Responding to a 2 No Trump Opening

SAYC

× Introduction:

  1. Introduction
  2. Evaluate an Opening Hand
  3. Bidding Process / Hierarchy Chart
  4. Bidding Strategy

  SAYC (Standard American Yellow Card)
  Statistics

× Opening Bids

       Opening Bid Options
Open 1 Level
   Open 1 ♠
   Open 1 ♥
       Open 1 NT
           Open Better Minor
           Open 1 ♦
           Open 1 ♣
Weak Opening Bids
•         2 ♦ 2 ♥ 2 ♠ (6-card suit)
• 3 ♣ 3 ♦ 3 ♥ 3 ♠ (7-card suit)
•                 4 ♥ 4 ♠ (8-card suit)
Strong Opening Bids
      • Open 2 ♣
      • Open 2 NT
      • Open 3 NT
Opening vs Table Position

× Bid 2: Respond to Suit Openings

   Guidelines for Responses
         1-over-1 Restriction
         Distribution Points
   Respond to 1 ♠
   Respond to 1 ♥
         (Jacoby 2 NT )
   Respond to 1 ♦
   Respond to 1 ♣
Bid 3: Opener's Next Bid
   Responder Supports the Bid Suit
       (Response to Jacoby 2 NT )
   Responder Proposes a New Suit
Respond to Weak Openings
  • Respond to 2 ♠ 2 ♥ 2 ♦
  • Respond to 3 ♠ 3 ♥ 3 ♦ 3 ♣
  • Respond to 4 ♠ 4 ♥
Respond to Strong Openings
  • Respond to 2 ♣ using:
      • 2-Diamond Waiting
      • 3-Point Step
      • 2-Diamond Bust
  • Respond to Strong 2

× Respond to NT Openings

Respond to 1 NT
    Transfers (1NT)
       Stayman (1NT)
          No 4-card Major (1NT)
Respond to 2 NT
    Transfers (2NT)
       Stayman (2NT)
          4-card Major (2NT)
Respond to 3 NT
    Transfers (3NT)
       Stayman (3NT)
          No 4-card Major (3NT)

× Other Bids:

• Slam (Blackwood & Gerber)
• Overcalls
• Doubles
• Balancing

× Practice Bidding:

   • Open 1 Level
   • Responses to 1 Suit Openings
   • Open 1 NT & 14 Responses
   • Open 1 NT & 16 Responses
   • Responses to 2 Club Opening
   • Overcalls
Practice Websites:
   • SAYC Bidding Practice
   • Trickster

× Taking Tricks:

• Leads on Defense
• Leads on Offense
• Finessing a Tenace

× Keeping Score:

1. Contract Points Scoring
2. Match Points Scoring

× Downloads:

• SAYC Summary
• Open 1-Level
• Responses to 1-Suit Opening Bids
• 1 NT Openings & Responses
• Responses to Weak Openings
• Responses to 2 Club Openings

Responding to an Opening Bid of 2 NT

First, determine the suit to play. Then detemine the contract level to play.

The responses to a 2 NT opening are essentially the same as the responses to a 1 NT opening. Since the opener has 20-21 HCPs, it is even more important to keep the much stronger opener's hand out of the dummy.

As soon as the opener bids 2 NT , the partner becomes the "captain" of the partnership. Since the 2 NT opening bid is so specific (20 to 21 HCPs, no 5-card major and balanced), the partner combines the knowledge of its own hand with the opener's hand, and deduces the approximate combined point count range of the partnership. The partner also has a good idea of which suit and contract level the partnership will play. The partner will steer the bidding toward the final contract in one of three paths.

Initial Strategy - The opener's balanced hand will have both major suits, ranging from 2 to 4 cards in each major (there can be only one 2-card major suit). It is highly likely that the partnership will be able to play a contract in one of the major suits. The partner will first try to find a 7 or 8-card fit with one of those major suits by using Paths 1 or 2 displayed in the table below.

Initial Responses for 2 NT Opening

Partner's Initial Response to 2 NT Opening		Partner's Point Count (HCPs only)

		0-4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
		Part Score	Game Major				Game Minor				Slam

Path 1 5+card Major (Transfers)	5+ hearts	3 ♦ Transfer to hearts									4 ♣ Gerber Asking for Aces or 4 NT Quantitative Invitation Asking for Points
Path 1 5+card Major (Transfers)	5+ spades	3 ♥ Transfer to spades

Path 2 4-card Major (Stayman)	4 hearts and/or 4 spades	PASS play 2 NT	3 ♣ Stayman

Path 3 NO 4+card Major	Balanced	PASS play 2 NT	3 NT				3 NT
	6+ clubs						5 ♣
	6+ diamonds						5 ♦

2/24/2024		20-24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35
2/24/2024		Minimum PARTNERSHIP Point Count (assume opener holds 20 HCPs)

Path 1:    5+card major and 0 to 12 HCPs - The partner will use the TRANSFER Convention to enter into a contract in that major suit. For details, visit the TRANSFERS (2NT) web page.

Path 2:    4-card major (in one or both majors) and 5 to 12 HCPs - The partner will use the STAYMAN Convention to seek an 8-card fit in a major. For details, visit the the STAYMAN (2NT) web page.

Path 3:    NO 4+card major and 5 to 12 HCPs - The partner will abandon the search for a major suit contract, and will explore a contract in No Trump, or in a minor suit. For details, visit the NO 4-card Major (2NT) web page.

When the partner holds 13+ HCPs, the partnership has enough points for a slam. The partner has two options on how to explore the possibilities of a slam:
   • Bid 4 ♣ - Gerber. This artificial bid is asking for the number of opener's Aces.
   • Bid 4 NT - Quantitative Invitation. This is a natural bid that is asking for the opener's points.
Visit the web page on Invitation to Slam.

2/24/2024

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