Numbers Nerd
10-18-2004, 11:34 PM
Imagine you hold KQ1054, A43, 6, QJ62. Suppose you are in fourth seat, and the auction proceeds 1D - pass - 2D (6-9 points) to you. Looks pretty easy, doesn’t it? Even vulnerable versus not, I think most folks would bid 2 spades in a flash, and be content that they’ve represented their hand fairly well.
Now suppose that the auction instead went 1D - pass - 3D (6-9 points) to you. Now that same hand is all of a sudden quite difficult to bid. I sure wouldn’t want to bid 3 spades if LHO has AJ96 of spades in his 13 point hand. And a takeout double is pretty unpalatable as well when partner makes the expected 3H response.
What is this convention that allows you to cause the opponents so much trouble?
The second hand I want to give you is K32, 7, KQ986, K542. When partner opens 1D, how do you feel about this hand? If you bid 3D (forcing), and partner bids 3NT, how do you like your chances? Or do you really distort your hand by starting with a 2C response? How would you like a convention that allows you to bid 2D with this hand, showing 10+ points and a diamond raise?
What is this convention that improves constructive bidding sequences?
These two hands are samples of why I really like the Inverted Minor convention. The first hand shows how you can make life difficult for your opponents with the double raise to the three-level. The second hand shows a hand that gets easier to bid when you can make a forcing (actually invitational or better) raise to the two-level.
Convention description
The convention is really quite simple: A single raise of openers minor suit denies a four-card major, shows at least five-card support (rarely four if opener has bid 1D), and shows 10+ points, including distribution. A double raise of openers minor suit also denies a major suit, and shows at least five-card support with 6-9 points, including distribution.
How to respond as opener
After a double raise to the 3-level showing 6-9 points, with a minimum opening hand you should pass. With a balanced hand too good (18-19 points) for a 1NT opener, you can bid 3NT over 3D. With an unbalanced hand with enough to try for game, bid a suit, just as you would after a major suit single raise.
After a strong raise, you may not pass. (Exception, if raiser is a passed hand.) I like the following method: With a balanced minimum, bid stoppers up the line. Responder will do the same. If either player bids 2NT or 3 of the minor, it is passable and suggests you have bid the limit of the hand. With minimum unbalanced hands, bid stoppers as you would with a balanced hand, but as a rule you won’t bid 2NT - you’ll bid 3 of the minor at some point suggesting a spot to play.
I haven’t described what a 2NT rebid by opener shows. One possible treatment is for this to show 14 high card points and both majors stopped. Responder usually will bid 3NT, but occasionally will want to sign off in 3D if he had a really minimal raise - e.g. 7, K42, KQ972, Q874.
With a minimum opening hand with a long (5+) minor, you may bid 3 of the minor (e.g. 1C - 2C - 3C). This has a mild preemptive aspect to it, but responder may go on with an opening hand.
With extra values, it gets more fun. I like to play that a jump in a new suit by either hand at any time is a splinter bid. Most commonly, this is something like 1D - 2D - 3S. This sequence shows 15+ points and shortness in spades. Responder is well placed in this sequence to help to constructively place the contract.
I also like to play that a jump to 4 of the minor at any time by either partner is key-card blackwood. So 1C - 2C - 4C - 4D shows zero or three key cards. Don’t forget to double-check before you bid those responses!!!
Optional for daredevils
Some partnerships have agreed that the double raise shows less than normal reply strength, or 0-5 points. When they have this auction, opener is not advised to bid 3NT, even with 19 points. With 6-9 points responder just bids 1NT. I have played this with at least one partner. It was great fun! Try not to laugh when you bid it though!
In competition
When an opponent overcalls, some partnerships like to keep their same methods. My preference is to keep the meaning for the double raise. But if I have 10+ points I now can cue-bid the opponents suit, with the identical meaning that the single raise would have shown. I also have a new bid at my disposal - the old-fashioned single raise. For example, 1D - (1S) - 2D shows 6-9 points, and only four card support. This allows partner to compete to the three level when it is right! Sometimes this puts us in a 4-3 fit, but hey, we’re only at the two level, folks.
