The Unusual Notrump

BB What’s Standard? by David Lindop This series is based on Grant Vulnerability is a consideration with Standard, a set of conventions and a borderline hand. The opponents agreements that are in popular use The Unusual will be quicker to double when we today, such as 15-17 1NT openings, Notrump are vulnerable, especially if they are five-card majors, and weak two- not. The longer and stronger the bids. A summary chart of Grant suits, the less riskier it is to bid 2NT. Standard and the corresponding We can afford to give this ‘unusual’ WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH convention card can be found at ♠ meaning to 2NT because we rarely 1 ? www.AudreyGrant.com. The site hold a strong balanced hand of 20 Although there also has Grant Basic, a simpler set ♠ or more points when the opponents are only 8 high- 4 of agreements. ♥ — open the bidding. If we do get such card points, this ♦ Earlier articles in this series would be a good Q J 10 7 6 5 a hand, we can let partner know by ♣ K Q 10 9 8 3 appeared in the Bridge Bulletin and starting with a takeout double and hand to bid 2NT can also be found under ‘Articles’ at then bidding notrump—showing a even at unfavorable vulnerability. www.AudreyGrant.com. hand too strong to overcall 1NT. This hand would ♠ Suppose the auction starts: be a much riskier 4 hen the opponents open ♥ 8 3 WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 2NT bid. We might the bidding, and we have a ♦ K Q 8 7 5 1♥ ? only take such an ♣ Wtwo-suited hand, we could action at favorable Q J 7 5 4 This would be an start by overcalling in the higher- ♠ 4 vulnerability, if at all. ranking suit, planning to show the ideal hand to use ♥ 5 second suit at the next opportunity. the unusual 2NT: a ♦ K J 10 7 5 Strength of the Hand However, that second chance may weak hand with ♣ Q J 9 6 4 3 The unusual 2NT is primarily used never come. Everyone might pass both minor suits. to suggest a possible sacrifice if our overcall or the auction may be at Length of the Suits partner has a fit with one or both an uncomfortably high level when What is meant by a ‘two-suited’ suits. So advancer assumes it shows the bidding comes back to us. hand? The unusual 2NT bid typically a weak hand. The advantage of being able to promises at least five cards in each WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH show two suits with a single bid is suit: 5-5 distribution or better. 1♥ ? that partner will get a clear picture Partner, advancer, will have to This hand has too much potential of our hand right away and may be choose a suit at the three level and on defense to suggest ♠ 8 4 able to compete even if the opponents might have only three-card support, a sacrifice against the ♥ take the auction to a high level. 5 or worse. The partnership wants opponents’ contract. ♦ A K J 7 3 Also, it’s safer to offer partner a ♦ some degree of safety, especially Simply overcall 2 , ♣ A J 6 4 2 choice between two suits. We’re since the 2NT bid can be made with planning to bid clubs more likely to land in a suitable a weak hand. next, if convenient. The deal could trump fit, even when the opponents Suppose the auction starts: belong to our side. have the majority of the strength. WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH An exception is when we have a Many conventional methods have 1♠ ? very strong two-suiter, where we are been developed to show two-suited willing to bid again after partner’s hands. One of the earliest—and It would be very ♠ 9 3 dangerous to bid ♥ call. With this ♠ 8 most popular—is the unusual 8 5 ♥ 2NT with this hand, ♦ A Q 9 6 3 hand, for example, 5 notrump, introduced by Alvin Roth ♣ we can bid 2NT, ♦ A K J 7 3 in 1948. which would commit K Q 9 5 ♣ the partnership to the three level. planning to raise A K 9 6 4 2 partner’s response. If the opponents Unusual 2NT Overcall Partner might choose 3♣ on a Roth’s initial suggestion was that a three-card suit, or even a doubleton, compete, we can double to show the jump overcall of 2NT over an opening and we would be in a poor contract. extra strength. For example: bid of 1♥ or 1♠ can be used to show It would be better to make a simple WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH a weak two-suited hand with both ♦ 1♥ 2NT overcall of 2 , or