OliverC's Precision Parlour        Guest User

Initial Responses

The basic scheme of response to 1NT follows. This scheme of responses also applies when Opener has opened 1♣ and rebid 1NT (via the Cambridge Heart Complex or not), but does not apply to a 1NT rebid after a 1♦ Opening:

Stayman

This is one of the cornerstones of the 1NT Opening and is usually about the first convention that beginners are taught. A bid of 2♣ simple asks Opener if their hand contains a 4-card Major suit. In response

It will be seen from the above that there are specific circumstances where Stayman is more appropriate than the 2-Way 2♦ sequences, and that Stayman is also more appropriate with invitational hands than transfers, since the showing of a second suit after a transfer is always forcing.

4-Suit Transfers

General Issues

Transfers are such an incredibly useful device that it is criminal not to obtain the advantage of using them for all four suits equally. Consequently the 1NT responses in this system are built around 4-suit transfers, which means that there is a specific bid to transfer to each of the four suits. You will have seen from the 1NT Summary at the top of the page that 2♠ is a transfer to Clubs and 2NT a transfer to Diamonds rather than being a balanced raise.

In general transfers to Minor suits are only used with 2-suited hands or unbalanced single-suited hands with 6-card or longer suits. By contrast, transfers to Major suits are normally made with any hand containing a 5-card Major, whatever the distribution of the remainder of the hand. New suits after transfers are always forcing whereas new suits after Stayman tend to be invitational, although there are exceptions (See above).
Please note that in this system the sequence 1NT-2♦-2♥-2♠ does not show a Major 2-suiter with longer Hearts, but is part of the 2-Way 2♦ sequence. To show the major 2-suiter, responder must rebid 3♠.

No Trump Rebids after Transfers

A 2NT or 3NT rebid after a transfer to a major simply shows a semi-balanced hand with a 5-card major and gives Opener the option as to where to play. A 3NT rebid after a transfer to a Minor suit (except where Opener has broken the transfer - see below) conveys a different message because a semi-balanced hand with a minor suit tends to be treated as balanced. Now this is a mild slam try showing an upper-range raise to 3NT. Opener can continue past 3NT if maximum themselves with good controls, a good trump fit and a hand that is not 3334.

Breaks of Transfers

(1) General
"Breaking" a transfer is any action where Opener does not complete the transfer as requested. Transfers are only ever "broken" from strength and an excellent fit for Responder's suit. They are never broken because of a poor fit for partner's suit. This is because Opener's hand is much more of a known quantity than Responder's hand. Breaks of Major suit transfers always promise decent 4-card support for Responder's suit, a maximum hand, and good controls. Breaks of Minor-suit transfers do not promise 4-card support, since the emphasis is normally on reaching a 3NT contract in these circumstances unless responder is very strong, but they do promise at least 3-card support, normally with at least 1 of the top three honours, a maximum hand outside and decent "pure" values outside. A break of a transfer is always initially saying that Opener would accept an invitation to game.

(2) Breaks of Transfers to Major Suits
Over transfers into a Major suit, Opener has two commonly accepted methods of breaking the transfer:

(a) They bid the cheapest first-round control they hold or
(b) They show a "worthless doubleton" (ie: a suit with xx) if they have one.

There is not a huge amount to choose between these methods. (a) potentially launches the partnership very cheaply and efficiently into a cue-bidding sequence if Responder is at least of game-going strength. (b), on the other hand, gives responder a good idea of how the hands are fitting and where Opener's values are. If you are going to use method (b) and are using Asking Bids, it is recommended that Opener bids the suit below their worthless doubleton rather than the suit itself, and now the doubleton suit becomes available for a cheap Beta Ask.

(3) Breaks of Transfers to Minor Suits
Breaks of transfers to Minor suits are always achieved in the same way which is by bidding the suit immediately below the suit (ie: the intervening suit):

(a) 1NT-2♠-2NT rather than bidding 3♣, and
(b) 1NT-2NT-3♣ rather than bidding 3♦.


In this way a Responder with a very weak single-suiter can cheaply refuse the invitation by converting to their Minor at the 3-level.

2-Way Two Diamond

Introduction

As you will see from the 1NT Summary at the top of the page the sequence 1NT-2♦ has two possible meanings, being either a normal transfer to Hearts or the prelude to an invitational and/or exploratory sequence. This is a convention I devised back in the early 1980's and is achieved in the following way:

Opener initially assumes that the 2♦ bid is a transfer to Hearts and bids accordingly (including breaking the transfer if necessary, since this gives Responder most of the information they are after anyway). If Opener does not break the transfer, then any rebid by Responder other than 2♠ confirms the Heart transfer and bidding proceeds exactly as normal.

