Friday, September 30, 2005 12:04 AM

1 Minor - 2NT

PITBULLS:

There are a wide range of balanced hands in the 10-12 HCP range that are best described by a 2NT invitational bid after partner opens a minor. Bypassing a 4 card major should be avoided with these hands but that action is still possible. If the hand lacks controls or has tenaces to protect , why bid a major when 2NT describes your distribution and HCP strength in one fell swoop.

Since game forcing balanced hands are now incorporated in our inverted minor structure , 2NT is not needed for game going hands. Partner opens 1♦ and you hold Kx KJx xxx A10xxx . You bid 2NT so what are your rebid understandings after 2NT ? There are two ways to remain in a partial in these sequences . Passing 2NT works well and the club relay works well. You bid 3 clubs and partner must relay to 3♦ which you pass. This makes a simple rebid of 3♦ directly , forcing to game. What if partner bids 3♥ after the relay ? This is checkback Stayman with hearts or both majors and forcing to game. If the 2NT bidder had a 4 card spade suit she bids it or if 4 hearts she raises to game in hearts. If opener bids spades after a relay she is just checking back for a 4-4 spade fit. Bidding 3NT or 4 spades are responders only options.

What if the diamond opener does not relay after 2NT and just bids a major ? This is a true reverse or a Q bid and a slam try. Do not forget that we play jump shift reverses with a minor opener ( 6-5’s) . A jump to 4♦ is KCB for diamonds and a jump to 4 of a major is the jump shift reverse 6-5 and 10-14 HCP’s. x AJ10xx KQJxxx x 1♦-P-2NT-P 4♥-P-P-P

After a 1♣ opener and a 2NT response , relays do not exist. 3♣ is not forcing but everything else is forcing.

3♦ is reserved for a NMF type of checkback. Partner bids a 4 card major if she has one after 3♦ , otherwise she bids 3NT. A major bid by opener is a true reverse or a Q bid with club slam aspirations. A jump to 4♣ is KCB for clubs and a jump to 4 of a major is a jump shift reverse. KQ10xx x x AQ109xx 1♣-P-2NT-P 4♠-P-P-P

What about a direct jump to 2NT in competiton ? I see no reason that the above structure should not apply. Bidding their suit is an obvious Q bid probably trying to determine the degree of duplication of value in their suit.

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