3NT | at least 25 points. |
4H or 4S | at least 25 points and a fit (8 trumps). |
5C or 5D | at least 28 points and a fit. |
If you have a balanced hand of 12 or more points, and you want to open the auction, the bids are as follows:
12-14 points | open 1NT |
15-16 points | open a 4 card suit and rebid no trumps at the lowest level |
17-18 points | open a 4 card suit and rebid no trumps at jump level |
19 points | open a 4 card suit and rebid 3NT - if partner can respond at all (showing 6+ points) then the partnership has at least 25 points, which is enough for game |
20-22 points | open 2NT |
Please note that you don't need a "stop" (high honour card) in every suit to bid no trumps.
What do you open with these hands, and what do you intend to rebid? ("x" represents a low card)
1) | S H D C |
KQxx Jx Axxx QJx |
2) | S H D C |
Kx QJx Jxxxx AQx |
3) | S H D C |
Kxxxx Jx QJx AQx |
4) | S H D C |
AKJx Qxx Axx Kxx |
5) | S H D C |
KQxx Qxx Ax AKJx |
6) | S H D C |
AKQ QJx KQxx Axx |
Opening | Response | Meaning |
1NT | Pass | Weak |
2C | Stayman | |
2D/H/S | Weak, 5+ card suit, must be passed | |
2NT | Invites 3NT | |
3C/D/H/S | Strong, 5+ card suit, game forcing | |
3NT/4H/4S | Game, must be passed | |
2NT | Pass | Weak |
3C | Stayman | |
3D/H/S | Strong, 5+ card suit, game forcing | |
3NT/4H/4S | Game, must be passed |
The 2C response to 1NT (or 3C over 2NT) is a conventional bid. That is, it doesn't mean "I've got clubs, partner." Instead, it asks opener to bid a four card major if he has one, or to bid 2D otherwise. This allows a 4-4 major suit fit to be found, if there is one, and so helps the partnership to decide on the best contract.
You should only use the Stayman convention when you know what you will do over any rebid your partner could make.
The reason there is so much emphasis on finding a major suit fit, and the minor suits are ignored, is that on most hands that 5 of a minor (game) makes, 3NT also makes. Also, because game in the minors requires two more tricks, it can often be safer to play in no trumps even where there is a fit.
If partner opened 2NT you should pass with 3 or less points, because even if you have three points, you don't know (and you have no way of finding out) whether the combined point count is at least 25.
If partner opened one of a suit and rebid one or two no trumps, and it is not possible that the total number of points between the two hands is at least 25, pass.
If you have no 4 card major, you should bid 2NT. This invitational bid asks partner to bid 3NT if s/he has 14 (or good 13) points.
If you have a four (or five) card major, bid 2C - Stayman. Once your partner has replied to Stayman, you have either found a fit, or found that you haven't got a fit. If partner bids your suit (e.g. you have 4 hearts and the bidding on your side goes: 1NT-2C-2H you shouldn't pass! Remember, you are interested in game, so you must bid 3H to ask your partner to bid 4(c) with a maximum point count. If you haven't found a fit, you still want to be in game in no trumps if partner has a maximum point count, so bid 2NT, inviting partner to bid 3NT.
If partner opens 2NT, there is no room to invite game, you must either pass, or make a game forcing bid.
If partner opens 1NT, what would you bid with the following hands, and what, if anything, do you intend to rebid?
1) | S H D C |
Kxxx Jx Axxx Jxx |
2) | S H D C |
KJxx Qx Axxx Jxx |
3) | S H D C |
KQxx Axxx Jx Axx |
4) | S H D C |
AQxxx KQx QJx xx |
5) | S H D C |
Jx Qxx xxxxx Qxx |
6) | S H D C |
AKQ Qxx Jxxx QJx |
7) | S H D C |
AQxxxx KQx QJx x |
8) | S H D C |
xxx xxx xx xxxxx |
1) | xxx AKQ |
2) | Qxx AKx |
3) | J109 AKQ |
4) | xx AKQJ |
The second combination will also yield three tricks, as long as the Q from dummy is played on the same trick as the x from hand. After all, it would be a waste to play it on the same trick as the A.
There are only three tricks to be had from the third set of cards too. Even though the six top cards are held, one card must be played from each hand for each trick.
The last pair of hands yields four tricks, even though only the top four cards are held.
1) | 8765 AKQ432 |
2) | 765 AKQ432 |
3) | 5 AKQ432 |
4) | none AKQ43 |
Things are not quite so certain with the second set of hands. There are four cards missing in the suit, so if one defender is holding all four s/he will be able to win the fourth trick in the suit (you can only draw three of them with the AKQ). However, all is not lost. It is not very probable (about 9%) that one defender holds 4 cards and the other holds 0 (often written "a 4-0 break"), so chances are high that six tricks will be made with this holding.
If you are holding the third pair of hands, you only have slim chances of making six tricks. You are missing six cards in the suit, so the only way that you will make six tricks is if the missing cards break 3-3 (i.e. each defender had three cards in the suit). Then they will be forced to play them under the AKQ. The chances of a 3-3 break are only 36%.
Finally, with the fourth holding in the suit, you cannot possibly make six tricks. If the remaining seven cards are split as evenly as possible (i.e. 4-3), one defender will still have a high card left after you have played the AKQ on the first three tricks.
Again, some examples to demonstrate the concept (the first two are from the last section).
1) | 765 AKQ432 |
2) | none AKQ432 |
3) | 32 QJ109876 |
4) | 32 J10987654 |
5) | none KQ |
In the next example, it is likely that the remaining cards will break 4-3, and, following the same logic that was applied in the previous hand, you should then make five tricks in the suit. However, if the missing cards break more unevenly, you will make correspondingly less tricks. If they break 5-2, you will make four tricks, because you can still establish your 2, but if they break 6-1 or 7-0 you can only make your three top tricks.
In the third and fourth suit combinations you have no top cards, but you are still guaranteed tricks. Once the opponents have played off their top cards (usually because you have forced them to by leading the suit yourself), you will have five sure winners in each example. This demonstrates the principle of "losing tricks to make tricks" - sometimes you have to let the opponents make tricks to establish your own little cards.
The fifth example is rather extreme, but it shows how even with very few cards in the suit you can be guaranteed to be able to establish at least one trick. Once the defenders have played their ace to beat your king, the queen is a winner.
Here are the basic rules you should always follow when you are declarer:
W: |
xxx AKx KQx xxxx |
E: |
Axxx xx xx AKQxx |
Contract: 3NT by West Lead: 3H |
The one major thing to beware of here is setting up the defenders' tricks before setting up your own . In this example, it would be wrong to play off the AKH and the AS This is because, when the defenders win the lead with the AD (remember, West is planning to establish a diamond trick to make the contract), they would then have top hearts and spades that they can just play off to defeat the contract.
So, West's plan is to win the first heart trick, then to play the KD. If the defenders don't take the ace, West has made the necessary diamond trick. If they do, the QD is established as a winner, and the defender on lead can't run off lots of tricks in a major suit because West still has stops in both suits. When West gets the lead next, he plays off three rounds of clubs, hoping they break 3-1 or 2-2.
Two important principles of no trump play have been illustrated by this hand:
In both of these hands, you are West, playing in 3NT, with the lead of the 3H. Plan the play.
1) | W: |
xxxx AKx xx AJxx |
E: |
AKx xx AKxxxx xx |
Contract: 3NT by West Lead: 3H |
|
2) | W: |
AKx AKQ AQ Jxxx |
E: |
xxx xx Kx xxxxxx |
Contract: 3NT by West Lead: 3H |
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