Partial or Game Contracts at NT

For our visitors who have not yet read the "majeure précisée", main subject of our site, the openings 1 and 2 are exactly and respectively equivalent to classical openings 1NT and 2NT, that is to say balanced and with 15-17HCP and with 20-21HCP.

Basic bidding at NT :

1	1 (relay) or 1 (relay)
1NT(complete) *	Pass (at most 7H) balanced
	2NT (with 8HCP) balanced **
	3NT (at least 9HCP) balanced **

* Obliged completing
** Without any major suiter

This sequence is the equivalent of a classic auction. When using it, the choice of 1 or 1 relay is irrelevant. But it is possible to be very more precise if these relays are used wisely:

If opener has only 16HCP and responder only 8HCP, and neither player has a 5-cards- minor suiter, the potential 3NT contract is very uncertain and likely to fall flat. This is also why, after opening 1NT, many good players pass with 8HCP if they don't have a 5-cards minor suiter.

Conversely, if opener is maxi with 17HCP while opener has 7HCP and a 5-cards mpnor suiter, the 3NT contracthas a good chance of success.

It is generally accepted that to declare a 3NT contract, a minimum of 25 HCP or 25 HCPL (Honnor more 1 length Point) isrequired in the line, i.e., 25 HCP without a 5-cards minor suiter , and 24 HCP more a 5-cards suiter.

Responder may neither indicate his 5-cards minor suiter if he has one, nor indicate that he has not. However, it is very important that he be able to indicate the true value of his hand, taking into account whether or not he holds a 5-cards minor-suiter.

For his part, the opener, knowing the real value of his partner's hand, must also take into account the real value of his own hand, taking into account a possible 5-cards minor-suiter in his hand.

They involve a differentiation between relays 1 and 1. Theese 2 relays require always the completing to 1NT by opener.

Precision bidding at NT :

After relay 1 Heart

1	1 (relay)
1NT	Pass(with 7HCP maxi)
	2NT(with 8HCP) balanced, no minor *

After relay 1 Spade

1	1 (relay)
1SA	2NT(9HCP, no minor) or (8HCP and minor **)
	3NT(10HCP, no minor) or (9HCP and minor ***)

* Of course, if the opener himself holds a five-card minor suiter, he has one extra HCPL length point and the fit in his minor is guaranteed
** That's to say 9HCPL length points
*** That's to say 10HCPL length points

After these two sequences, the opener only needs to perform a simple addition to check if the total of the HCP or HL points in the line reaches 25 or not.

Precision bidding, showing and specifying a 5-card minor suiter:

This involves the use of two "impossible" sequences. To understand this, recall the responder's direct strong and indirect weak major transfer responses when holding a 5-cards major suiter :

The direct strong major transfer answers 2 (Transfer to ) and 2 (Transfer to ) with a 5 cards major suiter and at least 8HCP :

1	2 (Transfer to ) 5, 8HCP+ *
2 (with 3) and 15H
2NT (with 2) and 15HCP
3 (with 3) and 16-17HCP
3NT (with 2) and 16-17HCP

* at least 8HCP

and

1	2 (Transfer to ) 5, 8HCP+ *
2 (with 3) and 15HCP
2NT (with 2) and 15HCP
3 (with 3) and 16-17HCP
3NT (with 2) and 16-17HCP

* at least 8HCP

The indirect weak major transfer answers :

1	1 (relay)
1NT (completing 1 )	2 (Transfer to ) 5 at most 7HCP
2 (completing 2)	Pass

and

1	1 (relay)
1NT (completing 1)	2 (Tranfer to ) 5 at most 7HCP
2 (completing 2)	Pass

The complete solution, involving 2 "impossible" sequences

Responder has at most 8 HCP

1	1 (relay)
1NT	Pass (with at most 7HCP)
	2NT (with just 8HCP) without 5 cards minor suiter

Responder has just 8HCP with 5, that is to say 9HCPL

1	1 (relay)
1NT (completing 1)	2 (Tranfer to ) 5 and at most 7HCP
2 (completing 2)	2NT *

* Impossible and artificial bid, showing 8 HCP and 5 (totaling 9 HCPL). It rules out the presumption of a weak hand with a 5-cards spade suiter. With 5 and at least 8 HCP, the responder would have made the direct response of 2 (Direct transfer to )

Responder has just 8HCP with 5, that is to say 9HCPL

1	1 (relay)
1NT (completing 1 )	2 (Transfer to ) 5 and at most 7HCP
2 (completing 2)	2NT *

* Impossible and artificial bid, showing 8 HCP and 5 (totaling 9 HCPL). It rules out the presumption of a weak hand with a 5-cards heart suiter. With 5 and at least 8 HCP, the responder would have made the direct response of 2 (Direct transfer to )

Responder has just 9HCP without any 5-cards minor suiter

1	1 (relay)
1SA	2NT (with 9HCP) without 5-cards minor suiter

Responder has at least 10HCP, with or without 5 cards minor suiter

After opener's completing to 1NT, the responder bids 3NT, unless he is very strong and has a slam hope

NB : When the responder has neither 5 nor 5, if the opener himself holds a five-card minor suiter, he has one extra HCPL length point and the minor fit is guaranteed

Choose mode Read or Print

* Chose mode "Read" is more convenient for reading, but the printing result is then poor.
** Choose mode "Print" is necessary for perfect printing. This mode may also be used for full scren reading. Once mode "Print" has been selected, use the command Print of your computer