Highly theoretical article for those who have bought into the “godfather 2NT concept”

 

2008-05-16 01:32
 
Hand Evaluation - Forcing 1NT ( Godfather )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            We do not like to bid a 2/1 with a 4 card suit & 12 to a bad 14 HCP’s after partner opens a major. Quite often it is better to right side the NT while showing a balanced hand  & bid a forcing NT instead. This sequence describes your balanced hand in this HCP range more efficiently than by going to the 2 level . The more times that you indicate balanced hands with a NT bid in bidding theory , the better off you will be.   Bidding this way means that your 2/1 bid almost always shows a 5 card suit if in this HCP range. If you have 14+ HCP’s,  you may have to bid a 2/1 with a 4 card suit ( no choice ) as you are beyond the forcing NT range. This understanding  comes with a price though,  as you need bids to show this upper range of the forcing 1NT without leaping to 3NT later which normally pre-empts & ends all auctions. If partner opens a major & rebids 2♣ , we have no problem as 2 by responder is a one round force. With these auctions , a 2NT bid by the responder can have its normal meaning as invitational & can be passed.

 

            The problem hands are all the other rebids at the two level. A rebid of the original major , a new major or diamonds. In all these instances , 2NT by responder should be forcing one round. The “new suit 2NT  or “godfather 2NT”  by responder is now complete. A leap to 3NT can be a picture bid as defined by the partnership. Probably a 13 HCP hand with no fit for either of partner’s suits. Over 2NT , opener patterns out to show extra and/or identifying a NT weakness. If opener wants to bail , she bids 3♣ & responder places the contract with a fit & relays to 3 otherwise. Opener now can get out with a weak 5-5 or a weak 6-4 . Natural bidding by opener is a game force .  Natural clubs never enter the picture with these auctions so the 2NT is not a forced relay to 3♣ , it is more like a Jacoby 2NT or a 2NT after a weak two where 3♣ shows all minimums by the opening bidder.

 

            If responder gives preference after the 3♣ bail , this will end the auction. Responder must bid a new suit to force to game. My partner opened  1♠ & I held ♠xx Axx AJ98 ♣A109x . I bid 1NT to show the flat hand & partner bids 2 now what ? Leaping to 3NT is not right as there are many hands where 6 would be lay down & 3NT fails. AKxxx x KQxxxxx  . So I bid 2NT & partner bids 3 followed by a 3 bid by me agreeing diamonds. We now get to our 6 contract.  Say partner had a weaker hand AKQxx J Qxxxxxx ,  he would bail to 3♣ . 3 by me would end the auction but I will try 3NT which is a lucky make with the diamonds on side.

 

            You open 1♠ with AKxxx KJ10xx xx ♣x & partner bids 1NT. You bid 2 , partner bids 2NT so you bail to 3♣. Partner does not have a fit with you so she bids 3 , you correct to 3 & you described a 5-5 bow-wow. You open 1♠ with ♠AQ10xxx x AJxx ♣xx. Partner responds 1NT so you bid 2. Partner bids 2NT so you bail to 3♣ & correct to 3♠. If you just bid naturally with these 6-4’s or 5-5’s it is forcing to game somewhere.

 

            Partner opens 1♠ & you have ♠x KQxx KxxxAxxx  so you bid 1NT & partner bids 2. 4 by you is lame as there could be a 6 slam very easily. Therefore you could bid 2NT & partner bids 3( patterning out )  showing extra with a stiff club. You now bid KCB & drive the hand to 6.  If opener bids 3♣ or 3NT over your 2NT ,  you bid 4 which should end the auction. You show a very strong heart hand , which is what you have. Jumps can be fit showing on these auctions.

 

            Partner opens with 1♠ . You hold Qx AQxx KJxx ♣J10x so again you avoid going to the two level & bid 1NT. Partner bids 2♠ so you bid 2NT & partner bids 3♣ to bail. You do not let her & bid 4♠ which ends the auction. Instead of 3♣ , partner bids 3 with AKxxxx KJx Axx ♣x so you make your way to 6♠. Alternatively if the spade opener had better spades , she could splinter to 4♣ over 2NT & that would get the hand to slam very quickly.

 

            The advantage of the 2NT forcing by responder is that you keep the bidding low while showing a maximum or invitational 1NT response. The 3♣ mechanism allows an out for weak opening bids at the 3 level & patterning out might avoid 3NT with no stopper. Since these sequences do not apply after a 2  rebid  , using 3♣ as an artificial out works well. Jxx xx KQxxAKxx  partner opens 1 you respond 1NT. Partner bids 2 so you bid 2NT followed by a 3 bid by partner. KQ10 AQ10xxx J ♣QJx so you get to 3NT which does not even need the heart suit to make which was KJ98 off side anyway. What if opener held ♠x AKxxxx AJxQxx so could bid 3 over 2NT. Looks like spades will be a problem , so you bid 4.

 

            Partner opens 1♠ & you have Axx xx KQxxAxxx so with the fit is there any advantage to bidding 2♣ ? I recommend bidding 1NT & when partner bids 2♠ you bid 2NT forcing . Partner now with KQxxxx Axx Axx ♣x likes her stiff club so you get to +1430. By bidding 2♣ , partner will drag her feat as she has a stiff in your so called suit.

 

            What if you had a legitimate invitational 2NT hand ? Well , you must play the hand well as partner is putting you into 3NT with any flat hand & bailing to 3♣ with distributional minimums. This is the flaw to “new suit 2NT” is that you will be reaching some dicey 3NT contacts. This is IMPS , so this is not all bad. They defend badly against Meckwell so why not against you also ?