Bidding Responding One Notrump Openers Jim Berglunds Bridge

Bidding & Responding: One Notrump Openers Jim Berglund’s Bridge Lesson 5 Stayman Garbage Stayman 4 -Way Transfers Jacoby & Texas Transfers Two-way Smolen Two-way three-level bids The Gerber Ace-Asking Convention

Open 1 NT with Hands That Have the Following Characteristics: ♠ A good 14 to a bad 17 HCP ♠ No singletons or voids ♠ No 5 -card Major Suit (hearts or spades) ♠ At least 3 cards in one of the Major suits (or stoppers in both) Open these hands 1 NT ♠QJ 86 ♥QJ 9 ♦KQ ♣ K Q 10 8 ♠QJ 97 ♥K 6 ♦ K 10 9 3 ♣AJ ♠ Bid 1 ♠Don’t ♠AK 75 ♥ 43 ♦AK 3 ♣ J 10 3 2 ♠J 32 ♥K 986 ♦Q 73 ♣AKQ Bid 11 NT ♣ with. Bidthe 1 ♣following Bidhands 1♣ Open ♠QJ 973 ♥K 6 ♦ K 10 9 ♣AJ ♠KQ 86 ♥ Q J 10 9 ♦A ♣ K Q 10 8 ♠AK 75 ♥ 43 ♦AK 3 ♣ A 10 3 2 ♠J 32 ♥K 653 ♦Q 73 ♣AKQ ♠Q 7 ♥K 9 ♦AKQJ 92 ♣ 654 Bid 1 ♦ ♠KQ ♥KQ ♦ Q J 10 7 3 2 ♣J 65

Responses to One Notrump ♠ ♠ ♠ Let us assume your partner opens the bidding one notrump, showing 14 ½-17 HCP and a flat hand the next player passes. You will be called the “responder” since you will be responding to partner’s bid. First you should consider whether the best contract will be in a major suit or in No. Trump. Is a major-suit trump fit likely? Note that partner promised a balanced hand so he has at least two cards in every suit. Next you should consider whether to bid game. This is done by adding your points to the 15 -17 HCP shown by partner. Is it possible to reach 25+-26 points? Keep this in mind as you decide what to do.

My Teaching Approach ♠ You would be amazed at how many people tell me ♠ that all I should cover in this section are what a no trump hand looks like, and a couple of conventions (Stayman and Jacoby Transfers) Unfortunately, you don’t just get the easy hands when you’re starting out! And youwill want to know how to bid hands that don’t fit into that box. I believe that you can and should be given the best tools and methods earlier, rather than later. They’ll save you a lot of trouble at the bridge table, reduce frustration for everyone, and will likely get you better results.

Responses to One Notrump Bid 2 ♣ Stayman 1 ♠QJ 65 ♥ 862 ♦ K 10 5 3 ♣ 72 Bid 2 ♥ Bid 3 NT Bid 4 ♦ Bid 2 ♣ Transfer To Play 3 Transfer 4 (then 2 ♠/2 ♦ 5 ) 2 ♠ Q 10 8 6 2 ♠K 75 ♠ 32 ♠Q 732 ♥ 95 ♥ 43 ♥KQ 986 ♦J 64 ♦AK 3 ♦Q 73 ♦ 73 ♣ 983 ♣ J 10 9 6 2 ♣A 64 ♣J 6 Bid 2 ♣ (then 4 ♥ /2 ♦ )6 ♠A 7432 ♥KQ 98 ♦ 73 ♣J 6 Bid 2 NT Transfer 7 Bid 3 ♣ Invitational 8 ♠ 74 ♥ 982 ♦ K 10 9 7 3 2 ♣ 6 ♠ 74 ♥ 9 ♦KQJ 73 ♣ A 10 7 6 5 Bid 2 NT Transfer 9 ♠ 7 ♥ 982 ♦ A K 10 9 7 3 2 ♣A 6 Write your responses to your partner’s 1 NT opener with each of the above hands. Then compare with the recommended bids, which will be fully described in the following chart

