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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Sunday
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Basic
strategy
0000). How to use 0001). Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 0002). 28 for minor 0003). 33 for NT slam 0004). Suit slam 0005). Importance of length 0006). Convention card 0007). ACOL and American Standard, differences 0008). A-Z Glossary 0690). A-Z Glossary
Hand
evaluation
0010). Balanced-Unbalanced 0011). How strong is your hand, HCP 0012). Distribution points 0013). Losing trick count 0014). Barrier-Reversing 0015). Selection of opening suit 0016). Showing shape 0017). 4441 distribution 0018). The skip over principle 0019). Rule of 20 Opening 1 of a suit 0019a). Rule of 25 Opening 2 of a suit 0019b). Rule of 500 Max penalty risk on preempt if doubled 0019c). Law of total tricks 0019d). Rule of Protective bidding
Opening
bids
0020). Plan of attack 0021). Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT 0022). Bal, 20+ points 0023). Bal, 15 to 17 HCPs, strong NT 0025). Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit 0026). Unbal, Strong 2s 0027). Unbal, Pre-emptive 0028). Unbal, Gambling 3NT 0029). Benji Strong 2s
Responder
1st bids
0030). After 1NT, General principles 0031). After 1NT, Weak 0032). After 1NT, Getting out of trouble 0033). After 1NT, 11+ balanced 0034). After 1NT, 11+ 4-card major 0035). After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced 0036). After 1NT, 19+ 0037). After 2NT 0038). After 1NT, and Enemy has interfered 0039). 1 NT responses 0040). After 1 Suit, With fit 0041). After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit 0042). After 1 Suit, No fit, no new suit, probably balanced 0043). After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid 0044). After 1 Suit, Very strong 0045). After 1 Suit, Weak freak 0047). After 2 Suit, Strong 2s 0048). After 2 Suit, Weak 2s 0049). After 3 Suit, Responding to preempt
Openers
rebid
0050). Unbalanced, The general idea 0051). Unbalanced, You are weak 0052). Unbalanced, You are strong 0053). Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT 0054). Unbalanced, Delayed support 0055). Balanced
Responder
rebids
0060). Responder rebids, The general idea 0061). Choice of two suits 0062). Responders reverse 0063). After 1NT rebid
Basic
Convention
0080). Stayman 0081). Transfer 0082). Transfer after 2NT 0161). Minor suit transfer
Slam
bidding
0090). Slam, Spotting the chance 0091). Blackwood 0092). No-trump slam 0093). Gerber 0094). Extra slam techniques
Interfering
bids
0100). Overcalls, the basic idea 0101). Overcalls, in a suit, over a suit 0102). Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT 0103). Overcalls, in NT, over a suit 0104). Overcalls, Jump overcall 0105). Overcalls, Double then bid a suit 0106). Overcalls, Bidding opponents suit 0107). Overcalls, Balancing (protective) 0108). Overcalls, Overcall a preempt 0109). Overcalls, Preemptive double jump 0110). Overcalls, To overcall, or to double 0111). Overcalls, Response to 1NT after suit overcall (Lebensohl) 0115). Defence after 1NT 0116). Competitive bidding 0117). Be cautious sometimes 0118). Sacrificing Be bold when non-vulnerable 0119). Sacrificing 0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0126). Doubles, Protective double
Doubles

0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0123). Doubles, Negative double 0124). Doubles, Double a 1NT overcall 0125). Doubles, Double a suit over 1NT 0126). Doubles, Protective double 0127). Doubles, Responsive double 0128). Doubles, Double then bid a suit 0129). Doubles, Penalty 0130). Doubles, Support double 0131). Doubles, Lead directing double 0132). Doubles, Maximal double 0133). Doubles, Redoubling - coded meanings 0134). Doubles, Forcing Pass 0135). Doubles, Re-opening double 0139). Doubles, Index of doubles
Advanced
Convention
0150). Majors Jacoby 2NT 0151). Majors Splinters 0152). Majors Weak 2s 0153). Majors Weak 2 defence 0154). Trial bid 0160). NT and minors 4th suit forcing 0161). Minor suit transfer 0162). DONT Bidding When Opponents open 1NT 0163). Game tries 0166). Grand Slam Force 0167). Roman Keycard Blackwood 0168). Cue bidding for controls 0170). 2-suited Overcall Unusual 2NT 0171). 2-suited Overcall Michaels cue bid 0172). 2-suited Overcall Landy over 1NT 0173). Overcall Unassuming cue bid 0179). Very advanced

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Quick summary

To raise in NT, you should have stoppers in 3 suits, especially if vulnerable

Beware any weak 2-card suits

11-12 points, NT game could be on, so invite

11 HCP: 2
12 HCP: 2NT
beginners: always 2NT

13+ points, NT game is on, so bid it

Better players use Stayman both with a 4-card Major and often for transferring to a minor. Makes the 2 bid unambiguous.

(For some players, 2 can mean either "transfer to a minor" or "11HCP balanced". For players using both meanings, after hearing 2, opener should bid

2NT if weak
3 if strong)

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

« 0033 »

Reply to weak 1NT: 11+ balanced

OK, so NT game could be on. Tell your partner!

Here's all you really need to know, in a simple table:

Points	bid	message to partner (beginners)
11-12	2NT	"I'm balanced too. We might have 25. You decide"
13-18	3NT	"I'm balanced too. Definitely got 25. Go for it !"

You could easily work out the table from first principles: recall that opener promised 12 points and a balanced hand, and, remember, you need 25 for game with stoppers in all suits. So, with a balanced hand, if you have 13+ …put it into game. If you have 11-12, invite opener to decide, since he could have up to 14 points. If he does have the maximum of 14, he'll put it into game.

