Opening 1NT Acol : Bridge Online
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An opening bid of 1NT is different from any other opening bid in that it shows 12-14 HCP and not 12-19 HCP like other 1-level openings.
1NT like most notrump bids is limited in strength. It also promises a balanced hand.
Balanced means:
• no 5-card major
• no singleton (1-card suit) or void (0 cards)
• at most one doubleton (2-card suit)
1NT does not promise honour cards in every suit. This hand is balanced even though it has two small spades.
Your hand is just right for a 1NT opening. Anytime you have 12-14 HCP and a balanced hand you should open 1NT in preference to 1 of a suit.
You should still open 1NT with a 5-card minor, but not with a 5-card major.
This time you have a singleton diamond. The correct opening bid is 1♣.
Now you have a 5 card major. 1NT is the wrong bid. The correct opening bid is 1♠.
This time you are too strong to open 1NT. Open 1♣, the lower of your two 4-card suits
Responding to 1NT
It is usually responder's job to choose the final contract after a 1NT opening. Responding to 1NT is easy because opener is limited to 12-14, which makes it easy for responder to calculate the combined total.
Responding to 1NT, with a Balanced Hand
• 0-10 balanced = pass
• 11-12 balanced = 2NT
• 13+ balanced = 3NT
10 HCP is not enough for game as partner's maximum is 14. You should pass with this hand.
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 1NT | P | 2NT |
With 11-12 HCP, there MIGHT be enough for game, and you should invite opener to bid game by bidding 2NT. Partner will bid 3NT with a maximum hand and pass with a minimum.
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 1NT | P | 3NT |
With 13+ HCP you are strong enough to bid game.
Responding to 1NT, with an Unbalanced Hand
• 0-10 5+card suit = 2♣,♦,♥,♠
• 13+ 5-card suit = 3♥,♠
• 13+ 6-card suit = 4♥,♠
If you have a long suit, it will be safer to play in a suit contract. This bid is called a weakness takeout. It simply means your hand is not suitable for notrumps.
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 1NT | P | 2♥ |
Even though your hand is very weak, it will take more tricks if hearts are trumps. Remember that YOU choose the final contract. Partner will pass.
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 1NT | P | 2♠ |
Even with a 5-card suit it might still be safer to play in that suit rather than 1NT. Bid 2♠ with this hand. It will be safer than 1NT, as you have a singleton heart.
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 1NT | P | 4♥ |
This time you have enough for game. 1NT promises at least 2 hearts so you have a fit.
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 1NT | P | 3♥ |
Now, you don't know whether 3NT or 4♥ is the best contract. Ask partner which is the better contract. Jumping to 3♥ is the answer.
| ♠ A8 | |
| ♥ Q98 | |
| ♦ K87 | |
| ♣ A8765 | |
| ♠ | | ♠ |
| ♥ | | ♥ |
| ♦ | | ♦ |
| ♣ | | ♣ |
| ♠ Q76 | |
| ♥ KJ754 | |
| ♦ AQ4 | |
| ♣ 32 | |
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 1NT | P | 3♥ | P |
| | 4♥ |
Bidding 3♥ shows exactly five hearts and asks me to bid 4♥, with 3 or 4 hearts or...
| ♠ A82 | |
| ♥ Q9 | |
| ♦ K87 | |
| ♣ A8765 | |
| ♠ | | ♠ |
| ♥ | | ♥ |
| ♦ | | ♦ |
| ♣ | | ♣ |
| ♠ Q76 | |
| ♥ KJ754 | |
| ♦ AQ4 | |
| ♣ 32 | |
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 1NT | P | 3♥ | P |
| | 3NT |
I will bid 3NT, if I only have 2 hearts.
Responding to 1NT
• 0-10 balanced = pass
• 11-12 balanced = 2NT
• 13+ balanced = 3NT
• 0-10 5+card suit = 2♣,♦,♥,♠
• 13+ 5-card suit = 3♥,♠
• 13+ 6-card suit = 4♥,♠
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