Responses to 1 NT Opening Bids by Partner There are several types of ‘flat’ hands where you want to bid NT. (None of them has a major suit with more than 3 cards in it. ) Points Response 0 to a ‘bad*’ 7 Pass A good 7 to a bad 9 Bid 2♣, then 2 NT over any bid by partner 10 to 15 3 NT 16 - to a bad 18 4 NT (quantitative) A good 18+ 4♣** - ‘Gerber’ – asks for aces. If you have them all, 5♣ asks for Kings * No 5 -card minor and/or no 10’s **Important! - 4♣ is ALWAYS Gerber directly over any NT bid on any sequence

The Revised Gerber Ace-Asking Convention ♠ Over 1 NT or 2 NT openers, 4♣ asks for Aces ♠ After any of the above responses, 5♣ asks for the number of Kings, (5♦ shows 0 or 4, 5♥ shows 1, 5♠ shows 2 and 5 NT shows 4) Important! - 4♣ is ALWAYS Gerber, directly over any NT bid on any sequence – including 3 NT – no matter how many times clubs have been bid along the way ♠ ♥ 4♦ shows 0 or 3 Aces ♥ 4♥ shows 1 or 4 Aces ♥ 4♠ shows 2 Aces with a minimum hand ♥ 4 NT shows 2 Aces with a Maximum hand

Major Suit Responses to 1 NT The most desirable response to partner’s one-notrump opening is to show a five-card or longer major suit. Responder may count distributional points when he plans to bid a suit. ♠ Traditional Teaching ♥ With 7 points or less, responder should show his major suit at the two level. The opening notrump bidder should pass because game is out of reach (7 + 18 = 25 at most). This contract will often fail, but it usually will be better than a contract of one notrump. ♥ With 10 points or more (enough for game as 10 + 16 = 26 at least), responder may show his major suit at the three level. Alternatively, with a six-card or longer major suit, and 10 - 14 points, responder may bid at the four level.

Transfers over NT Modern Treatments use ‘ transfer bids ’. ♠ Responder bids the suit below his major (Jacoby Transfer). ♠ Opener then bids the suit first and normally plays the hand. ♠ This is called ‘right-siding’ the contract, as the lead now comes to the strong hand rather than through it.

4 -Way Transfers over NT I personally use and recommend the use of ‘ transfer bids’ for the minor suits, as well. ♠ With a long or good club suit, Responder bids 2♠ ♠ With a long or good diamond suit, Responder bids 2 NT ♠ With a minimum and less than 3 cards to an honor, Opener just bids the appropriate suit. ♠ With a maximum and any 3 trumps or a good hand 3 cards to a high honor (A, K or Q), or 4 trumps, Opener ‘Super-accepts’ by making the intervening bid (2 NT for clubs; 3♣ for diamonds) ♠ With a weak hand, Responder simply bids his suit ♠ With a ‘better’ hand, he has other options: ♠ A suit bid is feature-showing, and invitational ♠ 4♣/4♦ are 0314 Gerber (respectively) ♠ Any bid over the suit game level is Exclusion BW ♠ 4 NT and 5 NT are Quantitative

Major Suit Responses to 1 NT ♠ ♠ With 5 -5 or better in the majors, Bid 3♥ with a game-going hand or 3♠ with slam interest. Over 3♥ Partner can then pass with 2 -2 in the majors and a minimum, or bid 2 -level 3 NT withtransfers, a maximum 4♥/♠ withasks 3 cards After Jacoby 4♣or(Gerber) for to an honor or any 4. ª Bidding 4 NT after Transfers Aces, etc; 4 NT is Quantitative. It askes partner to bid Points Suitsuit) Length Transfer (Modern) 6 NT (or 6 of your if they have a amaximum holding, 0+or to Pass without ‘extras’ 5+ 2 ♦ or 2 ♥ (Jacoby) 7+-10 - 6+ 4 ♦ or 4 ♥ (Texas) ªAfter Texas 4 -level transfers, 4 NT is a 1430 key-card -asking bid in your suit. 10+ - 14 6+ 2 ♦ or 2 ♥ (Jacoby) Followed by another bid

What if you have 4 cards in only one Major suit? ♠ Use the ‘Stayman’ Convention ♥ With only one 4 -card major and <7 ♥ ♥ HCP, Pass With 8+ points or 4 -4 in the majors, bid Stayman; respond 2♣, which is artificial and forcing A response of 2♣ over an opening 1 NT asks partner if she has a 4 -card major. ♦ If she has one, she bids it. ♦ If she has 2 -4 -card majors she bids 2♥ ♦ If she has neither major, she bids 2♦ ♣ Now what does responder do?

