[inquiry]

The meaning of 2NT bids can be tricky. Good-Bad, Lebehnshol, Unusual, scrambling, natural. So I thought I would post a few auctions for a poll. Here are the auctions... vote on what you think the 2NT bid should mean in a perfect world...... I will post my choices in a reply to my own post.

1.
P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N

2.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N

3.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-X-(P)-2N

4.
1N-(P)-2C-(2H)-P-(P)-2N

5. (given in another thread
1N-(P)-P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N

6.
1N-(P)-2C-(P)-2H-(2S)-2N

7.
P-(1H)-P-(2H)-P-(P)-2N

8.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-2N

9.
(1S)-P-(2C)-2N         2C = game force

10.
(1C)-P-(1S)-X-(2S)-2N

11.
(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N

12.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N

[Yzerman]

1.
P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Lebensohl

2.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N
Minors (can be C+H or D+H if hand is very shapely)

3.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-X-(P)-2N
Natural

4.  
1N-(P)-2C-(2H)-P-(P)-2N
Natural

5. (given in another thread
1N-(P)-P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N
Natural

6.  
1N-(P)-2C-(P)-2H-(2S)-2N
Scrambling "ish"

7.  
P-(1H)-P-(2H)-P-(P)-2N
Minors

8.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-2N
(Minors or weak 2 two suiter, H+C D+C)

9.
(1S)-P-(2C)-2N    2C = game force

10.
(1C)-P-(1S)-X-(2S)-2N
Good-Bad relay

11.
(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Good-bad relay

12.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Minors

[inquiry]

When more answers come in, I believe we will find LOTS of disagreement on virtually all of these auctions. For instance, Yzerman, a player I respect very much, gave 2NT as natural in 3 of the 12 auction. I suspect most people would will say that much more than 3 of these 2NT bids are natural. However, for me, none of the give auctions are natural..  

I can't wait to see how others treat these bids....my 12 answers are given below.

1.
P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Lebensohl, what else?

2.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N
Scramble. Should be any two suiter, not necessarily the minors. Of course, if you had HEARTS and diamonds, you could double and pull 3C to 3D. Partner should bid his cheapest 3 or longer suit. So with 3-2-5-3 I would respond 3C, not 3D.  

3.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-X-(P)-2N
Scramble. I think the 2NT bidder has two 4 card suits,  and doesn't want to risk getting into a 4-3 fit. The doubler should bid his cheapest four card suit. Think 2NT bidder as xxx KTxx xx QTxx. He doesn't want to bid 3H in case parter had 2-3-4-4 distribution, nor 3C in case partner had 2-4-3-4.

4.  
1N-(P)-2C-(2H)-P-(P)-2N
Good Bad. I play double over 2H as takeout, and 2C promised a major, so 2N can not be scramble for minors. Simply double if you want to try to scramble.  I use this 2NT to separate a game forcing 3C/3D rebid by responder from an weaker spade-minor two suiter. Thus if I had bid 3C/3D over 2H (instead of 2N), for instance that would have been forcing.  Now I can get in a diamond or club bid without getting partner too excited.

5. (given in another thread
1N-(P)-P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N
Scramble, generally for the minors here, probably 5-4. I play 2S-x as takeout, by either player (of course other may readily leave in). 2N here can not be lebehnsol or any flavor of good/bad, since intial pass of 1NT, no need to seperate a "good" 3D bid from a bad "3D" bid.

6.  
1N-(P)-2C-(P)-2H-(2S)-2N
Good/BAD. Problem hand I had one time. Generally, I play double as takeout but after all 2C, as I play it, promised a 4-card major. If I have hearts, I can raise. If I have spades, then double can no longer be logically takeout. So I doubled when I wanted penatly, and partner bid on.  :'(  So I think double is penatly, and pass is optional. So if I lack SPADES, I must have heart fit. So I use 2NT, 3 of a minor, and 3H to separate between competitive, invintational, and forcing heart raises. Over 2S, 3H is good, and invites to 4H, while 2N followed by 3H is bad andd is to play. Likewise, an immediate 3C/3D would be heart fit and game force.

7.  
P-(1H)-P-(2H)-P-(P)-2N
Minor suit takeout What else? With a two suiter, including spades either bid 2S or double. If partner can't stand spades, and has both minors, he can pull to 2NT and you can bid your minor.

8.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-2N
Any two suiter. Partner bids cheapest 3 card or longer suit.