perhaps make a ♥ minor suits, clubs and diamonds. conservative pass. 4 Pass Pass Double BETTER 14 BRIDGE VOL. 11, NO. 6 JULY/AUGUST 2007 BB Which Two Suits? WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH The subsequent double says partner ♠ The unusual 2NT proved so useful 1 2NT Pass ? has a strong distributional hand With this hand, we rather than the usual weak hand. as a competitive tool that the idea ♠ K J 5 3 2 have a poor fit with Based on this knowledge, we should was expanded to include other two- ♥ K Q 6 3 ♥ suited hands. Most partnerships use partner’s suits, so we ♦ bid 5 . The compete deal might be J 7 5 something like this: the jump to 2NT over any bid of simply give preference ♣ 4 one-of-a-suit as unusual, showing to diamonds. We would ♠ — the two lower-ranking unbid suits. make the same call if North doubled. ♥ A K Q 7 4 Things could be worse, we might ♦ WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH A Q 8 7 5 3 ♣ 1♦ ? have had only a doubleton diamond. 8 5 Landing in a poor contract at the ♠ ♠ Instead of over- ♠ K 10 8 2 A Q 9 6 5 4 ♥ 4 three level is one of the dangers of ♥ 10 6 3 N ♥ 9 calling 1 with this ♥ WE Q J 10 7 5 the unusual notrump. If East bids, ♦ K 9 ♦ 4 2 hand, we could jump ♦ 8 3 S we’d be happy to pass. ♣ A Q J 6 ♣ K 10 7 2 to 2NT to show the ♣ K Q J 8 5 two lower unbid suits, We should not consider playing in ♠ notrump with this type of hand. The J 7 3 hearts and diamonds. To see why this ♥ J 8 4 2 might be advantageous, suppose we 2NT bid promises distribution, not ♦ strength. Trying to play a misfitting J 10 6 were to overcall 1♥ and the auction ♣ 9 4 3 continued something like this: hand in notrump is usually a bad idea and may encourage the oppo- East-West won’t have any difficulty WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH ♠ nents to double for penalty. making 4 . With the help of the 1♦ 1♥ ♥ With this hand we diamond finesse, we’ll make 5 ! 1♠ Pass 2♠ ? ♠ 8 6 4 have a good fit with Extending the Unusual NT Bidding 3♣ at this point would ♥ K 7 3 2 clubs and a useful ♦Q promise a much stronger hand. ♦ Q 5 Once the partnership is familiar with in partner’s other suit. Also note how easy it was for the ♣ K J 7 4 the unusual notrump, the concept We should be willing opponents to find their spade fit can be extended to other situations. to compete to at least 4♣ whether or after the 1♥ overcall. They might not WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH not East bids. We might consider Pass have such an easy time over 2NT. ♣ sacrificing in 5 if the vulnerability Pass Pass 1♥ 1NT! In summary, the modern style is: is favorable and they bid game. We ♣ South’s 1NT bid in this auction UNUSUAL NT OVERCALL don’t expect to make 5 , but it’s unlikely to cost more than 500 can’t be showing a balanced hand • 5+ cards in both lower- points if they double. with 15–17 points, since South ranking unbid suits. passed initially. Instead it can be With this hand we ♠ • Less than an opening ♦ 8 4 2 used as ‘unusual’ showing a hand would jump to 5 ♥ A 9 6 3 ♠ bid (or very strong). expecting to make the like this: both minor 4 ♦ A Q 7 5 suits and a desire to ♥ 9 3 contract if partner has ♣ Always check with partner on ♦ K 5 compete to at least ♦ Q J 9 7 5 as little as the K and ♣ this. Because opponents sometimes ♣ the two level. K J 10 8 3 ♣ ♦ A. We shouldn’t lose more than open 1 or 1 with a three-card two tricks in the major suits, since Here’s a similar situation. suit, some partnerships prefer to partner has at most three cards in WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH keep 2NT as always showing both ♠ ♣ ♦ hearts and spades. Partner’s 2NT 1 Pass minor suits, even over 1 or 1 . bid gives us a pretty good picture of 2♠ Pass Pass ? Advancing After 2NT the combined hands. We are in the balancing ♠ We have to be on our toes when position. If we pass, the 9 3 Since the 2NT bid usually shows a ♥ 8 4 using a convention such as the auction is over. We’d weak hand, advancer treats it in a ♦ K Q 7 5 unusual 2NT. Consider this auction: like to compete, but similar manner to other preemptive ♣ K J 8 4 2 bids, focusing on trick-taking rather WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH can’t make a takeout than points.

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