Partial or Game Contracts in NT

For visitors who haven't yet visited our site, remember that the 1 opening replaces the 1NT opening. It is therefore balanced, without majors, and runs from 15 to 17HCP.

Basic Bidding in NT:

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

* Oblifed 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 in his hand.

For clarity and brevity, the following conventions will be adopted in the following brief presentation:

- Instead of HCP points we refer to H points (Honnor points) for any hand without a 5° minor, and instead of HCPL points we refer to HL points (Honnor points more 1 length point) for any hand with a 5° minor.

- Any number of HL points indicated has the same value as the same number of H points indicated.
For example, 8HL counts as much as 8H, but only contains 7H more 1 length point.

Analysis of responder's responses and opener's rebids:

1 - Responder has at most 7H or 7HL : Responder use relay 1 then Passes after opener's 1NT completing

2 - Responder has at least 8H or 8 HL : Responder uses relay 1. Opener completes to 1NT with 15H, but to 2NT with 16H or 16HL, and to 3NT with 17H or 17HL.
Over 2NT, responder passes with at most 8H or 8HL, but bids 3NT with at least 9H or 9HL.

3 - Responder has at least 9H or 9HL : Responder also uses the relay 1.
Opener completes to 1NT, 2NT or 3NT as above. Over 1NT responder passes with at most 9H or 9HL and bids 3NT with at least 10H or 10HL.
Over 2NT responder bids 3NT

In summary, it's very simple:

Responder always uses relay 1 with at most 7H or 7HL, and relay 1P with at least 8H or 8HL.
After relay 1, opener always completes to 1NT and responder passes
After relay 1, opener always completes to 1NT with 15H, to 2NT with 16H or 16HL, and to 3NT with 17H or 17 HL.

In all cases, both responder and opener only have to make a simple addition to check whether the total in the line reaches at least 25 H or HL, or whether to stand at 1NT or 2NT, as the case may be.

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