Keyboard shortcuts

Press ← or → to navigate between chapters

Press S or / to search in the book

Press ? to show this help

Press Esc to hide this help

Positive 1NT, 2♠, and 2NT

I group these suitless positive responses together for simplicity. These responses deny 4-card majors and 6-card minors. I also list 1♣-3NT here as reference because it takes precedence over 1♣-2NT.

1♣-StrengthDistribution
1NT8–102–3♠, 2–3♥, 2–5♦, 2–5♣
2♠!10–110–3♠, 0–3♥, 2–5♦, 2–5♣
2NT12+2–3♠, 2–3♥, 3–4♦, 3–4♣
3NT12–1533(43)

1♣-1NT

I took the artificial 2♦ relay from FunBridge. I found it better than most Polish Club literature.

1♣-1NT-BAL 8–10
2♣S/O, 12–14, 6+♣
2♦!INV+ (R)
2MS/T, 18+, 5+#
2NTINV, 14–15
3♣S/T, 18+, 6+♣
3♦S/T, 18+, 6+♦
3MS/T, 18+, 7+#
3NTS/O, 16+
4♣♦S/T, SOL 7+#
1♣-1NT-2♦-INV+ (R)
2♥!5–6♣
2♠!5–6♦
2NTMIN, 2–4♦, 2–4♣
3♣!MAX, 2245
3♦!MAX, 2254
3♥!MAX, 6=♣
3♠!MAX, 6=♦
3NTMAX, 2–4♦, 2–4♣

1♣-2♠!

I move unbalanced invitations here from 1♣-1♦. Opener declares notrump anyway, so 1♣-2♠ need not be balanced.

1♣-2♠-INV 10–11
2NTS/O, 12–13
3♣S/O, 12–13, 6+♣
3♦!S/T, 18+, 0–4♠, 0–4♥
3MS/T, 18+, 5+#
3NTS/O
4♣♦♥♠S/T, SOL 7+#

P-1♣-2♠ only contains unbalanced hands of both minors. Hence, 3♦ becomes a reasonable signoff.

P-1♣-2♠-INV, 4–5♦, 4–5♣
3♦S/O, 12–13, 4+♦

1♣-2NT

Moving balanced game force from 3NT to 2NT was a brilliant idea from Polish Club 2005. It is difficult to search for a major suit slam after 1♣-3NT. Therefore, 1♣-3NT is restricted to a flat minimum game force.

I make 1♣-2NT-3NT highly descriptive here to help slam exploration. This method makes 3♣♦ inclusive like relays.

1♣-2NT-BAL FG
3♣5+♣
3♦!0–4♣
3MS/T, 5+#
3NTS/T, 15–17, 4414
4♣♦♥♠S/T, SOL 7+#

P-1♣-2NT simplifies to a balanced invitation, which is in turn similar to unpassed 1♣-2♠. I import continuations from 1♣-2♠ as a natural consequence.

P-1♣-2NT-BAL INV
3♣S/O, 12–13, 6+♣
3♦!S/T, 18+, 0–4♠, 0–4♥
3MS/T, 18+, 5+#
3NTS/O
4♣♦♥♠S/T, SOL 7+#