Forcing 1 NT
How Does It Work? The Forcing 1NT works as follows:
In response to a 1 Heart or 1 Spade opener, a call of 1 NT is forcing for one round.
Strength requirements for such a call are 5-11 HCP. With 12+, you would make a Two Over One call.
Consequently, any hand that can bid anything -- but can't raise or go to the two level, game forcing - can bid 1NT. This bid has traditionally been a closeout or courtesy bid, but the opener of a five card major often bids again anyway, so little is lost by the use of 1 NT as a forcing bid.
In the above example, using the Forcing 1NT, the bidding goes:
N
E
S
1ª
P
1NT*
Forcing one round.
2©
P
3©
Bidding a second 4 card suit.
4©
P
P
With extras, North can bid game after South's invitation.
North South ª KQxxx ª Jx © Jxxx © KQJx ¨ Ax ¨ Qxx § AK § Qxxx
Since the 1NT call has so many uses, it's a very common response to a major suit opener, just as it is in Standard American. But it's not a 'courtesy' bid - - there's no such thing in duplicate.Forced Rebids by Opener. There's danger in any convention with many uses -- how is opener to know what is meant ? Answer -- opener must respond conventionally and let responder decide on the appropriate contract. This allows you to bail out of a misfit early or find secondary fits and bid with precision at low levels - all crucial parts of competitive bridge.
The rebids and responses after the Forcing Notrump responses are therefore very disciplined.
(c) Robert D. McConnell, 1998 All Rights Reserved