2NT rebids by opener in a Standard American/strong notrump context
jonathan23
learned that you show 18-19 by making a 1-level suit bid and then
jumping a level in NT over any response from partner. With a balanced
12-14, I would rebid NT at the cheapest available level. Sounds easy
enough.
With a 5332 hand with a five-card major, sometimes partner might
respond 2min to my 1Maj. I reason partner must have 10+HCP for his/her
bid and will understand that if I rebid 2NT I have 12-14. If partner
has a balanced minimum we have 22-24 and 2NT should be reasonable.
With 18-19 I would jump to 3NT over a two-level response to show the
extras, again expecting that we have 28-29+ between us, and partner
will get the picture and know what to do next.
I recently saw the Standard American auction 1Maj-2min-2NT where the
2NT was explained as "two-way, 12-14 or 18-19". The person who
documented this was a Someone in bridge whose name you probably all
know and whose material I highly respect. This was new to me (not that
that means much) so I'm curious.
Is what I'm doing fairly normal for intermediate players or did I miss
something when learning the ropes?
Do any of you who play a strong notrump play the two-way rebid?
If so, what does it bring to your bidding?
Thanks,
--
- Jon Campbell
Ottawa CANADA
OldPalooka
Clearly only works if 2NT is forcing, and is standard in 2/1; a jump
to 3NT shows a 15-17 unsuitable for 1NT [for old curmudgeons like me
about 80% of 5M332's - [when I learned the game many of the leading
players did not like to open 1NT with a good 4! card major and small
doubleton]. Does not work in SAYC as you have deduced. You can play
a sensible compromise style: semi-forcing NT where light 2/1's are
only bid on 6+ baggers; now 2NT forcing is logical even if it is only
forcing to a rebid of your suit.
-- Bill Shutts
David W.
This is actually the tip of a very large, hotly debated iceberg which
involves arguments regarding opening 1NT with a five card major;
strong (15-17) vs weak (12-14) NTs; 2NT rebids after a non-game-
forcing 2/1.
The method you describe could be used in at least two scenarios:
1. Those that never open 1NT when holding a five card major; these
people will rebid 3NT over a 2/1 to show exactly 15-17 and 5-3-3-2 and
2NT (forcing)with either 12-14 or 18-19. For this to work, they must
also be playing 2/1 game forcing since otherwise they may languish in
2NT with a combined 30 HCP. This allows greater definition of the 2M
rebid which will virtually always deliver a 6+ card suit.
2. Those that routinely open 1NT even with a 5 card major and the
right strength. They must also be playing 2/1 of course but they no
longer need the 3NT rebid since they will never have a 5-3-3-2 hand in
the 15-17 range.
A third possibility favoured by many experts, is to use judgement when
holding a 5 card major. If the opening bid is 1 of a major, then
opener may choose to rebid 2M after a 2/1 without promising extra
length or strength. In the context of standard bidding (i.e. NOT 2/1
GF), the 2M bid has a wide range: it can be a default action with no
better bid available especially if there is a missing stopper in an
unbid suit. Or it may be a six card suit. Opener must wait for
responder's (promised) rebid to clarify: raising 2NT (which shows a
minimum 10-12 response) to 3NT with 15-19, passing with 12-14.
I can't say I have consciously used these methods over a major but
there are related situations, e.g. 1m - 2N (forcing) showing either
12-14 or 18+ balanced. 1m-3NT then is exactly 15-17 balanced.
All of these agreements are useful when the bidding continues in a
quantitative NT track and also allows the partner of the NT bidder
additional flexibility in showing unbalanced hands. The 3NT rebids
can be preemptive but the fact that they are stronger than a minimum
affords the partnership some safety in venturing to the 4 level.
Anyway, it is easy to go on and on but prehaps these comments will
give you some food for thought.
Regards,
David W.
Nick France
Standard meaning if 2NT is forcing. In fact it is the standard
meaning in 2/1 systems. With the 18-19 points you intend to raise 3NT
to 4NT.
If you play 2NT can be passed (as I do when playing standard american)
then you need the jump to 3NT to show the 18-19 points. You were
taught right and the opponents strategy is normal also if 2NT is
forcing.
Nick France
jonathan23
<OP SNIPPED>
Thanks everyone for the explanations. I see what you mean about the
two-way meaning working in a forcing or semi-forcing context where
responder must be prepared to continue and give opener a chance to
clarify the 2NT.
henry...@yahoo.com
Jon,
using 2nt as a two way bid works fine if the 2/1 is virtually GF. If
2/1 only shows 10+ hcps, as in old fashioned SAYC, then using 2nt as a
two-way bid is insane, even by my standards.
But in general I hate the two-way bid philosphy, so I will advocate
here for the very old fashioned idea that minimum 12-14s should simply
rebid 2M, that strong 1nt hands with a 5M should rebid 2nt, and hands
too strong for a 1nt opening bid with a 5M should rebid 3nt.
I like bringing clarity, as soon as I can, to strong balanced hands.
Henrysun909
jonathan23
Henry,
Thanks for the clarification. 2/1 and two-way bids are still beyond my
ken, I guess. I will definitely not change what I'm doing as long as
I'm making "Standard" light 2-level responses.
LowerLine
In 2/1 gameforcing it is common to have 2NT as 12-14 or 18-19 and bid
3NT with 15-17. However if your 2-over-1 bids only show 10+, I
recommend playing 2NT as 15+ (or a good 14). With a weaker hand you
rebid your major.
Steven