A tricky little problem
C asked a very good question: After a reply of a 2NT "invitation" (promising 11-12 points), what if opener has 13 HCP, not 14? Opener knows there are 24 to 25 HCP combined. Should opener convert to game? 24 is too light really in No Trumps, but what if we have 25?

Well, first of all, there could be some extra hidden strength. So that opener could put it into game if he has a long minor (5+), because a long minor can be very powerful, especially opposite 3-4 cards. It's worth an extra point. You can apply the same principle to evaluating the Responder's hand too[1].

But there's . . .

Another way round the tricky little problem
The problem above arises because the opener does not know if responder has 11 HCP or 12 HCP. If he knew, then the problem could be solved. For this reason, some people split the reply to 1NT into two parts

with exactly 11 HCP, bid 2
with exactly 11 HCP, bid 2NT

Now opener can decide more accurately whether to raise to game or not. The table above now becomes:

Points	bid	message to partner (beginners)
11	2	"I'm balanced too. Raise to game if you have 14"
12	2NT	"I'm balanced too. Raise to game if you have 13"
13-18	3NT	"I'm balanced too. Definitely got 25. Go for it !"
19+	investigate slam

For beginners, there is a very small disadvantage to this bid: for beginners, you lose the ability to reply 2 when you are weak. For intermediate players who use transfer bids there is no such problem, though you might need to modify how you transfer into a minor suit. Read on. . ..

There are two ways round this that you should discuss and agree with your partner: (First one is powerful. Second one is not so great, we think.)

The First solution is to use Stayman (2), when replying to 1NT, not only when having one or two 4-card Majors, but also when wishing to transfer to a minor, either weak or strong. By doing this, the 2 reply to 1NT is not needed for minor transfers (which some people still prefer), but can be used instead for telling your 1NT opening partner that you have a balanced hand with precisely 11 HCP. (This is both easier to remember, comes up quite a lot, and has some better outcomes).

Second solution. Here, the system has been further refined to include the use of the 2 bid as a means of transferring into a minor suit. Thus, after a weak 1NT:

2. "I may have 11 HCP balanced", or "I may have a long minor suit"
2NT "I may have 12 HCP", or "I may have a long minor suit"

After this 2, the opener rebids either:

2NT. With a weak hand (12 HCP). Partner then chooses between passing, or bidding a minor suit.
3. With a strong hand (14 HCP). Partner then chooses between 3NT, passing, or bidding diamonds.

This is NOT the best solution, in our humble opinion, due to complexity (and the fact the Stayman will solve the problem anyway).

Balanced hands

With balanced hands, you are better off if both of you have stoppers in at least 3 suits. In almost all cases that's sufficient.

However, there does remains the outside chance (and problem) that even though you have 25 points between you, you might both not have any stoppers at all in the same one suit. It's the risk you take (about 5% or so) with this particular route to 3NT, for the benefit of being able to bid to game, and make it more than 50% of the time.

To cheer you up a bit, think about the opposition perspective. The enemy might have 8 or more cards in your weak suit, but they have no real chance to bid them because you shut them out. Most of all, think about the prize money. It's considerable.

Vulnerable

One precaution you can take especially when vulnerable is to be more cautious if you have any weak 2-card suits. If you were both to have doubletons in the same suits, and they were both weak ones, you'd be quite likely to lose 5 tricks immediately, even 6!

Be more cautious if you have more than one suit without stoppers.

If you are more conservative, then change the requirement to 26 HCP and you should certainly win more often than not.

Another option for vulnerable players to consider is to avoid opening 1NT if your 12HCP is not a good 12HCP.

Or even simply to agree with your partner to open strong NT when vulnerable. A few people play like this, but you would certainly need to agree it beforehand and remain vigilant throughout the contest: any forgetfulness is likely to lead to some "missed opportunities", or even stressed relationships. . ..

Are your suits covered? Indicate exact strength.

33. Replying to weak 1NT. You have a balanced hand, stoppers in 3 suits, with >11 HCP
HCP points	team situation	better players	beginners
11	23-25 HCP combined	bid 2. Partner raises with 14. (But bid Stayman with any 4-card Majors, unless it's 4333 which give no ruffing power)	2NT. Partner will raise to 3NT if he has max 14. Beware a weak 2-card suit.
12	24-26 HCP combined	bid 2NT. Partner raises with 13. (But bid Stayman with any 4-card Majors, unless it's 4333 which give no ruffing power)
13-18	25+ assured	bid 3NT, a "Game" bid. (But bid Stayman with any 4-card Majors, unless it's 4333 which give no ruffing power)	3NT. Beware a weak 2-card suit.
19+	33+ is possible	bid 4NT, inviting partner to raise to 6 (small slam) if he has max 14.
23+	37+ is possible	bid 5NT, inviting partner to raise to 7 (grand slam) if he has max 14.
21-22	33-36 is certain	bid 6NT, telling partner 6 is certain, 7 is impossible.
Add to your customised cribsheet

[1]A note about long minor suits: Have you noticed how helpful it can be to establish a long suit when playing no trumps ? Well, when calculating your points, you as responder can add a point for every card over 4 in a long minor. For example: a 2335 distribution can be very useful. Add one point. A 2236 distribution is strictly not balanced, but provided you still have stoppers in 3 suits, especially the 2 short ones, you can add 2 points. (If you have a long Major suit, perhaps you should be playing in a Major!). Note that singletons are often terrible in NT (e.g. 1336), because you end up not being able to lead to your partner's cards in that suit.

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing