This ends the series on notrump openings. It is quite fitting that a player becomes predictable to his partner through the consistent use of descriptive bids. 1 NT is one such very descriptive bid as long as it is not mistreated.
One should have 15-17 and a balanced hand.
Could this contain a five-card major?
Yes, but rarely. With 15-17 points and a five-card major, there is often a re-bid problem especially with 15 points. A distribution such as a 5-3-3-2 hand is one such example.
The problem has a solution if the partner can show when they hold 10 points by bidding a new suit at the two-level or by bidding 2NT for his second response after partner opens a suit instead of notrump.
However, notrump cannot be used on a regular basis with a five-card major unless your partnership can ask for a five-card major.
This convention is called Puppet Stayman. I am assuming one is using regular Stayman so a player must treat the five-card major as a four-card one when partner bids Stayman.
One should rarely open 1 NT with a five-card major unless the suit has one honour or less. Also the hand should have three cards in the other major, in case partner transfers there and passes.
Can 1 NT have two doubletons?
Yes, but also in rare occasions. The doubletons must be strong with one and a half stopper at least.
The bidding:
With 15 points and a balanced hand, North opens 1NT hiding his five hearts. He does have three spades, and his hearts have only one honour.
South transfers to spades and invites through 2NT showing a five-card suit and 8 or 9 HCP’s. North, with three spades and a minimum, bids three spades to sign off.
However, South’s doubleton may be working and he bids game.
The contract: Four spades
The play:
East leads the Ace of diamonds and cashes the king before switching to a trump. He can’t lead a club and setting up declarer’s side suit, hearts, is also a poor choice. Declarer draws trump and attacks hearts. West leads a club. North refuses the finesse and pitches two clubs on the hearts.
The result: Four spades making for +420
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Warren Watson is an American Contract Bridge League silver life master and accredited teacher.
The Warfield resident created the Kootenay Jewel Bridge Club with duplicate games on Mondays at noon.