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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Tuesday
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Basic
strategy
0000). How to use 0001). Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 0002). 28 for minor 0003). 33 for NT slam 0004). Suit slam 0005). Importance of length 0006). Convention card 0007). ACOL and American Standard, differences 0008). A-Z Glossary 0690). A-Z Glossary
Hand
evaluation
0010). Balanced-Unbalanced 0011). How strong is your hand, HCP 0012). Distribution points 0013). Losing trick count 0014). Barrier-Reversing 0015). Selection of opening suit 0016). Showing shape 0017). 4441 distribution 0018). The skip over principle 0019). Rule of 20 Opening 1 of a suit 0019a). Rule of 25 Opening 2 of a suit 0019b). Rule of 500 Max penalty risk on preempt if doubled 0019c). Law of total tricks 0019d). Rule of Protective bidding
Opening
bids
0020). Plan of attack 0021). Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT 0022). Bal, 20+ points 0023). Bal, 15 to 17 HCPs, strong NT 0025). Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit 0026). Unbal, Strong 2s 0027). Unbal, Pre-emptive 0028). Unbal, Gambling 3NT 0029). Benji Strong 2s
Responder
1st bids
0030). After 1NT, General principles 0031). After 1NT, Weak 0032). After 1NT, Getting out of trouble 0033). After 1NT, 11+ balanced 0034). After 1NT, 11+ 4-card major 0035). After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced 0036). After 1NT, 19+ 0037). After 2NT 0038). After 1NT, and Enemy has interfered 0039). 1 NT responses 0040). After 1 Suit, With fit 0041). After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit 0042). After 1 Suit, No fit, no new suit, probably balanced 0043). After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid 0044). After 1 Suit, Very strong 0045). After 1 Suit, Weak freak 0047). After 2 Suit, Strong 2s 0048). After 2 Suit, Weak 2s 0049). After 3 Suit, Responding to preempt
Openers
rebid
0050). Unbalanced, The general idea 0051). Unbalanced, You are weak 0052). Unbalanced, You are strong 0053). Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT 0054). Unbalanced, Delayed support 0055). Balanced
Responder
rebids
0060). Responder rebids, The general idea 0061). Choice of two suits 0062). Responders reverse 0063). After 1NT rebid
Basic
Convention
0080). Stayman 0081). Transfer 0082). Transfer after 2NT 0161). Minor suit transfer
Slam
bidding
0090). Slam, Spotting the chance 0091). Blackwood 0092). No-trump slam 0093). Gerber 0094). Extra slam techniques
Interfering
bids
0100). Overcalls, the basic idea 0101). Overcalls, in a suit, over a suit 0102). Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT 0103). Overcalls, in NT, over a suit 0104). Overcalls, Jump overcall 0105). Overcalls, Double then bid a suit 0106). Overcalls, Bidding opponents suit 0107). Overcalls, Balancing (protective) 0108). Overcalls, Overcall a preempt 0109). Overcalls, Preemptive double jump 0110). Overcalls, To overcall, or to double 0111). Overcalls, Response to 1NT after suit overcall (Lebensohl) 0115). Defence after 1NT 0116). Competitive bidding 0117). Be cautious sometimes 0118). Sacrificing Be bold when non-vulnerable 0119). Sacrificing 0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0126). Doubles, Protective double
Doubles

0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0123). Doubles, Negative double 0124). Doubles, Double a 1NT overcall 0125). Doubles, Double a suit over 1NT 0126). Doubles, Protective double 0127). Doubles, Responsive double 0128). Doubles, Double then bid a suit 0129). Doubles, Penalty 0130). Doubles, Support double 0131). Doubles, Lead directing double 0132). Doubles, Maximal double 0133). Doubles, Redoubling - coded meanings 0134). Doubles, Forcing Pass 0135). Doubles, Re-opening double 0139). Doubles, Index of doubles
Advanced
Convention
0150). Majors Jacoby 2NT 0151). Majors Splinters 0152). Majors Weak 2s 0153). Majors Weak 2 defence 0154). Trial bid 0160). NT and minors 4th suit forcing 0161). Minor suit transfer 0162). DONT Bidding When Opponents open 1NT 0163). Game tries 0166). Grand Slam Force 0167). Roman Keycard Blackwood 0168). Cue bidding for controls 0170). 2-suited Overcall Unusual 2NT 0171). 2-suited Overcall Michaels cue bid 0172). 2-suited Overcall Landy over 1NT 0173). Overcall Unassuming cue bid 0179). Very advanced

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Quick summary

A Strong NT opening

15-17 HCP points
balanced hand

A Weak NT opening

12-14
balanced

Acol is almost always weak, but can use both: a few players switch to Strong NT when vulnerable. American Standard uses Strong only.

Each has its advantages. Acol is highly preemptive.

Most people stick to what they know, and play the same system as their friends.

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

« 0023 »

Opening bid, Strong No Trump method

A Strong NT opening means 15-17 HCP points, balanced hand. It used to mean 16-18 HCP, and to some people it still does. A Weak NTopening means 12-14 balanced.

Why do some people prefer Weak NT ?

With both systems, weak and strong, you closely define both the strength and shape of your hand. It's a very precise description, allowing your partner to judge the correct level and contract, using a whole range of systems (Stayman, Transfers, weakness takeout, Strong 3s). Since 12-14 range hands are more common than 15-17, it's one up to weak NT.
When you have 12-14 points, which is not uncommon, a weak NT bid makes it harder for opponents to enter the bidding than a bid of say 1. A NT opening is preemptive, taking up the entire level 1 from the opponents, who have to enter the bidding at the 2-level. With the Standard American system, an opening of 1 permits the enemy to enter at the one level. However, there is the danger that the preempting side could preempt themselves, taking up their own bidding space that could be used for constructive bidding.
It's true that with the weak system, you have to open in a suit with 15+ balanced, but this is not much of an issue because the power balance has changed in your favour and because it's rarer. Also, you can open a 4-card Major, knowing that you're strong enough to rebid 2NT over a 2-level response
A drawback of the weak NT arises when your opponent doubles you, e.g. with 17 points. This can be especially painful if you're vulnerable. Even though this combination is quite rare, it can lead to substantial losses. Fortunately, there are ways out of this problem in many cases. Notwithstanding this, some players choose to switch to Strong NT when they are vulnerable.
Four-card Major openings, such as Acol, have additional preemptive characterists when compared with five-card major openings. However, on the flip side, the partner might in some rare cases not support the opened suit with 3 cards; that could sometimes result in missing a partial contract.

Overcalls

In standard Acol, a 1NT overcall is similar to a strong NT opening call (i.e. 4 HCP more than the weak 1NT opening).

Using Strong NT

Decide with your partner beforehand if you want to use this convention, and also think about using it just for when you are vulnerable.

If you use it, opening 1NT is exactly the same as for weak NT (12-14 HCP points), except that you promise 15-17 points. The responses need to be adjusted to take this into account, so for example a Stayman response would only need 8 points if you are using Strong NT, not 11, since you know the opener is 3 points stronger. You'll also need to figure out what you are going to bid with a weak balanced hand (12-14 points), which is a whole new problem.

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