9.
(1S)-P-(2C)-2N    2C = game force
Brrrrrr. Very risky. Must be monster red two suiter

10.
(1C)-P-(1S)-X-(2S)-2N
Good-Bad 2NT

11.
(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Good Bad 2NT

12.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Scamble, looking for a minor fit.

[keylime]

Using 2NT artificially is a great breakthrough in the realm of competitive bridge. Thusly, as these examples have shown, discussion is rather important, especially from experience Good/Bad and Scrambling 2NT.

Speaking of which, today at the club one pair of my KLPV10 (Key Lime Precision Version 10) students got this all wrong and went down 9 tricks undoubled. And they say science is everything...<chuckles>

[inquiry]

Quote

Using 2NT artificially is a great breakthrough in the realm of competitive bridge. Thusly, as these examples have shown, discussion is rather important, especially from experience Good/Bad and Scrambling 2NT.

Speaking of which, today at the club one pair of my KLPV10 (Key Lime Precision Version 10) students got this all wrong and went down 9 tricks undoubled. And they say science is everything...<chuckles>

If we all knew what our partner's meant by their 2NT bids in this new modern style bridge... life would be so much easier...  :

[jjsb]

Quote

The meaning of 2NT bids can be tricky. Good-Bad, Lebehnshol, Unusual, scrambling, natural. So I thought I would post a few auctions for a poll. Here are the auctions... vote on what you think the 2NT bid should mean in a perfect world...... I will post my choices in a reply to my own post.

1.
P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N

force 3C (with non regular partner i would play that natural)

2.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N

natural


3.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-X-(P)-2N

natural

4.
1N-(P)-2C-(2H)-P-(P)-2N

natural

5. (given in another thread
1N-(P)-P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N

2 suiter

6.
1N-(P)-2C-(P)-2H-(2S)-2N

natural

7.
P-(1H)-P-(2H)-P-(P)-2N

for minor but maybe we can considere as 54 (with 4 S)


8.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-2N

2 suiter indetrminate

9.
(1S)-P-(2C)-2N         2C = game force

5-5 H D

10.
(1C)-P-(1S)-X-(2S)-2N

never thougth of it but not natural , for minor maybe despite the 1C opening

11.
(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N

natural

12.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N

natural

[keylime]

I can fondly remember the sizable amount of time I used to teach Good/Bad 2NT and Scrambling 2NT to my KLP students (side note: had a pair win twice at a regional using KLP V10 -- was very happy). Those couple of hours was well worth it.

[guido]

>The meaning of 2NT bids can be tricky. Good-Bad, >Lebehnshol, Unusual, scrambling, natural. So I thought >I would post a few auctions for a poll. Here are the >auctions... vote on what you think the 2NT bid should >mean in a perfect world...... I will post my choices in a >reply to my own post.

>1. P-(2S)-X-(P)
>    2N
Lebensohl

>2. P-(2S)-P-(P)
>    2N
Distributional 2-suiter (any). Would expect minors if not discussed.

>3. P-(2S)-P-(P)
>    X-(P)-2N

scrambling for soemthing that smells like a fit

>4. 1N-(P)-2C-(2H)
>      P-(P)-2N

Depends upo meaning of opner's pass and hands that are supposed to start with 2C

>5. 1N-(P)-P-(2S)
>      P-(P)-2N
minors

>6. 1N-(P)-2C-(P)
>     2H-(2S)-2N
Assuming 2C promises a 4-card major: Spade stopper and 4 bad hearts.


>7. P-(1H)-P-(2H)
>    P-(P)-2N
minors


>8. P-(1S)-P-(2S)
>   2N
minors

>9. (1S)-P-(2C)-2N         2C = game force
minors (so, quite long clubs)


>10. (1C)-P-(1S)- X
        (2S)-2N
scambling


>11. (1S)-P-(2S)-X
>       (P)-2N
natural, decent values


>12. P-(1S)-P-(2S)
>      X-(P)-2N
scrambling

Paul (guido online)

[inquiry]

Poll RESULTS will be updated if other reply. These results are current as of.....

