(A while back one member asked me about our NT responses.  My write up may be of interest to others – well maybe!  Happy reading.  Ooh – at the end are some NT defences too.

 

Incorporating “Gladiator” into your 1NT responses

 

2♣                   Gladiator.  Shows a number of different weak or invitational hands,

                        (see below)

2♦                    Stayman, with extended responses.  Shows an invitational+ hand (see below)

2♥/2♠               Invitational, but passable.  Shows a 5 card suit exactly.

2NT                 Transfer to clubs (see below)

3♣/♦/♥/♠          Game forcing, possibly slammish, 5+ cards

3NT                 Natural, to play.

 

2♣ Gladiator

 

You use this bid when you have:

            A weak take out in ♦, ♥ or ♠

            A balanced invitational hand

            An invitational hand with any 6+ card suit

 

Although opener has a number of different responses, by far the most common is the 2♦ relay, after which responder bids:

            Pass     Weak take out in ♦

            2♥        Weak take out in ♥

            2♠        Weak take out in ♠

            2NT     Balanced, invitational.  Normally does not have a 4 card major unless maybe

                        4333 shape and prepared to risk that NT plays at least as well anyway.

            3♣/♦/♥/♠ Invitational with a 6 card or longer suit.

 

(Some experts will argue that with an invitational hand and 6 card minor you might as well blast 3NT as, if partner can bring in your long suit, 3NT will probably make and, if partner can’t do that, even 2NT may have been in danger.  If you take this view you can use the 3 of a minor rebids to show something else, but the above is the simple, easy to remember version that leaves you in a safe spot when opener is minimum and chooses not to accept the invite).

 

Opener’s other possible reponses to 2♣ are:

            Pass.    Shows a non maximum 1NT opener with 6 clubs (presumably a 6322 shape)

                        that wouldn’t accept an invite from responder even if responder has that much.

            2♥        Shows 5 diamonds.  Responder’s responses are the similar except that the

diamond rebids are a level higher because of the exceptional support.

            2♠        I’ve not used this possibility myself, but it would show a maximum NT with at

                        least 4/4 shape in the red suits.  Again opener is prepared to push responder up

                        a level in both red suits due to the exceptional support.

 

All these rebids by opener are relatively uncommon and the usual response is 2♦ that means nothing other than to deny the ability to make one of the other bids.

 

2♦ (Extended) Stayman

 

You use this bid when you have

            Invitational or better values and

            4 spades or 3 hearts

 

Opener’s rebids are:

            2♥        Non maximum, 4 hearts.  Could have 4 spades or could have a 5th heart

            2♠        Non maxmum, 4 spades, does not have 4 hearts

            2NT     Non maximum, no 4 card major.

            3♥        Maximum, 4 hearts.  Could have 4 spades or could have a 5th heart

            3♠        Maxmum, 4 spades, does not have 4 hearts

            3NT     Maximum, no 4 card major

            3♣/♦    You can play these rebids in any one of a number of ways.  The simplest is to

show a maximum and a 6 card minor (if you ever open 6 card minors with 1NT).  An alternative would be to use clubs to show 5 hearts and diamonds to

show 5 spades.

 

After 1NT-2♦-2♥

 

Responder can now bid as follows:

            Pass     We found a heart fit, but do not have game as opener is not maximum

3♥        Heart fit, I have enough to think game still might be on if you have a little more than a rock bottom minimum

4♥        Heart fit and enough for game despite opener being non maximum.

            2♠        Invitational, did you have 4 spades as well partner?

            3♠        Game forcing, did you have 4 spades as well partner?

2NT     Invitational values and I was only interested in your majors if you have 5 hearts. Opener may correct to 3♥

3NT     Enough for game and I was only interested in your majors if you have 5 hearts.  Opener may correct to 4♥

3♣/♦    Can be played any one of a number of ways, but should probably show a 5 card suit and be forcing.  Opener’s first duty is to bid spades if there are 4 of them as responder quite likely has 4 spades and a 5 card minor.

 

2NT Transfer to Clubs

 

Playing Gladiator you can stop at the 2 level in any suit bar clubs, but ideally you need a way to stop in 3♣ with a weak hand and six clubs.  As an invitational, balanced hand can be shown with the 1NT-2♣-2♦-2NT sequence, the immediate 2NT response is free for use as a transfer to clubs.  This normally shows a weak hand.  However, responder can also use this bid with a stronger, forcing hand (in which case responder will bid again after opener completes the transfer).

 

Pros and Cons of Gladiator

 

The principle advantages are:

            Can stop in 2♦ with a weak hand and 5 diamonds

Can stop in 2♥/♠ with an invitational hand with a 5 card major (if you play transfers you normally have to bid 2NT after opener completes the transfer to show this hand type and you end up playing 2NT or 3 of the major which is more likely to go off if the breaks are bad).

