Thursday, August 25, 2005 7:09 AM

Hand Evaluation  - Common Patterns NT

 

PITBULLS:

 

            In a previous article , I defined Bidding down to its most primitive form by saying it was “just” taking a trillion Bridge hands described by their 39 patterns then using HCP’s as a guide , describe them accurately to partner. Easy stuff for aliens possibly but not for us mere mortals as being human gets in the way L.

 

            INT & 2NT openers are the cornerstone of your bidding system. Established partnerships at the expert level should have a way of describing the more common patterns two ways invitational & game forcing/slam try after a NT opener with no fit. These hands should also be described after finding a fit. Let’s assume the weak hands are described by passing. OK , let’s investigate & see if your NT structure can handle the variety of hand patterns that can come up with no fit established via Stayman or other systemic bids. I will use our system of course J .

 

                                     

                                     5-5-2-1  6-5-1-1     Two suiters

 

5-5 in the minors non forcing                                        5-5 in the minors forcing

 

1NT-P-2NT   passes the response                               1NT-P-3  slamish many sequences  

                                                                                               1NT-P-3♣   game only        

 

 

5-5 in the majors invitational                                     5-5 in the majors forcing                

 

1NT-P-2♣-P                                                                           1NT-P-2-P  transfer

2-P-2♠*-P    * relay  ♠’s                                                        2♠-P-3-P

2NT-P-3-P

 

5♠-5 minor invitational                                                       5♠-5 minor forcing

 

1NT-P-2♣-P                                                                           1NT-P-2-P  transfer

2-P-2♠*-P     * relay ♠’s                                                      2♠-P-3 minor

2NT-P-3 minor

 

1NT-P-2♣-P

2-P-2♠*-P     * relay  ’s

2NT-P-3 minor

 

5-5 minor invitational                                                       5-5 minor forcing

 

1NT-P-2-P                                                                           1NT-P-2-P

2-P-2♠*-P    * relay                                                            2-P-3 minor

2NT-P-3 minor

 

 

                                    6-3-3-1 6-3-2-1  7-3-2-1 7-2-2-2       Single Suited hands

 

                              Single suited major non forcing                                Single suited major forcing

 

                                    1NT-P-2/    transfer  pass                                             1NT-P-2/    transfer

                                                                                                                                     1NT-P-4/   transfer

 

                                    Single suited diamonds non forcing                            Diamonds – forcing

 

                                    1NT-P-2NT-P                                                                       1NT-P-2NT-P

                                    3-P-P                                                                                    3-P-3NT/3 Major

 

                                    Single suited clubs  non forcing                                    Clubs - forcing  

 

                                    1NT-P-2♠-P                                                                          1NT-P-2♠-P

                                    3♣-P-P-P                                                                               3♣-P-3NT/3 Major

 

 

4-4-3-2  5-4-2-2               Quasi Two Suiters

  

 

Two suits minors invitational                                         Two suits minors forcing

 

1NT-P-2♣-P                                                                          1NT-P-2♣-P

2-P-2NT                                                                               2-P-3♣   Re-Stayman

 

Two suits 5♠-4-2-2 invite                                                Two suits 5♠-4-2-2 forcing

           

1NT-P-2♣-P                                                                          1NT-P-2♣-P

2-P-2NT-P                                                                            2-P-3*-P   Smolen                                                                                                         

 

Two suits 5-4♠-2-2 invite                                                Two suits 5-4♠-2-2 forcing

                       

1NT-P-2♣-P                                                                          1NT-P-2♣-P

2-P-2NT-P                                                                           2-P-3*-P    Smolen

                                                                                               

 

                                    Two suits 4♠/-2-5-2 invite                                               Two suits 4♠/-2-5-2 forcing

 

                                    1NT-P-2♣-P                                                                          1NT-P-2♣-P

                                    2-P-2NT                                                                               2-P-3♣-P      Re-Stayman

 

 

6-4-2-1  5-4-3-1       Quasi 3 Suiter        & Six – fours’s

 

5-4 Minors invite                                                                 5-4 Minors Forcing

 

1NT-P-2♣-P                                                                          1NT-P-3♠-P    3-1-5-4 or 3-1-4-5

2-P-2NT-P                                                                           1NT-P-3-P    1-3-5-4 or 1-3-4-5

 

                                                           

4/♠ - 5/6 ♣/ Invite                                                              4/♠ - 6 ♣/    Forcing

                       

1NT-P-2♣-P                                                                         1NT-P-2♣-P

2-P-2NT                                                                               2-P-3-P     

                                                                                                3 asks for 6 card suit

 

 

4-6      Invite                                                                     4-6      Forcing

 

1NT-P-2-P                                                                           1NT-P-2-P

2-P-2*-P                                                                            2-P-2♠*-P  Relay

2NT-P-3-P                                                                          2NT-P-4♣/   stiff

 

                                    4-6♠      Invite                                                                     4-6♠      Forcing 

 

            1NT-P-2-P                                                                          1NT-P-2♣-P                                                              2-P-3                                                                2-P-2♠*-P    forcing to 2NT

                                                                                                2NT-P-4 minor stiff

 

 

4-4-4-1  5-4-4-0     Three suiters

 

                        3 suits   Invite                                                                      3 suits forcing

 

                        1NT-P-2♣-P                                                                          1NT-P-2♣-P

                        2-P-2NT-P                                                                           2-P-3♣-P   Re-Stayman

 

                                                                                                                                    5-4-4-0

 

                                                                                                                                    1NT-P-2♣-P

                                                                                                                                    2-P-3*-P    Smolen

                                                                                                3-P- 4 minor

                                               

5-4-4-0

 

                                                                                                                                    1NT-P-2♣-P

                                                                                                                                    2-P-3♠*-P    Smolen

                                                                                                3NT-P-4 minor

                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                    4♠-4-4-1

                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                    1NT-P-2♣-P

                                                                                                                                     Major-P-other major-P

                                                                                                                                     Opener asks for stiff