Advanced No Trump Opening

A range of 14 - 16 points is suggested for opening 1 No Trump.
Opening 11-14 point No Trump when non-vulnerable will be added later on.
Stayman is used to inquire for a 4-card major.
This may be the start of a sequence forcing to game or responder may simply want to play in a suit at the two level.
Transfer bids are used to let the No Trump opener (the stronger hand) declare. This often gains a trick or a tempo.
4-way transfers with "super-acceptance" of majors and minors are used.
The scheme:

1 NT - :  
  2C - Stayman
2D - Transfer to H (5+ Hearts)
2H - Transfer to S (5+ Spades)
2S - Transfer to C (6+ Clubs)
2NT - Transfer to D (6+ Diamonds)
3C - Shortage in C, 5+ D & 4-card major, Game Force
3D - Shortage in D, 5+ C & 4-card major, Game Force
3H - Shortage in H, 5+/4+ in minors, Game Force
3S - Shortage in S, 5+/4+ in minors, Game Force
3NT - To Play
4C -
4D - Transfer to Hearts
4H - Transfer to Spades
4S - 6+/5+ in the minors

Sequences after 1NT - 2C

1 NT - 2C :  
  2D - no 4-card Major
2H - 4-card Hearts, may have 4-card Spades
2S - 4-card Spades, does not have 4-card Hearts

1 NT - 2C
2D:
 
  2H - 5-card Hearts, 4-card Spades, Weak
2S - 4-card Hearts, 5-card Spades, Weak
2NT - Invitation to 3NT
3C - lay-out query & Game Force, Details below
3D - 5/4+ in Majors, Game Force, Details below
3H - 4-card Spades & 5-card minor with Heart shortage, Game Force
3S - 4-card Hearts & 5-card minor with Spade shortage, Game Force
3NT - To play

1 NT - 2C
2 D - 3C
 
  3D - 4-4 in the minors
3H - 5C & 4D
3S - 4C & 5D
3NT - 4-3-3-3 or 3-4-3-3 distribution

1 NT - 2C
2 D - 3D
 
  3H - 2S & 3H
3S - 3S & 2H
3NT - To play
4C - max strength with 3-3 in majors
     Over 4C: 4D,4H are transfers
4D - mid strength with 3-3 in majors
4H - min strength with 3-3 in majors
     Over 4D,4H: 4H,4S are to play
     4NT=RKCB in Hearts; 5C=RKCB in Spades

1 NT - 2C
2H:
 
  2S - 4-card Spades, opener bids 3S with 4 cards, GF
2NT - Invitation to 3NT; ALERT (may not have 4 card major)
3C - lay-out query & Game Force, Details below
3D - slam try with Hearts agreed
3H - Inviting to 4 Hearts
3S,4C,4D - Splinter, Hearts agreed
3NT,4H - To play
4S - ? Voidwood
4N - RKCB

1 NT - 2C
2 H - 3C
 
  3D - 4-card D
3H - 5-card H
3S - 4-card C
3NT - 3-4-3-3 distribution

Sequences after 1NT - 2D/2H (Transfers)

1 NT - 2D
2 H:
 
  2S -
2N - Game invitation with 5-card Hearts
3C,3D - Natural, game forcing, unbalanced hand
3H - Game invitation with 6-card Hearts
3N - To play; partner may correct to 4 hearts
4m - Splinter with hearts agreed
4H - 6 card hearts; mild slam try; opener may proceed with fitting max
4N - Quantitative; Details in slam section .....

1 NT - 2H
2 S:
 
  2N - Game invitation with 5-card Spades
3C,3D - Natural, game forcing, unbalanced hand
3H - Natural, game forcing, unbalanced hand
     If followed by 4H, it shows 5-5 in Maj slammish
3S - Game invitation with 6-card spades
3N - To play; partner may correct to 4 spades
4m - Splinter with spades agreed
4H - 5-5 in Majors; no slam interest
4S - 6 card spades; mild slam try; opener may proceed with fitting max
4N - Quantitative; Details in slam section .....

Sequences after 1NT - 2S/2N (Minor suit Transfers)

The requirement for Minor suit Transfers is a decent 6-card suit.
The objective is to play in the minor at the three level or probe for 3 NT.
In rare cases, this will lead to a minor suit game or slam.
A bid of 2S is a tranfer to 3C. Opener bids the intermediate suit (2NT) to show good support-
     Ax, Kx, Qxx, xxxx or better in Clubs

1 NT - 2S
2 NT
 
  3C - To play
3D,3H,3S - shortage in suit, Game forcing
3N - To play
4D - Kickback for Clubs
4H,4S - Voidwood ??

Sequences after 1NT - 3C

1 NT - 3C: Shortage in C, 5+ D, & 4-card Major, GF
  3D - 3+ D, may have 4-card Major
3H - 4-card H
3S - 4-card S
3N - To play
4C - No values in C & 3-card D support; no 4-card Major
4D - No values in C & 4-card D support
4H,4S - cue-bid; no values in C & 4-card D support

1 NT - 3C
3D:
 
  3H - 4-card S
3S - 4-card H
3N - 4-card H with a hand suitable for NT
4C - Void in C
4D - RKCB at D
4H,4S - cue-bid

Sequences after 1NT - 3D

1 NT - 3D: Shortage in D, 5+ C, & 4-card Major, GF
  3H - 4-card H
3S - 4-card S
3N - To play
4C - 3-card C support; no 4-card Major
4D - No values in D & 3-card C support
4H,4S - cue-bid; no values in D & 4-card C support

Sequences after 1NT - 3H/3S

1 NT - 3H: Shortage in H, 5+/4+ in the minors, GF
  3S - 5-card S
3N - To play
4C - 4-card C
4D - 4-card D
4H - No 4-card minor
4S - No 4-card minor, good 4-card spades


Opponents intervene

When opponents intervene, lebensohl is used.
Popup Lebensohl

Runout over 1 NT doubled

If an 1 No Trump opening is doubled for penalties, responder bids as follows:
   Re-double to show a good hand (7+ points)
   Pass to deny a five card suit
   bid 5-card suit, if any

After a responder has passed, opener bids as follows:
   Re-double to show no 5-card suit
     (Responder will now bid the lowest 4-card suit.)
   bid 5-card suit

One disadvantage of the system is that after 1N - Dbl - P,
the fourth hand gets a "free" Pass since opener is obliged to bid.


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