Opening 1NT Std : Bridge Online
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An opening bid of 1NT is different from any other opening bid in that it shows 15-17 HCP and not 13+ HCP like other 1-level openings.
1NT like most notrump bids is limited in strength. A 1NT opening 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 honor 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 15-17 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 weak to open 1NT. Open 1♣, your better minor, as you normally would.
Responses 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 15-17 which makes it easy for responder to calculate the combined total.
Responses to 1NT, with a Balanced Hand
• 0-7 balanced = pass
• 8-9 balanced = 2NT
• 10+ balanced = 3NT
0-7 HCP is not enough for game as partner's maximum is 17. You should pass with this hand.
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 1NT | P | 2NT |
With 8-9 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.
With 11 HCP you are strong enough to bid game.
Responses to 1NT, with an Unbalanced Hand
• 0-7 TP 5+ card suit = 2♣,♦,♥,♠
• 10+ TP 5 card suit = 3♥,♠
• 10+ TP 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.
Even though your hand is very weak, it will take more tricks if hearts are trumps.
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 1NT | P | 2♥ |
A weak hand with a 6-card suit is better in a suit. Bid 2♥. Remember that YOU choose the final contract. Partner will pass.
Even with a 5-card suit it might still be safer to play in that suit rather than 1NT. Remember that you, as responder, are in charge. 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 HCP for game. The opening 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.
| ♠ AK | |
| ♥ Q98 | |
| ♦ K87 | |
| ♣ A8765 | |
| ♠ | | ♠ |
| ♥ | | ♥ |
| ♦ | | ♦ |
| ♣ | | ♣ |
| ♠ Q76 | |
| ♥ KJ754 | |
| ♦ A94 | |
| ♣ 32 | |
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 1NT | P | 3♥ | P |
| | 4♥ |
Bidding 3♥ shows exactly five hearts and asks partner to bid 4♥ with 3 or 4 hearts.
| ♠ A82 | |
| ♥ Q9 | |
| ♦ K87 | |
| ♣ A8765 | |
| ♠ | | ♠ |
| ♥ | | ♥ |
| ♦ | | ♦ |
| ♣ | | ♣ |
| ♠ Q76 | |
| ♥ KJ754 | |
| ♦ A94 | |
| ♣ 32 | |
| | North | East | South | West |
| | 1NT | P | 3♥ | P |
| | 3NT |
With only 2 hearts, partner will bid 3NT.
Summary of Responses to 1NT
• 0-7 balanced = pass
• 8-9 balanced = 2NT
• 10+ balanced = 3NT
• 0-7 5+card suit = 2♣,♦,♥,♠
• 8+ 6-card suit = 4♥,♠
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