The One Notrump
Battlefield – Competing against 1NT
opening bids and handling the competition by the opening side. – Prepared by Jon
Gustafson (June, 2009)
There is an ongoing
bridge convention arms race that has been waged from the mid-1940s. Until Alvin Landy developed his convention
for showing the majors after a 1NT opener, the opponents were expected to show
their respect for an opening bid of 1NT by passing. For the next few decades the battle had been
primarily on the defensive side of the field.
A long and growing list of conventions for competing against a notrump
opener has been in use. But the
opposition has countered with an array of tools designed to hold the defensive
intruders at bay. This lesson is a
survey of how to compete and how to handle the competition after an opening one
notrump.
Defensive Objectives after a One Notrump Opening Bid.
In the early days a 1NT
opener was 16-18 HCP. Today 15-17 is
most common, while not a small number of pairs use weak notrumps of 11-14 or medium
notrumps in the ranges 13-15 or 14-16.
You may also encounter light 10-12 and even the ultra-light 8-10 notrump
openers. Defensively, you need to be
prepared for three different notrump ranges:
Strong (and Medium) Notrump – any range which includes 15 HCP.
Weak Notrump – within the range of 10-14 HCP.
Ultra-Light Notrump – within the range of 8-10 HCP.
After
a 1NT opener there is not much room to maneuver. Effective competition requires getting in and
out at the two level. Possible defensive
actions include:
Penalty
Double – requires at least the upper end of the opened NT range and a good suit
to lead.
Natural
Overcall – a good six card suit and some scattered strength (see Rule of
Eight).
Conventional
Bid - showing 2 or more suits with suitable strength (also see Rule of Eight).
A hand with a single suit of 5 cards occurs in 15% of hands; a single suit of 6
cards occurs in 9% of all hands. However, a hand containing 5-4 suits occurs in
23% of hands.
Pass –
with no long suit or promising distribution and not enough strength for a
penalty double.
Mel’s Rule of Eight[1] –
Take the total number of cards in your two longest suits and subtract the
number of losers using the LTC method. If
the answer is 2 or higher, bid something.
If the answer is 1 or zero then pass.
This will get you into the ball park of when to compete and when to pass
based on top honors and distribution.
Safety is an additional factor, not fully addressed by the Rule of
Eight. A disaster looms when the suits
you hold break badly. The counter to
this is to have texture in the suits – packed with secondary honors and
intermediates.
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Counting Losers |
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missing the queen |
one loser |
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missing the ace and queen |
two losers |
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missing the ace and king |
two losers |
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missing the ace |
one loser |
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total |
six losers |
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Rule of
Eight Examples:
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Example 1 |
Example 2 |
Example
3 |
Example 4 |
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Example 1 – There are eight cards in the two
long suits but seven losers (two each in spades, diamonds and clubs and one in
hearts). You should pass despite the 12 high-card points and five-card major.
Example 2 – You have 10 cards in your two long
suits and seven losers (two each in spades, hearts and diamonds and one in
clubs). The difference is three, so the rule says should get in there. It's
only 6 HCP, but distribution is the key.
However, you are completely at the mercy of how these suits break with
such lousy texture.
Example 3 – From the 2000 Bermuda Bowl, Paul
Soloway held this hand and heard Brazil's Roberto Mello open 1NT (15-17) on his
right. Did Soloway bid or pass? Mel's Rule of 8 suggests a pass: eight cards
in the two longest suits minus seven losers equals one, so pass is recommended
despite the 15 HCP and nice spade suit.
Soloway did indeed pass and defeated 1NT two tricks. Soloway had not heard of the Rule of 8, but
he did what it suggests nonetheless.
Example 4 – Here is another example from the
Silver Ribbon Pairs at the 2007 Spring Nationals. With a strong 1NT opener on his right, a
player held this hand and entered the auction with a natural bid of 2¨.
The result was a doubled contract and a score of minus 800, what he
deserved. With a five-card suit and a flat hand, he should have opted for
defense. If you use the Rule of 8, it
will tell you when and when not to bid over their 1NT, and you will avoid
disasters of this type.
Defensive Agreements after a One Notrump Opening Bid.[2]
Consider
the following hands after your
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Hand A |
Hand B |
Hand C |
Hand D |
Hand E |
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1) Natural – Used against strong and weak, in both direct and balancing seats. All overcalls are natural and double is penalty. This agreement works fine with single suited hands such as A, but not for any of the other two or three suited hands. Unless you can show your distribution at the two level you can not be sure of finding your best fit without getting too high. None of the hands is strong enough for a penalty double.
2) Landy
– Used against strong and weak, in all seats.
Double is penalty; 2
shows both majors, at least 4-4 but usually at least 5-4. All other bids are natural. Responder usually bids their better major,
but at the expense of responding 2
naturally, the 2
response can be used to show equal length in the major allowing the overcaller
to guarantee playing in the best major fit.
The Landy convention works well with hands A & B and with hand C if
you allow 4-4 in the majors, but you cannot satisfactorily handle hands D &
E.
3) Cansino
– Used against strong and weak, in all seats.
