Introduction to Contract Bridge:

1NT and 2C Openings

Yanlai Yang

NYU Bridge and Spades

Spring 2023

Template adapted from ai.berkeley.edu

Agenda

• Notrump and 2C Openings
• Responses to 1NT Openings
• The Stayman Convention
• Jacoby Transfers
• Responses to 2NT Openings
• Responses to 2C Openings

2

Agenda

• Notrump and 2C Openings
• Responses to 1NT Openings
• The Stayman Convention
• Jacoby Transfers
• Responses to 2NT Openings
• Responses to 2C Openings

3

NT Openings

• 1NT Opening: 15-17 HCP, Balanced Hand (4333, 4432, 5332 shape)
• 5422 can also be considered balanced if the honor cards are in the short suits
• 2NT Opening: 20-21 HCP, Balanced Hand
• 2C Opening: ≥ 22 HCP, any shape (“Very Strong”)
• Rebid any suit promises ≥ 5 cards in that suit.
• Rebid 2NT: 22-24 HCP, Balanced Hand
• Rebid 3NT: 25-28 HCP, Balanced Hand
• What about 12-14 HCP and 18-19 HCP balanced hands?
• 12-14 HCP: Open 1 of a suit, and rebid the lowest available notrump (usually 1NT).
• 18-19 HCP: Open 1 of a suit, and jump rebid notrump (usually 2NT).

4

Aside: Natural and Artificial Bids

• In a bidding system, the meanings of some bids might not be related to its suit at all
• e.g. one can open 2C with zero clubs!
• Such bids are called “artificial bids”. Bids that are not artificial are called “natural bids”.
• All 1-level openings and responses, 1NT and 2NT openings, are natural.
• Artificial Bids are rare in SAYC. Here is a complete list of artificial bids in our variant:
• 2C opening
• 2D response to 2C opening
• Stayman Convention (2C response to 1NT; 3C response to 2NT)
• Jacoby Transfer Convention
• Blackwood Convention
• More advanced systems often include more artificial bids
• Artificial bids are almost always forcing

5

Agenda

• Notrump and 2C Openings
• Responses to 1NT Openings
• The Stayman Convention
• Jacoby Transfers
• Responses to 2NT Openings
• Responses to 2C Openings

6

Responses to 1NT Openings

• 1NT opening promises 15-17 HCP. According to the “Rule of 25”:
• With ≤ 7 HCP, very small chance of game
• With 8-9 HCP, some change of game (depending on the opener)
• With ≥ 10 HCP, should definitely go to game
• Therefore, with a balanced hand and no ≥ 4-card major, the responses are:
• ≤ 7 HCP: Pass
• 8-9 HCP: 2NT
• 10-16 HCP: 3NT
• 17-18 HCP: 4NT
• 19-21 HCP: 6NT
• ≥ 22 HCP: 7NT

7

Responses to 1NT Openings

• 1NT opening promises 15-17 HCP. According to the “Rule of 25”:
• With ≤ 7 HCP, very small chance of game
• With 8-9 HCP, some change of game (depending on the opener)
• With ≥ 10 HCP, should definitely go to game
• What if you have a 4-card major and want to find a golden fit?
• Use the “Stayman” convention
• What if you have an unbalanced hand or a 5-card major?
• Use the “Jacoby Transfer” convention

8

Agenda

• Notrump and 2C Openings
• Responses to 1NT Openings
• The Stayman Convention
• Jacoby Transfers
• Responses to 2NT Openings
• Responses to 2C Openings

9

The Stayman Convention

• If partner opens 1NT, our 2C response is the “Stayman Convention”
• It promises ≥ 8 points, and 4 cards in one of the major suits
• Partner bids:
• 2D if no 4-card major
• 2H if 4 hearts
• 2S if 4 spades (and no 4 hearts)
• If partner’s 4-card suit and our 4-card suit match
• Raise to 3 of that suit if 8-9 points
• Raise to 4 of that suit if ≥ 10 points
• If the 4-card suits don’t match
• Bid 2NT if 8-9 points
• Bit 3NT if ≥ 10 points

10

Agenda

• Notrump and 2C Openings
• Responses to 1NT Openings
• The Stayman Convention
• Jacoby Transfers
• Responses to 2NT Openings
• Responses to 2C Openings

11

The Jacoby Transfer Convention

• If partner opens 1NT, our 2D/2H/2S/3C responses are “Jacoby Transfer”
• It promises ≥ 5 cards in the suit above.
• E.g. bidding 2D promises ≥ 5 hearts. bidding 2S promises ≥ 5 clubs.
• It does not promises any honor cards.
• However, when ≤ 7 points, promises unbalanced hand (otherwise should pass)
• The opener is then obliged to bid the suit above
• E.g. after 1NT-2D, the opener is obliged to bid 2H. (or 3C after 1NT-2S)

12

The Jacoby Transfer Convention

• Then responder then bids according to their point values
• ≤ 7 points, pass
• 8-9 points, bid 2NT. For hands with 8-9 points and a 5-card minor, directly bid 2NT instead of using Jacoby Transfer
• ≥ 10 points, bid 3NT
• Finally, the opener bids the most suitable contract
• If there is fit, correct to that suit
• If there is game, bid game

13

Agenda

• Notrump and 2C Openings
• Responses to 1NT Openings
• The Stayman Convention
• Jacoby Transfers
• Responses to 2NT Openings
• Responses to 2C Openings

14

Responses to 2NT Openings

• 2NT opening promises 20-21 HCP. According to the “Rule of 25”:
• With ≤ 4 HCP, relatively small chance of game
• With ≥ 5 HCP, should definitely go to game
• Therefore, the responses are (quite similar to the 1NT counterparts):
• ≤ 4 HCP and balanced: Pass
• ≥ 5 HCP
• 3C is stayman, promises one 4-card major
• 3D/3H is Jacoby Transfer, promises 5-card hearts/spades
• 3NT if no 4-card major
• (3S/4C are no longer Jacoby Transfers, since we don’t want to surpass 3NT)

15

Agenda

• Notrump and 2C Openings
• Responses to 1NT Openings
• The Stayman Convention
• Jacoby Transfers
• Responses to 2NT Openings
• Responses to 2C Openings

16

Responses to 2C Openings

• 2C opening promises ≥ 22 points. It is artificial and forcing.
• 2D response is also artificial and forcing. It shows 0-7 points. Not related to diamonds.
• Any response other than 2D promises ≥ 8 points, and 5 cards in that suit (bid 2NT if no 5-card suit)
• The opener’s rebids promises 5 cards in any new suit (or notrumps if no 5-card suit and no support in partner’s suit)

17