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Responding Medium Strength Hand After Partners Opening 1NT
Being left to play in a 1NT contract can be difficult to play, often the opposition ends up
with more points than you, so when your partner opens 1NT you must think about the difficulty s/he will be in if you
leave them to play there.
Look at your own hand and add your points to partners take the shape of your hand into consideration as well, is
it balanced or do you have singletons or voids and long suits? Distributional points cannot be counted when you
bid notrump.
If your partner opened 1 NT they are saying that they are balanced with at least two cards in each suit and they have 12-14 HCP If your partner opened 1 in a suit they have from 11-19 TP.
*Invitational Bids If game is possible (10-11 points), responder bids 2NT (2 No Trump) or with
unbalanced hand and 10-11 points bid another suit at the 2/3 level These are called an “invitational bids” as
they invite opener to bid game with maximum point count; opener will pass with a minimum point count.
If you jump-bid 3H or 3S opener must not pass. You have shown 12-14 HCP and with 10-11 HCP game can be bid has not been reached. With four or more cards in responder’s suit, opener should raise to four hearts or four spades.
If your partner opened 1 NT they are saying that they are balanced with at least two cards in each suit and they have 12-14 HCP If your partner opened 1 in a suit they have from 11-19 TP.
Your hand is medium and balanced
| Your Points | Your NoTrump Bid |
|---|---|
| 10 -14 HCP | 3NT |
Your hand is unbalanced
If the shape of your hand is unbalanced with more than one doubleton, singleton or void it is much more suitable for the partnership to be in a suit contract.If you jump-bid 3H or 3S opener must not pass. You have shown 12-14 HCP and with 10-11 HCP game can be bid has not been reached. With four or more cards in responder’s suit, opener should raise to four hearts or four spades.
| Responder
Points |
Responders
Longest Suits |
Responders
Suit Bid |
|---|---|---|
| 10-12 TP | 6+ cards | 4♠, 4♥ |
| 10-12 TP | two four card major suits | If partner opens 1NT - 2♣ - Stayman Convention* |
| 10-12 TP | two 4 or 5 card minor suits and no fit for partners major | 3NT |
Instant Progress Quiz - Check all correct answers
Partner opens 1♣
What is your responding bid?
- ♠ Q 9 4 3
- ♥ A K 9
- ♦ J 7 5 4
- ♣ J 4
Answer: 1 ♦ show your 4 card diamonds and in the next round of
bidding plan to show your spades and your 10-12 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