108
Opening bid - 1NT
If you bid No Trump you show that you have a balanced hand with no void, no singleton and
at the most one doubleton
To open 1NT you should try to ensure that you have some control in all suits by having an honor card in
each. Notrump openings show a balanced hand and can be made with a five-card major suit or a five-card
minor suit. You should also have an honor card of Queen or higher in all of the suits and your hand
should not contain a void, a singleton or a worthless doubleton.
Distribution of your hand can be in either of the three following patterns
5, 3, 3, 2
or
4, 3, 3, 3
or
4, 4, 3, 2
If your cards are in either of these three patterns your hand is called "balanced" or "flat".
Distribution of your hand can be in either of the three following patterns
5, 3, 3, 2
or
4, 3, 3, 3
or
4, 4, 3, 2
If your cards are in either of these three patterns your hand is called "balanced" or "flat".
* If you have a 4 card major then your partner can use the
Stayman Convention (2C) to discover
them.
|
Opening with a 1NT Bid
· 15-17 HCP |
*Note
A doubleton when in a NoTrump contract should contain an honor card with the rank of Queen or higher. If the doubleton has two cards neither of which is a Q or higher then it is referred to as a "worthless doubleton" because effectively there are no stoppers in that suit
Instant Progress Quiz - Check all the correct answers
Exercise: With the hand below, what would you open the bidding?
Your Hand
- ♠ K 7 6 3
- ♥ A 10 8 7
- ♦ K Q 7
- ♣ A 7
Answer: Open 1NT with this hand. With no 5 card Major suit you should show your 4-4-3-2 distribution and 16 HCP
Extra for Experts
A different game on the same subject as this lesson, with questions for community discussion in the comments area below.
PLAY