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Responding to partner's opening bid of one no-trump with an unbalanced hand


It would be helpful here if you had a look at my chart which embodies all the responses to an opening bid of one no-trump. You'll find it here.

Your answer to the question " Do I like no-trumps " is " No ". You will have a long suit and you will have shortages.

Your bid now depends upon your point count ; you must ask yourself the question " Is my hand good enough for game ? "

  •  With 13+ points and a six-card heart or spade suit, bid four hearts or four spades direct. With clubs or diamonds, prefer a risky 3NT to 5C or 5D.
  • With 0-10 points, you must bid your longest suit at the two level. This is a weakness takeout and must be passed by opener.
  • With 11-12 points, you must review your hand and either upgrade (to 13) or downgrade (to 10) so that it falls into one or other of the categories above.

In each of the examples below, partner has opened a weak one no-trump(12-14).

S AK9753 Bid 4S direct. You know that partner has at least two spades.
H 2
D A32
C Q86

 

S 64 Make a weakness takeout into 2H, which partner must pass.
H QJ543
D K762
C 64

 

S KQJ432 This is a very good 11 points which can be counted as 13.Raise to 4S.
H Q92
D 4
C QJ9


S K6 This is a poor 11 points which should be downgraded to 10.Make a weakness takeout into 2D.
H Q8
D A9753
C Q432
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