The last several times I wrote about making an opening bid with 13-21 points using either the five card major or convenient minor conventions – covering opening bids of one club, one diamond, one heart and one spade. Next we want to examine the one notrump opening bid.
The one notrump bid is one of the two most descriptive bids in bridge. To open one notrump, you must hold 15-17 high card points (HCP) AND hold a “balanced hand.” The 15-17 HCPs is easy to understand, while the term “balanced hand” requires a description. A balanced hand contains no voids, no singletons, and not more than one doubleton. These hands are comprised of three distributions, specifically, 4-3-3-3 (meaning 4 cards in one suit and 3 cards in each of the remaining suits), or 4-4-3-2, or 5-3-3-2. These three distributions comprise 46 percent of all hands dealt in bridge.
This is very important information. Now, responder can add his HCP points to an estimated 16 points from opener and immediately know what level (part-score or game) and which strain (hearts, spades or notrump) they should play in. In addition, there are a standard set of bids that responder can make.
An entry level player might bid two hearts (or spades) as a sign-off bid; two notrump or three hearts (or spades) as an invitational bid; or bid game of three notrump, four hearts or spades as a sign-off bid.
A mid-beginner level player (and above) has more options. Holding at least one four-card major suit, responder can invoke the stayman convention by bidding two clubs. This bid asks opener to bid a four card major, otherwise bid two diamonds – this allows the partnership to search for a suit contract which is usually easier to play than a notrump contract. For example, opener bids one notrump. Responder, holding four spades and four hearts and 10 HCP, would bid two clubs, (forcing) invoking the stayman convention. Holding four hearts (or spades), opener would bid two hearts (or spades) identifying the eight-card “golden fit.” Responder would then raise to game.
On the other hand, holding a five or six card major suit, responder can invoke the jacoby transfer convention -asking opener to bid the next-higher-suit. For example, opener bids one notrump. Responder, holding six hearts, would bid two diamonds, (forcing) invoking the jacoby transfer. Opener would then bid the next-higher-suit, two hearts. Responder, knowing that opener has at least two hearts (2+6=8=“the Golden Fit”), he would bid game at four hearts (sign-off) and become dummy.
True, dummy’s six heart trumps would be exposed to opponents, but opener’s powerful 15-17 point hand would be hidden from opponent’s prying eyes.
I am sure you are thinking, “That sounds way too easy. Is there something more?” Of course, you are right – there are several variations and subtleties to these two bidding sequences … which will be subject of my next column.
Good luck and good bridge. See you all next time.
