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BTU 1NT

This bidding system has a strong notrump opening that does not contain a 5-card major. We use the BTU continuations after the 1NT opening: Stayman takes care of invitation with 5+ spades.

1NT-BAL 15–17
2♣!STAY. Garbage STAY. INV 5=♠
2♦!TRF, 5+♥
2♥!TRF, 5+♠
2♠!INV or 6+♣. S/T, 5+♣, 5+♦.
2NT!5+♦, 5+♣ or 6+♦
3♣!INV, 6+♣, KQxxxx or better, usually 6–7 HCP
3♦!FG FRAG, (31)(54)
3♥!INV, 5+♠, 5+♥
3♠!Choice of games, 5+♠, 5+♥
3NTS/O
4♣!Gerber BW
4♦!Texas TRF, 6+♥
4♥!Texas TRF, 6+♠
4♠!F QUANT
4NTQUANT INV to 6NT, NF
5NTQUANT INV to 7NT, F

Minor suit transfers

1NT-2♠INV or 6+♣. S/T, 5+♣, 5+♦.
2NTMIN
3♣!MAX, 1–3♣
3♦♥♠!MAX, 4–6♣, good stopper
1NT-2NT5+♦, 5+♣ or 6+♦
3♣!1–2♦
3♦3–4♦
3♥♠!5–6♦, good stopper
3NT!5–6♦, good ♣ stopper

Fragment 3♦

1NT-3♦FG FRAG, (31)(54)
3♥!Prefer 3NT for SPL ♥
3♠!Prefer 3NT for SPL ♠
3NTPrefer 3NT in all cases
4♣♦Prefer this suit
4♥!Equally strong preference to minors

BTU QUANT scheme

BTU reuses 4♠ for QUANT. This fills the blank that Gerber and Texas leave. Standard QUANT usually invites the upper 1/2 to 2/3 of the opening range. This 4♠ serves as a narrower QUANT than 4NT or 5NT by only inviting the top 1/3.

1NT-4NTQUANT INV to 6NT
6NTS/O, 16–17 HCP
1NT-5NTQUANT INV to 7NT
6NTS/O, 15 HCP
7NTS/O, 16–17 HCP
1NT-4♠F QUANT
4NT15–16 HCP
4NT-5NT!F to a 5-card suit or 6NT
4NT-7♣!P/C to a 5-card suit or 7NT
6NT17 HCP

Discussion on bidding 5-5 majors

There are 3 ways to bid 5-5 majors in BTU 1NT: 3♥♠ and via transfers. There is more than one version in BTU. I am demonstrating my recommendation here step by step.

There are 4 levels of 5-5 majors: weak, invitational, choice of games, and slam try.

  • Weak: transfer to the better major and pass. Give up on the other one.
  • Invitational: anything goes except 3♠.
  • FG+: anything goes.

Hands around the game level are prone to interference. On the other hand, leaking opener’s shape can be helpful in slam bidding. As a result, I recommend the following bidding structure:

  • Invitational: 3♥
  • Choice of games: 3♠
  • Slam try: 2♥ and then 3♥