Why Opening 1NT Is So Good - Weekly Free

[@vickishelton9080]

I really enjoy listening to you talking your way through the weekly free tournaments. I find it very helpful and hopefully my bridge will improve gradually.

[@rebageorgiadis3861]

Hopefully some day I'll be able to follow all of your commentary. I find the video helpful, especially playing. Still learning the bidding. Great quote about better to be lucky..

[@erickehr4475]

On hand 6, I think your off-system 1NT rebid is what caused them to discard their Diamonds. They “know” you have a second heart.

[@jyutzler]

Yes. I manufactured a 1S bid over 1H and did not get a diamond discard. It was still 85%...

[@johnworf]

@@jyutzler I misplayed it and didn't count the diaminds properly.

[@jonthomson5764]

I did open 1D on board 6, which after showing clubs on round two gets a 2NT invite. Rebid 3C there which got passed for +3

[@BridgeWithPete]

I don't think I would bid 3C. That would usually show a 5-5. You can show your 5th club but when you have a problem hand I think getting to 3NT should be a solid choice.

[@richardfarrer5616]

On board 8, also defending 3S, I ducked the first club. A risk if declarer had a singleton, but it looked best to try to stop the suit from being set up. Declarer then took the losing diamond finesse and we ended up beating the contract by 1, for 100%. It made up for butchering 4H earlier when I took the completely pointless diamond finesse on the first trick.

[@johnworf]

😂

[@benthomas3395]

Regarding FSF my understanding is that FSF only operates at the 2 level and above (at least the various bidding sources I have consulted). I would have thought that responder could have very sound reasons for bidding 1S at the one level. Also don’t understand why you favour strong NT. There are far mor opportunities for using weak NT.

[@johannes2319]

In board three, I made a 2NT rebid, played 6♦️ too and got a club lead for 100%. Something strange is going on with the robots...

[@jamessedgwick344]

On board 3 if it is IMP's the slam try is clear. But at match points I'm dubious; so risky you will wind up playing 5 minor for a poor score.

[@jyutzler]

#5: with all your strength in your side suits, eschew the fit and bid 3NT for 100%.

[@charlescosgrove9507]

Or you can bid 4H, misplay, and go down one for 0%!

[@darrencotterell7479]

Board1: All your reasons for why opening 1NT is so good is why I open 12-14 NT with my regular partners

[@johnworf]

There is something to be said for playing a weak nt.

[@erickehr4475]

While your point about opening 1NT is well-made, on hand 1 the robot had an obvious 2S bid before you even had a chance to open 1NT!

[@archiewoosung5062]

In hand2, he goes over a few reasons why the robot wouldn't do that

[@jyutzler]

@@archiewoosung5062 I heard that, but I didn't find the answers satisfactory. I would love to hear from the GIB creators why this happened in both of the first two hands.

[@joepitt1192]

Weak NT systems such as ACOL have that very advantage that opps find it far more difficult to come in at the 2 level over 1NT than at the 1 level when you open say 1C. We can all find hands that are the exception but at my club where half play weak and half strong I reckon the weak NT has the advantage in the long run. Having said that 5 card majors is better than playing 4 - so perhaps a hybrid 5CM with a weak NT would be the way to go

[@jyutzler]

It seems to me you would have just as much trouble with 15-17 hands and being bid over. I suspect your success with weak 1NT may have more to do with the field having less experience defending against that system.

[@johnworf]

@@jyutzler that's a possibility, I know a pair that played in the states years ago...and they won by a mile...as they had no idea what to do.

[@johnworf]

I used to play 5card majors with a weak no trump.

[@archiewoosung5062]

Why did you have to "upgrade" the first hand to bid 1NT...wasn't 14 hcp enough to bid it anyway (assume you're playing Acol)?

[@jonthomson5764]

Robots play 15-17 1NT

[@johnworf]

The weekly free 1nt is 15-17...but often opening 1nt gives better results.

[@jyutzler]

Let's ask this: when playing ACOL, do you upgrade good 11 counts? I would...

[@johnworf]

@@jyutzler i do jeff...i even opened up a 10 count 1nt once as 12-14

[@archiewoosung5062]

@@jyutzler I thought he was playing Acol for which he wouldn't have needed to upgrade the hand: 1NT is 12-14hcp.

[@johnworf]

I managed 82% - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIqlm4WambeeZ5o I didn't count the diamonds unfortunately for 12 tricks in 3nt. On board 1 I defended 4S*...just wondering if that could go 3 off on a spade lead?