Double is penalties; 2
shows a hand playable in ’s
and two other suites. 2
shows both majors and all other bids are natural. This defense works well with single major
suited hands (hand A) and very well with many 3-suited hands (hand C) except
those with short clubs. A problem is
that you may find yourself playing in 2 or
2
when there is a better major suit fit.
4) DONT – Used only against strong notrumps in all seats.
DBL = a single suited hand
2 = ’s
and another suit
2 = ’s
and a major
2
= both
majors
2
= ’s (a
weaker hand than double followed by a bid).
One advantage of
using DONT is that all two-suited hands have the potential of being shown,
although only the majors are shown explicitly.
There is a bid for every hand A through E. Because not all suits are shown at once,
including single-suited hands, huge fits might go undiscovered. Keeping one suit hidden might be a limited
advantage if the opening side declares.
You may find yourself in a minor suit contract when there is a major
suit fit when a 2/
overcall is passed out. The biggest
advantage, as advertised, probably is disrupting the opponent’s notrump
conventions.
5) Cappelletti/Hamilton – Used against both weak and strong notrumps in all seats.
DBL = penalties
2 = a
single suited hand, usually a major but not necessarily.
2 = both
majors, at least 5-4
2 = ’s
and a minor
2 = ’s
and a minor
2NT = both minors
Cappelletti/Hamilton
is more versatile than DONT in part because the penalty double is available
against weak notrumps. It also discloses
the more important major suits in two-suited hands. There is a bid for every combination of hands
A through E. The response to 2 is
that advancer usually bids 2
which overcaller will pass or correct to his suit. The main disadvantage is the inability to
show a single-suited major hand quickly.
In response to 2
showing both majors advancer bids his best major, but the best major fit may
not be found. This is probably the most
popular convention in the
6) Astro – Used against both weak and strong notrumps in all seats.
DBL = penalties
2 = ’s
and a minor
2 = ’s
and another suit (which could be hearts)
2 = ’s
2 = ’s
2NT = both minors
Distribution for
the 2
and 2
bids should be at least 5-4 in the two suits or possibly 4-4-4-1 shape. Astro has an even stronger emphasis on the
majors and overcomes the ineffectiveness of many systems to introduce a
single-suited major hand. Astro and it
many variants are popular among experienced players, although the national and
international experts that dominate the ACBL national tournaments each seem to
have their personal favorites.
7) Grano-Astro – Used against strong notrumps in all seats.
DBL = ’s
and a lower suit
2 = ’s
and ’s
2 = ’s
and ’s
2 = ’s
2 = ’s
2NT = both minors or a huge two-suiter.
Distribution
for the 2
and 2
bids should be at least 5-4 in the two suits or possibly 4-4-4-1 shape. Grano-Astro is a refinement of Astro with
many of the benefits of Astro but also names both suits when hearts are held
(see hand E). Its focus is less on
disruption and more on winning part score competitive battles.
8) Ultra-Light Notrump Defense – used specifically against very weak notrump openers in the range of 8-10 HCP. Double shows a strong notrump opener, any distribution. You would have opened 1NT. Advancer can pass for penalties or, use the entire 1NT bidding structure just as though 1NT had been opened. All other suit bids are natural and show a good overcall.
This is just a few of the many dozens of defenses to one no trump openers. Most of these agreements with the exception of DONT handle the major suit combinations well. Cansino and DONT can introduce the most combinations of suits but are pretty ineffective at actually finding useful fits. There main value is to get in, disrupt and get out, without really trying to complete. Cappelletti/Hamilton and Astro revolve around the major suits, treating the minors as spots of last refuge if a major fit does not materialize. Grano-Astro is similar to another class of conventions such as Pin-point Astro and Brozel (neither described) which tries to explicitly introduce both suits in a two-suited hand. This makes finding a fit quicker and easier and is therefore more effective at competing. But this is only accomplished by not explicitly handling every two suited combination.
The follow up bids by the advancer for most of the conventions can be complex. For example, a 2NT bid by advancer is generally used to signal a strong, distributional hand with interest in game. These agreements are not covered here but must be learned to use these conventions well.
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Agreements for
Countering Competition after a One Notrump Opening Bid
Just as the choice of agreements for completing against a 1NT opener depend upon what you are trying to accomplish, the ways of handling competition depend upon your objectives. All of the following seem to be issues when dealing with the disruption.
- Ignoring the pesky opponents, as though they didn’t exist
- Penalizing the interferers when possible
- Competing effectively in the battle for a part score or more
- Escaping from a penalty double
1) Mirror
Doubles / Stolen Bids[3] –
After an opening 1NT bid if an opponent bids 2 then
double is Stayman, if an opponent bids 2
then double is a transfer to hearts and if an opponent bids 2
then double is a transfer to spades. And
further, all higher bids retain their same meaning as though no interference
had occurred. The goal using this
agreement is to make the opponents go away.
Just as if they were silent. But
is this such a good idea? Haven’t you
learned something about the opponent’s hands?
Is there a juicy penalty waiting?
Should you be forewarned of a running suit should you end in a notrump
contract? In spite of the popularity of
this convention, is sticking your head in the sand the best approach? Part of the answer depends upon how useful other
meanings of doubles or simple suit bids can be, considered next.
