Opening 1 No Trump
An opening bid of 1NT is different from any other opening bid in that it shows exactly 12-14 HCP and a balanced hand.. Balanced means: • no 5-card major • no singleton (1-card suit) or void (0 cards) • at most one doubleton (2-card suit) ♠ 32 ♥ KQJ2 ♦ KJ3 ♣ Q632 1NT does not promise honour cards in every suit. This hand above is balanced even though it has two small spades. Anytime you have 12-14 HCP and a balanced hand you should open 1NT in preference to 1 of a suit. ♠ A2 ♥ AT2 ♦ KJ932 ♣ 632 You should still open 1NT with a 5-card minor, but not with a 5-card major. |
__♠ A52
♥ KQJ2 ♦ 3 ♣ QJ632 This time you have a singleton diamond. The correct opening bid is 1♣. ♠ AKJ82 ♥ J2 ♦ KJ3 ♣ 632 Now you have a 5 card major. 1NT is the wrong bid. The correct opening bid is 1♠. ♠ A2 ♥ KQJ2 ♦ KJ3 ♣ Q632 This time you are too strong to open 1NT. Open 1♣, the lower of your two 4-card suits. (from http://www.bridgeonline.co.nz/wiki/index.php?f=Opening-1NT-Acol) Always make sure you know what your rebid is before you open. If you don't know what your rebid is - should you be opening 1NT instead of a suit? Remember you do not need an honour in every suit to open 1NT. |