[pbleighton]

I have seen reference to a range ask over 1NT (2 spades?). How does this work?

[inquiry]

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I have seen reference to a range ask over 1NT (2 spades?). How does this work?

Hi,

I am not sure if I play the range ask the same as everyone else. But with some partners I use 2S as a kind of range ask/Minor suit 3NT game try. Think of this initially as a 1NT-2NT standard american bid.

Opener bids 2NT with a minimum hand (minimum range), and 3C, 3D or higher with a maximum hand. The difference between 3C and 3D is, he will bid 3C if he would reject a game try based upon a six card club suit headed by two of the top three cards. 3D would be pretty much the same, if he would reject a game try based upon a six card diamond suit headed by two of the top three honors.

This way, you play 2NT, 3C, 3D, or 3NT. It is also useful to make a low level slam try. This also allows you to use 2NT as some sort of artificial bid (transfer to 3C, minor two suiter, etc). Problems with this range asking bid. 1) it allows a lead directing doulbe (or lack of one, which can be just as important to the defense). And if the auction goes, for instance, 1N-2S-3D-3NT... the opening leader knows that opener lacks a top diamond honor, which can be very useful for the defense. That is you are giving away a lot of information... Responder has no 4 card major, opener has near max or max hand and no diamond honor... and partner either did or did not double 2S.

Others play 2S as range ask combined with a signoff in either clubs or diamonds. Opener bids eitther 2NT (minimum) or 3C (max). Responder then can pass (either bid), or bid 3C (over 2NT) or 3D (over 3C or 3D) as signoff.

And one pair I know uses 2S as "CONFI", a Dr. George Roseknantz invention where opener responds to 2S in steps showing hcp. 2NT least, 3C one more point, 3D two more points... then they look for "controls" and fit. But the first step in this is range.

Sometimes, just natural bidding is better...

[hrothgar]

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I have seen reference to a range ask over 1NT (2 spades?). How does this work?

I'm quite fond of the Scanian NT response structure which, coincidentally, uses 1N - 2S as a range ask. There is a good description of the 2NT bid and the followup responses available at

http://members.roger...moscito/x_1N_2S