Responding With Unbalanced Hands To N/T

by: blumblum98 (M/colorado)

Continuation of messages 25,26,27,29. Nt. bidding for beginners.

After partner opens one n.t. with a strong unbalanced hand you get to game or slam. I will limit this to game hands. Spades are listed firsr then hearts etc. KQJxx Ax Qxx xx.

Respond three spades (forcing) With two spades opener bids three no trump, with three or more spades he bids four spades. With six or more spades respond four spades. (you know opener has at least two.} Ax Jxx AKxxx xxx respond three no trump. do not bid three diamonds, save that for slam invitational hands.

Axx KJx AQJxxx x. Bid three diamonds, slam invitational.

Responding with weak hands. There is a paradox. the weaker the hand the more important it is to bid IF UNBALANCED

xxxxxx xx xxxx x. Respond two spades which asks partner to pass. Your hand is basically worthless in no trump but can make many tricks in spades. Openers hand Kxx AQxx Kxxx Ax You can make maybe four tricks in no trump, but probably can make two spades.

Bad hand in the minors. x Jx xxx Qxxxxxx. If you play three clubs strong and forcing then you can't bid it here. You can either pass and watch partner struggle in one nt or bid two clubs {ostensibly stayman} after partner responds you bid three clubs saying cancel previous stayman message, I want to play three clubs. Same idea with diamonds, bid two clubs and then tree diamonds. Many people play One NT three of a minor as weak, and that is fine. discuss with partner what this bid means. There is no discussion about meaning of one no trump- two spades or two hearts. That is a signoff. I know there are some people in yahoo who respond two spades to one NT with five spades and ten points, and are surprised when partner

passes. Don' be one of those people. Bid three spades with that hand and save two spades for the bust hands.

BlumBlum98