NO-TRUMP BIDS (Simplified)

For beginners and intermediate players, it is important to develop a disciplined approach to all no-trump bids. With suit bids there is a degree of flexibility, in that points can be added for length, shortage, etc. but with no-trump bids, suits lengths are secondary, and therefore the point range should be fairly precisely defined. No-trump bids are usually made when there is no clear-cut alternative suit bid.

My recommended point ranges for various NT bids are (conventional bids are italicised):

Opening Bids

1NT – 12 - 14 points    -  weak balanced (but may contain a poor 5-card suit – i.e. not suitable to re-bid).

2NT – 20 - 22 points    (if playing Benji Acol (weak-two’s) this range does vary)

(3NT & 4NT are conventional)

Note: – Over 1NT and 2NT, it is usual to play Stayman, and either weak take-outs or (better) transfers.

                      

Responses  (over opening bids of 1 of a suit)

Over Opener’s Suit Bid:

1NT –  6 - 9(10) points (over 1♣, playing 4-card majors, the range should be 8 – 9(10) points, since with 6-7 points, you just bid 2♣). Not necessarily balanced - see example (h).

2NT –  11 - 12 points (balanced – no alternative suit bid)        

3NT –  13 - 15 points (balanced – no alternative suit bid)        

(4NT – Blackwood)

With 10 points when NT is an option, you need  to judge whether the 10 points is a good 9 points (bid 1NT) or a poor 11 points (bid 2NT). A ‘poor’ count will have unsupported jacks

Following a major opener, with 9 points there are usually more suitable bids than 1NT. If you don’t bid 1NT, consider what to do if partner repeats his major – are you then stuck for a bid – if so, your original bid should probably have been 1NT (see example (g)).

Over Opener’s 1NT:

2NT – 12 points without a four-card major (if playing transfers, with 11 points prefer 2♠)

3NT – 13 - 18 points without a four-card major

(4NT – quantitative).

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Opener’s Re-bids (having originally opened 1 of a suit)

Partner Responds At 1 Level:

1NT – 15 - 16 pts.

2NT – 17 - 18 pts.  

3NT – 19 - 20 pts.            

(4NT - Blackwood –  highly unlikely).

Partner Responds At 2 Level:

2NT – 14 - 15 pts.

3NT – 16+ (this can be bid with ‘good’ 15 counts)

Opener’s Re-bids (having originally opened 2♣)

2NT – 23 or 24  balanced (responder treats the same as a 2NT opening bid, but adjusted for points)

3NT – 25 or 26  balanced

Overcalls

1NT – 15 - 17 pts. - with 1 stop (ideally 1½) in the opening suit bid. (Note that partner’s subsequent bids, Stayman etc. - are the same as for an opening 1NT, but adjusted for the 3 point difference).

2NT – 20 - 22 pts. - (with experience, this bid has better meanings)

With 18 - 19 points double first, and then show the relevant strength on the next bid (via no-trump bid).

Responding To Take-Out Doubles

1NT – 6 - 9 points – with 1½ stops in opener’s suit.

Responding To Partner’s 1-Level Overcall

Since an overcall can be lighter than an opening bid, partner’s responses are adjusted accordingly:

1NT – 10 - 11 pts  (also with a stop in the opponent’s opening suit)

2NT – 12 - 13 pts                       “                                 “

(with more points, first cue-bid the opponent’s suit and then bid no-trumps)

Examples:

Opening Bids

a)♠ K963b)♠ AK9c)♠ AK9

♥ K63♥ KJ53♥ KQJ

♦ AJ52♦ AK63♦ AKQ74

♣ Q8♣ K53♣ 62

a)     - 1NT

b)     - 2NT

c)     - 2NT   Ideally the hand should have an honour in all suits, but what else do you open?

Responses:

Over 1♥Over 1♥Over 1♥Over 1♥Over 1♣

d)♠ K96e)♠ K96f)♠ A109g)♠ A109h)♠ A94

♥ Q6♥ Q6♥ Q7♥ 8♥ Q63

♦ J532♦ J4♦ K8643♦ K8643♦ K54

♣ J874♣ J87432♣ 954♣ Q762♣ J652

Over 1♠Opposition 1♦Opposition 1♥Over 1NTOver 1NT

i)♠ AQ7j)♠ AQJ7k)♠ AJ7l)♠ A85m)♠ A853

♥ K983♥ KJ63♥ KJ63♥ A94♥ A94

♦ A52♦ 97♦ Q97♦ Q532♦ Q532

♣ Q54♣ A83♣ A83♣ Q76♣ Q7

d)     - 1NT

e)     - 1NT – 9+ points needed to respond with a new suit at the two level.

f)      - 2♦ - If partner re-bids 2♥, you can then pass.

g)     - 1NT – If you were to bid 2♦, and partner then re-bids 2♥, what do you bid next?

h)     - 1NT or 2NT. With 10 points, 1NT is a slight underbid; 2NT is a slight overbid. When learning, just bid 1NT (also the hand contains a hanging J).

i)       - 2♣ – playing 5-card majors (do not bid 4♠, which is a 7-9 (ish) with long spades). With more experience there are better bids to show this hand, but best to just bid an artificial 2♣. If partner then shows a strong hand (e.g. 3♠) you may investigate a slam
- 3NT – playing 4-card majors

j)       - Double – points sufficient for 1NT, but no stop in diamonds.

k)     - 1NT – 15 - 17 points with a stop in opposition’s suit.

l)       - 2NT – 11 points

m)   - 2♣ Stayman (invitational) with a four-card spade suit (and shortage in diamonds)

Opener’s Re-bids

After 1♦ - 1♠After 1♦ - 1♠After 1♦ - 1♠After 1♥ - 2♣After 1♥ - 2♣

n)♠ K96o)♠ K96p)♠ K96q)♠ K96r)♠ K96

♥ Q74♥ QJ4♥ AJ4♥ AJ943♥ AJ943

♦ A843♦ A843♦ A843♦ A84♦ AJ4

♣ AK4♣ AK4♣ AK4♣ K4♣ K4

After 2♣ - 2♦After 2♣ - 2♦

s)♠ K96t)♠ K96

♥ AKQ4♥ AKQ4

♦ A84♦ AQ4

♣ AKJ♣ AKJ

n)     - 1NT (16 points) 

o)     - 2NT (17 points) 

p)     - 3NT (19 points)  

q)     - 2NT (15 points)  (remember that partners 2♣ response guarantees at least 9 points)

r)      - 3NT (16 points)

s)      - 2NT (24 points)

t)       - 3NT (26 points)

AFH