or 2,
even if having a 5-card major.
The 1NT opening bid is 13-16 hcp in all positions and at all vulnerabilities. This range gives a good balance between frequency of openings and reasonable safety from penalty. A range of 4 hcp provides sufficient precision to allow partner to know whether to bid game, invite game, or settle for a part-score.
Note: When we first started playing the Double Club System we used a 1NT opening bid of 14-16 hcp. This works reasonably well and is safer, since opponents are less willing to double you when you are known at have at least 14 hcp. However, when your 1NT opening bid is 14-16 hcp you will have to pass with most balanced hands that have 13 hcp. We found that this led to a net loss in the long run, since we too frequently failed to find good part score contracts. Since widening the range of our 1NT to 13-16 hcp that problem has gone away. And in case you wish to ask what happens when we fail to open a balanced 12 hcp hand that every other pair will open the bidding with, the answer is that we more often gain points than lose points, so there is no issue. If you prefer to use a 1NT opening that has less risk of being doubled for a penalty then you can use a 14-16 hcp range and there are no structural changes to the System.
Balanced hands of 11-12 hcp are not opened in first or second position unless they have a good (or at least a reasonable) 5-card suit other than clubs. These weak balanced hands will rebid 1NT over a one-level suit response, showing 11-12 hcp, and must rebid a short minor suit over a forcing 1NT response. Without a 5-card suit, or if the 5-card suit is clubs, a balanced hand of 12 hcp or weaker must pass in first or second position.
In third or fourth position, however, we open all balanced hands of 12 hcp or more and any better than average hands with 11 hcp. To facilitate this we permit 4-card major suit openings in third and fourth position and sometimes it is even necessary to open a 3-card diamond suit.
Except for those balanced hands mentioned above, in the 11-12 hcp range,
which may be opened with a 5-card major suit,
all other balanced hands must be opened with one of the balanced hand sequences,
either 1NT or a sequence starting with 1 or 2,
even if having a 5-card major.
[Update May/2010]: We have modified the No Trump Ladder
so that we do not require to use the Kokish Relay after a 2 opening bid.
This has the advantage that auctions starting 2, 2
; 2
show with absolute certainty an unbalanced hand with a heart suit,
and so responder is able to show positive values with a natural suit bid (including 2
)
and negative values with an artificial 2NT bid.
This change gives us the advantage of being able to follow
Danny Kleinman's recommendations
on how to respond to a 2 opening bid.
The System's no trump ladder is (the bids marked * are a Kokish Relay):
| 11-12 hcp: | Open one of a suit if having a good 5-card diamond, heart or spade suit, otherwise pass. | ||
| 13-16 hcp: | 1NT | ||
| 17-19 hcp: | 1, 1; 1NT | or 1, 1/; 1NT or 1, 2; 2NT | |
| 20-22 hcp: | 1, 1; 1*, 1*; 1NT | or 1, 1/; 2NT or 1, 2; 2NT | |
| 23-24 hcp: | 2, 2; 2NT | ||
| 25-26 hcp: | 1, 1; 2NT | or 1, 1/; 1NT or 1, 2; 2NT | |
| 27-30 hcp: | 1, 1; 1*, 1*; 2NT | or 1, 1/; 2NT or 1, 2; 2NT | |
response
When opener rebids 1NT or 2NT and neither player has bid a natural suit, the System's 1NT or 2NT response system applies. The response system also applies after a 1NT or 2NT rebid following the use of the Kokish Relay (since none of the suit bids is natural).
When opener rebids 1NT or 2NT after any other response, however,
further bidding is natural.
See Auctions Starting 1, 1/; 1NT
and Auctions Starting 1, 2; 2NT for full details.
or 1 response
If responder shows a major suit and opener has support for responder's major, a strong balanced opener should still rebid no trump, so that he makes responder aware of his strong balanced hand and his exact strength range. Opener's 1NT or 2NT rebid is forcing, so opener will be able to show support for responder's suit on the next round.
Opener's rebid of 1NT shows 17-19 hcp or 25-26 hcp. Responder makes his rebid assuming the lower range (as it nearly always will be). If opener has the higher range then he will have sufficient extra strength to make a further unforced bid, showing that he has the higher range.
Opener's rebid of 2NT shows 20-22 hcp or 27+ hcp. Once again responder makes his rebid assuming the lower range. If opener has the higher range then he will have sufficient extra strength to make a further bid.
These "dual range" rebids are possible because opener's 1NT and 2NT rebids are both forcing. If responder signs off in a part score, when opener has the higher range he converts to game. If responder immediately or eventually signs off in game, when opener has the higher range he shows it by making a slam try (e.g. a raise of 3NT to 4NT). Responder will then immediately be aware that opener has the higher range, and should accept the slam try unless he is absolutely minimum.
response
Responder has shown a hand with 8-11 hcp and diamonds as the only suit,
either balanced (1NT)
or unbalanced (2).
Both of these bids are non-forcing,
and opener is expected to name the final contract with his next bid,
or to make a bid that is non-forcing but invitational to game.
Therefore, if opener has a strong balanced hand, he must not bid 2NT, since this bid is invitational to game, not forcing. A strong balanced opener must bid 3NT.
Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club