After Opener’s Response to Stayman… Points With a M Fit No Fit (2 ♦/♥) 0 -7 Pass 2 ♥* 8 -9 Raise 2♠ or 2 NT (inv) 10 -16 Bid game 3 NT 17+ Bid something else! ♥* ‘Garbage Stayman’ - Opener will pass or correct to 2♠

What if you are 4 -4, 4 -5 or 5 -5 in the Majors? Points 4♥ - 4 ♠ 5 ♥ -4♠ 4♥ - 5 ♠ 5♥ - 5 ♠ 0 to 6 2♣ (Garbage Stayman) 2♦ (Jacoby) 2♥ (Jacoby) 2♣ (Garbage Stayman) 7 to 14 2♣ (Stayman) 2♣ 2♣ 2♣ 7 -9 Opener responds 2♦ 2 NT Invitational to 3 NT 2♠ Invitational 3♥ Smolen Invitational 10 -14 Opener responds 2♦ 3 NT 3♠ Game Forcing Smolen 4♥ Game Forcing Smolen 3♠ Forcing 15+ 2♣ (Stayman) 2♦ (Jacoby) 2♥ (Jacoby) 3♠ Forcing (a subsequent bid is for slam)

Minor Suit Responses over 1 NT With 0 -5 points and 6+ cards in a minor, bid 2♠* (transfer to 3♣) or 2 NT* (transfer to 3♦) and Pass With 6 -8 points, and Qxxxxx (“Queen sixth”) or better in a minor, make a 4 -way transger (2♣ for clubs and 2 NT for diamonds). If partner ‘Super-Accepts’ by bidding 2 NT or 3♣, respectively, you can decide if you want to go on. With 9+ points, bid 2♠* (transfer to 3♣) or 2 NT* (transfer to 3♦) and bid again (Game force) If you have enough strength, bid 3 NT • *Part of the ’Four-way transfer’ convention

What if you are 4 -4, 4 -5 or 5 -5 in the Minors? Points 4♣ - 4 ♦ 5 ♣ -4♦ 5♦ - 4♣ 5♣ - 5 ♦ 0 to 6 Pass 7 to 9 Pass 3♣ shows 5 -5, invitational 10 -14 3 NT 2♠ - Transfer, followed by 3 NT 2 NT - Transfer, followed by 3 NT 3♦ shows 5 -5, Game Forcing 15+ 2♣ (Stayman) followed by 3♣ over 2♦; some NT otherwise 3♦ Forcing (a subsequent bid is slamgoing) Invitational to a minor-suit slam

Quiz 1 ♠ Assume your partner opens the bidding one notrump and the next player passes. How many points is each hand worth and what is your call? Do not count distributional points if you will pass or bid notrump. ♠QJ 65 ♥ 862 ♦ K 10 5 3 ♣ 72 6 Points __ Pass Call __ This is a good, flat hand. There is little to be gained by looking for a 4 -4 heart fit, and no reasonable bid if there isn’t one.

2 ♠ Q 10 8 6 2 ♥ 95 ♦J 64 ♣ 983 4 Points ____ 2♥ Call ____ The only way partner will get to this hand is with the spade suit. Use Jacoby Transfer, to get to 2♠, and partner will play it

3 ♠K 75 ♥ 43 ♦AK 3 ♣ J 10 9 6 2 12 Points ____ 3 NT Call ____ Why fool around? 15 + 11 = 26 HCP Easily enough for game. The 5 -card club suit with lots of entries should set up.

4 ♠ 32 ♥KQ 986 ♦Q 73 ♣A 64 12 Points ____ 2♦ Call ____ The 5 -card heart suit has to be shown. After partner accepts your Jacoby transfer, bid 3 NT. It allows partner to pass with only 2 hearts, or optionally bid 4 hearts.