 

The principle disadvantages (compared to 2♣ Stayman with transfers) are:

If you use a strong NT, there is less reason to run from 1NT, thus the ability to stop in 2♦, though still of some use, is less attractive.

You lose the weak, non forcing sequences after a more normal 2♣ Stayman.

Some of the more delicate sequences that occur after a transfer are not available.

 

Overall, I think this method is at least competitive with 2♣ Stayman and transfers for use with a weak NT.

 

Defence to 1NT - Lionel

 

This is a good defence to 1NT for pairs play.  It is quite aggressive and does get you into some hairy 4-3 fits sometimes (so it is maybe not for the faint of heart at teams scoring), but overall seems to show a plus compared with natural defence.

 

Dble     11+hcp (or maybe 10 with a good lead).  4/4 in ♠ and another. Can also be a strong hand with just spades. Note this means that you lose your big penalty double, but you gain a penalty pass when partner has similar strength (comes up slightly more often).

2♣       4/4 clubs + hearts

2♦        4/4 diamonds + hearts

2♥/♠     natural, 5+ cards

2NT     5/5 minors

3♣/♦    natural, normally at least 6 cards unless the hand is very good.

 

If overcaller has 5 card major and 4 card minor, overcall in the major if the suit is any good. Be careful about overcalling 4/4 shape hands without much playing strength in 3rd seat (partner has passed and 4th seat, who is not a passed hand, may be able to hammer you).

 

Replying to Dble

 

Pass     About 11 or at least a good 10hcp.  Converting the double to penalties.

2♣       Non-forcing relay, showing at least tolerance for clubs (3 cards). Overcaller now bids:

pass = clubs

                        2♦   = diamonds

                        2♥   = hearts

                        2♠   = strong overcall with spades

2♦        Normally 5 diamonds - could be 4 with only 2 clubs

            Overcaller normally passes or can show hearts with less than 3 diamonds

2♥        Natural 5+ cards

2♠        Weak(ish) normally 4 card spade support - could be 3 if pushed.

2NT     invitational+, forcing spade raise, no singleton or void

3♣/3♦/3♥ invitational+ spade raise, singleton or void in bid suit

3♠        pre-emptive raise, overcaller not invited to go on

4♠        to play

 

Replying to 2♣

Pass/2♥ to play.

2NT     invitational+, forcing heart raise.

3♣/3♥  pre-emptive raise, overcaller not invited to go on.

4♥        to play.

2♦/2♠   non forcing, natural

 

Replying to 2♦ (similar to 2♣)

Pass/2♥ to play.

2NT     invitational+, forcing heart raise.

3♦/3♥   pre-emptive raise, overcaller not invited to go on.

4♥        to play.

2♠/3♣  non forcing, natural

Vertigo Defence to 1NT

 

This is a slightly less adventurous defence to 1NT which is possibly more suitable for use with IMP scoring based on showing 5/4 shapes.

 

Dble     11+hcp (or maybe 10 with a good lead).  Shows a 4 card major with a 5 card suit elsewhere (the 5 card suit can be the other major and can be 5/5 in the majors)

2♣       4 clubs + 5 cards in another suit

2♦        4 diamonds + 5 card major

2♥/♠     natural, 5+ cards

2NT     5/5 minors.  May be 5 clubs with only 4 diamonds if the hand is good

3♣/♦    natural, normally at least 6 cards unless the hand is very good.

 

After Double

            Pass     Shows a decent 10hcp or better.  Converting the double to penalties.

            2♣       Relay, normally denying a 4 card major, overcaller bids:

                                    Pass = 5 clubs

                                    2♦ = 5 diamonds

                                    2♥ = 5 hearts (and therefore 4 or more spades)

                                    2♠ = 5 spades (and therefore 4 hearts)

            2♦        Shows 4 spades and NOT 4 hearts.  Overcaller bids:

                                    2♠ = spades obviously

                                    Pass = 5 diamonds

                                    2♥ = 4 hearts and 5 clubs.

            2♥        Shows 4 hearts (may have 4 spades as well).  Overcaller bids:

                                    Pass = shows hearts

2♠ = spades.  Partner either passes or bids 3♣ as ‘pass or correct’ to play in overcaller’s minor suit.

 

Memory reminder over the double, 2♣ is no 4 card major, 2♦ shows spades.

 

After 2♣

            Pass     Happy to play in partner’s 4 card club suit.

            2♦        Relay asking for partner’s other suit.  Overcaller bids

                        Pass = diamonds

                        2♥ = hearts

                        2♠ = spades (now that was easy!)

 

After 2♦

            Pass     Happy to play in partner’s 4 card diamond suit

            2♥        Pass or correct to spades