The special sequence only kicks in if Responder rebids 2♠.

Opener's Initial Action after 1NT-2♦-2♥-2♠

The 2♠ rebid is made with two possible hand-types:

(1) A normal invitational hand where Responder wants to be in 3NT opposite a better-than-minimum hand, or
(2) A much stronger responding hand interested in a possible slam and wanting to find out more about Opener's range and exact distribution cheaply before bypassing the 3NT level. This hand-type is usually balanced but might be 4441-shape or a distributional 2-suiter.

The 2♠ rebid initially asks Opener to do one of two things

(a) To Rebid 2NT with a minimum hand, or
(b) To do something else with any hand that is better than minimum.

(Contrast the Stayman sequence where Responder is only interested in game if Opener is maximum). The "something else" normally consists of Opener bidding his lowest 4-card suit at the 3-level. The other option is to rebid 3NT rather than 2NT and this shows a hand with 3334 or 3343 shape (ie: with a 4-card Minor).

If Opener rebids 2NT

If Opener rebids 2NT and Responder has hand-type (1) above (ie: the normal invitational hand), then responder simply passes, since Opener has shown a minimum hand. Any other action by Responder shows hand-type (2) above and is game-forcing. The fact that Opener is minimum does not necessarily mean that Responder has given up on the possibility of a slam. If Responder continues beyond 2NT in this fashion, then they normally start bidding 4-card (or longer) suits upwards at the 3-level in search of a fit. Now suits are bid upwards towards 3NT and 3NT is bypassed when/if a fit is found. This can be done by explicitly agreeing the suit at the 4-level or by cue-bidding the cheapest 1st-round control held at the 4-level (whichever is the cheapest - See the examples below). If Responder simply rebids 3NT over 2NT then this tends to show a very strong but flat hand with a 4-card Minor no longer interested in slam.

If Opener rebids a suit at the 3-level

If Opener shows a better-than-minimum hand by bidding a suit at the 3-level then 4-card suits continue to be bid upwards towards 3NT. The difference here is that Opener is not allowed to bypass 3NT unless a Major-suit fit is found, since Responder may only have the normal invitational hand. Responder is allowed to go beyond 3NT to show a Minor suit fit. As above a fit is shown by either explicitly agreeing it at the 4-level or by cue-bidding the cheapest 1st-round control held.

A 3NT rebid by responder is always "to play". If Opener ends up bidding 3NT and Responder now bids 4NT, this asks Opener to show any 4-card Minor-suit fit that has been "concealed" (because Opener is not allowed to bypass 3NT) and Opener shows the suit or passes (ie: Responder cannot go this route if they want to play in 6NT regardless).

If Opener rebids 3NT rather than 2NT

If Opener rebids 3NT to show a better-than-minimum hand but with 3334 or 3343 shape, then with the normal invitational hand, Responder simply passes. Any other action shows the very strong hand. Now 4♣ is Beta and 4♦ asks Opener to bid 4♥ with 4-card Clubs, and 4♠ with 4-card Diamonds. Any other bids are natural and "to play" or invitational.

Examples

Transfer Lebensohl (aka Rubensohl)

For complete details on Lebensohl and Transfer Lebensohl please see the Lebensohl page specifically covering this topic. What follows is a brief description of Transfer Lebensohl, which is what I would recommend that you play when opponents interfere at the 2-level over your 1NT opening. Interference over 1NT can make action by Responder difficult if you are not using Lebensohl of some kind: If not using Lebensohl, then suit bids at the 3-level have to be either "to play" or invitational or forcing but cannot be all three at the same time. Similarly it is difficult for Responder to explore for a 4-card Major-suit fit safely and at the same time show or deny a stop in the opponents' suit (in case a fit is not found). Transfer Lebensohl overcomes all of these potential problems. When opponents overcall a 1NT Opening at the 2-level, then action by Responder is as follows:

• 2-level suit bids are merely competitive and "to play" with no interest in game.
• 2NT is the "Lebensohl" bid and commences what are called "slow" sequences. At this stage 2NT says nothing whatever about their hand. It simply commands Opener to rebid 3♣, after which Responder will clarify their hand-type:
  • Pass shows a hand merely wanting to compete in Clubs
  • A new suit bid is invitational whether or not it could have been bid at the 2-level. It says nothing at all about Responder's holding in opponents' suit
    
  • A cue-bid of the opponents' suit shows values for 3NT, 4-card interest in any unbid Majors and also promises a stop in opponents' suit.
    
