Transcript 1. 1NT – 15-17 pts & `balanced` hand

Stayman: When partner opens 1 NT and you have a 4-card major
With one or both 4-card majors and 8+ points, bid 2♣ - this is Stayman,
asking partner to bid a 4-card major suit - it says nothing at all about Clubs!
Notrump bidder’s response to Stayman:
Bid a 4-card major suit at the 2-level (with both majors, bid ♥ first)
Without a 4-card major, bid 2♦ (remember – Diamonds Denies)
Responder’s second bid, after opener has shown or denied a major:
If opener’s suit matches yours, invite to game with 8-9 pts by bidding 3, and
just bid game with 10+ points.
If 2♦ bid or non-fit: invite to game (bid 2NT) with 8-9 pts; bid 3NT with 10+
Remember: Count Dummy points if you have found a major suit fit
Transfers: When ptnr opens 1 NT and you have a 5+ card major
Bid the suit BELOW your major, even with ZERO points! Don’t pass!
If you have 5+ ♥, bid 2♦. If you have 5+ ♠, bid 2♥.
NT opener MUST respond with next higher suit, i.e. yours. (2♥ or 2♠),
completing the transfer!
Responder then will:
Pass with fewer than 8 points.
If you have exactly 5 cards in your major: 8-9 points bid 2NT; 10+ points 3NT
Partner will pass if he has a doubleton in your major, or return to it with 3+.
With 6+ in your major and 8-9 points bid 3♥/♠. With 10+ points bid 4♥/♠.
Note – with 5 of one major and 4 of the other, use Stayman, not transfers.
Overcalls:
when the opponents have opened the bidding
Suit overcalls promise a 5+ card suit with good honour cards & 8-17 pts
With 17+ pts, double first, then bid your best suit or raise partner’s with a fit
You need 10-17 points to overcall at the 2-level, 12-17 for the 3-level.
You can also overcall 1NT with a balanced hand, 15-18 pts, and a stopper in
opponent’s suit.
Cue-Bids (bidding the opponent’s suit)
When partner has opened and an opponent has overcalled, OR when an
opponent has opened and your partner has overcalled:
If you have support for partner’s suit and 10+ HCP, bid the opponent’s suit!
Examples:
Ptnr Opp You
OR
Opp Ptnr Opp You
1♠ 2♦ 3♦
1 ♦ 1 ♠ Pass 2 ♦
In both cases you have support for partner’s spades and 10+ HCP.
3-card support is OK at the 2-level. 4-card support is needed at the 3-level.
Audrey Grant’s “Bridge at a Glance” for Your Next Step!
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Opening Bids
High Card Points + Length Points
Trump Fit = 8+ cards with you & partner!
Opening the Bidding ….. In order of priority
1. 1NT = 15-17 HCP only & balanced hand (i.e. no
voids, no singletons, at most one doubleton)
Major & Minor Suit Openings
Range 13-21 total points (HCP + length)
2. Open 1♠ or 1♥ with a 5+ card suit
With two 5-card suits, bid the higher
ranking suit first
3. 1♦ or 1♣ = bid your longest minor or
With 4 cards in each minor, open 1♦
With 3 cards in each minor, open 1♣
Opener’s Ranges
13-15 points = Minimum
16-18 points = Medium
19-21 points = Maximum
Responding to an Opening Bid
Add Dummy Points with
support for partner’s suit!
