Scribd
Upload
26 views2 pages

1NT opening

The document discusses the evaluation of hands for opening bids in bridge, specifically focusing on the 1NT opening bid. It provides examples of hands and evaluates whether they should open with 1NT based on strength and distribution. The author emphasizes the importance of accurate hand evaluation and hints at future content that will provide answers to the questions posed.

Uploaded by

Suvasish Dasgupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
26 views2 pages

1NT opening

The document discusses the evaluation of hands for opening bids in bridge, specifically focusing on the 1NT opening bid. It provides examples of hands and evaluates whether they should open with 1NT based on strength and distribution. The author emphasizes the importance of accurate hand evaluation and hints at future content that will provide answers to the questions posed.

Uploaded by

Suvasish Dasgupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Intermediate Players

Better Bridge with Bergen


BY MARTY BERGEN martybergen.com

Secrets of accurate hand evaluation – part 12

1NT: To open or not to open After all, “beauty is in the eyes of the
Without question, everyone’s fa-
vorite one-level opening bid should
beholder.”
FYI: Although some players avoid
East hands for the
be 1NT. 1NT is the most descrip- opening 1NT with a few of the distribu- July Bidding Box
tive opening bid. As long as you have tions below, for all 20 examples, I guar- Bid these hands with a partner.
the appropriate amount of strength antee that ACBL officials would agree The West hands are on pg. 51. The
and an acceptable distribution, you that an opening 1NT bid is kosher. North–South players are silent unless
should strive to make that bid. That is OK, let’s play “20 questions.” otherwise noted. Scores on pgs. 30–33.
definitely what I teach and what I and 1 ♠5 3 ♥K Q 7 6 ♦K Q J ♣K Q 3 2
many other experts live by. Problem 1. North deals. None vul.
Advantages of striving to open 1NT: 2 ♠7 6 ♥A Q 9 8 ♦A 4 3 ♣A Q 10 2 ♠A 7 ♥Q 6 3 ♦A Q 9 5 ♣A K J 7
⦁ Because your partner knows so 3 ♠Q J 2 ♥A J 3 2 ♦Q J 3 2 ♣K J
much about your hand, in general Problem 2. East deals. N–S vul.
he will bid more accurately. 4 ♠K 10 9 ♥A Q 10 9 ♦K 10 9 8 ♣A 10
♠— ♥K Q 10 4 ♦A 9 5 3 ♣K J 10 9 5
⦁ By opening 1NT, you frequently 5 ♠K J ♥K 7 3 2 ♦K Q 4 ♣Q J 7 5
avoid the rebidding problems that Problem 3. South deals. E–W vul.
can easily arise if you open in a suit. 6 ♠3 2 ♥A K J 9 ♦7 5 4 ♣A K J 10
♠A 5 4 ♥K 5 4 ♦K Q J 6 ♣A 4 2
⦁ By failing to announce the suits you 7 ♠K ♥7 6 4 2 ♦A Q 9 5 2 ♣A Q 8
like or dislike, you reveal less to the
8 ♠K 10 ♥7 6 4 ♦A Q 9 5 2 ♣A J 9 Problem 4. West deals. Both vul.
opponents and greatly increase the
chance they will make the wrong 9 ♠K Q J ♥K J 2 ♦K Q 5 ♣7 6 4 2 ♠A 9 7 4 ♥8 3 2 ♦Q 9 4 ♣A 10 6
lead and/or misdefend. What is my
favorite auction? 1NT–3NT. 10 ♠A J ♥A K 9 4 ♦Q J 9 3 2 ♣8 2
Problem 5. North deals. N–S vul.
For each of the hands below, should 11 ♠K 10 7 4 ♥K 9 6 5 3 ♦A J ♣K Q North opens 1♠ and rebids 3♠ if
you open 1NT? As you’d expect, the possible.
12 ♠K 6 ♥A K 7 3 2 ♦K 9 3 2 ♣A 2
key is hand evaluation, consistent with ♠9 5 3 ♥K J 5 2 ♦A J 7 ♣A K Q
what I’ve written in the past 11 months 13 ♠K Q 9 6 5 ♥ K 10 8 ♦10 9 8 ♣A Q
in this series. So although the range be- Problem 6. East deals. E–W vul.
14 ♠A Q 2 ♥K J ♦Q 9 ♣A 8 7 6 4 2
ing used here is the almost universally South overcalls 1♠. North bids (or
played 15–17, the correct answers to 15 ♠A 7 ♥Q 7 6 5 ♦A K Q 8 2 ♣6 3 doubles) 2♠ if possible.
my quiz are based on accurate evalua-
tion. 16 ♠A 7 ♥K 10 9 8 ♦A Q 10 6 2 ♣K 6 ♠8 4 3 ♥K 9 7 6 ♦A Q 4 ♣A 5 2
Next month, I’ll provide my answers, 17 ♠A 6 5 ♥A Q 8 7 ♦7 2 ♣A 10 9 8
along with the reasons for them. As an Problem 7. South deals. Both vul.
ex-school teacher, I provided exactly 18 ♠K J 4 3 ♥K J 3 ♦Q J ♣A 5 4 2 ♠K Q 7 ♥Q 5 4 ♦8 ♣Q J 8 5 4 3
20 questions so that you could take 19 ♠10 5 3 ♥A Q 9 3 ♦A K 9 8 4 ♣Q
5 points for each correct answer and Problem 8. West deals. None vul.
easily determine your grade. What is 20 ♠K Q J ♥A Q 7 ♦7 6 4 2 ♣K Q J
a passing grade? I’ll leave that to you. ♠A Q 10 3 ♥Q ♦10 9 8 7 5 3 ♣K J

