2-Over-1: The Forcing 1NT… Part Three

Don’t Use 1 NT Forcing if …

If opener bids 1♥, then responder, holding 4+ spades, should bid 1♠:

South
♠ Q 9 8 2            North            South
♥ 7 6                  1♥                  ??
♦ A K J 10
♣ 9 8 6


Bid 1♠, not 1 NT. South should first show a 4-card major.

After an overcall or double, 1 NT is not forcing: ("off in competition")

West                              East
♠ J 9 6                           ♠ K 10 2
♥ A J 10 4 3                  ♥ 9 6
♦ K 8 7                          ♦ Q J 4 3
♣ K 4                            ♣ Q 6 5 2

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

West should pass. With only a minimum hand, West can pass the 1 NT response.  

If South overcalled, West could still pass. 

Tune in next time for Part Four!