Over a takeout double, the single and double raises are the same as over overcalls - i.e. 6-9 points and 4 or 5 card length. When I have 10+ points, I can either redouble, or bid 2NT. 2NT does not say you like notrump. If you have that hand, start with a redouble. This is called the Jordan (or Dormer) convention, and shows a limit raise or better in partner’s minor suit. It is the same as I like to play it over major suit openings.
Now suppose that the auction instead went 1D - pass - 3D (6-9 points) to you. Now that same hand is all of a sudden quite difficult to bid. I sure wouldn’t want to bid 3 spades if LHO has AJ96 of spades in his 13 point hand. And a takeout double is pretty unpalatable as well when partner makes the expected 3H response.
What is this convention that allows you to cause the opponents so much trouble?
The second hand I want to give you is K32, 7, KQ986, K542. When partner opens 1D, how do you feel about this hand? If you bid 3D (forcing), and partner bids 3NT, how do you like your chances? Or do you really distort your hand by starting with a 2C response? How would you like a convention that allows you to bid 2D with this hand, showing 10+ points and a diamond raise?
What is this convention that improves constructive bidding sequences?
These two hands are samples of why I really like the Inverted Minor convention. The first hand shows how you can make life difficult for your opponents with the double raise to the three-level. The second hand shows a hand that gets easier to bid when you can make a forcing (actually invitational or better) raise to the two-level.
Convention description
The convention is really quite simple: A single raise of openers minor suit denies a four-card major, shows at least five-card support (rarely four if opener has bid 1D), and shows 10+ points, including distribution. A double raise of openers minor suit also denies a major suit, and shows at least five-card support with 6-9 points, including distribution.
How to respond as opener
After a double raise to the 3-level showing 6-9 points, with a minimum opening hand you should pass. With a balanced hand too good (18-19 points) for a 1NT opener, you can bid 3NT over 3D. With an unbalanced hand with enough to try for game, bid a suit, just as you would after a major suit single raise.
After a strong raise, you may not pass. (Exception, if raiser is a passed hand.) I like the following method: With a balanced minimum, bid stoppers up the line. Responder will do the same. If either player bids 2NT or 3 of the minor, it is passable and suggests you have bid the limit of the hand. With minimum unbalanced hands, bid stoppers as you would with a balanced hand, but as a rule you won’t bid 2NT - you’ll bid 3 of the minor at some point suggesting a spot to play.
I haven’t described what a 2NT rebid by opener shows. One possible treatment is for this to show 14 high card points and both majors stopped. Responder usually will bid 3NT, but occasionally will want to sign off in 3D if he had a really minimal raise - e.g. 7, K42, KQ972, Q874.
With a minimum opening hand with a long (5+) minor, you may bid 3 of the minor (e.g. 1C - 2C - 3C). This has a mild preemptive aspect to it, but responder may go on with an opening hand.
With extra values, it gets more fun. I like to play that a jump in a new suit by either hand at any time is a splinter bid. Most commonly, this is something like 1D - 2D - 3S. This sequence shows 15+ points and shortness in spades. Responder is well placed in this sequence to help to constructively place the contract.
I also like to play that a jump to 4 of the minor at any time by either partner is key-card blackwood. So 1C - 2C - 4C - 4D shows zero or three key cards. Don’t forget to double-check before you bid those responses!!!
Optional for daredevils
Some partnerships have agreed that the double raise shows less than normal reply strength, or 0-5 points. When they have this auction, opener is not advised to bid 3NT, even with 19 points. With 6-9 points responder just bids 1NT. I have played this with at least one partner. It was great fun! Try not to laugh when you bid it though!
In competition
When an opponent overcalls, some partnerships like to keep their same methods. My preference is to keep the meaning for the double raise. But if I have 10+ points I now can cue-bid the opponents suit, with the identical meaning that the single raise would have shown. I also have a new bid at my disposal - the old-fashioned single raise. For example, 1D - (1S) - 2D shows 6-9 points, and only four card support. This allows partner to compete to the three level when it is right! Sometimes this puts us in a 4-3 fit, but hey, we’re only at the two level, folks.
Over a takeout double, the single and double raises are the same as over overcalls - i.e. 6-9 points and 4 or 5 card length. When I have 10+ points, I can either redouble, or bid 2NT. 2NT does not say you like notrump. If you have that hand, start with a redouble. This is called the Jordan (or Dormer) convention, and shows a limit raise or better in partner’s minor suit. It is the same as I like to play it over major suit openings.