Bridge Corner: February 15, 2024

Bridge Corner: February 15, 2024

Hello and welcome to The Bridge Corner.  In this session, we want to list and explain the responses to the 1 No Trump opening bid.  The 1 No Trump (N/T) opening bid, like EVERY one-level opening bid, is saying four things: 1) Giving point count (1 N/T = 15 to 17 points); 2) Indicating whether or not there is at least a 5-card major suit in the hand (1 N/T = no 5-card Spade or Heart suit in the hand); 3) If 1 Spade or 1 Heart is opened, then asking for at least 3 cards in the suit opened; if 1 N/T, 1 Diamond, or 1 Club opened, then asking for at least a four card major suit.  So, when 1 N/T is opened, the opener is asking his partner for at least a four card Spade or Heart suit (majors) and at least 8 points in order to respond.

Before we look at the responses to a 1 No Trump opening bid, let’s examine what a N/T hand looks like:  1) No 5-card or longer major suit (Spades or Hearts);  2) No singletons (suits with only one card);   3) No voids (suits with no cards); 4) if there is a doubleton (only two cards in one suite).

RESPONDING TO 1 NO TRUMP OPENING BID

PLEASE NOTE:  Whether a 1 No Trump (15 to 17 points), 2 No Trump (20 to 21 points), or 3 No Trump (25+ points) hand is opened, all opening No Trump hands have no 5+ card Spade or Heart suite, no singleton or void, and if the hand has a doubleton, there can only be one doubleton.

Using the chart above, when your partner opens 1 N/T, and your hand is 3 Spades, 3 Hearts, 4 Diamonds, and 3 Clubs with 7 High Card Points (HCP),  you will Pass!  If you are responding to a 1 N/T opening bid holding 3 Spades, 3 Hearts, 4 Diamonds, 3 Clubs with 8 or 9 HCP, then you raise partner’s suit to 2 N/T.  And, if you are fortunate enough to be holding 3 Spades, 3 Hearts, 4 Diamonds, and 3 Clubs with 10 to 14 HCP when your partner opens 1 N/T, you will JUMP to 3 N/T.

In our next session, we will cover the “Stayman” and the “Jacoby Transfer” Conventions.

You are invited to join us on Sunday, March 10, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for a “Retrain the Brain:  Learn to Play Bridge” seminar.  Old Dominion University will sponsor this event; each participant will receive the book Bidding in the 21st Century, handout sheets covering lesson one in bridge, a nylon backpack, and the opportunity to kick-start your bridge journey!  Light refreshments will be served.  The cost is $10 per person.  You MUST register at jldouglas23462@aol.com In the “Subject” section of your email, please use ‘ODU Bridge Session”; also, let me know how many people will be in your party.  Hope to see you at the bridge table.

TIDEWATER BRIDGE CLUB
The Banks at Berkley
701 South Main Street, Norfolk, VA  23523
WEDNESDAYS
10:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Advertisement

This is a locked building.  An assigned person will be at the door to let you in until 11 a.m.  Take the elevator up to the second floor Community Room.  The game fee is $4 for 2 ½ or more tables.  Bring your lunch.  Light packaged snacks/water will be provided.

Winning Pairs from the February 7, 2024, Bridge Game

Aldis Raymond – Leon Ragland (1)             

Gloria Brown – Barbara Whitfield (3)

Lillye Holley – Jennifer Douglas (2)           

Rodney Smith – Lawrence Owes

Elva Taylor – Shirley Nottingham   

Any question, concerns, or comments, please feel free to contact Lawrence Owes, President, Tidewater Bridge Club at l.a.owes1@gmail.com.