Responding to 1NT

One change that Agent 99 and I will implement is to use the scheme that Elwood and I have devised for responding to 1NT. It is based on 4-suit transfers, which is arguably not the best responding scheme for a weak no-trump, but it is a framework which is commonly in use locally. Elwood and I took some amusement out of elaborating some sequences and inventing a bid or two. The overall layout is like this.

2C is Stayman but does not necessarily promise a 4-card major. After 1NT – 2C; 2D, Responder’s bid of 2H is weak, and usually shows 5-5, or 5-4 either way in the Majors, but if very weak does not promise more than four cards in each Major. Opener should correct to 2S with a doubleton heart (Crawling Stayman) and also more often than not with 3-3 in the Majors, so the stronger hand declares.

After 1NT – 2C; 2D – 4D/4H are delayed Texas transfers, implying Responder is 6-4.

1N – 2C; 2D – 2S; shows 5 spades and 4 hearts, invitational.
1N – 2C; 2D – 3H; shows 5 hearts and 4 spades, game-forcing
1N – 2C; 2D – 3S; shows 5 spades and 4 hearts, game-forcing
1N – 2C; 2D – 3D; shows 5-5 majors (Weissberger), either invitational or slam-interested. With 3-3 in the majors and non-minimum (accepting an invitation), Opener bids 4C, and Responder transfers to his preferred major.
1NT-2C; 2D-3C, 1NT-2C; 2D-P, or 1NT-2C; 2M-3m indicates a weak sign-off, 6+ in the minor and 4 in one Major. 1NT-2C; 2H-3m; 3S is a special sign-off correction where Opener is 4-4 in the Majors, possibly with only 2 in Responder’s minor.

We play four-suit transfers, 2S transferring to clubs and 2NT transferring to diamonds, with acceptance (bid them if you like them). With a weak minor two-suiter, responder can answer 2NT and pass opener’s rebid. Responder’s follow-up of his m-suit transfer with 3M on the next round shows a game-forcing hand, 4 in the M and 6+ in the m, regardless of whether or not Opener “accepts” the transfer.

After a Jacoby Major suit transfer simple acceptance, a single jump in an unbid suit by Responder is an autosplinter, showing a 6+ self-sufficient Major, a singleton or void in the splinter suit, and slam interest. Examples: 1NT-2D; 2H-3S, 1NT-2H; 2S-4C (not Gerber). The sole exception to this is noted below.

1N – 2D; 2H – 2S; shows 5 hearts and 4 spades, invitational.
1N – 2H; 2S – 4H; shows 5-5 majors, no slam interest. The non-jump sequence 1N – 2H; 2S - 3H; is the auto-splinter with heart shortage.

All 3-level responses show both minors and are either strongly game-invitational or slam-interested. In principle, when Responder is confident of game values, he should most of the time just bid it. The use of these minor-suit oriented bids implies that he is seriously worried that 3NT is likely to fail because of a weak suit, or that he is considering 6m should Opener have a suitable hand.

1N – 3C; shows 5-4-3-1 or 5-5-3-0 with both minors. Then 3D asks, and 3M is the singleton (or void), when 4OM by Opener is to play in the 4-3 fit. 4m from Opener is now a preference and is not forcing and not Minorwood, although Responder will often be in a position to raise or cue-bid.

1N – 3D; shows 5-5-2-1, 6-5-2-0 or 6-5-1-1 with both minors. Then 3H asks, when:
3S shows 2=1=5=5, 1=1=5-6 or 2=0=5-6 without slam interest
3NT shows 1=2=5=5 or 0=2=5-6 without slam interest
4C shows 2=1=5=5 with slam interest
4D shows 1=2=5=5 with slam interest
4H shows 6-5-2-0 with slam interest
4S shows 6-5-1-1 with slam interest

1N – 3M; is a splinter bid, with 4-4-4-1, 5-4-4-0, or 5-4-3-1 distribution and exactly four cards in the other major. Now 4OM by Opener is to play, 4m from Opener is a preference and is not forcing and not Minorwood, although Responder will often be in a position to raise or cue-bid.

3NT is natural, 13-18 balanced.

4C is Gerber.

4D, 4H are Texas transfers.

4S is unused.

4NT is natural, invitational to 6NT. If Opener decides to accept, he may show aces as per Blackwood, and if Responder then bids 5NT Opener must pass. Or Opener may jump to 6minor to show a 5-card suit, offering a choice of slams.

5NT is forcing to 6NT, invitational to 7NT.

6NT and 7NT are natural.