Thursday, January 12, 2006 1:19 PM

Forcing 1NT - Problem Hands

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Playing 2/1 forcing to game comes with a cost. The cost is the forcing 1NT bid and all the problems it creates. An entire HCP range is a problem after the forcing NT and that is the invitational HCP range under a strong jump shift ( 15-18 HCP).  A number of problems have been bypassed by opening a strong NT in the first place with a 5 card major. Some partnerships just make a simple 2♥, 2♦ or 2♣ rebid with this HCP range with more distributional hands. Responder is supposed to come up with some courtesy or obligatory raises just to keep the bidding open to allow opener to describe the “real hand” by the 3rd level of bidding. This is nonsense as responder must over bid by necessity and partials are blown. This bidding style begs the question of what should responder do with a real invitational raise. This approach is completely unworkable in my opinion. A better approach is to have the opener describe her HCP range immediately.

 

          Part of my solution is to have a multi tasking 3♣ jump shift to show the very strong hands so that jumps in a new suit shows the invitational range hands ( 5-5) . The 3♣ bid forces a relay to 3♦ and a number of strong hands are shown. A leap to 3NT directly shows specifically a balanced strong jump shift in clubs. Another solution is to have a 2NT raise as virtually forcing to game with 17+ to 19 HCP with balanced hands or 5-4-2-2 or 5-4-3-1 distributions including the heart suit !

 

          How do you not lose the heart suit in these auctions ? Responders has a 3♣ relay she can use to bail out of 2NT but it can also be used as a “check back” . If partner breaks the relay to bid hearts , we have found our 4-4 heart fit.  AKxxx Qxxx AQ Kx  This hand is not suitable for a 3♥ invitational bid or a 3♣ SJS after a forcing 1NT response. You bid 2NT and partner with a good hand and 5♥ can simple bid 3♥ forcing to game and you have found your fit. What about a weaker hand with 4♥ ? Partner can check back with a relay. She bids 3♣ and without a 4 card heart suit you simply accept the relay. Partner passes or bids to bail out or bids 3NT if her intention was just to “check back” .  With 4 hearts , you break the relay by bidding 3♥ !  x KJxx xxxx Axxx by responder and a cheery 4♥ is bid and made.

 

          I have seen a simple 2♥ rebid by an expert after a forcing NT with this hand AJxxx AQxx AKx x . This is “sick bidding” in my opinion putting way too much pressure on responder to keep the auction alive. A forcing to game strong jump shift with this hand does not feel right either. A 2NT raise seems to be the best alternative. Breaking the relay to 3♥ will find your heart fit and all is well.

 

          With a heart opener you have a luxury. You have the idle spade suit that you did not reverse into.

x AKxxx KQx AJ10x you open 1♥ and partner bids 1NT . You are too strong for a simple 2♣ rebid and not strong enough for a 3♣ strong jump shift. You make the invitational 2NT rebid and partner bids a 3♣ relay. You bid 3♠ which shows your shortness. Partner has xxx xx Axx Kxxxx is now warned that a minor contract is best and you end up in 5♣.

 

          Lets try a few auctions . AKxxx AJxx xx xx        opposite   xxx KQxx Qx Q10xx  1♠-P-1NT-P

                                                                                                                                      2♥-P-P-P

2♥ makes exactly two so there was no need for an “obligatory raise”

 

Beef up the hand to AKxxx AJxx Ax Jx and I would bid 2NT after the 1NT response. Partner bids 3♣ as a relay to check back and I break the relay and we get to 4♥.

 

AKxxx AJ10xx Kx x      1♠-P-1NT-P    3♥-P-4♥-P  and you get to your game with responder “stretching”.

 

Opener bid your own hand so responder can just bid her hand !!