<li>Slam exploration in the minor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Texas Transfers<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>4D transfers to 4H, 4H transfers to 4S<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>3 Level &#8220;5-5 Bids&#8221;<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>If you&#8217;re not using it for Puppet Stayman, 3C shows 5-5 in the minors, weak.<\/li>\n<li>3D shows 5-5 minors, strong.<\/li>\n<li>3H shows 5-5 majors &#8220;invitational&#8221; (but in practice you never stop in 3)<\/li>\n<li>3S shows 5-5 majors strong (game forcing, slam interest)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Gerber<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>4C asks opener for aces. \u00a0The partnership can stop in 4NT.<\/li>\n<li>5C asks for kings.<\/li>\n<li>Example sequences:\n<ul>\n<li>1NT &#8211; 4C<\/li>\n<li>1NT &#8211; 2C &#8211; 2H &#8211; 4C<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Quantitative Slam Invitations<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>1NT &#8211; 4NT invites 6NT. \u00a0Do it with 15-17 HCP. \u00a0It&#8217;s not asking for aces.<\/li>\n<li>1NT &#8211; 5NT is forcing to at least 6NT and invites 7NT. \u00a0Do it with 20-21 HCP. \u00a0Don&#8217;t worry if you forget this one; it never happens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Things to Discuss With Your Partner<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Do you open 1NT with a 5 card major? \u00a0With two doubletons?<\/li>\n<li>Is the sequence 1NT &#8211; 2C &#8211; 2D &#8211; 2H\/2S weak or invitational?<\/li>\n<li>Do you play 4 suit transfers or do you just relay with a minor suit bust?<\/li>\n<li>Do you use a 3C response as Puppet Stayman or as 5-5 weak?<\/li>\n<li>Do you play the sequence 1NT &#8211; 2C &#8211; 2D &#8211; 3H as showing 5 hearts, 4 spades (natural) or do you play Smolen, i.e. 3H shows 5 spades and 4 hearts)?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A 1NT opening is a wonderful thing. \u00a0Right away we know that the opener has a good hand but we also know that it&#8217;s balanced and that it&#8217;s in the narrow 15-17 HCP range. \u00a0As the responder you can already&#8230;<br \/><a class=\"read-more-button\" href=\"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/?page_id=286\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":20,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/286"}],"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=286"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/286\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":291,"href":"http:\/\/bigfootbridge.club\/bigfootbridge\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/286\/revisions\/291"}],"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=286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}