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.
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.
