Tuesday, January 24, 2006
NT ranges 1 - the strong NTs
I'm sure you all have seen plenty of NT ranges when playing bridge. In some countries you need to announce the range as there is no real standard. However, 15 - 17 is treated as standard for a strong NT, so let's look at some alternatives.
16 - 18
I know this used to be popular and is still in many learning books. Don't play this. Don't teach your students this. Pity those who do. Why? Here's why:
If responder has 10 HCP exactly and the auction starts 1x - 1y - 1NT, he will pass since opposite most hands 2NT will be in danger or too high. However opposite most 15 counts the field is going to be in 3NT. And it will often make. The problem is that nowadays everyone opens 12 HCP and 4432. Nothing wrong with that, but the 1NT rebid of 12 - 15 is too wide to make good judgement.
14 - 16
I like this myself. This range is 50% more common than the range that "looks the same but isn't", 15 - 17. Also the 1NT rebid is now very narrow: A good 11 to 13. With 11 HCP you just pass it out in 1NT where the field is in 2NT. Or if you had 11+ opposite 11, you are in 1NT instead of a pass out.
Another advantage is that opponents have a game on a higher percentage of hands, so they might be either afraid or wrong to use their non-constructive strong NT defence like DONT, on the other hand it does not pay off yet to hit this for penalty as it is so rare.
This range also goes well with Precision. It is good to know your 1♣ opening bid does not include 16 HCP balanced hands.
With so many pluses, what are the disadvantages? Well, you have to account for more big balanced hands in other ways. Making a 2NT opener lighter also has its dangers. In the end, I still think 14 - 16 is the way to go now as strong NTs go.
16 - 18
I know this used to be popular and is still in many learning books. Don't play this. Don't teach your students this. Pity those who do. Why? Here's why:
If responder has 10 HCP exactly and the auction starts 1x - 1y - 1NT, he will pass since opposite most hands 2NT will be in danger or too high. However opposite most 15 counts the field is going to be in 3NT. And it will often make. The problem is that nowadays everyone opens 12 HCP and 4432. Nothing wrong with that, but the 1NT rebid of 12 - 15 is too wide to make good judgement.
14 - 16
I like this myself. This range is 50% more common than the range that "looks the same but isn't", 15 - 17. Also the 1NT rebid is now very narrow: A good 11 to 13. With 11 HCP you just pass it out in 1NT where the field is in 2NT. Or if you had 11+ opposite 11, you are in 1NT instead of a pass out.
Another advantage is that opponents have a game on a higher percentage of hands, so they might be either afraid or wrong to use their non-constructive strong NT defence like DONT, on the other hand it does not pay off yet to hit this for penalty as it is so rare.
This range also goes well with Precision. It is good to know your 1♣ opening bid does not include 16 HCP balanced hands.
With so many pluses, what are the disadvantages? Well, you have to account for more big balanced hands in other ways. Making a 2NT opener lighter also has its dangers. In the end, I still think 14 - 16 is the way to go now as strong NTs go.
# posted by Gerben Dirksen @ 16:01 
Comments:
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I agree that 16-18 is poor unless you play very sound openings.
14-16 is quite useful playing 2/1 GF and a semi-forcing NT - otherwise you have to open quite soundly (basically no 11 counts) or still take another bid on a 5M332 14 count. That's why 4 card majors works best with a 14-16 NT. The 2NT rebid is a bit of a problem though, as is showing a balanced 17 in competition, but there are ways of making most of those problems go away.
14-16 is quite useful playing 2/1 GF and a semi-forcing NT - otherwise you have to open quite soundly (basically no 11 counts) or still take another bid on a 5M332 14 count. That's why 4 card majors works best with a 14-16 NT. The 2NT rebid is a bit of a problem though, as is showing a balanced 17 in competition, but there are ways of making most of those problems go away.
Agree that 15-17 is too strong, but maybe also 14-16 is too weak. No need to stick to integers :-)
# posted by 
: 03:12
: 03:12
Histriadogsilver
I have a little formula for transforming a balanced hand from hcps in Zar points.
For instance(15 hcps+8)+(15/2)=30 Zar points; or (16+8)+ (16/2)=32 Zars; or
(19+8)+ (19/2)= 36,5 Zars.
This is in my opinion what you can expect from partner when you see him bidding the 15-17 1NT opening.
If I were you I would think instead of a bidding system where the 12-15 balanced range is fitting well.
Say something like:
1C = 16+ unbalanced or 19+ bal.
1D = 12-15 bal.or any 5+m 12-15
1M = 4+M, 14-16, unbal.
1N = 16-18,bal.
2C = 4+C/5+M,10-13
2D = 4+D/5+M,10-13
2M = weak two, 7-10
2N = 5+/5+ minors, 7-10
3m = 6+m, 7-10
etc.
After the 2C/2D openings you can play paradox advances.
When non vulnerable versus vulnerable opponents one can play 1D to be 16-18 bal. or 12-15 with a five+ card minor suit while 1N for the 11-14 balanced range or even better 10-14 if holding no four+ card major:-)
Why so much talk about the balanced opener's ranges? Simply because it is fun, isn't it?:-)
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I have a little formula for transforming a balanced hand from hcps in Zar points.
For instance(15 hcps+8)+(15/2)=30 Zar points; or (16+8)+ (16/2)=32 Zars; or
(19+8)+ (19/2)= 36,5 Zars.
This is in my opinion what you can expect from partner when you see him bidding the 15-17 1NT opening.
If I were you I would think instead of a bidding system where the 12-15 balanced range is fitting well.
Say something like:
1C = 16+ unbalanced or 19+ bal.
1D = 12-15 bal.or any 5+m 12-15
1M = 4+M, 14-16, unbal.
1N = 16-18,bal.
2C = 4+C/5+M,10-13
2D = 4+D/5+M,10-13
2M = weak two, 7-10
2N = 5+/5+ minors, 7-10
3m = 6+m, 7-10
etc.
After the 2C/2D openings you can play paradox advances.
When non vulnerable versus vulnerable opponents one can play 1D to be 16-18 bal. or 12-15 with a five+ card minor suit while 1N for the 11-14 balanced range or even better 10-14 if holding no four+ card major:-)
Why so much talk about the balanced opener's ranges? Simply because it is fun, isn't it?:-)
# posted by : 04:04
: 04:04 << Home