2) Doubles in Competition[4] – After an opening 1NT bid is overcalled a double has several possible meanings:
- The default meaning of the double of an overcall (no matter what the overcall shows) is penalty. By default we mean that in the absence of any discussion or expectation about the meaning of the double with your partner.
-
Many choose to use the double of a 2
bid as Stayman, but do not use any other form of Mirror Doubles / Stolen Bids.
- Until they past few years, many players played penalty at the two level and negative doubles at the three level.
- There is trend toward playing that all doubles are negative, takeout for the un shown suits. A corollary of this agreement is that the negative double tends to shows shortness in the opponent’s suit(s), so with length and a desire to defend a doubled contract, you must pass. Your partner will hopefully reopen with a double when short in the opponent’s suit.
- In response to the many conventions showing two-suiters, a useful agreement is that the double of one-suiters are negative, doubles of two-suiters are penalty (showing defense against at least one of their suits) and three level doubles are negative.
3) Simple Suit Bids in Competition[5] – After an opening 1NT bid is overcalled, a suit bid at the two level is natural and to play and three level bids are forcing. Rather than being a transfer it is very useful to be able to compete for a part score and still be able to make forcing bids, exploring the best contract. The obvious problem is we need a way to make an invitational bid. That’s where the 2NT lebensohl convention comes in, next.
4) The lebensohl Convention[6] – Incorporating 2) and 3) we are able to respond to competition at the two and three level, showing non-forcing and forcing strength hands, but it appears we have run out of space. How do we invite? We do have a 2NT bid available. In the old days this showed 8-9 points opposite a 15-17 opening notrump. Can we do without it? We will discover that what we gain is much more valuable than the loss. After a 1NT opener and a natural overcall,
- Doubles are negative at the two and three level.
- At the two level a suit bid is to play.
- At the three level a suit bid is forcing to game.
- 2NT is
an artificial relay to 3.
Responder’s rebid over 3
are,
a. Pass with a weak hand and long clubs.
b. Any suit below the rank of the overcall is a signoff.
c. Any suit above the rank of the overcall is invitational.
- An immediate cue bid by responder is Stayman. It promises at least one four-card major and denies a stopper in the enemy suit.
- A direct jump to three notrump denies a stopper in the enemy suit.
- 2NT followed by a cue bid is Stayman and shows a stopper in the enemy suit.
- 2NT followed by 3NT shows a stopper in the enemy suit.
After artificial overcalls showing two-suiters where only
one of the suits is known, lebensohl is used and the known suit serves the same
function as a naturally overcalled suit.
If both of the suits are known strong hands can use unusual vs. unusual
to show responders suits. Against an
artificial double or 2
bid to show a single suit, responder can use lebensohl immediately, ignoring
which suit was to be shown. Or, if interested in what the suit is, can pass and
over the identified suit use all of lebensohl.
5)
Escaping from a penalty double – Playing weak notrumps
having ways of scrambling to a better contract is essential, if only to recover
a small handful of matchpoints or IMPs.
Even playing strong notrumps getting caught in a penalty double can be
costly. Here is one suggested treatment
that doesn’t require much memory work.
After 1NT is doubled for penalty, a redouble is a run out to 2
either to play or to scramble to 2. A rebid of 2
after the redouble shows both majors.
All other bids are simply what you normally play over 1NT, including
Stayman, transfers, etc. This way you
can run to any suit at the two level.
6) Overcoming
a Lead Directing Double – If the opponents double our 2
Stayman bid,
- Pass shows exactly one club stopper.
- Redouble shows two or more club stoppers.
- Neither of the above actions says anything about majors.
-
2
after one of the above actions is re-Stayman.
- Any other bid indicates no club stoppers.
Review: Partner
1NT 2 ?
(1)
73 AJ1084 9743 75 Bid 2, signoff.
(2)
A7 KJ1094 42 10963 Bid 2NT
followed by 3, invitational.
(3)
A7 AQJ85 8654 64 Bid 3, game forcing.
(4)
AQ986 86 974 872 Bid 2, signoff
Partner
1NT 2 ?
(5)
1092 53 KJ10974 83 Bid 2NT
followed by 3, signoff.
(6)
82 4 AQ10 KQ109742 Bid 3, game forcing.
(7)
AQ986 86 974 872 Bid 2, signoff
(8)
AQ986 75 Q102 K93 Bid 3, game forcing.
(9)
J1098 43 AQJ Q1087 Bid 3, Stayman without a stopper.
(10) Q1082 AJ 652 A1043 Bid 2NT
followed by 3, Stayman with a heart stopper.
(11) A9 652 AQ9 J8432 Bid
3NT, game forcing without a heart stopper.
(12) AJ2 A9 Q976 J1083 Bid 2NT
followed by 3NT, game force with a heart stopper.
(13) 872 1098 KJ1094 A10 Bid 3NT, a
stretch without a heart stopper.
(14) A972 4 J10 KQ10986 Bid 3, game forcing, opener can bid spades.
(15) AQ109 43 Q1095 873 Bid Double,
for takeout.