Tuesday, November 26, 2013

2-Over-1: The Forcing 1NT… Part Four


Don’t Use 1 NT Forcing If …

If you are a passed hand, a 1 NT response is not forcing:

West                              East
♠ 8 7                              ♠ A Q 9 6 4
A Q 6                         10 5 4
Q 9 8 7 6                     J 10
♣ 10 9 8                        ♣ K J 7

West              North              East               South
Pass               Pass                1♠                  Pass
1 NT              Pass                Pass               Pass


East opened a little light in 3rd position. West, a passed hand, bids a standard 1 NT response, which is not forcing. 
East has no reason to continue.
Therefore, a passed hand should raise opener's major with 3+ card support: 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West                               East
♠ 10 7 3                         ♠ A 5
K 9 8                           Q J 10 6 2
4 3                               7 2
♣ Q 9 7 4 2                   ♣ A J 8 6


West              North              East               South
Pass               Pass                1                  Pass
2                 Pass                 Pass               Pass

If West was not a passed hand, he would first respond 1 NT, then he'd go back to 2, showing 5-7 points. But as a passed hand, he may not get a second bid, so 2 must now cover 6-10 points. 

Note: A variation is to make a 1 NT response to a major as "semi-forcing" whereby opener, with a minimum balanced hand, can pass a 1 NT response. This book is based on 1 NT as a forcing response. Make sure you and your partner agree whether you play 1 NT responses to a major as "forcing" or "semi-forcing"!