November 07, 2002 5:16
PM
Forcing NT - Part Trois
PITBULLS:
Another forcing NT auction that should be discussed .
One of a major – forcing NT then a 2NT rebid by opener . This is a rare bid if
you open 1NT with a 5 card major ( like you should in my opinion ) . I do not
like opening 1NT with a very good 5 card major so I would bid 2NT over a
forcing NT with those kind of hands . What about all the 5-4-2-2 combination
hands and 5-3-4-1 hands that have 15-18 HCP points ?? You are not strong enough
for a strong jump shift and rebidding 2 of a
minor with your 17 HCP does not seem palatable either . This
sequence is a built in deficiency caused by playing the forcing NT. I suggest bidding 2NT with these
hands rather than your minor. The interesting case is rebiding 2NT with a 4 card heart suit
and 5-4-2-2 or 5-4-3-1 patterns with 15-18 HCP. This would be a superb way of
missing your 4-4 heart fit unless you have a check back bid . More about that
later .
My
recommendation is to rebid 2NT with all hands in the 15+ 18- HCP range 5-3-3-2
, 5-2-4-2 or 5-3-4-1 and have some good sequences by the forcing NT bidder to find the best
spot . This involves introducing one artificial bid by the 1NT
bidder and that is a 3♣ check back bid . Again we have the “do not improve the
partial rule” . If the 1NT bidder is minimum you can pass 2 NT ( very rare ) . The only exception is that 3 of
the major is not forcing after the 3♣ relay and you can escape from 2NT that
way .
3♣
is defined as an artificial relay to 3♦ , so
what is a direct 3♦ or 3♥ after 2NT if ( partner opened 1♠ ) and 3♠ after 2NT ( if partner opened 1♥ ) . 3♦ and 3♥ are forcing natural bids and 3♠ should show both minors . Now for the check back bid
. With the wide range of openers a 1♠ 2♥ rebid
can range almost from 11-17 HCP which is a ridiculous range for a simple rebid
. This causes a number of bad things to happen . Missed vul games because partner passes 2♥ with her minimum 1NT bid . Partner pushes to 3♥ hoping you have the 16 HCP hand and you go 2 down
vul . Partner makes a marginal leap to game and you go 2 down because you had
the minimum range . My solution is do not bid
2♥ with 15+ to 18-
bid 2NT !! .
Tom & I play a
jump to 3♥ as invitational but Tom prefers that 5 hearts be
shown.
O.K.
you have this valuable
3♣ bid in your repertoire so you can define other uses for it .
Say you were planning to bid a limit raise or better in partners major and
partner bids 2NT over your 1NT . You want to play 3 of a major non forcing so 4
of a major is just to play . The big hands can be described by bidding naturally . This could get you to some good slams.
A
spade opener and a forcing NT can still use the 3♣ check back bid over a 2NT
rebid to look for a heart fit . These relays should always follow Lebensohl
principles. Direct is strong and relay is
weak or invitational.
KJx AKJxx AJxx x
Axx xx KQ10xx Jxx
1♥ 1NT
2NT 3♦
3♠ 4♠
5♣ 5♦
+620 in diamonds instead of –100 in 3NT
AKJxx
x AJxx Axx
Qxx xxx Kx KQ1098
2NT
3♠ ( limit raise )
4♣
4♦
5♣
6♠
AJxxx
AK10x Ax Jx
x QJxx KQxx Axxx
Old
way
1♠ 1NT
2♥
4♥
+720 as everything
behaves . the 1NT response
had no idea that your
2♥ bid was so good
Tom
G advocates playing the jump to 3♥ invitational bid
as always showing 5 hearts. What if you had 17 HCP and 4 hearts ?
New
way is to bid 2NT & break the
check back relay if you have 4 hearts !!!
1♠ 1NT
2NT
3♣
(checking back for hearts)
3♥
4♣
4♦
4NT
+1470 as partner knew that
you were in a higher HCP bracket
5♣
6♥
Anyway , even if you do not buy into my thoughts . I
have always hated rebidding two of a minor with good hands in the invitational
range. 2NT is an invitational
bid so why not have tools to extract your best spot ? This is another sequence in the forcing
NT sequences that should be discussed with partner . In Vienna Cup trials there
should be no excuses for bidding misunderstandings with the forcing NT . All
sequences should be discussed first and agreed upon .