with weaker balanced
hands, leaving the 1NT opening for the top of the range.Experience shows that balanced hands of 11-15 HCP
can not all be managed with the weak notrump, and that failing to
open balanced hands of 11-12 HCP passes up too many good results.
Therefore we open 1 with weaker balanced
hands, leaving the 1NT opening for the top of the range.
In addition we open 1 with many hands
that in Precision would be opened 2
, because
we have figured out how to handle those hands more gracefully than
is possible with a two-level opening. And of course
1 may also show long diamonds.
All of this works because we have moved many hand types into the
2 and 2 opening
bids, in such a way that the 1 opening will
always be either a mundane weak balanced hand, or a hand with
considerable playing strength -- never an "in between" hand. Thus we
call it the Meaningful Diamond.
The 1 opening is artificial and
shows either 11-13 HCP balanced, or 11-15 HCP in an
unbalanced hand with the longest suit being a minor, usually at
least six cards. Two-suited hands with a shorter major are
included, but again the minor is usually six or more cards.
While 5-4-2-2 hands with a five-card minor and a four-card
major are usually considered balanced, it is better to open
1
when strength is concentrated in the long suits.
For example, with:
A J x x x x x x A K Q x x
open 1.
The other case where you might be unbalanced with only a 5-card minor is a 5-4-3-1 pattern with four spades and three hearts (see the Two Clubs section for more about this). This will not be a problem if partner responds in either major, and if the response is 1NT it would be reasonable to pass if the minor is weak.
Responses to 1 are similar to a
natural "standard" 1 opening,
with the exception that there is no such thing as an immediate
raise. Here is a summary:
| 1 | 1 / | Natural, 4+ cards | |
| 1NT | Natural, 6-10 HCP, nonforcing | ||
| 2/ | Natural, forcing, promises a rebid | ||
| 2/ | Preemptive, bad hand | ||
| 2NT | 11-12 HCP, balanced, no major | ||
| 3/ | Preemptive, bad hand |
There are a few artificial sequences, otherwise standard methods apply in the
development of the auction. We try to create situations where
familiar rules of bidding can apply. For example, the auction
1 - 1 - 2
can continue exactly as a standard auction that had started with
1 - 1 - 2.
Here are opener's possible rebids after a 1
response (note that "maximum" hands are always unbalanced):
| 1 | 1 |
||
| 1NT | Balanced, natural | ||
| 2/ | Normally 6+ cards, but could be a good five-bagger | ||
| 2 | Artificial, maximum with either hearts or 3-card spade support | ||
| 2 | Minimum with good support, sometimes only three cards | ||
| 2NT | Maximum, unbalanced, stoppers, minor not solid | ||
| 3/ | Maximum, unbalanced, very strong minor | ||
| 3 | Artificial, four-card spade fit, strong hand with clubs | ||
| 3 | Artificial, four-card spade fit, strong hand with diamonds | ||
| 3NT | To play, gambling with long running minor | ||
| 4/ | Natural + fit, too good to just invite game |
The 1 response is similar;
1 - 1 - 1
promises an unbalanced hand but does not yet clarify strength. Accordingly,
1 - 1 - 1NT promises a
balanced hand and does not deny spades.
1 - 1 - 2
or 1 - 1 - 2
shows a minimum opening with support, either balanced or unbalanced.
Opener may or may not choose to raise with only three cards in support.
Responder's 2NT is natural and nonforcing, around 11-12 HCP.
Opener with only three-card support may pass (11-12 balanced) or bail out
to three of a minor (unbalanced minimum), or try 3NT.
The following are examples of responder's rebids after opener's
1 rebid (which promises an
unbalanced hand):
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 1 | 1NT | Bad hand, opener usually bids 2 of her minor, or 2 with 3-card support | |
| 2 | Invitational, to play 2 of opener's minor if minimum; opener bids higher than 2 if maximum | ||
| 2 | Artificial game force with step responses (below) | ||
| Other | Natural, nonforcing |
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 1 | 2 | ||
| 2 | Minimum with clubs | ||
| 2 | Minimum with diamonds | ||
| 2NT | Maximum with clubs | ||
| 3 | Maximum with diamonds |
If opener's rebid is 1NT, then 2
by responder is "Checkback Stayman" and is required to initiate
any forcing sequence; any other bid by responder is natural and
nonforcing.
If the response is one of a major, then opener's jump shift into
the other major is always an artificial raise. Also the sequence
1 - 1 - 2
is either a "reverse" into hearts (with the minor as yet unknown),
or three-card spade support. In all of these situations extra values are
promised. Here are some specifics:
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | Maximum; 3 hearts + either minor, or 4 hearts + clubs | ||
| 3 | Maximum; 4 hearts + diamonds |
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2NT | Asks for clarification | |
| 3 | Clubs + 3 hearts | ||
| 3 | Diamonds + 3 hearts | ||
| 3 | Clubs + 4 hearts |
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | Maximum; either a secondary heart suit or 3-card spade support | ||
| 3 | Maximum; 4 spades + clubs | ||
| 3 | Maximum; 4 spades + diamonds |
| 1 | 1 |
||
| 2 | 2 | Signoff, 6+ spades, assumes opener has hearts | |
| 2NT | Asks for clarification (see below) | ||
| 3 | Only 4 spades, wants to play 3 of opener's minor |
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2NT | ||
| 3/ | Natural with hearts | ||
| 3 | Clubs and spades | ||
| 3 | Diamonds and spades | ||
| 3NT | To play - something like x Qxxx A AKJxxxx | ||
| 4/ | Natural with hearts, 6-5 |
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 2NT | Hearts + unspecified solid minor, suggesting 3NT | ||
| 3/ | Natural with hearts + 7-card non-solid minor, likely void in spades | ||
| 3 | Clubs and 3 spades | ||
| 3 | Diamonds and 3 spades |
With the 1 opening artificial,
responder with a bad hand might have to improvise. We shrug
off this "defect" with the expectation that the deal probably
belongs to the opponents and they are at least as likely as
partner to suffer from any confusion. The important point here
is that opener should not distort her bidding for the possibility
that partner has a Yarborough; assume partner has a "normal"
hand for his bidding, and trust that you will get enough good
results from the exceptional cases to outweigh the bad ones.
If 1 is doubled, a redouble
shows at least game-invitational values with no long suit. Other
bids carry their normal meaning.
Negative doubles apply thru 3.
At higher levels the double is "card-showing", and opener tends
to pass with a balanced hand and bid with an unbalanced hand.
We use negative free bids thru 2
when 1 is overcalled.
If a 1 or 1
response to 1 is overcalled and a
raise to two is still available, support doubles apply.