Forcing Notrump – The Rest of the Story    by Steve Turner

 

     In any 5-card major system, it is important to realize the importance of using 1NT as a forcing bid, when partner opens 1 of a major.  We’ve mentioned the term “frequency” before; i.e., we try to adopt treatments that will provide the most favorable results, most of the time.  So, here’s the deal:  it’s rare that 1NT is the best spot to play when partner has opened a major.  Why is that? 

 

1.     Responder’s hand is often unbalanced, without the point requirements to bid a suit at the 2-level.  In those cases, it is important to find the best suit fit at the lowest possible level, both for safety and trick-taking reasons.  We’re looking for the “Golden fit”…which is what (an 8-card fit)?

2.     The partnership will be able to distinguish between limit raises containing 4-card support versus 3-card support (often, a very important distinction).

3.     The partnership does not have to strain to bid a 4-card suit at the 2-level, holding invitational (or better) values.

 

     Only when responder is in the balanced 5-9 point range, with a doubleton in partner’s major (and assuming that opener is not unbalanced), will 1NT be the favored contract…..and then, only sometimes.    As you will see in the examples that follow, you will generally win the “frequency” battle by adopting the Forcing NT convention.

 

     OK… let’s see how all of this works.  As we go, we’ll discuss the rebids, both by opener and responder, to create our new convention.

 

Assume that North opens 1S.  You hold the South hands and respond 1NT.  How well does one 1NT play, versus being in a suit contract (with the possible exception of South hand #2)?  Match up each South hand with each North hand….25 examples total.

                                           

NORTH

       

♠  Kxxxx         J10xxx     KJxxx      Q10xxx     KQxxx

♥  Axx            AK            Qx           AQ            AJx

♦  KQ             Qxx          Qxx          xxxx          xxx

♣  9xx            Kxx          Axx           Ax             Ax

 

                                                  SOUTH

      

♠  x                 xx            Ax            A               x 

♥ 109x            10xxx       xxx          109xxxx    xxxx

♦  Axxx           Axx          Ax            Jxxx          AJ109x  

♣ QJxxx         QJxx        xxxxxx      Jx             Jxx

 

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OK, moving on…...

 

Let’s take a look at three hands, all of which have limit raise strength by responder.   What is the difference?  Well, two of them have 3-card support, while the other has 4-card support. 

                                                         

                                                           NORTH

 

                                                       ♠  AKxxx

                                                       ♥  Axx

                                                       ♦  Qxx

                                                       ♣ Jx

 

                                                           SOUTH

 

                                     ♠  Jxx          Jxx             Jxxx         Jxxx

                                     ♥  Kxxx        Kxxx          Kxxx        Kxxx

                                     ♦  Kx            x                 Kx            x

                                     ♣ Axxx        Axxx           Axx          Axxx

 

Be honest.  Do you know how to evaluate a limit raise by partner with North’s hand?   And now, after seeing all of the hands, did you guess correctly?  So, do you like your chances to make game opposite the 1st South hand?  How about the 2nd South hand?  The 3rd South hand?  The 4th South hand?  Why?

 

VOILA!  Enter the forcing NT by responder, to be able to initiate a 3-card limit raise.  The requirements are:  either a balanced limit raise with 10+ to 12- (as in #1), or unbalanced limit raise (outside singleton) and lesser high card strength (7+ to 9-, as in #2), but with only 3-card support.  The 1st two hands would proceed, as follows:    1S-1NT-2D-3S   Might not opener strongly consider passing the limit raise, knowing that the raise was made with 3-card support?

 

Might not opener accept the invitation with the 3rd and 4th hands, knowing that partner has a 4-card limit raise?  Isn’t the risk of a trump loser now greatly diminished (I think that a 53% chance is better than 27%.)?  That is the impact of that 4th trump!!!   NOTE:  The knowledge of a 4th trump is often an important factor for slam investigation as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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How do you handle this one?

 

Partner opens 1S and you hold the following collection:

 

                                                             ♠  xx

                                                             ♥  KQx

                                                             ♦  A109x

                                                             ♣  Q10xx 

Do you really feel comfortable bidding 2♣, or 2♦ with this hand?

AHA!!!  Introducing the Forcing NT by responder, to be able to next bid 2NT.  Is that not a better description of balanced shape and strength, all at once? 

 

What if, instead, you hold                      ♠  xx

                                                              ♥  KQX

                                                              ♣  Q10xx

                                                              ♦  AQxx

 

Same problem as above.  Would you like to describe the strength and shape all at once?  How about a Forcing 1NT, followed by 3NT?  Since many partnerships use an immediate 2NT and 3NT bid as a forcing major game raise, this also fits in quite well with those approaches. 

 

 

 

Finally, a nice little gadget for you.

 

You pick up the following goodies and hear partner open the bidding with 1H:

                                                               

                                      ♠   xx                           xx

                                      ♥   ----                          x

                                      ♦   KJ10xx        or       KJ10xx

                                      ♣  QJxxxx                   AQJxx

 

Any clue how to handle these?  Isn’t 1NT the only sane bid available?  Do we bite the bullet and PASS, after the dreaded 2H rebid?  Worse, if we don’t play a forcing NT, and partner finds a PASS of 1NT, do you think we’re in the best spot?  Let’s assume partner rebids 2H (the only problem bid at the 2-level)….what now? 

 

Well, here we have the best of all worlds…..we didn’t respond 1S, so will partner assume that we don’t have four or more spades (clue: the answer is YES)?

 

The Impossible Spade comes to the rescue.  Bid 2S!!!  This will, hopefully, set off an alarm in partner’s head, that we have an impossible auction.   By agreement, responder has one of the hand types shown above. 

 

So, let’s start with opener’s obligations:

 

     With a full Spade stopper, opener rebids 2NT.

     Without a full Spade stopper, opener rebids his/her best minor (which will be

           the final contract, since there is probably no other playable spot).

 

Now, responder’s obligations:

 

      Holding a hand such as #1, the rebid over 2NT is 3C, which requires opener

           to take a minor suit preference at the 3-level (PASS 3C or correct to 3D).

 

      Holding a hand such as #2, the rebid over 2NT is a matter of choice:  PASS

           2NT, raise to 3NT, or bid 3C (again, requesting opener’s preference).  Too

           much latitude you say?   Sometimes, we lean on a little judgement.