(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