Monday, January 30, 2006
NT ranges 2 - the weak NTs
I know some people would be interested to know more about opening weak NTs. I think it is a winner if you treat it properly. That's a big if!
You need to be well-prepared for the part score battles that will take place. In a strong NT system, the weak NT hand type opens and then sits back to see if something good happens. The strong NT hand opens 1NT and does the same.
Not so in a weak NT system! The weak NT hand opens 1NT and when someone doubles something, the auction begins and opener is asked to participate. The strong NT hand opens 1 of a suit and is responsible for showing extra values.
The weak NT will give you some unavoidable bad scores. But also some good scores which you will avoid if you do not fulfill the big if above.
Let's look at some different ranges.
12 - 14
This is the standard weak NT. It can be played in all positions and vulnerabilities if you like. However you need to be aware that 3rd seat may be dangerous, and unfavourable vulnerability also.
If you want to play a variable NT range I suggest however you use:
11 - 13
This is my preferred variable NT range in non-dangerous situations. In situations where you think this is dangerous you can revert to 14 - 16 NT. In situations where you rate the situation as safe you can also play 10 - 13 for frequency reasons.
12 - 15
This is usually connected to Precision and I think this is a bad idea if your 1♣ opening is 16+. If it's 15+ then it's fine. The point is when playing Precision you want the balanced hand of the same point count as your unbalanced minimum 1♣ opening to open something else. If you play 16+ I think the way to go is to put some balanced hands into 1♦ and either play 14 - 16 NT or variable with 10 - 13.
10 - 12
Sorry but this one is not good in my opinion unless playing Precision, and even then probably 11 - 13 or 10 - 13 is better. Lowering your weak NT range this far is nice as frequency is concerned, but you first tell your opponents that you do NOT have this range when you don't open it, and also the balanced ranges that have to be covered in standard bidding is so large that you get into rebid problems there.
Responding to a weak NT
You can use your favorite Stayman and Transfers here. It'll be all right. However lately I've been thinking about other methods. Keri is nice but quite complicated. 2-way Stayman does not sound correct: 2♣ asks if I have a 4-card major, and 2♦ asks if I have a 4-card major. Great!
Another way is to use 2♦ as a shape relay and 2♣ for the rest. This is nice for (rare) slam auctions but forces you to open 1NT only on certain pre-determined shapes.
So what's my take on this? On my bridge systems site there is a 2-way Stayman variation where 2♦ does NOT ask for a 4-card major. Instead it asks for a 2-card major, of which partner should have at most one.
Here is the link: Weak NT response system. It is not as detailed as some other systems but easier to learn than Keri and more flexible than the 2♦ relay. More on this later.
You need to be well-prepared for the part score battles that will take place. In a strong NT system, the weak NT hand type opens and then sits back to see if something good happens. The strong NT hand opens 1NT and does the same.
Not so in a weak NT system! The weak NT hand opens 1NT and when someone doubles something, the auction begins and opener is asked to participate. The strong NT hand opens 1 of a suit and is responsible for showing extra values.
The weak NT will give you some unavoidable bad scores. But also some good scores which you will avoid if you do not fulfill the big if above.
Let's look at some different ranges.
12 - 14
This is the standard weak NT. It can be played in all positions and vulnerabilities if you like. However you need to be aware that 3rd seat may be dangerous, and unfavourable vulnerability also.
If you want to play a variable NT range I suggest however you use:
11 - 13
This is my preferred variable NT range in non-dangerous situations. In situations where you think this is dangerous you can revert to 14 - 16 NT. In situations where you rate the situation as safe you can also play 10 - 13 for frequency reasons.
12 - 15
This is usually connected to Precision and I think this is a bad idea if your 1♣ opening is 16+. If it's 15+ then it's fine. The point is when playing Precision you want the balanced hand of the same point count as your unbalanced minimum 1♣ opening to open something else. If you play 16+ I think the way to go is to put some balanced hands into 1♦ and either play 14 - 16 NT or variable with 10 - 13.
