Sunday, May
09, 2004 4:15 AM
Hand
Evaluation - Limit Raises & Forcing 1NT
PITBULLS:
One of the most
important uses of the forcing NT is to show limit
raises with 3 trump. When opener makes a
simple rebid , showing the limit raise is trivial .
You jump in the major , make a fit showing jump or
raise the rebid major. In other auctions like jump raises, showing the limit
raise hands is not so trivial and
needs to be discussed.
Take
the auction 1♠-p-1NT-P
3♠-P-? - what shows the limit raise hand ? . The 4 level is reserved
for Q bids
to show the limit raise hand . Partner bidding another
suit ( Ace or King ) implies the limit raise in spades
so opener can act accordingly. 1♠-P-1NT-P
3NT-P-? same with this auction . A Q bid at the 4 level implies the
limit raise hand so pulling 3NT to 4 spades is just a sign off . The sanctity of the 4 level for Q bidding
helps define the limit raise.
1♠-p-1NT-P
3♠-P-4♥-p is not
to play but show a limit raise in spades by showing a control in hearts.
O.K.
the auction 1♠-p-1NT-P
2NT-p-? . O.K. we play a 3♣ relay to 3♦ here to show all the
weak sequences so this is easy . In the absence of a relay ,
a direct preference of 3 spades shows a good
limit raise with slam interest. A weak spade raise you would relay first followed by supporting spades.
Say you were too weak to bid two spades going in ♠Kxx
♥xx ♦Q10xxx ♣109x so you bid 1NT. After partners 2NT bid ,
force partner to relay to 3♦ by bidding 3♣
first & support spades . You now have done your duty by showing your dog
spade raise. A leap to 4♠ after 2NT accepts the
invitation to game but in spades rather then no
trump. This shows a minimum limit raise in spades so no slam interest ( fast arrival ).
The
next auction is the strong jump shift into a suit other than the all purpose
3♣ bid ( only diamonds left for us) . 1♠-P-1NT-P
3♦-p-? . Here
we could use the principle of
“fast arrival” to show the doggy raise. However , as
we do not play constructive major raises , these bad hand types will be
rare. Probably more common will be the
hand with two small trump with an unwillingness to bid
3NT. Lets compromise so say a leap to 4 of
the major shows the limit raise.
Playing the Subash
treatment of a major opening
with a multi-purpose 3♣ jump shift needs more understandings. A forcing NT takes a
special understanding to show the limit raise hands. The sequence 1♠-P-1NT-P 3♣-P-? This bid is a relay to 3♦ but if you refuse the relay it
shows the limit raise
hand in spades. With most
other hands you accept the relay
to 3♦ .
The invitational 1♠-P-1NT-P
3♥-P-? has three preference
sequences . A direct 3♠ bid says we are
probably too high already so should be passed. A leap to 4♠ is accepting the
invitation to game . A super limit raise in spades or hearts , is shown by a Q bid at the 4 level. ♠QJx
♥Ax ♦xxxxx ♣Axx
1♠-P-1NT-P
3♥-P-? You
bid 4♣ so partner with ♠AKxxx ♥KQ10xx
♦Ax ♣x
bids Blackwood so on to our 1430 in 6 spades.
If
you accept the relay to 3♦ , in these auctions ,
partner bids 3♥ or 3NT showing a strong jump shift in hearts &
clubs respectively , a bid at the 4 level
is a slam try . Jumping to game or
bidding game ( fast arrival ) shows enough to bid game but that’s about
all. ♠xx ♥KQ9x ♦KQxxx ♣xx
1♠-P-1NT-P
3♣-P-3♦-P
3♥-P-? you can not bid 4♥ as you are too strong . You bid 4♦ showing a control
with implied heart support. Since you accepted the relay ,
you can not have the spade limit raise so this must
show a good hand for hearts. Partner with ♠AKxxx ♥AJ10x
♦Ax ♣Ax might have a chance
to get to our cold 7♥ grand
.