Weak 1NT (10-12)
In seats 1-3, when non-vulnerable, a 1NT opening bid shows 10-12
points and a balanced hand. Possible shapes are 4443, 4432, 5332
(including 5-card majors) and, rarely, 22(54) with minors. Recall that
13-15 balanced hands (when NV) open 1
and then rebid 1NT (alertable).
Responses to the Weak 1NT:
Without interference, bad hands try to bid shape rather than pass. Strong hands try to get information and become declarer if the final strain is not NT. The responses are summarized below:
Responses to 1NT (10-12)
| Bid | Shows |
| Pass | Nothing better to do. |
2 |
Non-forcing Stayman. |
| 2 |
Non-passed hand: Game-forcing Stayman. More on this later. Passed hand: Natural, to play (3
preemptive) |
2 / |
5+-card suit, natural, to play. |
| 2NT | Both Minors. To invite, go through 2
Stayman. Note that 1NT-2 -2X-2NT
is alertable as responderneed not have a 4-card major. |
| 3/ |
Natural 5+-card suit, to play. |
| 3 |
Invitational strength with 5-5 (or better) in the majors. |
| 3 |
GF strength with 5-5 (or more) in the majors. |
| 3NT | To play, isn't it always? |
| 4 |
Gerber. |
| 4/ |
Texas transfers. |
| 4 |
To play. |
After interference above 2,
lebensohl methods are on and the first double by either side is takeout.
After 2 natural
interference, systems are on except 2
is to play and 3 is GF
Stayman.
Non-Forcing Stayman:
After 2 Stayman, opener
bids normally 2/2/2.
These can be passed. After a 2
response, cheapest new suits are natural and to play (not invitational). A
raise of 2M to 3M is invitational, as is a bid of 3
over 2, and 2NT is
invitational to 3NT. Note that bidding Stayman and then 2NT does not
promise a 4-card major and the 2NT bid should be alerted.
Game-Forcing Stayman:
Opener should describe his shape with an eye toward making responder the declarer of a suit contract.
GF-Stayman Responses
| Bid | Shows |
| 2 |
Shows 4 and
denies 4. |
| 2 |
Shows 4 and
denies 4 |
| 2NT | A 5332 hand: 3
asks for the suit. Opener shows suit in the order , ,
, so responses are transfer-oriented. |
| 3 |
4-4 in the Majors |
| 3 |
4-4 in the Minors |
| 3 |
2-2-4-5 exactly |
| 3 |
2-2-5-4 exactly |
| 3NT | A 33(43) hand. 4
asks for the 4-card minor 4
shows , 4
shows |
Over GF-Stayman, interference causes all bids to be natural and all doubles penalty.
Runouts when Doubled:
Naturally, when opening balanced 10-12 counts, the opponents are going to double for penalty sometimes. When this happens, the goal is to try and find a relatively safe spot to land. If the double comes in direct seat, responder has the following options:
- Immediate cheapest suit bids show 2-suited hand the bid suit and
(at least 4-4), except for 2
which is natural and shows 10+ points.
- Pass forces opener to
and shows either
values to play 1NT or 2-suited hand with
spades. After the responder passes to
play 1NT or bids a sit at the 2-level to show
that suit and . A 2
bid here is natural and preemptive. With both majors, an immediate 2
bid shows better , while passing and then
bidding shows better
. - A direct shows a single-suited hand and
forces opener to bid 2, pass-or-correct.
- 2NT shows both minors.
- 3-level bids are natural and preemptive.
- 3NT is to play, with a running minor.
- Higher bid ignore the double. 4 is
Gerber, 4/ are
Texas transfers, 4 is to play, and so on.
If the double occurs in balancing seat, opener can pass,
to show 4 and
help with the runout, or bid a good 5-card suit. Pass and
are the usual options. After a pass by
opener, responder can pass out 1NT
to play and
is rescue, asking opener to bid 4-card suits up
the line. 2-level bids are natural and to play and if doubled,
is rescue.
After a by opener, responder passes with a
good hand, intending 1NT to make, or bids 4-card
suits cheaply. This denies a spade fit if other than 2.