Responder (you must bid with 6+ points)
When Partner opens a Major suit (♥/♠):
1. With support (3+) raise partner’s major suit
With 6-9 raise to 2 of his suit, with 10-11 to 3
With 12+ bid a new suit, then bid game (or more)
2. When partner opens 1♥, bid 1♠ with 4+ spades
3. Bid 1 NT with any other minimum hand
4. Bid a new suit at the 2-level – you need 10+ points
When partner opens a Minor suit (♦/♣):
1. Bid a 4+ card major suit at the 1-level
(with both 4 card majors, bid ♥’s first)
2. Bid 1NT with a minimum and no 4-card major
3. Bid a new suit at the 2-level – you need 10+ pts
4. Raise partner’s minor suit with 5-card support
and a minimum hand
When partner opens 1NT:
1.Bid 2♣ ‘Stayman’ (see over)
2. Use transfers (see over)
3. With no 4+ card major, bid 2NT with 8-9 points,
3NT with 10+ points
Opening Leads
Top of a Sequence is usually best – 2 cards in suit, 3 in NT
Lead the suit Partner has bid! Usually your lowest card.
4th Best from Longest & Strongest is great against NT.
Playing the Hand
Count winners in No Trump
Count losers with a Trump Fit
Responder’s Ranges
0-5 points = pass
6-9 points = Minimum
10-11 points = Medium
12+ points = Maximum
(instead of length points)
Void = 5 points
Singleton = 3 points
Doubleton = 1 point
Opener’s Second Bid
Describe the strength and shape of your hand!
If partner raises your major suit to the 2-level:
1. Pass with minimum (13-15)
2. Raise to 3-level with medium (16-18)
3. Bid game (4♥, 4♠ ) with maximum (19-21)
Without support from partner, and Unbalanced
1. Rebid a 6-card suit at the 2-level with a minimum,
or at the 3-level with a medium hand
2. Support partner’s suit with 4+ cards
3. Bid at the 2-level with 4+ cards in a suit that is
lower ranking than your first bid suit with < 17 points
(Reverse = 17+ points & 2nd bid suit is higher ranking
and shorter than 1st bid suit, forcing for one round)
Without support from partner, and Balanced
1NT = 13-14 points; or 2NT = 18-19 points
Have Fun!
Say Hello!
Every hand is
an adventure!
Smile!

Laugh
Out Loud!
Count, Count, Count!
Responder’s Second Bid
Combined Points
Required for Game
25 points: 4♥, 4♠, 3NT
29 points: 5♦, 5♣
33 points: Small slam
37 points Grand Slam
Opener has described the strength and shape of their hand
Do you have a fit?...Do you want to be in game or a part score?
With a major suit fit, 8 cards in the suit together, Play There!
Without a major suit fit, play in No Trump
With a minor suit fit, consider No Trump
Other Opening Bids
If opener has shown a minimum hand
Responder with a Minimum hand (6-9 points) = pass
Strong hands (22+ points):
2NT 20-21 HCP’s & Balanced
Responder with a Medium hand (10-11 points), invite game
1. Raise partner’s major to 3-level
2. Bid a new suit - forcing
3. Rebid your original suit at the 3-level - you need 6+ cards in it!
With 18 or 19 HCP and Balanced
Open 1 of a suit and rebid 2NT,
or 3 of partner’s suit with a 4+ fit
Responder with a Maximum hand (12+ points) – You Must Get to Game!
1. Bid game in a major suit with a fit
2. Bid a new suit..forcing! Or bid 3NT without a fit.
Open 2♣ (artificial).
Responder bids 2♦ (just waiting)
Preemptive Hands
Weak hands (5-9 points with a good
long suit and very little else!)
6-card suit (not ♣):open 2♦/ 2♥/2♠
(a raise of your suit by partner is not
forcing or invitational! Pass!)
Bid a new suit or 2NT Feature=Forcing
Any 7-card suit: open at the 3-level
Any 8-card suit: open at the 4-level
Take Out Doubles
Shape and Strength! When an opponent has opened the bidding and you are short
in the opponent’s suit with support for all the unbid suits….especially 4 cards in the
unbid major suits…value your hand including dummy points….if you have an
opening hand …make a take out double….this asks partner to bid his longest suit!
Partner must bid, even with zero points, unless the next opponent bids, ….with 8+
pts, partner should bid anyway. After you make a take out double, you pass next.
If you double and then bid again, with a new suit or NT, you’re showing 17+ points!