Responding To 1NT With Strong Minor Suits

Jump To 3 Of A Minor. Direct responses of 3 Clubs or 3 Diamonds to an opening 1 NT show a good 5 or 6 card minor suit with 7 to 9 HCP and are invitational to Three No Trump.

They are alertable. (Alertable bids are shown with *)

Such invitations by responder should include at least a partial entry outside the long minor suit. (Jxx, Kx, Qx)

Opener should accept the invitation with 3§' s or 3¨'s or with 2§'s or ¨'s plus a 17 HCP hand.

Example sequences:

N

S

1NT

3¨*

3¨ = "North, we might make 3 NT with 5¨ tricks"

3NT

3NT = "South, it looks good from here"

North

South 

ª Kxx

ª Qxx

© Axx

© xxx

¨ Qxx¨

¨ AKxxx

§ Akxx

§ xx

N

S

1NT

3§*

3§ = "North, we might make 3NT with 5§ tricks"

P

P = "South, not likely. I prefer Clubs."

North

South 

ª Kxxx

ª Qxx

© AJx

© xx

¨ AKxx

¨ Jxx

§ xx

§ AKxxx