Notrump Box

Notrump Opening Bids

This box tells about your Notrump range, use of transfers and other responses after a Notrump opener.

NOTRUMP OPENING BIDS

1NT ____ to _____ 2NT _____ to ______HCP

1NT ____ to _____3NT ______to ______HCP

Solid Suit [ ] _________________

The 1NT opening range is the most important single place on the convention card. You should look at this spot on your opponents' convention card first -- usually you won't need to look much further, as it summarizes their bidding style.

Most bidding systems use an opening 1 NT in the 16 to 18 or 15 to 17 HCP range, called 'Strong Notrump openers'. A quick look here will tell you how your opponents bid.

What HCP range do your opening 1NT and 2NT bids show ?

Other ranges you may encounter for 1NT are 10 - 12, 11 - 13, 12 - 14 and 13 - 15 HCP. These are 'Weak Notrump openers'. Some pairs will open weak notrumps in first and second seat but strong in third and fourth seat. Others will play weak notrumps when non-vulnerable but strong when vulnerable. All styles have pros and cons which we won't go into here.

The 2 NT range is usually 20 to 21 HCP, but more traditional bidders will use the 22 to 24 HCP range. The 3NT range is usually not filled in, as almost no one opens 3 NT strong. Some will use a 'Gambling 3NT Opening', which indicates a long solid minor suit and nothing else outside. This is indicated in the red Solid Suit [ ] : __________box. (See Gambling 3NT in Conventions.)

The box for Stayman responses:

2§ Forc. [ ] Non-Forc. [ ] Stayman

2¨Forc. [ ] Non-Forc. [ ] Stayman ________________

Transfers: Jacoby [ ] Texas [ ] Other [ ] ___________

Some pairs play various forms of Forcing Stayman. They must be indicated with an X in the appropriate boxes. Most pairs will have an X in the black Non-Forc. box. If you use Jacoby and/or Texas transfers, check the right box. Also describe any other special treatments for your responses to NT openings.

1NT - 3§ /3¨ is Invitational [ ] Preemptive [ ] Forcing [ ]

What does a direct jump to 3§ or 3¨ over a 1NT opener mean in your system?

Ours means a decent 5 or 6 card suit with 6 to 8 HCP, and it's invitational to game, so we check the [ ] Invitational box. With 9+ points, we bid 3NT. You must indicate what it means to you: invitational to game, preemptive or forcing to game.

Other________________________________________

Anything else the opponents are entitled to know goes here, and it's all red - Alertable. There are several other popular conventions in use, such as 2ª transferring to 3§ as a weak stop at 3 § or 3¨ . They are usually written as MSS and 2NT---> 3§ .

Our card in the Notrump Opening Bids section:

NOTRUMP OPENING BIDS

1NT __15___ to ___17 _____ 2NT ___20____ to _____21___ HCP

1NT _______ to ___________ 3NT _________ to __________ HCP

2§ Forc. [ ] Non-Forc. [ x ] Stayman Solid Suit [ x ] _Gambling___________

2¨ Forc. [ ] Non-Forc. [ ] Stayman _______________________________

Transfers: Jacoby [x ] Texas [ ] Other [ ] _____________________________

1NT - 3§/3¨ is Invitational [x ] Preemptive [ ] Forcing [ ]

Other _______Lebensohl_________ Minor Suit Stayman (2ª ) __________

We use a defense called Lebensohl against overcalls of our 1 Notrump openings so we put that word in here. We also use Minor Suit Stayman, a response of Two Spades, asking opener to bid any four card minor suits. (See Conventions for more explanation.)