  • A rebid of 3NT shows values for game, denies any interest in unbid Majors, but promises a stop in opponents' suit
• Immediate bids at the 3-level are called "fast" bids and, with the exception of 3NT, are all transfers into the next suit up. In all cases it is the suit that is being transferred into that matters, not the suit that is being bid:
  • Transfers into a new suit are either weak or strong (if the suit could have been bid at the 2-level, then clearly they are strong). Opener completes the transfer and Responder then passes with a weak hand or bids again with a forcing game-going variety. Normal arrangements for breaking transfers apply. When Opener completes the transfer, Responder is able to take whatever action they like, to pass, bid 3NT, show a second suit or bid game in their first suit.
    
  • A transfer into Opponents' suit is a "fast" cue-bid of their suit, showing values for 3NT and interest in any unbid Majors, but denying a stop in Opponents' suit (Whereas the "slow" cue-bid promises a stop). Bidding from here is natural. Opener can show any unbid Major they hold or bid 3NT naturally if they have values in opponents' suit. If they have no Major and no stop, then they can bid a 3-card Major or a 4-card Minor.
  • A "fast" 3NT shows values for game, denies interest in unbid Majors and denies a stop in Opponents' suit. Typically, it shows a long running Minor with values in the Majors. Opener passes with a stop in opponents' suit or converts to 4♣ otherwise.
    
  • A "fast" transfer into Diamonds followed by a cue-bid of opponents' Major suit specifically shows a running Diamond suit and exactly a half-stop in their Major, asking for additional assistance in the suit. eg: 1NT-(2♥)-3♣-3♦-3♥. Unfortunately this option is not available with a Club suit.

As you can see, Transfer Lebensohl allows almost all possible hand-types to be shown. The only exceptions are invitational-strength hands with Clubs and hands with long Clubs and a half-stop in Opponents' suit. You can always show interest in any unbid Major suits and at the same time show or deny a stop in the opponents' suit. Competitive and strong hands can always be shown and the sequences are flexible enough to be able to cope with most contingencies.

INTRO (1NT Redouble = 0)

The is an escape mechanism when opponents double your partner's 1NT Opening. Most people play "System Off" once opps double their 1NT Opening, otherwise Responder has no easy escape into a long Minor suit. The scheme of actions by Responder using INTRO is as follows:-

• Immediate 2-level suit bids are weak and "to play", promising a 5-card or longer suit
• Immediate 3-level suit bids are invitational, promising at least a 6-card suit in an unbalanced hand where Responder has at least 1 shortage and no desire to play in 1NTX.
• Redouble shows a weak hand with either 4333 or 4441 distribution and asks Opener to bid their cheapest 4-card suit. Responder then passes with any 4333 hand or bids the next suit up if they have a 4441 type and Opener has bid their singleton. Bidding stops as soon as at least a 4-3 fit is found.
  
  Optionally you can add an invitational 3-suiter hand-type to the Redouble (ie: 11-13 with 4441 or perhaps 5431 shape). This is shown by raisingthe suit Opener bids if they have hit one of your 4-card suits, or bidding 2NT if Opener has hit your shortage.
• Pass commands Opener to redouble and is either
  • Strong (Any hand that wants to defend 1NT redoubled goes this route and Responder simply passes over the redouble by Opener, forcing Opps to takeout or risk 1NT redoubled making)
    or
  • [Optionally] Invitational with an 2-suiter, normally at least 5-5 in shape. Responder shows this hand-type by jumping to the 3-level in their lowest-ranking suit over the redouble. Opener passes (or raises) or bids the cheapest suit in which they would not accept an invitation to game. eg: in the sequence 1NT-(X)-No-(No)-XX-(No)-3♦-3♠-4♥ Responder shows an invitational 2-suiter with 3♦. Opener's 3♠ bid says "I prefer Spades to Diamonds, but have no game interest there, but I do have game interest in Hearts if that is your second suit".
  • Weak with any 4432 distribution. With this hand-type Responder bids his lowest 4-card suit at the 2-level over the redouble and 4-card suits are bid upwards until at least a 4-3 fit is found.
    

When 1NT is doubled, no scheme of responses is 100% foolproof (One weakness with INTRO is when Responder has a weak 1444 distribution with a singleton Spade and Opener has 4333 distribution with a 4-card Spade suit. This means playing in a 4-3 fit at the 3-level, almost certainly doubled and one alternative is to treat 1444 hands as if they as were 2344 shape). INTRO does cater for most eventualities, however, and most importantly does give Responder a mechanism both to escape with a weak hand lacking a 5-card suit and to punish opponents when they have a hand capable of defending 1NT.