LESSON 8.2: NOTRUMP OPENINGS WITH A BALANCED HAND

Dealer: South

North

Q 10 8 6
Q 8 7 4
K Q 9
A K

South

West

North

East

?

1NT (15-17 HCP   balanced hand) limiting

Open 1NT with a balanced 15-17 HCP hand

Dealer: South

South

Q 10 8 6 5
Q 8 7
K Q 9
A K

South

West

North

East

?

1NT (15-17 HCP   balanced hand) limiting

It is acceptable to open in notrump even with a five-card major; avoid notrump when holding a weak doubleton or when the major is solid

Dealer: South

South

A K Q 10 8
Q 8 7
K Q 9
6 5

South

West

North

East

?

1 (15-17 HCP   5+   balanced hand) inviting

Avoid opening in notrump with a five-card major and a weak doubleton; rather open in your major and later rebid your suit with a jump at the three level

Dealer: South

South

A Q 10 8
Q 8 7 4
K Q 9
A K

South

West

North

East

?

2NT (20-21 HCP   balanced hand) limiting

Open 2NT with a balanced 20-21 HCP hand

Dealer: South

South

A Q 10 8
K Q 7 4
K Q 9
A K

South

West

North

East

?

2 then 2NT (22-24 HCP   balanced hand) limiting

With a balanced 22-24 HCP hand, first open with a strong 2 bid and then bid 2NT at your next turn

see Lesson 9. Two-club strong opening

Dealer: South

South

A K J 10
K Q 8 7
K Q 9
A K

South

West

North

East

?

3NT (25-27 HCP   balanced hand) limiting

Open 3NT with a balanced 25-27 HCP hand

see Gambling 3NT convention

Dealer: South

South

A K J
K Q 8 7
A K Q 9
A K

South

West

North

East

?

4NT (unspecified hand) 1 round

A 4NT opening is an ace-asking bid used when holding a strong distributional hand or a strong balanced hand lacking only one ace

see 11.4 Blackwood Convention

Dealer: South

South

Q 8 7
A J 10 8
K Q 9 6
A K

South

West

North

East

?

1 then jump to NT (18-19 HCP   balanced hand) limiting

With a balanced 18-19 HCP hand, first open in a four-card or more suit at the one level and then jump to 2NT over partner's one-level response or to 3NT over partner's two-level response