Tuesday, February 03, 2004 8:42 AM

Hand Evaluation - NT Ranges ( System )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Going over the 12 convention cards of world class players & looking at NT ranges yielded a surprising conclusion : the 15 –17 NT range is alive & well.

 

The following pairs play the 15-17 HCP range  Garozzo et al , Lauria & Versace , Robinson & Woolsey , Chmurski & Puczynski , Helgemo & Helness , Chagras & Assumpcao , Branco & Thoma .  The rest we will show below. ( 5 pairs )

 

The rest of the pairs play either the 14-16 HCP range or the 12-14 HCP range & some of them throw in the 10-12 NT at very favourable vulnerability. I find it surprising that most of the pairs that play these ranges of NT ( above ) also play 15-17 NT at various positions and vulnerability. Lets go over the cards of the non 15-17 players :

 

Meckwell

 

            14-16 HCP as a base in 1st & 2nd with 15-17 HCP in 3 rd & 4th . In 1st & 2nd  10-12 HCP not vul vrs vul only - otherwise 14-16 HCP.

 

Hamman & Soloway

 

            14-16 HCP in 1st ,2nd & 3rd .  15-17 in 4th & when vul in 3rd.

 

Auken & Arnim

 

           14-16 HCP in all seats with the exception of 10-12 HCP in 1st & 2nd Not vul .

 

Bocchi & Duboin

 

            15-17 in 1st , 2nd if vul ,  3rd position always 15-17 HCP . 4th position always 12-14 HCP , in 1st and 2nd not vul  always 12-14 HCP.

 

FantoniNunes

 

            12-14 HCP in all positions .

 

Very few stay away from the strong NT especially in 3rd or 4th seat or when at unfavourable vulnerabilities. A couple of pairs actually trot out the 10-12 but only with favourable vul in 1st & 2nd. Variable NT’s come at a cost as you have to adjust your entire minor/major rebid structure to accommodate the bid. The 14-16 HCP range gets you to all those 24 HCP 3NT games.