July 2020 Bridge Bulletin 53


Intermediate Players

Better Bridge with Bergen


BY MARTY BERGEN martybergen.com

Secrets of accurate hand evaluation – part 13

Answers to open 1NT or not 11 ♠K 10 7 4 ♥K 9 6 5 3 ♦A J ♣K Q 17 ♠A 6 5 ♥A Q 8 7 ♦7 2 ♣A 10 9 8


1 ♠5 3 ♥K Q 7 6 ♦K Q J ♣K Q 3 2 Yes. Eager to declare, and no good Yes. Three aces = 13 HCP. Also true
Yes. Obvious to anyone not hung up rebid after 1♥–1NT. that A–10–9–8 = A–J–x–x = 5 HCP.
by a worthless doubleton. 12 ♠K 6 ♥A K 7 3 2 ♦K 9 3 2 ♣A 2 18 ♠K J 4 3 ♥K J 3 ♦Q J ♣A 5 4 2
2 ♠7 6 ♥A Q 9 8 ♦A 4 3 ♣A Q 10 2 No. After adding 1 for the five-card No. I subtracted 1 HCP for QJ
No. With upgrades (three aces and suit – too strong. doubleton. Also, having no intermedi-
quality club suit) – too strong. When comparing 5–4–2–2 distribu- ates is bad.
tion vs. 5–3–3–2: If ending in a suit 19 ♠10 5 3 ♥A Q 9 3 ♦A K 9 8 4 ♣Q
3 ♠Q J 2 ♥A J 3 2 ♦Q J 3 2 ♣K J contract, 5–4–2–2 is much stronger. If
Yes. Otherwise, no honest rebid after
No. Too weak because too quacky ending in a notrump contract, 5–4–2–2
1♦–1♠. A singleton queen is kosher.
and zero intermediates. is still stronger.
20 ♠K Q J ♥A Q 7 ♦7 6 4 2 ♣K Q J
4 ♠K 10 9 ♥A Q 10 9 ♦K 10 9 8 ♣A 10 13 ♠K Q 9 6 5 ♥ K 10 8 ♦10 9 8 ♣A Q
Yes. 4–3–3–3 with longest suit awful
No. Eight intermediates, quality Yes. Add 1 for the five-card suit. And
and no intermediates is not too strong
heart suit, no jacks means too strong! after 1♠–1NT, a 2♦ rebid would be
for 1NT.
distasteful.
5 ♠K J ♥K 7 3 2 ♦K Q 4 ♣Q J 7 5
14 ♠A Q 2 ♥K J ♦Q 9 ♣A 8 7 6 4 2 FYI: Those who agree with me that
No. Too weak because too quacky some upgradable hands with 14 Goren
and zero intermediates. Yes. 6–3–2–2 distribution (with a points or a few very ugly hands with
six-card minor) is perfectly OK for 18 should open 1NT should mark 14+
6 ♠3 2 ♥A K J 9 ♦7 5 4 ♣A K J 10 1NT. to 18– on their convention card. The
No. With two quality suits, it’s too
15 ♠A 7 ♥Q 7 6 5 ♦A K Q 8 2 ♣6 3 ACBL is OK with that. And when I see
strong.
Yes. 5–4–2–2 is definitely OK. that on an opponent’s convention card,
7 ♠K ♥7 6 4 2 ♦A Q 9 5 2 ♣A Q 8 I immediately gain respect for that
Yes. Otherwise, you’re forced to lie 16 ♠A 7 ♥K 10 9 8 ♦A Q 10 6 2 ♣K 6 player. ◾
after 1♦–1♠. No. With a quality five-card suit
(2-point addition), K–10–9–8 =
8 ♠K 10 ♥7 6 4 ♦A Q 9 5 2 ♣A J 9 K–J–x–x = 4 HCP, plus upgradable
Yes. Add 1 length point for the 5–4–2–2 means definitely too strong.
five-card suit.
9 ♠K Q J ♥K J 2 ♦K Q 5 ♣7 6 4 2
No. Too weak. Very downgradable
(4–3–3–3, no aces or intermediates,
longest suit awful).
10 ♠A J ♥A K 9 4 ♦Q J 9 3 2 ♣8 2
Yes. 5–4–2–2 distribution is defi-
nitely acceptable.

August 2020 Bridge Bulletin 51

You might also like