5 ♠Q 732 ♥KQ 986 ♦ 73 ♣J 6 9 Points ____ 2♣ Call ____ After a 2 D rebid to your 2 C response, you have enough points to enter into a Smolen sequence, (showing 5♥ and 4♠) but since your hand is marginal, with only one quick trick, invite with a 2 spade bid

6 ♠A 7432 ♥KQ 98 ♦ 73 ♣J 6 11 Points ____ 2♣ Call ___ Bid 2♣ and if partner bids a 4 -card Major, jump to game, (do not invite), If he bids 2♦ , since this hand has 2 quick tricks and the right distribution, so force to game with a 4♥ Smolen bid. If partner bids 4 NT over forcing Smolen, Pass Alternatively, you could transfer to spades and then bid 3♥ (but this only shows a feature, not a 4 -card suit. However, it could get you to 3 NT. (I tend to avoid this sequence, since I use Smolen to show these hands. Your choice…

7 ♠ 7432 ♥ 9832 ♦ 732 ♣J 6 1 Points ____ 2♣ Call ____ Garbage Stayman! If partner bids 2♦, bid 2♥ She will pass or correct to 2♠ Note that if partner opens 1 NT with 2 -2 in the majors, she can correct to her 5 card minor suit

8 ♠ 74 ♥ 982 ♦ Q 10 9 7 3 2 ♣ 6 5 Points ___ 2 NT Call ____ This hand is also pretty bad. Bid 2 NT to transfer to 3♦, and pass

9 ♠ 74 ♥ 982 ♦ Q 10 9 7 3 2 ♣A 6 9 Points ____ 3♦ Call ____ With the addition of only one trick, this hand is much better. Jump to 3♦. Partner will bid 3 NT with any 3 diamonds and a maximum hand, any 3 diamonds to a top honor, or pass

10 ♠ 7 ♥ 982 ♦ A K 10 9 7 3 2 ♣A 6 16 Points ____ 3♦ Call ____ Aren’t 4 -way transfers great? They can be used in 2 ways – to show a weak hand or a very good hand. This hand is MUCH better. Transfer to 3♦. Then bid 4 C to show your Ace. He should bid 4 D with any 3 or Qx. Use 4 NT to ask for Aces. If partner shows 2, let him know you have all the key cards and 7 diamonds. He can determine if Grand Slam is there.

11 ♠ 7654 ♥K 82 ♦ A Q 10 ♣ 964 9 Points ____ 2♣ Call ____ ♠ If partner bids 2♦, bid 2 NT ♠ If she bids 2♥, bid 2♠. ♥ This bid does not show extras, it could be showing a spade control In support of hearts or just 4 spades. ♠ If partner raises, bid 4. ♠ If partner bids 2 NT, pass. ♠ If partner bids a minor, bid 3♥, ♥ This bid shows invitational values with only 3 hearts (you’d have bid 3♥ directly over 2♥ with invitational values and 4 hearts. )

Are we done? Not even close! How do you bid over interference? There are several, more advanced conventions and treatments to deal with other hands

A Few More Examples… 1 ♠A 65 ♥ ♦ K J 10 5 3 ♣AKJ 72 2 ♠ Q 10 8 6 ♥ 8 ♦AJ 642 ♣AK 83 3 ♠ 75 ♥ 4 ♦ 32 ♣ Q J 10 9 6 5 3 2 4 ♠KQ 986 ♥KQ 986 ♦ ♣A 64 5 ♠A 32 ♥A 32 ♦A 32 ♣A 432 1. I’d suggest a transfer to 3 C, followed by a 3 D bid. If partner does not bid 3 H, bid 5 H (exclusion) to get to the right slam. If he does, bid 4 D, and partner will get the picture. 2. Bid 2 C. If partner bids 2 H, bid 3 C (asking partner if he’s interested in a minor-suit slam) 3. Bid 5 C. Preemptive. The opponents have the Majors and you have no defense. 4. Bid 3 S, showing a forcing hand with this distribution in the majors. If partner bids 3 NT, jump to 5 D (exclusion Blackwood, asking for Aces other than the Diamond Ace. ) 5. Bid 4 C, asking for Aces, then 5 C asking for Kings. If he has 4, bid 6 NT; otherwise, bid 5 NT and leave it to him. He will know you have exactly this hand!

And That’s All Folks!