10 - 12
Sorry but this one is not good in my opinion unless playing Precision, and even then probably 11 - 13 or 10 - 13 is better. Lowering your weak NT range this far is nice as frequency is concerned, but you first tell your opponents that you do NOT have this range when you don't open it, and also the balanced ranges that have to be covered in standard bidding is so large that you get into rebid problems there.
Responding to a weak NT
You can use your favorite Stayman and Transfers here. It'll be all right. However lately I've been thinking about other methods. Keri is nice but quite complicated. 2-way Stayman does not sound correct: 2♣ asks if I have a 4-card major, and 2♦ asks if I have a 4-card major. Great!
Another way is to use 2♦ as a shape relay and 2♣ for the rest. This is nice for (rare) slam auctions but forces you to open 1NT only on certain pre-determined shapes.
So what's my take on this? On my bridge systems site there is a 2-way Stayman variation where 2♦ does NOT ask for a 4-card major. Instead it asks for a 2-card major, of which partner should have at most one.
Here is the link: Weak NT response system. It is not as detailed as some other systems but easier to learn than Keri and more flexible than the 2♦ relay. More on this later.
# posted by Gerben Dirksen @ 11:35 
Comments:
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Hi Gerben!
Question: Assuming I'm playing 11-13 & 14-16, what would you recommend as a range for the 2NT rebid (17-18 or 17-19)? Actually I would be interested in a general structure concerning the various NT ranges (upto 22) in a natural system (SAYCish).
Remark: Regarding answering structures to 1NT, I think the "Heeman" system is a really good balance between complexity (cf. Keri) and effectiveness. Probably still not LOL-compatible but shouldn't take more than a few hours to learn and discuss with partner. A nice description of the module can be found here: http://www.jackbridge.com/pdf/eheeman.pdf
Question: Assuming I'm playing 11-13 & 14-16, what would you recommend as a range for the 2NT rebid (17-18 or 17-19)? Actually I would be interested in a general structure concerning the various NT ranges (upto 22) in a natural system (SAYCish).
Remark: Regarding answering structures to 1NT, I think the "Heeman" system is a really good balance between complexity (cf. Keri) and effectiveness. Probably still not LOL-compatible but shouldn't take more than a few hours to learn and discuss with partner. A nice description of the module can be found here: http://www.jackbridge.com/pdf/eheeman.pdf
# posted by 
: 17:34
: 17:34
I hate Wk NT :-),
but playing 9-11 for years with reasonable success. My opinion is that if you want to play a MiniNT
then 9-11 is the rigth range.
The reason for this is, that then you know the others will not open this hand and could bid accordingly. This is a big advantage in my view.
but playing 9-11 for years with reasonable success. My opinion is that if you want to play a MiniNT
then 9-11 is the rigth range.
The reason for this is, that then you know the others will not open this hand and could bid accordingly. This is a big advantage in my view.
# posted by : 09:40
: 09:40
Wie geht's! I haven't studied the whole shebang of Hitchhiker / etc responses to 1NT but what I see I like a lot. Puppet is good in WELOS because we do prefer flattish Major hands be opened NT instead of the MIDI / intermediate Twos. Hiker itself is good because with minors and two doubletons (distribution? lol) the WELOS MIDI twos are 'perfect'.
Salokin's logic impresses me, but those NTs would scare me to death! And WELOS opens flat hands with QJQJQ!
Salokin's logic impresses me, but those NTs would scare me to death! And WELOS opens flat hands with QJQJQ!
An simple way of responding to a weak NT is described in 'Nalle'. It's described in the link, but is, at this time, only available in swedish. A quick overview of the responses:
2m: weakish with 4+M (C=H)
2M: GF, 5+M
2N: INV
3m: GF, (5)6+m
3M: GF, 4M
After 1N-2m; opener responds a first step rebid with a hand that would sign-off if p would make an 5cM invite. The rebid of 2 in the shown M therefore show that opener would accept an invite.
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2m: weakish with 4+M (C=H)
2M: GF, 5+M
2N: INV
3m: GF, (5)6+m
3M: GF, 4M
After 1N-2m; opener responds a first step rebid with a hand that would sign-off if p would make an 5cM invite. The rebid of 2 in the shown M therefore show that opener would accept an invite.
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