Responder Has 3- or 4-Card Support
If you use 1 NT Forcing, you now have a superb method of pinpointing your major suit support for opener.
With weak responses you can show raises that are "very weak" (5 to 7 points) or "constructive" (8 to 10 points). With 11+ points, you can pinpoint 3-card or 4-card support.
These goodies are available to responder by bidding according to these guides:
With 5 to 7 points, first bid 1 NT then bid two in opener’s major:
North:
♠ A J 9 South North
♥ 8 7 3 1♥ 1 NT
♦ 9 8 6 5 4 2♣ 2♥
♣ 8 5
North’s "raise" shows either 3-card support with a dreadful point count —
5 to 7 — or just 2-card support with 6 to 10 points. It doesn’t matter which it is, it is bad news either way:
North:
♠ 8 5 South North
♥ 6 2 1♠ 1 NT
♦ K J 8 7 6 2♥ 2♠
♣ K 4 3 2
With 8 to 10 points and 3+ card support, raise opener’s major immediately:
(This is a "Constructive Raise")
North:
♠ 9 7 6 South North
♥ A J 6 1♥ 2♥
♦ 8 5
♣ Q J 9 8 7
North shows a better point count than bidding 1 NT and then raising. North may have 3 or 4+ card support.
Stay tuned for Part Two!
©2013 Roberta Salob
