To the Rescue!

By Michelle Brunner

Partner opens the bidding with 1 and your right-hand opponent passes.

What would you respond on each of the following four hands?

Hand A   4   6 5   A Q J 5 4 3 2    7 6 5

Hand B   -   6 5 2   K J 7 6 3   A 9 8 7 6

Hand C   5   J 8   6 3   K J 8 7 6 5 4 3

Hand D   2   A 9 7 6 5 4    J 3 2   J 3 2

BIDDING THEORY

Believe it or not the answer is the same on all four! Yes, it's 1NT. Problems of this nature are rarely exhibited by teachers to their early-learning pupils; hardly surprising, really - they would all be out the door in a flash! In the real world, however, we all know that such hideous bidding problems are all too common-place, not least perhaps, because light opening bids are so fashionable these days.

If you chose to pass on any of the above you should consider the consequences, along with those who felt goaded into responding at the two level in their longest or best suit.

Whilst the mere suggestion of playing a no-trump contract usually paints a more serene picture of a 'balanced' nature, there are always much-needed exceptions to such rules.

So, what exactly does a 1NT response show? Looking at these examples, it is clearly never going to promise a balanced hand with 6-9 High-card Points. That said, much of the time you will be producing the expected hand-type and strength associated with this call. In order, however, to take into account those occasions when one has to include hands that are way off-centre in terms of distribution, I think that the 1NT response should be described as a possible attempt to improve the strain to-date without over-emphasising the strength of the hand. In essence, it could be called a 'rescue manoeuvre.'

HOW WILL THE AUCTION DEVELOP?

Where you will end up will either depend on partner's rebid or whether the opponents have woken up yet. Of course, neither of those situations might occur and you could be left to fester in everyone's favourite contract. Be that as it may, I would always prefer to take my chances playing in 1NT rather than leave partner trying to wrap up seven tricks in 1 opposite any of the example hands illustrated earlier.

Let's not be gloomy, though! There is method in my madness as the whole idea of bidding 1NT was to get a chance to show my suit(s) on the next round and, by controlling the tempo of the auction, not get partner too excited. Hence:

Hand A: I intend to bid my diamonds as cheaply as possible and thus indicate a weak hand (fewer than 9 hcp) with a long suit. Perfect!

Hand B: I will rebid 2NT over 2 to show both minors when partner misguidedly tries to buy the hand in his suit.

Hand C: When did you last allow partner to play the hand when you held an eight-card suit? Now is not the time to start. Bid clubs at the lowest available level to show this unbalanced collection.

Hand D: Another example of a situation where I hope to be able to show my suit economically. There again, if partner happens to rebid 2 or 2, I might reconsider and pass, feeling pleased to have landed the partnership in a better spot with at least seven trumps to our credit plus the bonus of ruffing values.

SUMMING UP

There is no guarantee that you will live to tell the tale every time, but the concept of what is often referred to as 'the dustbin' 1NT response is an accepted and, indeed, normal treatment within the natural system of Acol.