Saturday, July 10, 2010

Hand Evaluation – Forcing NT ( Theory )

PITBULLS:       

The forcing 1NT is the garbage bucket of Bridge. Since a 2/1 is forcing to game ( unless suit rebid ) with most partnerships , the 1NT  response to a major gets way more attention than it deserves. Standard bidding aggravates the forcing NT as the opening bid is a 3 range structure with minimums , intermediate hands & strong hands to convey to partner. There would be no problem if standard bidding just showed a weak hand or a strong hand , it’s the intermediate hands that cause the problem. An obvious example is the obligatory heart raise by responder in case opener's 2♥ rebid was 5-5 or an intermediate range hand. This raise blows more 2♥ partials than I can count when opener had a minimum 2♥ bid. A simple 2♣ , 2♦ rebid with intermediate values or 5-5's cause many games to be missed or cause responder to stretch in hopes that the hand was intermediate. Opener sometimes hides her distribution & stretches to 2NT with an intermediate hand because missing vul games hurt. Of course this action causes partials to be blown or even the right game or slam to be missed.

Strong jump shifts after a forcing NT are a mess also . A jump rebid at the 3 level is invitational so what do you do with a forcing jump rebid ? A jump to game in a major shows a long suit with an outside control so how do you show a jump to game based on a huge single suiter with HCP's ? 5-4-3-1  SJS are hard to describe in standard as the bidding gets too high before opener has a chance to "pattern out ". The best spot could be a 3-5 or 6 fit with responder 's suit.  A spade opener also makes uncovering your heart fit difficult. BART & other systems were invented to help in that regard. Finding good minor games or slam are a problem also.

        The forcing NT is the great unknown in this equation. The response can be as high as 13 HCP with literally any distribution or even a 3 card major fit with partner. It makes sense that the 1NT responder be captain of most auctions as the range of hands for that bid are tremendous. Standard bidding does not do that very well as opener makes ambiguous range bids both as to distribution & range . A relay structure would make the responder the captain as opener describes her hand to the forcing 1NT ( distribution & range ) . Breaking relays would assist in describing "picture hands” by responder & transferring captaincy back to opener.

        What is needed is a forcing NT structure that addresses these standard shortcomings. A system is needed that identifies openers intermediate hands immediately , openers 5-5's  immediately & keeps the strong hands at a level where they can pattern out below 3NT. A structure is also needed to show the strong one suited major hands that standard bidding fails us. The artificial SJS helps in that  regard but complicates auctions. A structure is needed to find heart fits immediately after a spade opener & a forcing 1NT.

        Two Alberta players have tackled these forcing 1NT systemic problems . Ilya Kuzkin devised a structure which he calls "Jerome" which sets the framework for a more logical forcing 1NT sequence. Perry Khakar is building on Ilya's work . I have just reviewed Perry's work & it builds on Ilya's structure very well. When Perry's work is completed,  it will be a subject of a future article. I have said that systems are not a replacement for hand evaluation & judgment. However , when the standard system is broke ,  an attempt should be made to fix it !   I started Bridge when the forcing 1NT just came out. I have had 43 years experience of cursing the bids shortcomings . Stay tuned !!.