This opening is announceable in ACBL regulations.[1]
A 1NT opening is a very specific bid. All natural 1NT openings specify a balanced hand (generally, no voids, no singletons and at most one doubleton) within a narrow range of strength (generally a range of 3 HCPs). Whether a 1NT opening contains a 5-card major is a matter of preference.
- Mini (or kamikaze) notrump: 10-12 HCPs
- Weak notrump: 12-14 HCPs
- Strong notrump: 15-17 HCPs (or 16-18 HCPs)
Choosing the notrump range[]
Each notrump range offers a different set of advantages and disadvantage:
Strong notrump[]
A strong 1NT once meant 16-18 HCPs in the past when opening with at least 13 HCPs was the norm, but now commonly played with 15-17 HCPs as the accepted minimum opening hand is 12 HCPs. It's the standard used in Standard American commonly played in America.
The advantage of a strong NT is that it is very likely that the contract can make, as if the remaining strength are split evenly between the remaining 3 players, our side will have 8 tricks on average. The disadvantage is that it can be opened with less hands, limiting the power of this limit bid.
Weak notrump[]
Weak 1NT is most commonly 12-14 HCPs, which is the standard in Acol played in England. This is the most natural meaning of 1NT as on average, 7 tricks is expected, therefore the hand is bid fully to the expectation. Moreover, the 1NT bid takes out the whole 1-level from the opponents so that they need to enter the auction at the 2-level, making them harder to compete.
It comes the risk that the partner having less than expected strength that the contract will go down, or worse, doubled for penalty, therefore, a runout system is vital if playing weak NT.
Mini notrump[]
Mini 1NT commonly means 10-12 HCPs, and some even play it as 9-11 HCPs. The purpose is to maximise the frequency this bid is used as a preemptive bid. However, the chance of going down is significant, but going 1NT-1 for -50 is still a better score compared to them making 1NT= for -90.
This is most commonly used if non-vulnerable only, with a 12-14 used when vulnerable. As with a weak NT, a runout system is vital as it will be doubled by opponents a lot.
Responses[]
The responses to 1NT openings are very rich with conventions, and the best set of conventions is not thoroughly agreed upon.
Natural responses[]
- 2NT is invitational, showing 8-9 (strong 1NT) / 11-12 (weak 1NT) points and a balanced hand.
- 3NT is an obvious sign-off at game with 10+ (strong 1NT) / 13+ (weak 1NT) points and a balanced hand.
- 3-level suit bids are sometimes played as natural.
Most common conventional responses[]
- 2♣ is Stayman, asking opener for a four-card major.
- 2♦ and 2♥ are Jacoby transfers with a 5-card suit, telling partner to bid 2♥ or 2♠, respectively.
- 4♣ is Gerber, asking for aces.
Somewhat common conventional responses[]
- 2♠ is often a Minor suit bust transfer to both 3♣ and 3♦.
- 2♠ and 2NT---or 2NT and 3♣---or 2♠ and 3♣ are sometimes used as Four suit transfers to 3♣ and 3♦, respectively.
- 3-level suit bids are sometimes used as two-suited responses.
- 4♦ and 4♥ are often Texas transfers to 4♥ and 4♠, respectively.
- 2♠ as Minor suit Stayman
- After a negative response to Stayman, 3♥ and 3♠ may be used for Smolen transfers for game-forcing 5-4 major hands.
- Puppet Stayman to discover if opener holds a 5-card major.
- Extended Texas transfers with game-going 6-4 majors after opener denies Stayman.
Nonstandard conventional responses[]
- 3-level suit bids may be used as splinters, showing game-forcing hands with a singleton.
- After a negative response to Stayman, 3♦ and 3♥ may be used for Quest transfers with 5-4 in the majors and invitational or better strength.
- After a positive Stayman response, 3♦ may be Stayman in doubt.
- After a positive Stayman response, 3♣ may be shape-asking relays.
When 1NT opening has been doubled[]
External links[]
Opening 1NT with a five-card major[]
Arguments for always opening 1NT with a five-card major[]
- Rebids will be easier (read: possible without lying)
- Game-strength hands can often recover the 5-3 fit
External links[]
Arguments for never opening 1NT with a five-card major[]
- 5-3 fits will often go undiscovered
External links[]
Arguments for sometimes opening 1NT with a five-card major[]
- Measure the value of the fit by the Law of Total Tricks (i.e. soft values in side tricks detract from total tricks, so open 1NT)
External links[]
- http://www.mit.edu/~dfm/bridge/opening_1nt_with_a_five-card_major.html
- http://www.math.cornell.edu/~belk/opening.htm - includes some examples