| THE WIDE RANGE (12-16) ONE NOTRUMP REBID (Crowhurst) |
The problem with the Acol notrump structure is that it is often rigid in situations where we don’t want it to be. Look at these hands:
(a) AQx (b) xx
x 10xxxx
KQJx AKQ
J10xxx Axx
On (a) we open 1C and over the inevitable 1H from partner we bid? We can mislead by rebidding 1NT (well it was only 2 points short partner!) or rebid the moth eaten clubs. Wouldn’t you just like to rebid the obvious 1NT?
On (b) we open 1H and over the inevitable 1S from partner we bid? We can mislead by rebidding 1NT (well it was only 2 points short partner!) or rebid the moth eaten hearts (We could open 1NT to begin with but then we suppress a 5 card major when we are weak in the other). Wouldn’t you just like to rebid the obvious 1NT?
The wide range one notrump rebid allows us to do just that.
This facilitates constructive bidding in the following ways:
1. It gives a greater degree of 'preparedness' to certain openings - particularly those with a 5 card suit in an otherwise balanced hand.
2. It allows an opening 1NT to be defined within closer limits – for example you could guarantee that, in the first three positions, the hand does not contain a small doubleton in a major i.e. a major will be Qx, Kx, Ax or xxx at least.
3. It allows a one of a suit opening where a lNT opening is not considered wise
e.g. third in hand vulnerable vs N-V opponents (particularly at teams)
The choice of opening bid, once you have decided that a lNT opening is inappropriate, is a matter for partnership discussion. Thought should be given to the rebid problems if partner bids at the two level.
The following scheme is fairly easy to remember and covers all the bases.
Responder's Continuations (after the lNT rebid)
1. Pass
2. Rebid two of his suit - to play
3. Make a simple rebid in a new suit (not 2C) - 5-4 or better, not forcing
4. Make a reverse bid at the two level - 5-4 or better, forcing to game.
5. Return to opener's suit at the two level (not 2C) - not forcing
6. Raise to 2NT - 11-12, invitational
7. Jump to the three level in a suit - own suit = 5+ card suit
- opener's suit = 4 card support
- new suit = 5-5 or better
All these bids are game forcing.
8. Raise to 3NT - to play, 13-16
9. Bid 2C, an artificial bid requesting further information
Responder will have - 9-10, i.e. interested in game opposite 15-16.
- 13+, game going hand that requires more information to
explore for the best game or slam.
Opener's Responses (to the Crowhurst 2C bid)
With 12-14: 1. Rebid a 5 card heart suit - 2H
2. Show a 4 card heart suit (responder bid 1S over a minor) - 2H
3. Support responder's major with 3 card support - 2H/2S
4. Otherwise bid 2D
These responses are in order of priority.
With 15-16: 1. Raise responder's suit to the three level
- shows three card support headed by KQ, AQ or AK
2. Rebid your own suit at the three level
- shows a 6 card suit in a hand not suitable for an immediate jump rebid (poor suit)
3. Jump to 3NT
- shows exactly 4-3-3-3 type distribution
4. Rebid 2NT
- any hand not suitable for the above responses.
These responses are in order of priority.
Responder’s Continuations
After a 12-14 response:
1. A two level suit bid is not forcing
- the partnership may become involved in a 'scramble' to find a suitable partscore.
2. 3C (where opener has bid lC) - to play
3. 2NT - to play
4. Rebid own suit at the three level
- invitational, showing a 6 card suit and 9-11
5. Raise opener's first (non-club) suit to the three level
- invitational
6. 3C (where opener has not bid lC)
- shows 5-5 or better in the two suits, invitational
7. Bid a new suit at the three level
- shows 5-5 or better in the two suits, invitational
After a 15-16 response:
The partnership is in a game-forcing situation and continuations are basically natural.
N.B. It is presumed that with 5-5 in clubs and another suit, and partner has opened lC, then you can put your hand in one of the categories: game forcing/ not interested in game - i.e. you will sign-off in 3C over 12-14 (no fit in other suit) or go to game over 15-16. An invitational sequence is not available.
Responder, with 5-5 and values for game (with a slam possible in some circumstances), must jump to the three level in the second suit over the lNT rebid. Opener should then give preference OR cue-bid with a suitable hand i.e. a reasonable 14-16. If preference can be given below game level then responder can express slam interest via a cue-bid.
e.g.s
(1) xx A10xxx (2) xx AJxx
AJx 10xx AJx Qxx
KQ10xx Jx KQ10xx Jxx
Kxx Qxx Kxx Qxx
1D - 1S 1D - 1S
1NT - P 1NT - 2C (asking)
2D - P
(3) Kx AJxx (4) Axx KJxxx
AJx Qxx J10xx x
KQ10xx Jxx AQx Jxxx
Kxx Qxx Axx KQx
1D - 1S 1H - 1S
1NT - 2C 1NT - 2C
2NT - 3NT 2NT - 3D
P 3S - 4S end
(5) KQx xx (6) Jx Axxxx
Kxx AJ10xx Q10xxx AJx
AJxxx xxx AKQ xx
Qx AJ10 Kxx Qxx
1D - 1H 1H - 1S
1NT - 2C 1NT - 2NT
2NT - 3H 3H - 4H
4H - P P
(7) xx A109xx (8) KQx A109xx
QJ10 xxx AQx Kxxx
KQx Axx A109xx KJ
AQJxx Kx xx Ax
1C - 1S 1D - 1S
1NT - 2NT 1NT - 2C
3NT - P 3S - 4NT
5H - 6S end
(9) Jx A10xxx (10) xx QJxxx
QJxx K10xx AJx KQ
Axx Kx AQ10xx Kxx
KQJx xx Kxx QJx
1C - 1S 1D - 1S
1NT - 2C 1NT - 2C
2H - 3H 2D - 3NT
4H - P P
(11) xx Axxxx (12) AQx xx
Qxxxx xx x KQxxx
AKQ xx KQJx xx
Kxx QJxx J10xxx KQxx
1H - 1S 1C - 1H
1NT - P 1NT - 2C
2D - 3C
P
The biggest drawback of the method is that occasionally you may find yourself in 2NT with 12 opposite 9 – but then your declarer play will make up for the deficit in points!
General note:
In certain situations opener has an ‘impossible’ major bid available
lC - lD lC - lH lD - lH
lNT - 2C lNT - 2C lNT - 2C
2H/2S 2S 2S
In each of these situations opener would have rebid in the major at the one level and so to bid them now makes no sense.
These bids have not been assigned a meaning so you can enjoy yourself thinking of what they might be used for. [Crowhurst recommends the bids show a poor 15, so responder can bail out in a partscore with a poor 9 or 10 count.]
[If you are happy with your weak notrump structure then you could use your 1NT rebid to show 15-18 and use a similar scheme of continuations to differentiate between hands of 15-16 and 17-18.
Now you can use the jump rebid of 2NT to be game-forcing.]
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