20 Is 1NT a good bid?

There are four 1NTs.

 a) the opening 1NT   If you have the right shape (nothing shorter than one doubleton) it is then a question of strength. The strong NT goes for safety, the weak NT goes for frequency.

Either way, always open it if you can, not only because as a limit bid your partner knows your hand and you need not bid again unless he wants you to, but the opponents are shut out of the one level.

b) the responder’s 1NT  (stifle your yawn if you know what’s coming, not everybody does).

This is often called the dustbin bid. Why? I’m not sure myself - because it’s the place for rubbish? The point is that it should only ever be bid if there is no other possible bid. Don’t use it to show 6-9 points, bidding a suit shows that also. The rule is to start with the cheapest bid, so if your partner opens 1H and you have four hearts, raise the hearts; if you have four spades, bid 1S. If instead, you bid 1NT (“To show my points, partner”) you are denying both the majors. (If she didn’t, she couldn’t). I once witnessed the following sequence: 1C - (pass) - 1NT - (pass) - 2C - end.  When the dummy went down it revealed a singleton club and four in each of the other three suits.  She had three suits and didn’t bid any of them! The lady said “I had to show my points, partner”. Stifling my incredulity, I mildly pointed  out that every hand has points, so do we have to bid every hand as No Trumps? One diamond, honey!

(This was an example of the canine table. I’ll tell you about that next week.)

c) the 1NT rebid  In standard Acol, if we have a balanced hand but more than 14 points, then we open a suit (major preferred) and rebid NT according to the scale of points agreed with partner.

d) the 1NT overcall. This must be strong, 16-18 points or it will collapse. Balanced, of course, and with a stopper in the opposing suit. You can make it 15 points if you have a good-looking 5-card suit. Again, you are in partner’s hands. Play it with the same responses as the opening 1NT (with fewer points needed).

e) Doubling their 1NT  I’m adding this fourth category because you are holding the strong NT hand and we are about to see whether their 1NT is a good bid.

If their 1NT is on your right you can lead that good suit of yours, otherwise put your thinking cap on. If their 1NT is on your left, what good are your Kx and AQxx now?

Didn’t think too late, did you?