DUPLICATE BRIDGE - NO TRUMP

NO TRUMP OPENINGS AND RESPONSES:

If partner opens 1NT and you  have 3 cards or fewer in the major suits, partnership will not as a matter of rule have an 8-card fit.  The hand will probably be played in a NT contract.

As the responder, you have 3 choices:

1.  If you have less than game going points, Pass.
2.  If you have enough points for game, invite partner to game by bidding 2NT.
3.  If you have enough points for game, bid directly 3NT.

NOTE:  There are good body points and bad body points.
              A good 8 points contains tens, nines and eights in addition to the HCP's.
              A bad 8 point hand has cards less than the rank of an eight.
              Also, 8 points with Jacks and Queens are considered bad points; 8 to 9 points with an ace and
              a king or 2 aces or 3 kings is considered a good 8-9 point  hand.

SLAM BIDDING:

Suppose your partner opens 1NT and you have 18-19 points.
This totals 34-36 points and is enough for a small slam.  6NT-6 S etc.
If partnership cannot find an 8-card fit in a major suit, then NT is the other alternative.

As a responder, you bid 4C - Gerber.
Let's say as a responder you have 16 points, partnership might have enough for a small slam but how do you ask partner if he has a maximum NT hand?

You bid 4C and 5C asking for aces and kings.
If partnership has the 4 aces and the 4 kings, bid at the 7 level otherwise, stop at the 6 level.
With a minimum NT hand, opener settles for 4NT.

2NT OPENING:

After your partner opens 2NT and you have a strong hand (12-15 pts.), bid 4NT quantitative if you have all the 4 suits stopped.
Opener passes with a minimum or bids 6NT with a maximum.
Bid 4C to ask partner about stoppers, aces and kings.

PARTNER OPENS NO TRUMP AND YOU HAVE A LONG MINOR SUIT:

You have a 6-card minor suit and invitational points.
You bid the minor suit at the 3 level.
The minor suit must be able to take at least 5 tricks with the opener's honor.

NOTE:  If you hold a 6-card major suit, bid Jacoby Transfer.

RECAP OF RESPONSES TO NO TRUMP OPENINGS:

1NT:

0 to 7 points  -  Pass
8 or more      -  2C (Stayman) partner, do you have a 4-card major?
0 to 10+ pts.  -  Jacoby Transfer, I have 5 hearts, bid 2H.   (D for H; H for S).
0 to 6 pts.      -  2S - transfer to 3C, I have a long minor suit and a weak hand.
8+ points.      -  2NT, invitational. (must have a balanced hand)

OTHER RESPONSES:

3C    --  6 clubs and invitational points for a NT game.
3D   --  6 diamonds and invitational points for a NT game.
3H   --  I have 6 hearts and slam interest.
3S    --  I have 6 spades and slam interest.
3NT  -  I have game values and no interest in a major suit game.
4C    -- Gerber, how many aces do you have.
4NT  -  Quantitative, invitation to NT slam.


NOTE:  The same is true for a 2NT opening bid.
              Bid 1 level higher.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE: WEAK TWO'S AND THE RULE OF 17

THE RULE OF 17.


The rule of 17 can be used to respond to a partner who opened the auction with a weak 2 Hearts or 2 Spades in an effort to pursue game or a possible slam contract in partner’s suit.

It works as follows:

 1 – Add your HCP’s to the number of cards you hold in your partner’s opening suit.

2 – If your total equals to 17, bid game or explore further for possible slam.

3 – With 20 HCP or more, bid 2NT for further investigation of partner’s hand.

4 – Opener rebids at the 3 level to show a feature** in a side suit with 9+ points.

5 – If feature complements your hand, bid 4NT to explore slam.

6 – Opener rebids his original suit at the 3 level with 6 to 7 points and no feature.

EXAMPLES:

Partner’s Hand:   K J 10 9 5 4
                            A 9
                            10 9 5
                            9 6

Your Hands:

Q 3
K Q 10 8
A 9 5
A 7 6 5.               Respond 4 Spades.

A Q 8 7
K Q10 8
9 7
A 5 4.                  Respond 4 Spades

Q 9 8 6
K Q J 10
A 9 8
A 2               Respond 2NT

K Q 9 5
K Q J 10 9
A K 5
A                 Respond 2NT

A J 2           
Q J 9 5    
K 10 7 
J 10 5         Respond Pass

Weak two opening bids can be assumed to take 5 tricks.
** A feature can be either a King or an Ace.