Sunday, December 04, 2005 3:30 AM

Hand Evaluation – Godfather 2NT ( Competition )

PITBULLS:

An excellent tweak to standard bidding is to throw away the invitational 2NT bid by responder & treat the bid as a “new suit” & a one round force even in competition. This treatment is known as the “godfather 2NT” or an invitation you can not refuse. This understanding immediately does a number of nice things. You do not pre-empt partner by leaping to 3NT forcing partner to describe her hand at the 4 level. You do not have to distort your hand by playing an ugly 4^th suit forcing to make a forcing bid. You “right side” the NT while keeping the bidding at the two level for exploring alternative games or slams. However , one of the best uses of this bid is relieving the “over burdened” Q bid as an ambiguous noise to keep the bidding open in competitive bidding . 2NT is used as a new suit ( one round force) & augments a Q bid to force. In fact , it redefines or at least clarifies the Q bid & Western Q bid in competition.

My partner held this hand ♠KQ109x ♥Kxxx ♦xx ♣AQ , I opened 1♦ . He responded 1♠ , my RHO bid 2♣ & I bid 2♦ so around to him. This hand is very simple in our system. You bid 2NT which is forcing one round. If I had hearts , I would now describe my 6-4 in the reds by bidding hearts . I can not have too many spades as I did not make a support double. Obviously partner must play the NT with a forcing bid , so we have that base covered. What does a 3♣ Q bid mean ? In the absence of a forcing 2NT bid , the Q bid is narrowed down to two meanings in this auction. A strong distributional diamond raise or a simple Western Q bid. The Q bid also allows you to show a “partial stopper” for NT. Change partner’s hand to ♠KQ109x ♥Kxxx ♦Ax ♣Qx , he can bid 3♣ as a Western Q bid. I have ♠Ax ♥Ax ♦KQJ10xx ♣Jxx so I bid 3♦. Partner now bids 3NT so in the absence of a 2NT forcing bid , he must be showing only a partial stopper !!

A Q bid is an ambiguous bid so should usually imply a fit of limit raise or better. The more times you reserve the Q bid for that purpose , the simpler the auctions can be. D.S.I.P. doubles are used to show big hands without a fit in competitive auctions. This double gives the partner the option to convert but better still you do not need a Q bid without a fit to force one round. The 2NT bid as a one round force also relieves your system of an ambiguous Q bid to show strength without a fit. If you do Q bid , you must have a fit for partner’s suit as “strength showing” Q bids are history. Change partner’s hand again to ♠KQ10xx ♥Kxx ♦Kxxx ♣x , on our auction he bids 3♣. I actually held ♠A10 ♥Axx ♦Axxxxx ♣xx and we get to a 23 HCP +1370 !! Knowing that partner has a diamond fit immediately, simplifies auctions & brings KCB or Q bidding into play.

When you have a 2NT bid available as forcing one round , what would a leap to 3NT mean ? You can make the bid consistent with all 3NT jumps in your system. After a 2/1 , a leap to 3NT by either side shows a hand that evaluates to a strong 1NT opener. This is the so called picture bid. The 3NT bid in this auction should deny a fit with a hand in the 15-17 HCP range which is NT suitable with queens & jacks. Say ♠KQ10x ♥KQxx ♦xx ♣AQx is certainly a 3NT “picture bid” . You have a lot of strength but have no interest in diamond slams or alternative contracts. However , in competition the 3NT jump might mean just a soft hand & a shot. You do not want to map out an opening lead so you “fast arrival”. Discuss with partner.

. I cannot remember the last time I played exactly 2NT in competition in IMPS ( matchpoints different though ) . 2NT as a non forcing invitational bid has become extinct in IMPS. Partner will scramble to a minor with a minimum so you only lose 2NT as a contract. 2NT as a godfather “new suit” , forcing one round has replaced that bid . Do not leave home without it !