Bridge is for Everyone - Learn to Play #8 - Respond to 1NT

[@edgarson]

So sorry you don't do an ACOL course. Your videos are by far and away the most easily understood on all of KZbin... but being in the UK I need ACOL. Harrumph!

[@jadbridge]

Thanks for the comment. I do play Acol but am not qualified to teach it. Good luck with your bridge.

[@JudithEmery-vl2rs]

I am funding these lessons very useful as refreshers

[@jadbridge]

Excellent Judith. Thanks for the feedback.

[@sueandstanleyspector6472]

A good NT lesson for responding to 1nt

[@jadbridge]

Thanks for your encouraging feedback Sue & Stanley.

[@JD-pb2mz]

Good day M Delokk, what if the deal #234 would have 5 diamonds and 2 hearts instead of having 5 hearts and 2 diamonds? What should be done? I was playing on line this week and saw this bid N:1NT S:2C N:2D S:3D the player in the north hand was confused and asked what 3D after a Stayman meant. Thank you

[@jadbridge]

Hi JD. Because you still have four spades, you would still bid 2C. After partner bids 2D to deny 4+ in a major, you can then bid your diamond suit, 3D. A minor suit contract looks likely as Hearts is probably wide open. This is exactly what you saw online. The 3D shows a real diamond suit and a hand not well suited to NT.

[@JD-pb2mz]

Thank you for this and for always being so helpful M Delokk!

[@khuntankrub]

1:40 Just to confirm partner may or may not have a long point, but 1NT is open using only HCP? 2:19 However, the 8+ points needed for a positive bid may consist of both HCP and long points? Meaning to say the only rule that requires strictly HCP will only be a 1NT opening?

[@jadbridge]

Hi. You are absolutely correct. Opening 1,2 or 3 NT is the only time you count just HCPs.

[@JD-pb2mz]

Hello M Delokk, I was wondering if partner opened with 1NT and I have a flat hand 4-3-3-3, if my 4 is in a major should I bid NT instead of Stayman? I understand it is easier to play in a suit but with a flat hand and with partner's balanced hand partner, he wouldn't be able to trump anyway? Thank you very much. I am refreshing my knowledge of bridge and I am currently doing a marathon of your series!

[@jadbridge]

JD this is a hotly debated topic. I prefer to play a suit contract, not for ruffing in dummy, but for maintaining control and preventing my opponents from running a long suit. Cheers.

[@JD-pb2mz]

@@jadbridge I understand! Thank you!

[@mmetz105]

On deal 234, if my partner plays smolen instead of bidding 2H could I use smolen and bid 2d transfering partner to hearts?

[@jadbridge]

Hi. On this deal you can play Smolen but it doesn’t work the way you suggested. After Partner opens 1NT, you bid a Stayman 2C just as before. Then, after Partner bids 2D denying a 4 card major, you bid your 4 card major (Spades) at the three level. You can do this because you have 10+ points, enough for game. After your 3S bid Partner will bid 4H with a three card heart suit, but will bid 3NT with less Hearts and stoppers in the minor suits. With neither of these hands, Partner will make a judgement call bid. I hope this helps. Great question. Thanks. PS. You bid your 4 card major so Partner will be declarer with a fit in your 5 card major.

[@mmetz105]

@@jadbridge Thanks Jad, great videos

[@bogdanflorea9602]

Jad, how do I play the Stayman if the West makes an announcement ? And how do I announce my partner that I play a convention ( e.g. Jacoby transfers? ) Thanks

[@jadbridge]

Hi Bogdan. The general rule for Stayman and Jacoby is that if your opponents bid, you cannot play those conventions. Just bid your own suit directly if it is strong enough, but do not try to rescue Partner as your opponent's bid has already done that.

[@bogdanflorea9602]

@@jadbridge is that available only for Stayman or Jacoby or in general when the oponent team bids the conventions can t be applied ?

[@jadbridge]

Hi Bogdan. It’s a general rule when the opposition bid when you were planning to use any artificial bid. There are ways to mitigate this which I will cover in a more advanced lesson. Until you are quite experienced it is best to avoid artificial bids when the opposition interfere. Make sure you discuss this with your partner.

[@bogdanflorea9602]

@@jadbridge and when I do an artificial bid How do i let the partner and the others know thats it s a certain convention ? Do I say something like e.g. “ stayman convention “ ?

[@jadbridge]

No. You can’t say anything except the bid itself. Partner should know because of the bidding sequence.

[@bogdanflorea9602]

What is West bids 2 Hearts after your 2 Clubs respose?

[@jadbridge]

Hi Bogdan. I think you are asking about deal 233. If Partner doesn’t bid your suit, then you bid NT. Because you have 10 Points, you can bid 3NT. If Partner has 4 Spades as well as the 4 Hearts, Partner will bid 4S otherwise they will pass 3NT. Episode 21 talks about this.

[@tuxtommy69]

For the second hand, South's second bid should be 3 hearts not 2. With enough for game opposite opener's 1NT, South should jump to 3 ... 2 hearts shows a weaker holding of 8-9 pts. That way partner san pass with a dead minimum or correct to 2NT if holding only a doubleton heart.

[@jadbridge]

You could certainly bid this way, but I don’t tend to complicate the decisions quite so much for less experienced players. The thinking you suggest is probably more appropriate in my extensions series. In this series, if Partner has a doubleton Heart and a minimum, then a 2NT bid is certainly appropriate. But in order to keep the system consistent, I teach that a natural bid of a new suit is forcing, so passing is not an option. Thanks for your feedback.