[move]May 13, 3:40 EST[/move]

L = Lebenhshol
S = Scramble
U = unusual for minors
N = Natural
G = Good bad
T = any two suiter

1
P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
N-L-S-U-G-T
0-7-0-0-0-0

2.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N
N-L-S-U-G-T
1-0-2-2-0-2

3.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-X-(P)-2N
N-L-S-U-G-T
2-1-4-0-0-0

4.  
1N-(P)-2C-(2H)-P-(P)-2N
N-L-S-U-G-T
5-0-0-0-1-0     One no answer

5.  
1N-(P)-P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N
N-L-S-U-G-T
1-0-1-3-1-1

6.  
1N-(P)-2C-(P)-2H-(2S)-2N  
N-L-S-U-G-T
5-0-1-0-1-0


7.  
P-(1H)-P-(2H)-P-(P)-2N
N-L-S-U-G-T
2-0-0-5-0-0

8.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-2N
N-L-S-U-G-T
0-0-0-4-0-3

9.
(1S)-P-(2C)-2N         2C = game force
N-L-S-U-G-T
1-0-0-0-0-6


10.
(1C)-P-(1S)-X-(2S)-2N
N-L-S-U-G-T
2-1-0-1-3-0
 
11.
(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
N-L-S-U-G-T
2-0-2-0-2-0   +1 creative "good" 3H raise 

12.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
N-L-S-U-G-T
1-0-4-1-0-0   +1 creative "good 3H raise"

[Rado]

1.
P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Lebensohl

2.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N
Any 2 suiter

3.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-X-(P)-2N
scrambling (2 places to play)

4.
1N-(P)-2C-(2H)-P-(P)-2N
invitation (bad defence for 2H doubled or Vulerable aginst not)
5. (given in another thread
1N-(P)-P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N
minors (54 as min)
6.
1N-(P)-2C-(P)-2H-(2S)-2N
invitation (bad defence for 2H doubled or Vulerable aginst not)
7.
P-(1H)-P-(2H)-P-(P)-2N
minors
8.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-2N
any 2 suiter
9.
(1S)-P-(2C)-2N         2C = game force
red suits
10.
(1C)-P-(1S)-X-(2S)-2N
Lebensohl  (also some words for playing in C, but needs partnership agreement - opp's C suit might be 3-4 cards only)
11.
(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
scrambling (+ Lebensohl idea if 3H rebid after)
12.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
scrambling

[/quote]

[kongo]

1.
P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Lebensohl
2.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N
Scramble but I doubt if it's called super unusual 2NT according to  the book"To bid or not to bid" i have just read. Should be any two suiter, not necessarily the minors. Partner should try from the lowest suitable suit.

3.
P-(2S)-P-(P)-X-(P)-2N
Scramble.

4.  
1N-(P)-2C-(2H)-P-(P)-2N
Natural. I play 2C does not promise a major(only way to invite partner), so 2N must be natural. I think double is just holding spade suit and club suit, asking partner to have preference. (or only spade suit, depends on agreement)

5. (given in another thread
1N-(P)-P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N
Scramble.Yes, I agree 2N here can not be lebehnsol or any flavor of good/bad, since intial pass of 1NT.

6.  
1N-(P)-2C-(P)-2H-(2S)-2N
Natural. As I said before, it must be natural. So if want to compete to 3H or 3C/3D just double. I admit that Good/bad here is also good idea but I have no choice

7.  
P-(1H)-P-(2H)-P-(P)-2N
Minor suit takeout. With spade suit involved two-suiter just bid 2S, we want to compete only, the lowest level we get, the more advantages.

8.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-2N
Any two suiter. Partner bids cheapest 3 card or longer suit.

9.
(1S)-P-(2C)-2N    2C = game force
red two suiter

10.
(1C)-P-(1S)-X-(2S)-2N
Good-Bad 2NT

11.
(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Scramble. I play partner's double is balancing and 2N is asking partner to choose his long suits from the lowest possible suit.

12.
P-(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Scramble

[luis]

My votes:

1. P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Lebensohl or Rubensohl

2. P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N
Minors

3. P-(2S)-P-(P)-X-(P)-2N
Lebensohl or Rubensohl

4.  1N-(P)-2C-(2H)-P-(P)-2N
Natural invitational bid

5.  1N-(P)-P-(2S)-P-(P)-2N
Pick a minor.

6. 1N-(P)-2C-(P)-2H-(2S)-2N  
Natural invitational values.

7.  P-(1H)-P-(2H)-P-(P)-2N
Natural, double heart stopper and 13/15, denies 3 spades.

8. P-(1S)-P-(2S)-2N
Minors

9. (1S)-P-(2C)-2N    2C = game force
Herts and diammonds

10. (1C)-P-(1S)-X-(2S)-2N
Natural invitational to game

11. (1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Competitive bid in hearts (3h would have been weakish)

12. P-(1S)-P-(2S)-X-(P)-2N
Competitive bid in hearts (3h would have been weakish)