[kgr]

What does 1NT show in following bidding sequences. Natural or unusual? What agreement do you recommend? (Unusual shows length in two lowest not-bid suits).
Suppose you play MP's and NV/V (maybe at IMP's you would have passed).

1.
P-(P)-P-(1X)-
1NT

2.
P-(P)-P-(1X)-
P-(P)-1NT

3.
P-(1X)-P-(1M)-
1NT

4.
P-(P)-P-(1X)-
P-(1M)-P-(P)
1NT

In all cases you did not open and your partner did not bid.

It would be good if you could give a rule for this that is easy for my parnter to remember

(similar question posted on rgb)

[han]

(1) has to be artificial, with a balanced hand you should not come into the auction.

(2) could be both ways, but I suggest that you just pass it out with length in their suit: where are you going? Btter to play it showing the 2 lowest unbid suits imo.

(3) just like (1) can never be natural. Play it for the unbid suits I suggest, or for the 2 lowest.

(4) is similar to (2). I suggest playing this for the two lowest suits, double would show the unbid suits. Don't keep the auction open with length in their suit. Parter is short and would have bid if he could.

These are all pretty clear imo. More interesting is the auction (1X)-p-(1Y)-1NT, where you are not a passed hands. Most people where I play use this as a 2-suiter, but I think that a good case can be made for a natural strong bid too. If you can't show this hand immediately, you can never catch up and you may miss your game.

[luke warm]

my guess is:
1) flat 9-11 with a stopper, but i don't like this bid
2) ditto
3) & 4) t/o showing other suits

[pigpenz]

I would play balanced 9-12 hcp for first two hands
others would be some sort of sandwich no trump

[mike777]

oops sleepy forgot pass

[MickyB]

mike777, on May 7 2005, 01:58 PM, said:

2) 10-14 Not unusual, repeat not! In fact many world class players make this bid with no stopper just flattish shape. (see BW magazine).

Many worldclass players pass flat 14 counts?

P-1X-P-P, 1N is 10-11 or so because pard could have passed with a decent hand. Bidding a natural 1N here isn't going to get you to game, hence it isn't clear what it should mean.

The first one is definitely unusual. Showing a flat 11 count here is asking to go for 1100, or to help opps make their game, or...

[Double !]

# 1 would seem to be some minor-oriented takeout,. # 3 many people are now playing Sandwich NT (hold the mustard), also a takeout.
#s 2 & 4 are in the balancing seat. I would interpret both as suggesting declaring 1NT.

[awm]

Balancing notrump bids are almost always natural. Many people even play balancing jumps to 2NT as natural. Notrump bids that are not in balancing seat (jumping into a live auction) should be unusual if they can't be 15-18. So:

1.
P-(P)-P-(1X)-
1NT

Takeout, the two lowest suits.

2.
P-(P)-P-(1X)-
P-(P)-1NT

Balancing seat, so something like 10-12 flat. Quite possible we have half the strength. This is the only one that doesn't seem 100% clear to me -- however even though "two-lowest" could be a slightly superior treatment, I think having a general rule is valuable here. Also, if you remove the first two passes, I think it's pretty clear that P-1X-P-P-1NT should be natural (10-12ish).

3.
P-(1X)-P-(1M)-
1NT

Takeout, the other two suits, probably 4-5 or 5-5 shape (with 4-4 and a max pass, double).

4.
P-(P)-P-(1X)-
P-(1M)-P-(P)
1NT

Balancing seat, so something like 10-12 flat again. Certainly with the other suits you could double.

[whereagles]

kgr, on May 7 2005, 10:52 AM, said:

What does 1NT show in following bidding sequences. Natural or unusual? What agreement do you recommend? (Unusual shows length in two lowest not-bid suits).
Suppose you play MP's and NV/V (maybe at IMP's you would have passed).

1.
P-(P)-P-(1X)-
1NT

2.
P-(P)-P-(1X)-
P-(P)-1NT

3.
P-(1X)-P-(1M)-
1NT

4.
P-(P)-P-(1X)-
P-(1M)-P-(P)
1NT

In all cases you did not open and your partner did not bid.

It would be good if you could give a rule for this that is easy for my parnter to remember

(similar question posted on rgb)

Just use common-sense:

1. Unusual. Too risky to overcall a natural 1NT here because unless pard has a max pass (11 or so) you're going down A LOT.

2. This is natural, 10-11 or so. Still risky, but 1x was passed out, so pard rates to have the above 11.

3. By a passed hand it must be unusual. Most people play it as unusual even if it's not a passed hand.

4. Natural. Points split 20-20, so 1NT can be your spot.

[Chamaco]

awm, on May 7 2005, 06:58 PM, said:

Balancing notrump bids are almost always natural.

Ditto.
Natural in balance seat, distributional takeout in direct seat.

When there are 3 unbid suits, the shape of the takeout depends from the specific suits promised by Micahel's cuebid, and Unusual 2NT: once these are precisely defined (e.g. Michaels = highest unbid suits, U2NT = lowest), the the remaining 2-suits (in this case, top-bottom) are included into 1NT.

[P_Marlowe]

1) never thought about this, but unusual,
since opener is still unlimited
2) natural, reopening 10-11 bal.
3) unusual, opener is still unlimited
4) natural, reopening 10-11 bal.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[joker_gib]

P_Marlowe, on May 9 2005, 06:11 AM, said:

1) never thought about this, but unusual,
  since opener is still unlimited
2) natural, reopening 10-11 bal.
3) unusual, opener is still unlimited
4) natural, reopening 10-11 bal.

With kind regards
Marlowe

Agree and I don't know the best treatment to give to 1) ! Idea anyone ?

I play 3) as 4M' 5+m

Alain