Hand of the Fortnight

Number 5

 

Theme:   Weak 2NT Opening or “Unusual 2NT”

You are sitting East. North is Dealer.

The bidding could go:

            N                        E                        S                        W

/                        2NT*                        X                        5D

/                        /                        //

            * Alerted as 7-11 HCP and 5/5 in Minors

 

The 4 hands are:

                                                            N        

                                                S:    J 9 7

                                                H:   J 7 6 5 4

                                                D:   J  

                                                C:   K T 6 5

                        W                                                                    E

            S:    K 5 4 2                                                    S:   Q

            H:   A 8 3                                                       H:   9 2

            D:   K T 9 8 6 3                                              D:   A 7 5 4 2

            C:   -                                                                C:   Q J 8 7 3

                                                            S

                                                S:    A T 8 6 3

                                                H:    K Q T

                                                D:   Q

                                                C:   A 9 4 2

 

Main Points:    

1)      With less than ½ of the HCP, E/W have stolen the contract with a stone-cold

minor contract (while N/S had a possible 4S contract on).

 

2)       Having a Club void + the “quick trick of HA” multiplied the fit with East. Don’t muck around

with a 3D response here. Pre-empts cut down on the opponent’s bidding space and

communication in competitive auctions.

 

3)      Why don’t I use 2NT = 22-24 HCP and balanced?

            If I use “Benjamin 2’s”, it’s not needed!

                                       2D*           2H**                          

                                     2NT  .........          achieves the same result.

                        (* alerted as 22+ HCP with any distribution”)

                        (** could be alerted as 0-6 HCP or “a waiting bid”)

4)       It’s also a matter of another “tool in the bag” that pre-empts the opponents’ bidding.

         

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