[vodkagirl]

Dear All,

there is a spot that I have no real idea on how to bid.

It occurs when I am opener at the one level in a 2/1 -Standard American auction, LHO calls but partner and RHO both pass and it is back to me.

With a weak hand I usually show my second suit or rebid my first if I have six cards in it.

What would I need to bid 1N in auctions such as 1♣ (me) 1♠ Pass Pass?

What would 1♦ me 1♥ Pass Pass X signify?

I would be much obliged if someone could provide a schema of responses as I am all at sea in this spot.

Many thanks.

[nate_m]

In auctions like you described, standard is for a 1NT bid to show 18-19 HCP balanced (the hand too good to open 1NT but not good enough for 2NT). With a 12-14 balanced opener and length in their bid suit, it is advisable to pass. You are not missing anything if partner could not bid, and your partner may have next to nothing. Rebidding 1NT on such a 12-14 hand the same way you would if partner had responded is a very poor practice. (Not to mention an experienced partner will play you for 18-19...)

In auctions like you described, X is for takeout. In auctions like you described, X does not promise better than a minimum opener and is often the correct bid on hands with suitable distribution.

Generally speaking, when you hold a minimum opener with length in the opponents suit, you should let the auction pass out. With shortage in their suit, it is often correct to find a bid.

[rhm]

This depends on agreements:

Standard is:
Responder must bid with values. This can put responder in an awkward position, if he does not have at least four cards in the unbid major. An inadequate notrump response will often lead to notrumps declared from the wrong side. With a strong hand and a penalty double responder can not rely upon that opener will reopen, since opener is supposed to pass with a weak notrump (12-14) type hand.
A 1NT rebid by opener is supposed to show 18-19.

I like to play:
Responder is free to pass with no good bid. He does not deny values since opener gets another chance to bid. If responder and advancer passes, chances are that advancer is broke, since he does not keep the bidding open to his side. Opener will consider pass only with length in the bid major and shortage in the unbid major.
1NT does show 12-14. The assumption is that responder is not broke in this situation. In the rare case when he is, he is in a much better position to run than after a 1NT opening. Opener doubles with strong hands or short in overcaller's suit.
It works for me. I cannot remember having a bad result playing this method.

Rainer Herrmann

[vodkagirl]

Thanks for the replies Ranier and Nate.

[aguahombre]

One thing some people do so that Responder is guaranteed not to have a response (or has a true trap) when he passes the 1H overcall is to use the Negative Double with any hand which would have responded but was stymied by the overcall. It denies Spades and shows a hand which:

1) would have bid 1H but doesn't have a heart stopper.
2) would have bid 1NT but doesn't have a heart stopper.
3) "2" above, but might some length in the unbid minor.
4) has invitational values with length in the unbid minor.

This gives up the "four vs. five+" distinction when Responder bids 1S vs. Neg Dbl, but solves the issue about whether Responder has values at all.

[Zelandakh]

aguahombre, on 2014-March-06, 00:05, said:

One thing some people do so that Responder is guaranteed not to have a response (or has a true trap) when he passes the 1H overcall is to use the Negative Double with any hand which would have responded but was stymied by the overcall. It denies Spades and shows a hand which:

Arguably even better is to play over a 1♥ overcall that X shows 4+ spades and 1♠ shows a hand that can respond but has no good call. That gets back the 4 vs 5 differentiation if they do not bid further. In the specific auction 1♣ - 1♠, something I played as a junior is X showing hearts and 1NT showing diamonds and saying nothing about a stop. I quite liked it but most partners (without trying it) prefer not to use it so I stopped even suggesting it. From a theoretical point of view it probably makes more sense to play that X shows diamonds or a 1NT response without a stop and use 2♦/2♥ for the heart hands. Ben (inquiry) does that and also gives up a natural 2♣ to get the 4 vs 5 length distinction for the heart suit on the first round. Obviously the more you go along such a path, the less accessible the method becomes to the average player though.